The Better Ageing Podcast: Recent Episodes
New Tricks Co
Have you ever wanted to get more out of your mind and body, or wondered how best to care for your loved one? The Better Ageing Podcast aims to improve the health and wellbeing of our ageing population, empowering women and men to live healthier, more independent lives, for longer. Join Jonathan Reece, and experts Dr Jane Fyfield and Jason Lee as they provide simple, real-world advice on healthy ageing. Together Jason and Jane have over 45 years of experience working with elderly Australians. Jason runs his own physiotherapy practice, with a focus on strength and conditioning programs for over 60 year olds, and Jane works as a consultant to aged care services, is a former Medical Director, and has worked in the public, private and government sectors as a clinician and a non-clinical consultant.
Each year, about 2,500 people are diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in Australia. And just like in our last episode where we looked at dementia, this number is increasing year on year as we live longer and longer lives.
In this episode we take a look at this common neurological disease, first talking about what exactly Parkinson's Disease is and what effects Parkinson's Disease can have on someone (importantly the disease effects everyone differently).
In particular we discuss the latest research that supports physiotherapy interventions and exercise for Parkinson's Disease, and the positive impact it has on the health outcomes of individuals living with with the disease. Resistance and balance training are cited as the best exercise to combat Parkinson's, along with dancing! This is due to the fact that dancing is good for both balance and strength, and also features rhythm which helps with initiating movement.
As always, we hope this episode helps you better understand your own health and wellbeing and how you can care for those you love too. If you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us: https://newtricksco.com.au/contact/
Show notes/ topics covered:
0:07 - Welcome
1:35 - Introduction to the topic
4:50 - It should be diagnosed by a doctor and a neurologist
5:47 - Exercise should go hand in hand with medication
7:33 - What does the research say?
9:05 - Dancing works!
12:29 - What else does the literature say?
17:08 - Closing thoughts
About the experts:
Jason Lee and Dr Jane Fyfield have over 45 years of experience working with elderly Australians. Jason Lee runs his own physiotherapy practice, with a focus on strength and conditioning programs for over 60 year olds. Dr Jane Fyfield works as a consultant to aged care services, is a former Medical Director, and has worked in the public, private and government sectors as a clinician and a non-clinical consultant.
As the health of our society continues to improve and our lives grow longer and longer, incidences of dementia increase as we reach older and older ages. Of course, it's important to remember though that dementia is not a normal part of ageing, so what, if any, are some of the ways to reduce the risk of dementia?
In the episode of The Better Ageing Podcast we're discussing research surrounding exercise and dementia. In particular we look at the role exercise might play in reducing the risk of dementia or delaying its onset, and how it can help during the care of someone with dementia. We discuss how exercise has been linked to a slower loss in brain tissue as we age, and how supervised exercise can improve physical function for people with cognitive decline.
As always, we hope this episode helps you better understand your own health and wellbeing and how you can care for those you love too. If you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us: https://newtricksco.com.au/contact/
Show notes/ topics covered:
0:07 - Welcome
2:20 - Introduction to the topic
4:02 - One problem about living longer
4:39 - What role does dementia play in reducing risk of dementia
5:50 - Exercise for people with dementia
9:05 - Can exercise reduce the likelihood of dementia?
10:12 - Are you getting enough exercise?
10:57 - Closing thoughts
About the experts:
Jason Lee and Dr Jane Fyfield have over 45 years of experience working with elderly Australians. Jason Lee runs his own physiotherapy practice, with a focus on strength and conditioning programs for over 60 year olds. Dr Jane Fyfield works as a consultant to aged care services, is a former Medical Director, and has worked in the public, private and government sectors as a clinician and a non-clinical consultant.
CT scans, MRIs, X-rays ... we've all had at least one at some point! But are they always necessary in proper diagnosis and treatment?
In this episode of The Better Ageing Podcast we're discussing scans and the role they play in the treatment of common conditions like joint pain and osteoarthritis. In particular we look at recent guidelines that outline how scans should be used by health professionals, how sometimes scans can be misleading, when they should be used, and why avoiding unnecessary scans is a good idea. Importantly, we conclude that health professionals should always treat the person in front of them and their symptoms/story and not the scan or image.
As always, we hope this episode helps you better understand your own health and wellbeing and how you can care for those you love too. If you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us: https://newtricksco.com.au/contact/
Show notes/ topics covered:
0:07 - Welcome
0:56 - Introduction to scans
1:30 - When are scans needed?
