Arthritis - No Pain in Joint Venture

Home Instead Senior Care and Arthritis Queensland have teamed up to develop an important free resource booklet for carers of people with arthritis.  

In Australia, nearly one in five people has arthritis. Many people think arthritis is a normal part of growing older however, it can affect people from all backgrounds, ages and lifestyles and two out of every three people with the disease are between 15 and 60 years old.

Our research indicates almost half (46%) of our client market is suffering from some form of arthritis. We want to lead the way in providing help to carers and our own CAREGivers to understand how they can provide the best care

The booklet Caring for Arthritis - practical advice about caring for a person with arthritis, developed in collaboration with people living with arthritis, their carers, and Carers Queensland, explains:

• What arthritis is and how it affects people. There are over 100 forms of arthritis, affecting nearly every joint in the body (some forms can also involve other parts of the body, such as the eyes and skin).
• Suggests ways a carer can provide practical support
• Provides insights and communication tips for carers
• Includes information about where carers can obtain further advice and support

You can reserve a copy of the booklet from Home Instead Senior Care Offices  or

by calling the Arthritis Queensland Helpline 1800 011 041.

 A free download is also available. For more information visit homeinstead.com.au OR  arthritis.org.au 

Why not share this message and resource with your friends and family?

Martin Warner

Dying to know

Home Instead CAREGivers have given many hours of palliative care service and support to clients and their families in home environments, hospitals and aged care facilities. 

However, the discussion about where seniors can choose to spend their final days is still appears something of a taboo subject in our Australian community. It seems the norm for many seniors to pass away in an aged care facility, hospice or hospital and the discussion about the option to stay at home with appropriate palliative care is not had.

It is not so in other countries. Many cultures have traditions where living, dying and giving birth takes part in normal everyday environments including the family home.

Many families appear not to know that they can have the option for their loved one to die at home or that in the majority of cases necessary care can be provided outside of an institution or hospital environment and in the familiar surroundings of the family home.

We want to be part of the discussion of palliative care provision in the community and raise awareness of palliative care support choices.

Why not write and share your palliative care experiences and let us know what you think!

Martin Warner

Greetings and welcome to the first instalment of our new CARE blog.

Our research and day to day experience shows there are many people worried about their ageing parents and that they are often trying to care for someone who’d rather not have any help at all. We know this resistance can be a real problem for family caregivers – they can be worried about the safety of a senior loved one forgetting food on the stove or neglecting to take their medications. Sometimes seniors only want help from a son or daughter, which can put undue pressure on that family caregiver who feels he or she can’t call for professional help.  Most caregivers can go into “crisis mode” to rally around a loved one in the short-term, but you can't be totally immersed in a crisis mode long-term without your own family, work and health suffering.

So we are spreading the message that keeping fiercely independent seniors safe at home isn’t a lost cause with the release of a new free resource booklet When Seniors Say No! – overcoming resistance to assistance. The booklet features practical tips and insights such as:

• Warning bells – tell-tale signs of a senior in trouble
• Understanding why seniors resist offers of help
• Strategies to help counter resistance to care

The booklet and other caregiver resources are available for download under the Senior Care Resources section of the website.

Let us know what you think!

Martin