FROM PROBUS SOUTH PACIFIC - SOME INTERESTING INFORMATION WITH LINKS TO VARIOUS SITES FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT.  Click on the links below:

Staying Connected E-Newsletter Issue 1 

Staying Connected E-Newsletter Issue 2

Staying Connected E-Newsletter Issue 3 

Staying Connected E-Newsletter Issue 4

 

AGE CONCERN

Age Concern is a charitable organization which provides services, information, advice, support, education and advocacy to older people their whanau and carers across Auckland.  We provide practical support, social work assistance and education on a wide range of issues relating to ageing. Please click onto the following link for further information about our organization: https://www.ageconcernauckland.org.nz/

The following are some of the presentations and workshops that will be running early next year. 

Steady Steps:
A one-hour presentation that will provide simple tips to help try and prevent a fall from occurring. Includes a demonstration of some simple strength and balance exercises that can be done at home.

Nutrition in a Nutshell:

A one-hour presentation that will provide an overview of the importance of nutrition as we age and our changing nutritional needs.

Seniors Eating Well:

Tow hour nutrition-based workshop, one day a week for four weeks. This interactive workshop gives practical examples for selecting the right type of food and delicious ways of preparing healthy and nutritional options.

Superannuation:

This is a two-hour presentation on Superannuation Entitlements. Topics covered include Veterans Pension, Living Alone Allowance, Super Gold Card, Health Costs, Housing Costs and many more.

Enduring Power of Attorney:

Information on the types and importance of Enduring Power of Attorney so older people can plan for their future wellbeing. Covers EPA for Property and Personal Cares.

Hearing Awareness:

This workshop will be run by trained Hearing Therapists in collaboration with Life Unlimited to provide information and encourage awareness of a range of hearing issues.

Advanced Care Planning:

A two-hour seminar on what and Advanced Care Plan is, why it is important and how to write one.

Scam Alert:

A two-hour presentation designed to educate and empower older people on the they type of scams they can be vulnerable to and strategies to avoid being taken in by them.

Sleeplessness and Stress Workshop:

This two and a half hour workshop is designed to assist older people to understand more about fatigue caused by both a lack of good quality sleep and by stress. It will offer positive strategies and suggestions for improving hours of quality sleep and coping with stress.

Technology for Seniors Event:

A two-hour opportunity for older adults to get individual instruction on their own devices (eg: cellphones, laptops or iPads) with assistance and guidance from local Senior High School students.

Staying Safe:

A three-hour driver refresher workshop designed to fine tune your safe driving knowledge and keep with road rule changes. Staying Safe is a classroom-based refresher workshop for senior road users with material authorized by the New Zealand Transport Agency.

 To register your interest for any of these presentations or workshops please phone (09) 8202712 or email: [email protected].

 

SCAM CONCERNS

Scams of various sorts are very much on the rise, so we all need to be aware and cautious about what appears to be a genuine message but is often a scam. Information to help you identify these malicious messages is available on our Useful Information page on our website, but here is a summary:

 

Red flags indicating a scam:

• Putting pressure on you to act quickly

• Will often try to keep things confidential and say not to tell anyone else

• Multiple requests for money, often for increasing amounts

• Initial contact is out of the blue

• Often poor English

• Sounds too good to be true

 

Stop and Think - Is this for real?

1. Never give your PIN, PASSWORDS OR PASSCODES TO ANYONE

2. Don’t send money to people you don’t know or haven’t met

3. Be cautious with what personal information you disclose online and in the real world

4. If you receive emails from people you don’t know do not respond to them or click on any links in the email

5. Use unique passwords and don’t share with anyone

6. Only shop online at websites you trust

7. Get a second opinion on something if you’re not sure about it

SCAM HELP:

www.idcare.org

www.netsafe.org.nz

 

 

Some points from the Seminar on retirement villages given by Troy Churton from the Commission for Financial Capability

He explained about the nature of retirement villages, their industry stakeholders, and the Retirement Villages Act 2003.

He gave some helpful information about making the choice of staying in one’s own home or moving to a retirement village

It is important when making this decision to

• Consult a good lawyer who is familiar with retirement village law
• Ensure that you obtain from the village manager the disclosure statement, occupation right agreement, code of residents’ rights and retirement villages code of practice
• Explore the different types of retirement village and what they offer
  • Community facilities and common areas
  • Serviced units or apartments
  • Location
  • Design
  • Check how well the village is being maintained

Choosing the lifestyle you want that will give you

• Security
• Companionship
• Family or lifestyle change
• Health

You need to check the village rules (e.g. pets allowed?)

• Is there a residents’ committee – if so, try and talk to a member
• Future development plans that may impact on your preferred unit
• Access to care
• The different types of care offered, and the costs involved
• Knowing the costs involved when you move to a retirement village

Further information is available by calling 0800 268 269 and on the CFFC retirement village web pages on 222.cffc.org.nz/retirement-villages/living-in-a-retirement-village/

The CFFC has also produced a very helpful booklet.

