SHADES OF GREY

NATIONAL RELAY SERVICE

NATIONAL RELAY SERVICE is a phone solution for people who are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment. There are several ways in which the National Relay Service can help make a call when you have a speech or hearing impairment. In most cases, you'll need either access to the internet or a special phone called TTY.

A TTY is a phone with a keyboard and a small display screen for text. It allows you to type your message or conversation and to read what is being said in reply.

Visit our website, www.relayserve.com.au or email helpdesk@relayservice.com.au to find out more about TTYs and the subsidised disability equipment scheme offered by phone companies. You can also ask someone to phone us on 1800 555 660.

For eligible people with hearing or speech difficulties, a TTY costs about the same to rent as an ordinary handset.

CONTACT OUR HELPDESK
Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm (Sydney time)

VOICE: 1800 555 660
TTY: 1800 555 630
FAX: 1800 555 690
SMS: 0416 001 350

helpdesk@relayservice.com.au

The National Relay Service is an Australian Government initiative funded by a special levy paid by eligible telecommunications carriers.

DEMENTIA RESEARCH

Until recently, the whole area of dementia and Alzheimer's Disease was a mystery, but now thanks to studies following healthy people to see what happens to them, much more is known.

One of the most comprehensive such projects is in Sweden. It's been following the entire population aged over 75 on one of the islands that make up greater Stockholm. They're actually a pretty healthy group of people, but those who are ageing well have various things in common. They tend to have high quality social supports from friends and family – in other words contacts which are more than just one call once a week.

Leisure activities of almost any kind seem to be protective and that's allowing for the fact that if you're healthier to start with you're going to be more active. People who have not had problems with blood pressure and cholesterol in mid life seem to be better off and good folic acid intake seems important as well.

There are also some indications that pain relievers called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be protective, but that is still controversial. So until the evidence firms up it seems sensible to keep healthy in your early years, stay active, eat leafy greens and be nice to the people around you so they are there when you need them. The last one is probably the hardest work of all.

QIMR NEWS – Cancer Centre Starts New Project

A multi-million dollar grant from the Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF) will provide QIMR with the resources needed to conduct a world-first cancer research project.

QUMI's Professor Emma Whitelaw will lead the 5-year ACRF Cancer Epigenetics Program, the goal of which is to identify new genes involved in a range of human cancers and study how environmental factors interact with DNA to cause the diseases.

"Until recently, experts believed that the source of cancer was a mutation in the DNA resulting from damage caused by the environment," said Professsor Whitelaw.

"What we now know is that it can be an epimutation."

Epimutations are changes in the way in which a gene is packaged in a chromosome and this results in changes to its function. They accumulate exponentially through age, as cells with these altered genes divide and multiply, potentially giving rise to cancer.

"Our ultimate aim, though still quite a few years away, is to develop an epigenetic therapy to maintain the health of genes and thus act as a preventative measure for cancer."

LifeLab Autumn 2008

WHAT IS A SENIOR CITIZEN?

A Senior Citizen is one who was here before the pill, television, frozen foods, contact lenses, credit cards .... And before man walked on the moon.

For us "Time Sharing" meant togetherness, not holiday homes and a "chip" meant a piece of wood.

"Hardware" meant nuts and bolts, and "Software" wasn't even a word.

We got married first, then lived together,
And thought cleavage was something butchers did.

A "stud" was something that fastened a collar to a shirt, and "going all the way" meant staying on a double decker to the bus depot.

We thought "fast food" was what you ate in Lent;
A "Big Mac" was an oversized raincoat and "crumpet" we had for tea.

In our day; "grass" was mown', "pot" was something you cooked in,
"coke" was kept in the coal house and a "joint" was cooked on Sundays!

We are today's SENIOR CITIZENS.

A hardy bunch when you think how the world has changed.

Seniors Legal and Support Service

The Seniors Legal and Support Service is a community service providing free legal/counselling support for seniors 60 years and over, who are experiencing or at risk of elder abuse, mistreatment or financial exploitation.

The service can provide information, advice and support including

• Short term counselling / advocacy
• Information on your legal rights
• Advice on preparation of Enduring Power of Attorney documents
• Referrals to other support, legal and consumer services
• Community education

For further information telephone the service on 4123 6863
Or call into their office situated at Shop 6, 16 Torquay Road, Hervey Bay Monday to Friday 9.00am to 3.00pm.

SENIORS' WEEK

Council amalgamations will affect the way we plan and celebrate Senior's week. Instead of three councils planning and budgeting for celebrations the district is all under the umbrella of the one regional council. This year senior's celebrations for the region will be advertised all together. Readers will need to look and listen for their local events in advertising material for the whole district. Some innovative and interesting events are already on the agenda.

Fairhaven is to host a fete in their beautiful grounds on Saturday 23 August and Petrie Gardens at Tiaro invites the public to a mini golf day known at this time as "Golf and Damper" on Wednesday August 27. Mayoral Morning Teas are still under discussion as is a Woocoo concert and a seniors get together out Tiaro way. A Seniors' Expo is scheduled for Friday August 22 at Hervey Bay. The Seniors' Week Citizens' Concert will be held on Tuesday 19 August. By popular demand the "Happy Little Vegemites" will return to give you a very healthy laugh.

One of the many things that seniors do well is celebrate! There will be more opportunities than ever to join in during Seniors' Week 2008.

DO YOU HAVE CARE OF YOUR GRANDKIDS?

If you have care of a grandchild or grandchildren who are under 18 years of age, you can receive child support from one or both parents of the children if you apply to the Child Support Agency (CSA) for a child support assessment.

From 1 July 2008 the Child Support Scheme will change. Under the new scheme there will be some changes to the way child support is assessed for non-parent carers. A non-parent carer includes grandparents with care of a child under 18 years of age.

Your income is not taken into account. Your percentage of care is based on the number of nights you have care of the child.

For more information about CSA or how the new Scheme will affect grandparents and other non-parent carers call 13 1272 or visit www.csa.gov.au.

Fraser Lodge Caravan Park

Fraser Lodge Caravan Park Hervey Bay has advised Disability Services Queensland that they have two disability access units in their park. One is a two bedroom unit and one is a new one bedroom open plan unit with wider doors for wheelchair access.