Dr. Natalie Morellini is the University of Notre Dame Australia’s first post-doctoral fellow in pain medicine. She is researching complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) under the direction of the Churack Chair, Professor Eric Visser. Dr. Morellini is working with Professors Peter Drummond and Philip Finch from Murdoch University. Dr. Morellini’s research focuses on people with severe injuries who…
Physical exercise is essential for maintaining good blood flow to the brain and may encourage new brain cell growth and survival. Rejane Le Grange, SCC’s Dementia Services Manager said physical exercise is an important component of a care plan for clients living with dementia “As part of our commitment to the overall health and wellbeing of our…
By Rejáne Le Grange, Dementia Services Manager Think about the skills you use every day to look after yourself, your family and to be successful at your job or your community responsibilities. Now imagine a day where everything goes wrong. Things break, financial demands suddenly seem to increase, you don’t feel as well, extra tasks that are given…
Balance is important for maintaining postural stability and thus for the avoidance of falls. Balance exercises should include multi-tasks situations which require the body to perform many activities of daily living; such as walking downstairs while having a conversation or stepping over an obstacle while carrying shopping bags. Besides balance, muscle strength/power is also important for activities of…
Dementia is a chronic disease that impacts over 400,000 people nationally. Over 50% of people living in residential care are living with dementia. Researchers around the world have proven, that one of the most effective ways to live a long healthy life is by exercising regularly. Matt Osman, Exercise Physiologist from the Vario Clinic, Edith Cowan University, …
More and more people are choosing to prepare an Advance Care Plan that reflects their health goals, values and beliefs, that could be used to make decisions if due to advanced age, illness or cognitive impairment they are unable to make decisions for themselves. The following information from Advance Care Planning Australia, an organisation that is dedicated to…
The Federal Government has launched a new elder abuse hotline in its fight against elder abuse, ensuring seniors can have access to information and referrals to protect themselves. Elder abuse can include incidents of a physical, psychological, sexual and financial nature. While the Government is also commissioning a national study to work out how widespread elder abuse is,…
Associate Professor Therese O’Sullivan, an accredited practicing dietician and lecturer at Edith Cowan University, recently shared some helpful tips with us, for those living with rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis, also known as RA, is the second most common arthritis after osteoarthritis. It affects more women than men, and is most likely to start at a younger age than…
In recent years, there has been a greater focus on the importance of physical activity to enable cancer patients to function normally and to enhance their quality of life. There is growing evidence that a physically active lifestyle protects against the development of colon cancer, breast cancer, endometrial cancer, and prostate cancer. In recent years, a number of…
February 4 marked World Cancer Day and February is National Cancer Prevention Month. We are reminded that Cancer is the leading cause of death in Australia with 1 in 2 Australian men and women being diagnosed with cancer by the age of 85. To be an effective caregiver, you must first care for yourself. If you reduce…
