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Getting through a natural disaster with a disability Author: Kate Green For people with disabilities, even daily life can require some workarounds - let alone a natural disaster. With this in mind, the Wellington Region Emergency Management Office (WREMO) has launched a new emergency preparedness guide developed by, and for, disabled people. Renee Patete, who's been blind since birth, said most things were easier at home, in the house she'd known for the past 24 years. "In an emergency, it's important to know where you are, and what you have around you, and who you have around you," she said. She told RNZ she knew where all the exits were and where to drop during an earthquake to avoid falling objects, and the house was well-stocked with food. But that was not always the reality - a natural disaster could strike at any time. "I suppose the best thing to do is to be able to clearly communicate your needs to anyone else," she said. "Having in mind how you're going to quickly and efficiently communicate what you need to strangers is really important." This, and other advice designed with the input of people with all kinds of disabilities, was included in WREMO's new guide. Patete, who was an intern in the National Emergency Management Agency's communications team through the Whaikaha/Ministry for Disabled People's summer intern programme, had been a part of the creative process. She said the result was a practical resource for planning ahead and preparing well for a disaster, "no matter the individual's ability". "We talk a lot about what everyone should do, or what we should all do," Patete said. "But that doesn't necessarily always apply to everyone." She explained advice like drop-cover-hold was not very useful for someone in a wheelchair - instead, they might prefer to lock, cover, hold - locking their wheels and curling over. It was the first step in a wider project responding to long-standing evidence that disabled people face disproportionate impacts in disasters, based on a framework designed at the University of Sydney which emphasised the input of people with disabilities themselves. It recognised the expertise disabled people already used to manage daily life. "Centering it on the person is a really big step forward," Patete said. "We talk a lot about the people that help, the other people that can support you and what we need from other people, but actually this guide is about what can you do, what are your strengths, what can you do to solve these problems?" WREMO's project lead Renee Santos has an invisible disability. "Controlled well by medication now, but when I started working on this guide, I was really struggling with mobility, so I came in and I was like, 'What can I do to improve outcomes for my community?'" WREMO's adaptation of the Sydney guide was shaped by groups of disabled people at national, regional and local levels, who were paid for their time like any other contractor. The work was backed by Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People, and the National Emergency Management Agency. They were now developing a national version, including in alternate formats like braille or audio. Santos said the plan was to create peer-led workshops to go with the guide, and then, she hoped, forums to bring emergency services, emergency management, and disabled people together. "I think that's where the real change will come in the system." Ref: RNZ Speech Language Therapy  A Speech Language Therapist is trained in the area of swallowing and in the development of communication speech, and language. The reason they are trained in both these areas is many of the same muscles, nerves and body parts are used in both communication and swallowing. Communication is a complex activity that involves us understanding and being understood and includes:
Swallowing or dysphagia is a common consequence of many health conditions, head and neck surgery and ageing, affecting over 20% of over 50 year olds. Signs of swallowing problems may include: • coughing while eating or drinking • choking while eating and drinking • repeated chest infections • taking longer to eat or drink • reduced appetite • unplanned weight loss • problems eating/drinking in public • food sticking in your throat • difficulty chewing tough foods • dribbling • food/fluid coming out of your nose • spilling food from mouth while eating • wet or gurgly sounding voice after eating or drinking • problems with drinking enough fluid  What does a Speech Language Therapist do? Communication Speech Language Therapists give practical solutions to improve your communication, such as:
With you, and those supporting you, they will:
Swallowing (Dysphagia)
Speech Language Therapists will give practical solutions to improve your eating and drinking, such as: • swallowing exercises • the best position to eat and drink • advice on special cutlery or cups to make eating and drinking easier • advice on food and fluids and how to make them so they are safe to swallow • advice on the ways to feed when eating and drinking is no longer safe With you, and those supporting you, they will: • tailor a plan for you and help you put it into action • review plan if required • recommend equipment and its funding Who does a Speech Language Therapist work with? Adults and children with a variety of communication and or swallowing difficulties. Conditions that may require help from a Speech Language Therapist include: Developmental
Health and wellbeing
Neurological
How does a Speech Language Therapist work? The way in a Speech Language Therapist works is determined by the individual needs of the client and may include one or a combination of the following approaches. Consultation and Monitoring Consultation is an effective way of working with a person to improve their communication wherever they live, work play or learn. Therapists work together with the Significant Others, who are in the best position to carry out ideas on a day- to-day basis. The Speech Language Therapist can provide support and regular review. Direct/Hands On Intervention The therapist carries out a programme on a regular basis, in a one-to-one or group setting. Transdisciplinary Team Approach People we work with may require support from a range of therapists including occupational therapists, physiotherapists, dietitian, and music therapists. At Therapy Professionals Ltd we work within a transdisciplinary team and are able to provide support one another’s programmes when appropriate. If you think you or someone you know needs a speech language therapist Therapy Professionals Ltd’s friendly Speech Language Therapist can help, just contact us: Phone: 377 5280 Fax: 377 5281 Email: [email protected] ‘Young at heart, slightly older in other places’ – Eating and drinking problems and ageing. Swallowing difficulties (Dysphagia) are a common consequence of many health conditions, and head and neck surgeries, however swallowing difficulties can also be associated with ageing. Estimates suggest up to 20% of all adults over 50 may be affected.