3:11 - Clinical practice guidelines
5:01 - Is unnecessary testing bad?
7:00 - Lower back pain statistics
11:07 - Treat the person not the image
12:21 - Scans do not have a role in diagnosis of osteoarthritis
13:40 - Closing thoughts
About the experts:
Jason Lee and Dr Jane Fyfield have over 45 years of experience working with elderly Australians. Jason Lee runs his own physiotherapy practice, with a focus on strength and conditioning programs for over 60 year olds. Dr Jane Fyfield works as a consultant to aged care services, is a former Medical Director, and has worked in the public, private and government sectors as a clinician and a non-clinical consultant.
Did you know that a third of people over the age of 65 living at home have a fall each year? Given that falls in older age can often lead to a rapid decline in independence it's a startling statistic! However, reducing the risk of falling is something everyone can do right now, and you can even do it from home.
In this episode of The Better Ageing Podcast we're discussing falls and balance. In particular we look at recent research that outlines the positive impact exercise can have in reducing one's risk of falling. In our discussion we look at the types of exercise that have the biggest positive impact, how often you should be exercising, and what someone can start focusing on right now to improve their balance and strength.
As always, we hope this episode helps you better understand your own health and wellbeing and how you can care for those you love too. If you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us: https://newtricksco.com.au/contact/
Show notes/ topics covered:
0:07 - Welcome
1:02 - Introduction to driving into old age
2:00 - What do we know about falls?
3:19 - Exercise can help reduce risk of falls
4:01 - Cochrane review
5:09 - What exercises did the research find were most beneficial?
6:48 - How often do you need to exercise?
8:42 - What should someone focus on now?
9:39 - Closing thoughts
About the experts:
Jason Lee and Dr Jane Fyfield have over 45 years of experience working with elderly Australians. Jason Lee runs his own physiotherapy practice, with a focus on strength and conditioning programs for over 60 year olds. Dr Jane Fyfield works as a consultant to aged care services, is a former Medical Director, and has worked in the public, private and government sectors as a clinician and a non-clinical consultant.
Driving allows people to stay independent and socially connected. Staying safe is important for all drivers, but as we age the challenges of staying safe might be getting too much for us.
In this episode of The Better Ageing Podcast we're discussing driving and old age. In particular we debunk some myths around older drivers (hint: older drivers aren't unsafe!) and discuss some of the lesser known physical changes that can affect driving, how to prepare for a life beyond driving and how to have a discussion with a parent or loved one when it might be time to hang up the driving gloves.
As always, we hope this episode helps you better understand your own health and wellbeing and how you can care for those you love too. If you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us: https://newtricksco.com.au/contact/
Show notes/ topics covered:
0:07 - Welcome
1:04 - Introduction to driving into old age
1:26 - Myth 1: older drivers aren't safe
2:44 - Myth 2: older drivers have to be tested regularly
4:40 - Physical changes that might affect driving
5:20 - Older people and car crashes
6:36 - Physical changes that reduce safety
10:04 - How can medication affect driving
12:01 - Planning for a life without driving
13:02 - Dementia and driving
13:35 - Having a conversation with a parent about their driving
16:30 - Staying fit for driving
17:06 - Final thoughts
About the experts:
Jason Lee and Dr Jane Fyfield have over 45 years of experience working with elderly Australians. Jason Lee runs his own physiotherapy practice, with a focus on strength and conditioning programs for over 60 year olds. Dr Jane Fyfield works as a consultant to aged care services, is a former Medical Director, and has worked in the public, private and government sectors as a clinician and a non-clinical consultant.
In this episode of The Better Ageing Podcast we're discussing the important role weight bearing exercise plays in maintaining and improving bone health.
In particular, Jason highlights recent research that demonstrates the types of exercises that benefit bone density and how often someone should be exercising. Jane and Jason summarise the research and break down how it applies to you at home and how you can incorporate it into your own lifestyle.
As always, we hope this episode helps you better understand your own health and wellbeing and how you can care for those you love too.
Show notes/ topics covered:
0:7 - Welcome
1:08 - Introduction to bone health
3:04 - Jason explains the recent research
4:46 - Repetitive exercise has diminishing returns for bone density
5:33 - Finding your benchmark
6:46 - High impact exercises
9:01 - Do you need a physio, or can they be done at home?
11:05 - How much should I be exercising?