 

 

Plastic  Bag Ban.  Are you remembering to take a bag with you when you shop?

Businesses cannot sell or provide single-use plastic shopping bags to customers for carrying or distributing their sold goods.

 

Who is affected? The regulations apply to all businesses in New Zealand who sell goods including sales directly to consumers, business-to-business transactions and online sales. They apply to small produce markets and retail stores through to large department stores and supermarkets. They apply to both profit and not-for-profit organisations.

 

Which bags are banned? The regulations apply to plastic shopping bags which meet all of the following criteria:

• made of any type of plastic less than 70 microns in thickness. This includes plastics made from bio-based materials such as starch and plastics designed to be degradable, biodegradable or oxo-degradable.

• with carry handles

• new or unused.

 

Which bags are not covered by the ban?

• Bags without handles including lightweight barrier bags (e.g. bags without handles used for containing meat and/or produce)

• Bin liners/rubbish bags

• Bags for pet waste or nappies

• Bags that are an essential part of a product’s packaging (e.g. bread bags and pouches for cooked chicken)

• Bags that don’t contain plastic including bio-sourced plastics (e.g. cotton, jute, hemp, paper and flax)

• Long-life, multi-use bags made from synthetic fabric (e.g. nylon and polyester) between 45 and 70 microns in thickness.

 

How the ban is enforced?

The Ministry of the Environment:

• provides an online form on the website which consumers, retailers and suppliers can use to let them know about retailers who don’t comply,

•will respond to complaints received and follow-up these directly with the retailer involved.

 

Pest Free Funding

 Get in touch with Council and secure a trap for your backyard if you are concerned with rat infestation. There have been media reports of increased rat numbers in Auckland after a long hot summer and mild winter.  Council will also empty your trap if you call them.

 

TIPS FOR RETIREMENT

Retirement can be exciting – coming to the end of your working career with a calendar now open for relaxation and enjoyment is a time many people look forward to during younger years.

 

But the prospect of retirement can also be daunting. Some new retirees worry that their days will have less purpose now that they’re not at work, that they’ll be bored, or that they’ll miss the social connection they had with their co-workers or clients. These concerns are just as legitimate as the excitement of winding up work.

 

Below are some pointers for maintaining mental wellness during retirement and information on why it’s important to proactively look after yourself during this time.

 

1. Focus on your physical health: During retirement, you might find there is more time to improve taking care of your body. This is good news because your physical health and your mental wellbeing are connected. The Federal Government’s Head to Health website shows how exercising, eating a balanced diet, getting enough sleep and even drinking enough water can all affect our mood and energy levels. Has it been a while since you tried a new sport or type of physical activity? How often do you attempt a new recipe? Just because you’re getting on in decades doesn’t mean you can’t try new things. Joining Probus can provide you with an opportunity to access new friends and ideas with people who enjoy the same things as you do.

 

2. Explore what gives you purpose: Having purpose is really important for mental wellbeing. It gives you a reason to get up in the morning and makes your days feel meaningful. There are a lot of ways to feel you have purpose. Just because you’re not going to your day job any more does not mean you can’t have purpose in your life. You may feel like you have purpose when you’re engaging in ‘purposeful activities’. Purposeful activities help you feel like you’re contributing something to the world, whether that contribution is just for you, your family, friends, community or the broader population. What counts as a purposeful activity will be different for everyone.

 

Finding your purpose can be fun! If you’re not sure what gives you purpose now that you’re not at work, try something new and see how it makes you feel. If you’re a member of a social group like Probus, you’ll find that new ideas and activities within your Club may inspire you to find a new purpose and enjoy life.

 

3. Connect with the outside world: Connection with others, including your family and friends, a Probus Club, with pets, or with nature, is a vital part of the human experience. Developing healthy relationships with others can decrease levels of anxiety and depression and improve self-esteem. When you retire from work, you might feel like you’ve lost a lot of connection all at once. Finding ways to connect with others beyond work can be an effective way to promote your mental wellbeing.

 

4. Consider your sense of safety: Feeling safe, stable and secure is really important for your mental wellbeing. This can include feeling safe at home, in your neighbourhood, feeling financially secure and feeling supported within your close relationships and your community.

When you feel safe, it is easier to relax and feel free to live your life as you want. Talk to other retirees about what they’ve done to make their lives safe and secure.

 

5. Seek support: Mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression can affect anyone at any time. It’s important to know that these conditions are health conditions, like catching a cold, it is not a weakness or character flaw. The good news is they can be managed and treated by health professionals. If you’ve been feeling sad, worried, stressed, angry, numb or just ‘not yourself’ for two weeks or more, or if you would like extra support managing your mental wellbeing, speak to your GP about how you’re feeling. Sometimes just telling someone about how you’re feeling is the first step towards feeling better.