Changes might include such things as reduction in muscle strength for chewing, taste and smell, dental issues, dry mouth or throat, or recurrent illness such as pneumonia. These changes may result in poor nutrition and hydration, unintended weight loss, avoidance of eating in public, loss of enjoyment in previously enjoyed food, and/or a risk of food/fluid entering the lungs (aspiration) leading to pneumonia and chronic lung disease. What might you notice?
Who can you talk to?
For further information or advice please contact Therapy Professionals Ltd as follows: Phone (03) 3775280, Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.therapyprofessionals.co.nz Our Dietitian or Speech Language Therapist will be happy to help. New technologies reduce falls Among fall-prevention technologies, whole body vibration is gaining momentum From Aged Care, Issue 02, 2021 The statistics are familiar: each year, one in three people aged 65 or older will fall, and falls are the second leading cause of death among older adults. The National Institutes of Health, state, and local agencies have published volumes of information about the perils of elders’ falls, but no comprehensive, feasible program to prevent falls has emerged. There is little excitement or consistency in the programs, and many produce lackluster results.
Of course, we understand the risks. But often, despite the statistics and our best efforts at motivation, many older adults make little or no effort to exercise or adopt physical activity. So, where do we go from here? The answer lies in education. In addition to identifying elders at risk of falling, it’s important to emphasise the proactive solutions that can be effective. There are scientifically researched tools available that can help significantly reduce the incidence of falls. Among the major causes of falls are: environmental, such as home trip hazards or electrical wires, footstools, elevated thresholds, and uneven outdoor terrain, including sidewalks and curbs; vestibular problems’ neuropathy and other diseases; diet; physiological problems affecting ankles, feet, knees, and hips; muscle deterioration; and obesity. Most agree that exercise, particularly weight resistance, presents the best option for older adults. However, many older adults who would benefit from such training are strangers to lifting weights or running on treadmills. For individuals in the 80s, this form of training was not widespread years ago and health clubs offering such exercises simply weren’t in existence. But there are alternatives. Whole body vibration As early as the 1970s, the East Germans and Russians were experimenting with technology that came to be known as whole body vibration (WBV). Basically, it involved a metal platform to adjust involuntarily in order to achieve balance, WBV also caused the muscles to fire at different frequencies, thereby taxing muscle strength. At first, the technology was used to train athletes, improving coordination, muscle growth, and calorie burn. During that era, the Soviets found that this new technology could be used during orbital space flight for their cosmonauts to combat the ravages of weightlessness, which caused muscle and bone density platforms and held on with straps. Concurrently, American astronauts had to abort long-term space flights because of the deleterious effects of extended weightlessness and often had to be carried on stretchers after disembarking from the capsules. Evolving technology Throughout the 1990s, WBV technology took flight in Europe; many universities and medical establishments began to quantify its results. Numerous studies were commissioned and most of the early studies emanated from Europe. Around 2000, the technology was introduced to the United States via trade shows specific to the fitness industry and directed to, for example, health clubs. There was a barrier to market entry through that means of distribution, as fitness devotees refused to believe that a few minutes on a WBV platform could deliver benefits similar to those achieved in an hour on traditional fitness equipment. However, the concept ultimately took hold in universities and physical therapy clinics, and hundreds of additional studies were conducted to understand the benefits of WBV and how it could benefit various segments of the population. The conclusions on its benefits included the following:
