Category Archives: aged care

Introducing a wealth of ideas for new online health-related publications

May 16, 2012 – 8:11 pm

Entrepreneurs and philanthropists take note: below are some terrific ideas for new health-related online publications. Croakey recently put out a call on behalf of the Public Interest Journalism Foundation for ideas for online publications covering health-related areas of need. One of the pitches will be developed during a session at the New News conference, which will [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in climate change, disasters, evidence-based issues, Health inequalities, legal issues, Media-related issues, public health, rural and remote health, social determinants of health, social media and healthcare, women's health | Tagged , , , | Comments (1)

Aged care reform: it needs careful monitoring (and adjustment, where necessary)

May 11, 2012 – 6:15 pm

This is the second in a series of analyses that will be cross-posted from the Commonwealth Parliamentary Library analysing the health budget (the first looked at dental reform). (The Library will be updating its briefs across portfolios here). In the article below, Rebecca de Boer concludes that “careful monitoring, and re-adjustment where necessary” will be needed to ensure [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in Federal Budget 2012-2013 | Tagged , | Comments (1)

Health experts support calls for increase to unemployment benefits

May 8, 2012 – 12:39 pm

Dr Tessa Boyd-Caine, the Deputy CEO of the Australian Council of Social Service, suggested at Croakey yesterday that the low level of income support payments, particularly for unemployed people relying on the Newstart allowance, is an important health issue. She wrote: “It’s important that health groups and medical professionals join their voices to the call [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in childbirth and maternity services, Federal Budget 2012-2013, primary health care, social determinants of health | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

An indepth analysis of aged care reforms, covering community care, rural/regional concerns and more

May 2, 2012 – 6:55 pm

How did we ever survive in the days when we had to rely on the mainstream media for analysis of complex policy issues? For those who’ve been left wanting more detail about the Federal Government’s aged care package, below is a series of articles cross-posted from the Commonwealth Parliamentary Library’s FlagPost blog. In the articles [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in health literacy, rural and remote health | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Aged care reforms an important step in the right direction, but many questions and concerns remain

April 25, 2012 – 8:14 pm

The Federal Government’s aged care reforms seem to have met a generally positive response, but “a long and uncertain road” lies ahead, cautions Hal Kendig, a Research Professor of Ageing and Health at the University of Sydney. In the article below, first published by The Conversation, he outlines some of the critical challenges and concerns about [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in health reform, The Conversation | Tagged , | Comments (0)

Hearing from the people about the need for aged care reform

March 23, 2012 – 3:19 pm

More than 130 aged care campaigners descended on Parliament House last week as part of the Australians Deserve to Age Well campaign, which is calling for the Federal Government to commit to aged care reform in the forthcoming Budget. Claire Maskell from Palliative Care Australia, a member of the National Aged Care Alliance that organised [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in health reform | Tagged , | Comments (0)

Improving the management of dementia in general practice

March 21, 2012 – 9:52 am

In its latest Croakey update, the Primary Health Care Research and Information Service (better known as PHC RIS) reports on a new trial focused on improving management of patients with dementia in general practice. *** Early diagnosis of dementia offers a window of control in a disintegrating world Christina Hagger writes: Dementia carries many burdens. There [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in general practice, health and medical research, primary health care | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

Some of the latest news on the media and health reporting

February 23, 2012 – 7:15 pm

In her latest report on the activities of Media Doctor Australia, Amanda Wilson has some good news about the quality of health reporting. And at the bottom of her post are some links to recent developments in health journalism. *** Some media outlets do better than others when it comes to health news Amanda Wilson [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in consumer health information, Media Doctor Australia, Media-related issues, social media and healthcare, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

If health service executives are embracing social media, what does it say?

February 21, 2012 – 11:23 am

(This is the first in a series of two posts looking at social media and health). Health service leaders are not famous for embracing engagement with the media or general public. This observation is not intended as any personal slight as the situation is the inevitable result of the systems they work in, and the expectations [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in health reform, National Preventive Health Agency, prevention, social media and healthcare | Tagged , , , | Comments (1)

Helping older patients with chronic diseases to navigate the health system

February 20, 2012 – 9:23 am

How can vulnerable elderly patients be helped to navigate the fragmented health system? In its latest Croakey update, the Primary Health Care Research and Information Service (better known as PHC RIS) reports there is encouraging evidence to suggest that professional health system “navigators” might be able to help elderly people with chronic health problems to [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in chronic diseases, consumer health information, health reform, nurses and nursing, primary health care | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)