Whether it’s financial advice, exercise or even just enjoying a martini, this week “CityNews” speaks with businesses that are passionate about helping seniors make the most of their lives.

ALMOST a quarter of Canberra’s population is made up of people aged 55 and over, and throughout the capital there is a wealth of services specialising in helping them make the most of their lives.

Whether it’s financial advice, exercise or even just enjoying a martini, this week “CityNews” speaks with businesses passionate about supporting seniors.

 

Brendan’s got the secret to staying independent

BRENDAN Roche, owner of Alfredo Life, says asking for help is essential if you want to stay living at home independently.

“We wanted to make sure it was easy to ask for help, and also a little bit of fun,” he says.

The team of 20 “butlers” can do everyday jobs such as cleaning the house, doing laundry, flipping mattresses and changing light bulbs, as well as driving to the shops, picking up scripts, “and fixing our clients a martini”.

Brendan says when they get asked to do something, they respond with “absolutely!”

“There’s not much we can’t do, but in the fine print we say as long as it’s safe and legal.”

He says if he and his team can’t do it, they’ll find someone who can.

“We know as you get older, those everyday problems can build up and create stress and worry, so it’s meant to be a service that’s about convenience, a little bit of luxury and some peace of mind.”

The business opened in January, and is serving clients from 60+.

Alfredo Life. Call 6100 3255, email hello@alfredo.life or visit alfredo.life

 

Financial advice for all life stages

HELPING people financially at all stages of life, the team at Wholistic Financial Solutions understand that seniors have unique financial needs, says CEO Catherine Smith.

“Senior clients often have differing needs such as planning for retirement, investing in retirement, managing their cash flow, minimising their taxes, planning their estate matters and assisting their next generation build wealth,” says Catherine.

“Wholistic can help in relation to all of these matters.”

Not just accountants, the team members at Wholistic Financial Solutions are also financial planners, mortgage brokers, property advisers, retirement consultants and superannuation specialists who look after the “whole” of someone’s financial needs, all under one roof, she says.

With a vision to take clients on a journey to financial freedom, Catherine says they are the most awarded team of financial and property experts in Australia.

“We understand how conflicting opinions from professionals in different fields can make the financial world a lot more complicated,” says Catherine.

“At Wholistic Financial Solutions we work as a team to answer all your questions simply and efficiently. The unique combination of our services also makes our advice very affordable.”

Wholistic Financial Solutions, 4/6 Pelle Street, Mitchell. Call 6162 4546 or visit wholisticfinancialsolutions.com.au

 

Building confidence through exercise

EVEN as it becomes more difficult with age, Arthritis ACT CEO Rebecca Davey says it’s important to remain active and to condition muscles that protect against injury.

While the recommended 30 minutes of exercise each day is a good start, Rebecca says it’s also important to build strength in different areas of the body.

“The reason we want to do that is, as we get older, our balance tends to go if we haven’t remained very active,” she says.

“Even people who go for a walk every day, or say they are always doing different things, they’re not exercising all their body.”

As a result, Rebecca says Arthritis ACT offers a full range of exercise classes that are tailored to different age groups, such as hydrotherapy and tai chi.

“We have strength and balance classes all over Canberra, which really look at building up bone strength and making people more stable on their feet,” she says.

“And we can also work with people to devise an independent exercise plan.”

As people get older, they become less sure on their feet and can lack self-assuredness, Rebecca says.

“Having that confidence to get out again, to come join a group or come and see someone who can help them get more fit is a huge barrier,” she says.

“We work really hard to welcome people in and always look at the friendships that people will make around our exercise classes to reduce that barrier and to entice them to come back.”

Arthritis ACT, building 1, Colette Place, Pearce, and building 18, 170 Haydon Drive, Bruce. Call 1800 011041, email info@arthritisact.org.au or visit arthritisact.org.au

 

The importance of an up-to-date will

CAPON and Hubert Lawyers and Mediators can help clients update their will as they get older to ensure their wishes are respected, says wills and estate-planning lawyer Ashilpa Khanna.

Unfortunately, Ashilpa says some people don’t have a will, which means their possessions are instead distributed by the “rules of intestacy”.

“This distribution means that someone – your spouse or a family member – will have to apply to the court to be appointed administrator before they can handle your estate,” she says.

This can be costly and time-consuming, she says.

For seniors, even if they have a will, Ashilpa says it’s important to periodically review it, especially after significant events such as when children get married to their partners or the birth of a grandchild.

“At the forefront of people’s minds is making sure their financial and legal affairs are in order, so that in the event of a crisis, their loved ones are secure and can be provided for as intended,” she says.