These results were achieved through WBV’s causation of the following responses:
About 10 years ago, competitors attempted to enter the market. Fast-forward to 2015 when researchers identified a new demographic that could benefit from WBV. It appeared ideally suited for the older adult population for the following reasons:
Measuring program success How is this success measured in terms of fall prevention? There are several means of testing individuals’ likelihood of falling, and a variety of balance-testing assessments. The fear of falling plays a role in fall risk as well. By utilizing specific measurement tools, a practitioner can advise older adults regarding the following:
A new device features insole sensors that relay to the practitioner real-time information regarding walking patterns, balance, and sway with dynamic rather than static measurements. A Bluetooth relay switch attached to the shoestrings sends the information to an iPad for recording the results. Early diagnosis provides older adults and their physicians or practitioners detailed information about individuals’ fall and likelihood so recommendations on training, medication, diet, physical therapy, and other corrective measures can be made. This new science has augmented, if not surpassed, the merits of casual observation such as sit-to-stand, get-up and go, and other subjective observational tests. Other helpful devices Once older adults experience a fall or a near miss, they frequently stop moving in favour of sitting, for fear that their next move might lead to a catastrophic break of limb, hip, or skull. This results in weight gain, muscle loss, and balance deterioration, the expected physiological results of inactivity. Ankle-foot orthotics (AFO), which can enhance stability when standing and walking and sometimes correct physiological problems, can be prescribed. Confidence associated with AFO use can directly influence an older adult’s psyche regarding walking ability, helping to avoid falls. Falls are so deleterious, and physically and financially costly, that additional proactive solutions must be devised and, more importantly, implemented. Author: Brian Lewallan, Aged Care Issue 02, 2021  They care. We care. Do you Care More than a million New Zealanders care for family members and whānau who are ill, frail, injured, or have a health condition or disability. But family carers can feel invisible, taken for granted. They aren’t getting the support they need to keep going. That’s why the Carers Alliance of 50+ national not for profits is calling for a home in government for family carers, and for action to protect their mental, physical, and financial wellbeing. Help us by adding your voice to ours! Take one action, or do them all. The action we take together for family carers will make a real difference. Together we stand for family carers The Carers Alliance was formed in 2004 to call for a Carers’ Strategy for New Zealand. This was achieved in 2008, with three five-year Action Plans since. But progress has been too slow. That’s why the 50+ national not for profits in the Carers Alliance are taking action. Family carers need us – and you – to make sure they can get support, stay well, and keep caring. We are seeking a Minister or Commissioner for family carers, and true commitment to help them have breaks (respite), financial recognition for their work, flexible employment, help for children and young people who are carers, and legislative recognition and wellbeing protections for our country’s 1m+ family, whānau, and āiga carers. Please join us in taking action to support family carers – sign the petition and take some of our other actions. Your support will make a real difference. · Sign the petition calling for a home in government and better support for family carers · Send us a photo message calling for action or to support the campaign · Share your story about caring · Send our e-card to all MPs, Ministers, political party leaders, and the Prime Minister Find out more about how to add your voice at We Care If you would like to sign it, or send it on to others, here is the link: https://wecare.nz/testimonial/ Why should you care? You may already be a family carer, or maybe someone in your whānau has this role. Tomorrow, it could be you. Are you losing your mobility? As we age most of us want to keep our independence, this requires us to be mobile. The ability to get up and about with ease is essential for everyday life.