12:19 - How often should I be incorporating weight bearing exercise?
13:31 - Risks of low bone density
13:56 - Final thoughts
About the experts:
Jason Lee and Dr Jane Fyfield have over 45 years of experience working with elderly Australians. Jason Lee runs his own physiotherapy practice, with a focus on strength and conditioning programs for over 60 year olds. Dr Jane Fyfield works as a consultant to aged care services, is a former Medical Director, and has worked in the public, private and government sectors as a clinician and a non-clinical consultant.
In this episode of The Better Ageing Podcast we're focusing on a topic that is often referred to as functional decline, however we love looking at things on the bright side, so we're instead talking about functional health!
Functional health is a broad term that refers to the physical, cognitive and social ability to go about our normal daily lives (and continue to do all the wonderful things that we enjoy too!).
In particular in this episode we define what functional health and functional decline are, what some of the triggers for a decline in functional health might be, the signs to look out for, and of course, how we can maintain and improve our own functional health as we get older.
As always, we hope this episode helps you better understand your own health and wellbeing and how you can care for those you love too.
Show notes/ topics covered:
0:22 - Welcome
1:03 - Functional health not functional decline
3:24 - A functional decline example
5:54 - Identifying the markers of potential decline
7:51 - Other triggers to look out for
12:43 - How can we maintain functional health?
14:27 - Simple tips to follow
15:32 - Final thoughts
About the experts:
Jason Lee and Dr Jane Fyfield have over 45 years of experience working with elderly Australians. Jason Lee runs his own physiotherapy practice, with a focus on strength and conditioning programs for over 60 year olds. Dr Jane Fyfield works as a consultant to aged care services, is a former Medical Director, and has worked in the public, private and government sectors as a clinician and a non-clinical consultant.
It's our Silver Jubilee episode! Yes that's right The Better Ageing Podcast is 25 episodes old.
In this episode we're discussing the transitional phase of life for all women; menopause. In particular we take a look at some of the lesser known physical changes during menopause including reducing bone density and weight gain, and how exercise and diet can help mitigate these changes.
Jason discusses the role physiotherapists can play and how, in particular, weight bearing exercise is important to improve bone density and reduce the risk of falls and unexplained fractures. Jason then goes on to give us some easy to follow at home exercises that can help.
As always, we hope this episode helps you better understand your own health and wellbeing.
Show notes/ topics covered:
0:18 - Welcome
1:28 - Introduction to menopause
2:43 - Physical aspects of menopause
4:55 - How health professionals can help
6:14- Diet, exercise and sleep
7:43 - How can a physio help?
10:35 - Thinking about your bone health
11:55 - Weight bearing exercises to try
13:29 - A final reminder
About the experts:
Jason Lee and Dr Jane Fyfield have over 45 years of experience working with elderly Australians. Jason Lee runs his own physiotherapy practice, with a focus on strength and conditioning programs for over 60 year olds. Dr Jane Fyfield works as a consultant to aged care services, is a former Medical Director, and has worked in the public, private and government sectors as a clinician and a non-clinical consultant.
Cancer can be a tough topic to talk about, as it has affected so many of us and our loved ones.
However in this episode of The Better Ageing Podcast we are aiming to bring a bit of hope to the topic, as we discuss living with cancer.
In particular we talk about dealing with the shock of the initial diagnosis, the importance of maintaining your exercise regime and the evidence that supports the role exercise can be play in cancer treatment, building a cancer team around you (and who is on the team) and the benefits of maintaining healthy diet and sleep habits.
If you or someone you know is living from cancer currently, we hope this episode helps you take control of the aspects of your life that you can, and puts you in a place of hope.
Show notes/ topics covered:
0:08 - Welcome
1:12 - Introduction to living with cancer
4:18 - The cancer team
6:26 - Physiotherapy plays an important role
7:58 - Exercise evidence
11:09 - How can a physio help?
13:27 - Take home message
About the experts:
Jason Lee and Dr Jane Fyfield have over 45 years of experience working with elderly Australians. Jason Lee runs his own physiotherapy practice, with a focus on strength and conditioning programs for over 60 year olds. Dr Jane Fyfield works as a consultant to aged care services, is a former Medical Director, and has worked in the public, private and government sectors as a clinician and a non-clinical consultant.
Medication has many positive benefits when prescribed correctly, helping many of us live healthier, happier lives for longer. However sometimes new or existing medication we are taking can have unintended interactions.