Capon and Hubert Lawyers and Mediators has been helping people with their legal matters for more than 34 years and can also help seniors with a range of legal issues in areas such as family law, children’s matters, conveyancing, and power of attorney.

“We are focused on giving honest and expert advice at all times,” she says.

“Our staff are experienced in their fields and we take pride in knowing that they will always use common sense, respect, courtesy and good judgement when dealing with clients.”

Capon and Hubert Lawyers and Mediators, first floor, 32-38 Townshend Street, Phillip. Email enquiries@chsol.com.au, call 6152 9203 or visit chsol.com.au

 

Getting on the front foot when preparing a will

WHEN it comes to wills and estate planning it’s best to get on the front foot and be prepared, says partner at Maliganis Edwards Johnson, Craig Edwards.

However, he says sometimes people pass without leaving a will, or if they have left one, it can be invalid or poorly prepared. Other times, even when a will is valid, someone may feel they haven’t been adequately provided for.

“A lot of people don’t know what to do or where to start when a loved one dies and a solicitor can guide them through that,” he says.

“It can be emotional work, and if there are disputes, a solicitor is able to ‘step back’ and look at all the individual points of view.”

Craig says he can help people navigate problems when they feel that a will is “not fair”.

“Often there are oversights, particularly in an extended or blended family,” he says.

“It’s certainly not always a vindictive thing but it can cause distress – they’re dealing with the loss of a loved one while coming to terms with the fact that they haven’t been looked after as they may have been expecting.”

Craig has been a solicitor for more than 30 years, and specialising in personal injury law for the past 20 years.

“It’s a complex area, with our ageing population and people who have more to leave than ever before,” he says.

“I like talking to people and helping them feel prepared, or if necessary, untangle any problems that can arise.”

Maliganis Edwards Johnson, 60 Marcus Clarke Street, Civic. Call 6257 2999 or visit mej.com.au

 

Purposeful living in aged care

MAKING the decision of supporting a loved one to move to an aged care service is always difficult, says Jacqueline Quirke, engagement and purposeful living manager at Southern Cross Care.

“We often think about aged care in a clinical way. However, there’s much more than that,” she says.

“For Southern Cross Care, the well-being of their residents includes not only their physical health and safety but also the way they choose to live their life.

“We generate in each resident the confidence to keep doing what they want to do. We support them to continue exploring their interests and expand them, creating the space to help them identify what brings purpose to their lives.

“We offer tailored and targeted opportunities; these may include interest-based activities in large and small groups, and independent leisure pursuits, such as cooking or gardening.”

Jacqueline says that Southern Cross Care works on identifying residents’ goals, needs and preferences, and empowers them to provide feedback. “All our practices are evidence-based and backed by the latest knowledge and skills,” she says.

“The team also leverages new technology to enhance engagement. Some examples are virtual armchair travel, quiz competitions and art workshops. These have proven very popular and have had significant uptake and positive responses from residents,” she says. 

Visit sccliving.org.au for more information.

 

Retirement village offers convenience

ADRIA Village combines access to important facilities with a feel of privacy, making it the perfect place for retirement, says CEO Stephanie Tyrrell.

“There’s close access to Cooleman Court and Woden Westfield, but we are surrounded by reserves and parklands making it a very peaceful atmosphere for residents,” she says.

Located in the heart of Weston Creek, Adria Village, which has two dedicated respite rooms and a special care unit, offers residential care for 42 residents. The village also contains 36 independent living units.

Stephanie says the village offers residents a wide range of things to do, and that they can get involved as little or as much as they’d like.

“We have an active residents’ committee who organise lots of get-togethers. Residents can play cards, go to morning teas and happy hours, enjoy exercise, and much more,” she says.

Established in 1994 by volunteers of the Croatian community of Canberra and Queanbeyan, Stephanie also says the village is home to a greatly multicultural group of people.

“We have residents [from] Australia, Croatia, China, France, Macedonia, Hungary and more,” she says.

“There are great residents and great staff committed to the best outcomes for the community.”

Adria Village, 89 Fremantle Drive, Stirling. Call 6288 0198, email admin@adria.org.au or visit adria.org.au

 

Protecting the rights of older Canberrans

“SENIOR Canberrans are protected from discrimination and unfair treatment under ACT law,” says Karen Toohey, the Discrimination, Health Services, Disability and Community Services Commissioner of the ACT Human Rights Commission.

“This means that you or someone you care for doesn’t have to put up with discrimination or unfair treatment because of age, where you live, disability or family and carer responsibilities.”

Ms Toohey says the ACT Human Rights Commission promotes and protects the rights of older Canberrans.

“We do this by providing a free – and easy – complaint-handling process, and advocating for the rights of older people,” she says.

Ms Toohey says people can give them a call if they have experienced discrimination because of age, race, sex, disability, where they live or a medical condition.