How might you know if you are in danger of losing your mobility? To help, here are some early signs of immobility. They include:
There are many reasons why immobility may happen as we age, some common ones are:
The good news is in most cases we can improve our mobility by dealing with the underlying problem and doing regular strength and balance exercises. The sooner we start the better off we will be. Regardless of our age, regular exercise keeps us fit and makes us feel better. Being physically active strengthens the heart and lungs while supplying increased oxygen to the body. This nourishes and strengthens muscles and joints making them work more efficiently. The spin-off is you have greater mobility, feel more energetic, look better and possibly have more fun. If you or someone you know is showing signs of immobility our friendly Physiotherapists can help just contact us at Therapy Professionals. Ph: 03 377 5280 Email: [email protected] Osteoporosis and DIet Bone is a living tissue that is continually remodelled and rebuilt throughout a person’s life. Calcium deposits make bones strong. Eating a balanced diet that includes calcium rich foods is important in maintenance of bone strength. As the body grows, bones become stronger, peaking in mass at about age 30. After this, bones lose calcium as part of natural ageing both in women and men. Oestrogen helps to keep calcium in bones, so when levels drop at menopause, women lose calcium from bones more rapidly than men do. Things that reduce bone strength Smoking Among the many health benefits of stopping smoking, this will improve absorption of many nutrients from the diet, including calcium. Alcohol Four or more alcoholic drinks a day can reduce calcium uptake by the bones despite dietary intake. Weight Being overweight may add stress to bones, however generally leads to a decrease in mobility and weight bearing exercises. Research shows being underweight or having a slight frame also can increase the risk of osteoporosis.  How to keep my bones strong? Exercise Regular weight bearing exercise where some strain is placed on the bones builds up bones in young people, and slows down loss of bone density in older people. Weight bearing exercise requires your muscles to move against gravity eg walking, jogging and playing sports (swimming, cycling and rowing are not weight bearing activities).  Sunshine Vitamin D is needed for calcium to be deposited into bones. Sunshine (ultraviolet light) is needed for the body to produce its own Vitamin D. If exposure to sunshine is limited during a NZ winter especially in the south island, food sources of Vitamin D are important. These include fish oils, sardines, tuna, eggs, butter and margarine and liver. Healthy diet A diet rich in calcium and a variety of foods from the four food groups - fruit and vegetables, breads and cereals, meat or meat alternatives, and milk and dairy products ensure good general health. How do I achieve a healthy calcium intake Adult men and premenopausal women need 800mg of calcium per day. Adult men and premenopausal women need 1000mg of calcium per day. Post menopausal women (over 51 years) and men over 70 years 1300mg per day. The table below shows how to achieve a healthy calcium intake.  Dietary Supplements
The preferred source of calcium is from food and the preferred sources of Vitamin D are sunlight and food. Food also contains other important nutrients such as phosphorus, zinc and magnesium, protein and other vitamins. Vitamin D If you are unable to get outside regularly you may need a Vitamin D supplement. Calcium If you don’t like, or can’t eat calcium rich foods, calcium supplements may be necessary. Discuss with your doctor whether dietary supplements are necessary, and which type is best for you. Therapy Professionals Ltd has dietitians available who are able to provide information to groups or individuals on many aspects of nutrition. Just contact us Phone: 03 3775280 Email: [email protected] References Arthritis Foundation of NZ and DAB ‘Your Bones, Your Future’ Arthritis Foundation of NZ and DAB ‘Look after dem bones’ Mann, J, Trusswell S, ‘Essentials of Human Nutrition’ Why getting moving is 'The Miracle Pill' - Peter Walker
It's estimated that 1.5 billion people around the world are so inactive that they are at greater risk of everything from heart disease to diabetes, cancer, arthritis, depression and even dementia. Daily activity used to be an integral part of daily life, but humans are now more static and sedentary than ever before. Peter Walker is the political correspondent for The Guardian in London, and a regular commentator and broadcaster on issues including active living and health. His new book is The Miracle Pill: Why a Sedentary World is Getting it all Wrong. Walker tells Kathryn Ryan that, after university, he got a secure but ‘incredibly boring’ desk job and, on a whim, gave it up to be a cycle courier. “From doing nothing, I went to cycling about 60 miles a day, five days a week and the transformation was completely amazing. I’d not been sporty, and I had asthma very badly when I was kid and I never thought of myself as being a physical person. “But, within a matter of months, it literally was a transformation in my life. I’ve always tried to be active ever since then, not in such an extreme way, but it’s something that’s stayed with me.” A recent study found that half of middle-aged English