18 August 2011

Seniors Week in QLD

Seniors around Queensland are being encouraged to take part in Queensland Seniors Week from 21 August to 28 August.

In 2011, community groups will hold more than 50 Seniors Week events across the state.

National Seniors branches will also be taking part by being involved at their local events.

These branches include Toowoomba Garden City, Warwick, Cairns Tropical, Springwood/Rochedale, Mackay, North Mackay, Bribie Island, Albany Creek and Cleveland.

The winners of the 2011 Premier's Awards for Queensland Seniors will also be announced during Seniors Week.

To find out what’s on in your area, click here.

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Carers in line for better services

A national strategy delivering more funding and awareness of Australia's 2.6 million carers was launched this month.

The National Carer Strategy includes $60 million in new funding over the next four years and is Australia’s first strategy dedicated to carers.

According to the Federal Government, the national strategy will help to ensure carers have the same rights, choices and opportunities as other Australians and also aims to help build a society which genuinely values and respects carers.

The National Carer Strategy contains six key priority areas for action – recognition and respect, information and access, economic security, services for carers, education and training and health and wellbeing.

National Seniors is aware that many older people are carers for their spouses, parents, children or grandchildren and supports any efforts to provide carers extra support.

New funding delivered under the strategy includes:

• $42.6 million to extend automatic eligibility for the Carer Allowance (child) for around 2,200 carers of children with Type 1 Diabetes who are aged between 10 and 16 years.
• $10.3 million to continue the Carer Adjustment Payment, a one-off payment for families who, following a catastrophic event involving a child aged 0-6 years, need additional support to cater to the needs of their child.
• $2.9 million to improve access to the Carer Supplement for carers who are working when the supplement is paid in July each year, which will help carers to maintain paid employment.
• $2.1 million to ensure fairer access to Bereavement Payment, which will provide some assistance to carers receiving Carer Allowance and an income support payment at the difficult time following the death of the person they are caring for.
• $1.6 million for a national and targeted campaign to raise awareness of the role of carers.

To find out more about the National Carer Strategy, click here.

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Reminder to get your hearing checked

Older Australians are being given a timely reminder to check their hearing as part of Hearing Awareness Week 2011.

Hearing Awareness Week runs from 21 to 27 August and provides an opportunity to raise community awareness of hearing impairment and find ways to protect your hearing.

An estimated 3.55 million Australians have hearing loss.

Organisers want to educate the general public about the ways of reducing the incidence of hearing loss or chronic ear disorders and measures that can be taken to improve the quality of life for those affected.

Across Australia there will be events for people to undergo a free hearing check as well as other activities to mark Hearing Awareness Week.

To see if there is an event in your city, click here.

If you are concerned about your hearing, make an appointment with your doctor.

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Private hospital insurance

New figures reveal more than 10 million Australians are now covered by private hospital insurance.

The figures, released this week by the Private Health Insurance Administration Council, showed 45.3 per cent of the population have private hospital insurance.

The government has gone on the record to say that the growth in private hospital insurance means the sector is going strong and reinforces their plan to means-test the private health insurance rebate.

Do you have private hospital insurance? Are the high costs worth it?

Do you agree with the Government’s plan to means-test the rebate?

Have your say on the blog.