“You can call us if you have a concern about a service for older people such as a residential aged-care home or retirement villages, or about a health service or a health worker,” she says. 

“You [can also] call us if you are concerned about elder abuse, the abuse, neglect or exploitation of an older person or if you are concerned about an older person who is a victim of crime.

“All our services are free and confidential. You can contact us for an informal chat or you can talk to us about making a complaint, and learning more about how we handle complaints.”

The ACT Human Rights Commission, call 6205 2222, visit hrc.act.gov.au or email human.rights@act.gov.au

 

Enlightening people on their legal options

TAKING the first step in estate planning is often an enlightening experience, with many people surprised to find out what they’re actually worth, says KJB Law’s estate planning special counsel Kerstin Glomb.

“I have clients who believe they don’t own much, but then when we walk through things like superannuation and life insurance they’re surprised to find out how much they’re actually worth and what they have to organise,” she says.

“After that initial meeting I find people feel a lot of relief and peace of mind that they’ve started the process.”

Although it can be an uncomfortable topic to approach, Kerstin says estate planning is something everyone should think about and KJB takes pride in helping ease the burden and making clients feel comfortable.

“We guide people through what options they have and what they should address so that they can take charge in providing protection for themselves and their loved ones,” says Kerstin.

“It’s about working out with a client who are the right people in their family or broader surroundings and then structuring their document to reflect that.

“There’s nothing better than when people say after signing that they’re happy to have it in place, feel comfortable and most importantly that they understand what they’ve signed.”

KJB Law, ground floor, 10 Corinna Street, Woden. Call 6281 0999 or visit kjblaw.com.au

 

The importance of getting screened for diabetes

ACT general manager of Diabetes NSW & ACT Natalie Smith says that as people get older their risk of diabetes also increases.

“Unfortunately, as we get older the pancreas produces less insulin meaning there’s a higher risk, especially for type 2 diabetes,” she says.

“That’s why it’s so important people have a conversation with their GP or health-care provider and get screened every year.”

Natalie says that the earlier diabetes is detected, the faster treatment and lifestyle changes can begin to stop or delay complications such as heart disease and amputations.

She says Diabetes NSW and ACT has an online calculator where people can measure how much risk they’re at of the chronic illness.

“It calculates cultural, genetic and lifestyle factors that contribute towards your risk and we encourage everyone to do it,” says Natalie.

It’s just one of the many services the organisation offers to help people living with the condition, including a membership support package that allows people to learn from others living with diabetes.

“If you’re diagnosed with diabetes, don’t panic, call us. We’re here to help,” says Natalie.

Diabetes NSW & ACT, visit diabetesnsw.com.au or call 6248 4500.

 

Experienced surgeons improve patients’ quality of life

ORTHOPAEDICS ACT was established in 2013, and provides a complete range of care for patients with orthopedic conditions.

Associate Professor Chris Roberts says they are the largest and most comprehensive orthopedic practice in Canberra.

“Our specialists have the most experience of any of the other orthopedic surgeons in Canberra,” he says.

The goal at Orthopaedics ACT is to treat patients with musculoskeletal disorders, strive to reduce pain, and improve their patients’ function and quality of life.

Chris Roberts says this may involve trauma and fractures, sporting injuries, high-speed motor vehicle accidents, overuse injuries, arthritis and disabling pain.

“As an orthopedic surgeon, there is nothing more satisfying than hearing from our patients that there has been a reduction in their pain or that they are pain free and able to get back to activity without restrictions.

“At Orthopaedics ACT we have all devoted ourselves to caring for our patients and striving to be the best in our field.”

Orthopaedics ACT, Woden Specialist Medical Centre, level 2, 90 Corinna Street, Phillip. Call 6221 9320 or visit orthoact.com.au

 

Exhibition to find living options that suit you

THE Canberra Retirement Village and Resort Expo is set to take place on February 27 and 28.

Organiser Dorothy Willoughby says it’s a very specific event to show retirees the variety of options in Canberra.

“The thing I really love is that all our exhibitors are in separate booths so when people come in they can gather all the information, they can ask questions and they can find out anything they need to know,” she says.

It’s really important, Dorothy says, for people to do their own research.

“At the end of the day, the only people that know what’s best for them are them, and I love that.”

She says they began the exhibitions in 1997 after noticing there was a need for people to be comfortable in openly asking questions.

“It’s important for people to have access to information outside a sales environment, without those sorts of pressures.”

Canberra Retirement Village and Resort Expo, February 27-28, Canberra Southern Cross Club, 92-96 Corinna Street, Woden. Visit retirementexpo.com.au or email mail@dorsal.com.au

 

Agile experts in superannuation

LOCAL chartered accounting firm, Greenlight Super Services, is owned and operated by Vanessa Rae and Danielle Rodda.