people don’t walk for ten minutes or more continuously in an average month. “It’s basically a global issue. Around the world, around 3 in 10 adults move so little that their long-term health is potentially at risk.” He says it’s even worse for children and teenagers who are supposed to get at least one hour exercise every day. “Schools in many countries are too inactive, the kids sit down a long time. It’s a product of all sorts of things, from the rise of screen-based entertainment to the fact that motor traffic makes parents feel scared to let their kids out cycling and walking. “It’s a big problem because this is a time of life when all sorts of things from your cardiovascular health to your bone density gets laid down.” Walker says that, if you’re in a job where you have to sit down for long periods, it’s important to get up and move around every 30 minutes or hour. “Our bodies are designed to move. From the moment homo sapiens emerged for the first time, we’ve been hunting and gathering, our bodies are designed to be in motion and they do shut down really quickly. “The positive other side of it is that the moment you do start to exert yourself, the benefits are instant.” He says that many of the things that have made us more sedentary are good changes, for instance washing machines rather than hand-washing clothes. Another big change that has made us less physically mobile is rising car use in the past few decades. “Even the micro movements people used to do like walking across an office to talk to a colleague is now replaced by emails or chat apps. Even going to the cinema or to the shops can be done from home. “It’s not that there’s been this outbreak of laziness around the world, it’s just that there are more and more opportunities to not do it.” Walker says that losing weight through exercise is very difficult to do, and there’s been a fetishization of fitness that is off-putting to some out-of-shape people, but even if we’re not losing weight through exercise, we’re improving our overall health and staving off serious diseases. Essentially, we can be both healthy and overweight. “A lot of this connects to the stigma of people who have a bit of excess weight and don’t like going to the gym. But studies have shown that it’s better for you overall to be a bit overweight or even quite overweight and active than it is to be a normal weight and to be inactive.” Ref: RNZ https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Miracle-Pill/Peter-Walker/9781471192548 Falls and Eyesight Currently, one in seven New Zealanders are 65 and over. Around 30% to 60% of people in this age group have a fall each year. And 10% to 20% will end up in hospital with a fracture. Those over the age of 85 are 15 times more likely to fracture their hip in a fall than a 65-year-old. Hip fractures can have a huge impact, with 30% of those over 85 who suffer one requiring placement in aged residential care. Research shows there is a link between poor eyesight and falls in older people. As we age most of us will become longsighted (presbyopia), making it hard to focus on things close up and we’re slower to adjust to light. This is because the muscles of the eye lens harden. Eventually we will all need glasses. Other age related eye conditions that contribute to falls are cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. Some tips to prevent falls associated with eyesight issues:
 Follow this advice and you will help to reduce the chances of falling. For other tips on falls prevention check out these links:
http://www.therapyprofessionals.co.nz/uploads/4/9/5/2/49523375/be_aware_of_your_feet.pdf http://www.therapyprofessionals.co.nz/uploads/4/9/5/2/49523375/getting_yourself_up_from_the_floor._.pdf http://www.therapyprofessionals.co.nz/uploads/4/9/5/2/49523375/footwear_matters__.pdf http://www.therapyprofessionals.co.nz/uploads/4/9/5/2/49523375/to__exercise_or_not_to_exercise_.pdf http://www.therapyprofessionals.co.nz/uploads/4/9/5/2/49523375/home_gym.pdf For more information and advice on preventing falls our friendly Physiotherapists can help just contact Therapy Professionals : Phone: 3877 5280 Fax: 03 377 5281 Email: [email protected] www.therapyprofessionals.co.nz Footwear Matters  Here at Therapy Professionals we know the value of comfortable feet. Good footwear is important throughout life, however, as we age it becomes even more important.
Poor footwear can cause foot, back and knee pain, and discomfort from corns, calluses and fungal infections. High heels and sloppy fitting shoes can affect our balance and walking, making us prone to falls. Any of these make us less inclined to walk affecting our health, wellbeing and independence. To avoid pain and discomfort caused by ill-fitting shoes and to maintain your fitness and independence as long as possible, just follow this advice from our friendly Physiotherapists. As we age our feet change shape and become larger so it’s important to get your feet re- sized when you are buying new shoes. Here are some tips on buying shoes: The essential components of good shoes are that they:
The shoe
If you need advice about the best type of footwear for you, Therapy Professionals friendly Physiotherapists can help, just contact us Phone No: (03) 377 5280 Email: [email protected] Website: www.therapyprofessionals.co.nz |
AuthorShonagh O'Hagan Archives
December 2025
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