Specialising in self-managed superannuation funds (SMSF), Vanessa and Danielle have a combined total of 40 years of accounting experience and are accredited specialists by the SMSF Association.

Being a smaller firm, Greenlight is able to be agile with the changing technology and ever changing legislation to the benefit of its clients.

“SMSF is an area of accounting that can provide strategies for retirement that greatly minimise tax,” says Vanessa.

“We provide a personal-service solution, aligning our clients with a relationship manager and a specialist adviser. We want to help people get the best out of their superannuation and care about their futures.”

Located at Marcus Clarke Street, Civic, Greenlight can also provide all its services remotely via its online portal and video calls.

“We work with clients directly, other accountants, financial planners, lawyers and other professional services firms to provide SMSF-specific solutions to aid in retirement plans,” says Vanessa.

“We understand that no two clients are the same, so individual strategies are our forte. We have the skills, knowledge and process that will make a difference.”

Greenlight Super Services, greenlightsuper.com.au or call 6273 1066.

 

‘Turbo charge’ your walk

A NEW, scientifically studied exercise technique called Nordic Walking is more effective than jogging but as gentle as walking, and is the perfect way to get in some regular exercise this year, says Capital Nordic Walking founder Kristen Pratt.

The technique, which keeps European cross-country skiers fit during their off season, uses specially designed poles that are planted behind the user to propel them along using the power of the upper body as well as the legs.

“It doubles the number of muscles being used and strengthened compared to walking and running, making it easy to get a high-intensity cardiovascular workout,” says Kristen.

“It strengthens arms, shoulders, back and core while also massively reducing strain on leg joints.”

Kristen says Nordic Walking is quickly growing in Canberra, beneficial to those who need some low-impact exercise and for those with a competitive spark.

“The great thing about Nordic walking is you don’t have to go very fast to get a good workout but competitive Nordic walkers can get up to speeds similar to running,” she says.

“For people who like walking, it can turbo charge your walk and for people who are really fit like runners and crossfitters, it’s a really good cross activity to build muscle because it is so low impact.”

Capital Nordic Walking, email hello@capitalnordicwalking.com.au or visit capitalnordicwalking.com.au

 

Helping farewell loved ones

PASSIONATE about helping people through one of the most profoundly difficult times of their life, Jennifer Nagy, of Your Canberra Celebrant, helps to organise funeral services.

“When our loved ones pass, we know we need to accompany them to their place of rest and to organise a fitting goodbye,” she says.

“This is where I come in, meeting with the family to help them work out how best to do this. Comforting words need to be said, memories shared, music played and stories told.

“Whatever suits and I can even design the order of service handout, if needed.”

Jennifer felt drawn to being a funeral celebrant after both her parents passed away.

“It was a very difficult experience, made a tad easier as my father had put aside newspaper clippings of celebrants he thought I’d like,” she says.

“The loss of my parents gave me compassion and empathy for people travelling through the journey of grief. It means a lot to turn that experience into helping people during such a difficult time”.

Jennifer says helping people with eulogies is rewarding.

“A lot of people feel too shattered to read the eulogy. Usually I can help them feel empowered enough to achieve this, though I’m always ready to step in,” she says.

“I strive to help people come away from a funeral with a sense of peace and comfort.”

Your Canberra Celebrant, call 0435 119981, visit yourcanberracelebrant.com/funerals or email jennifer@yourcanberracelebrant.com

 

Help navigating grief in all its forms

“LOSS comes in many forms throughout our lives and there doesn’t have to be a death for you to feel bereft, or a deep sense of sadness,” says grief counsellor Estella Hutchinson.

“It can be any key change point – moving, the end or a relationship, a change of jobs, the loss of an animal companion, even retirement.”

Estella, owner of Your Sunset Grief Counselling, helps people navigate grief across many different situations that have them feeling at a loss.

As part of her services, Estella visits clients in their homes in order to give them a space that’s comfortable for them.

“It takes away a bit of the anxiety of going to see a counsellor,” she says.

“There’s no need to go find parking, no need to worry about public transport and it allows the person to be in an environment they know.”

When it comes to seniors dealing with grief, Estella says there are many life-changing events that counselling can help them with.

“Quite often with our seniors, they or their partner may have received a diagnosis of a particular condition that can completely derail plans,” she says.

“A lot of people have to become carers for their partners, changing what their lives may have looked like for the next 20 years, and grieving over that loss is okay.

“When that, or another life-changing event happens, we’re here for you.”

Your Sunset Grief Counselling. Visit yoursunset.com.au or call 0474 307584.