That's why, as we discuss on this episode of The Better Ageing Podcast, it is extremely important to have any medications you are taking regularly reviewed.
In this episode we talk about the signs to look out for that your medication might be having a negative effect on you (change of mood, appetite, loss of balance, etc), what to talk to your GP about, and Home Medicine Reviews conducted by accredited pharmacists. Home Medicine Reviews are referred by a GP and are another way to help avoid any unwanted interactions from medications (both prescribed medications and any other over the counter medications someone might be taking) whilst also educating the individual about the medication they are taking.
As always, we hope this episode helps, and if you're feeling a little off after starting a new medication, don't forget to talk to your GP to make sure your medication is working for you!
Show notes/ topics covered:
0:26 - Welcome
2:03 - Real life example of medications having unintended consequences
4:23 - Signs to look out for
5:41 - What is a 'Home Medicine Review'?
6:40 - Who would need a home review?
9:20 - Asking questions of your doctor
11:09 - Benefits of a pharmacist home visit
11:47 - Take home message
About the experts:
Jason Lee and Dr Jane Fyfield have over 45 years of experience working with elderly Australians. Jason Lee runs his own physiotherapy practice, with a focus on strength and conditioning programs for over 60 year olds. Dr Jane Fyfield works as a consultant to aged care services, is a former Medical Director, and has worked in the public, private and government sectors as a clinician and a non-clinical consultant.
Carers play an important role in our society, providing selfless care each and every day without seeking anything in return. It can be an extremely rewarding role but it can also be very isolating and physically and emotionally demanding.
In this episode we talk define what a carer is, how you become one and how you can be the best carer you can be. As we discuss, this often starts with looking after your own mental and physical wellbeing before helping others (you can't pour from an empty cup!).
Recognising you are a carer, maintaining your own identity, and connecting with other carers are all important steps to thriving in the role of carer.
So, if you are caring for someone you love, you are not alone and we hope this episode helps provide you with some strategies to help you be the best carer you can be.
If you know of someone providing selfless care each and every day, don't forget to check in with them (and maybe even send them this episode!).
Get more information at Carers Victoria: https://www.carersvictoria.org.au/
Show notes/ topics covered:
0:18 - Welcome
1:05 - How to be the best carer you can be
1:37 - What is a carer?
3:58 - Carer support
5:36 - Physical aspect of caring
7:23 - How to lift safely
9:35 - Having the right aids in the house
10:44 - Recognising that you are a carer
12:50 - Managing the emotional strain of being a carer
14:50 - Take home message
About the experts:
Jason Lee and Dr Jane Fyfield have over 45 years of experience working with elderly Australians. Jason Lee runs his own physiotherapy practice, with a focus on strength and conditioning programs for over 60 year olds. Dr Jane Fyfield works as a consultant to aged care services, is a former Medical Director, and has worked in the public, private and government sectors as a clinician and a non-clinical consultant.
Happy 21st birthday to us! Yes that's right it's our 21st episode, and to celebrate we're bringing you some tips to help you stay active this winter.
In this episode we talk about the importance of maintaining an active lifestyle (no matter the time of year), before providing you with some exercise ideas that you can put in place during the colder, wetter, darker months. As you'd expect, at home exercises or group classes with your physiotherapist are a great option, however other creative ideas discussed include walking around your local shopping centre (just be careful not to hurt your hip pocket too much!).
And don't forget, if you are exercising outdoors on a cooler day, don't forget to hydrate! Whilst you might not feel like you sweat as much, it's still just as important to keep your fluid levels up before, during and after you exercise.
As always we hope this episode helps you or someone you care for, and provides you with the motivation to get out amongst it this winter!
Show notes/ topics covered:
0:20 - Welcome
1:02 - Having an active winter
1:40 - Why should we stay active?
3:27 - Getting Vitamin D in the winter
5:23 - Exercising indoors
7:33 - What about swimming or hydrotherapy?
8:58 - Structure and routine is important
9:22 - Layering and hydration
10:06 - Staying healthy - reminder to get your flu and coronavirus vaccinations
About the experts:
Jason Lee and Dr Jane Fyfield have over 45 years of experience working with elderly Australians. Jason Lee runs his own physiotherapy practice, with a focus on strength and conditioning programs for over 60 year olds. Dr Jane Fyfield works as a consultant to aged care services, is a former Medical Director, and has worked in the public, private and government sectors as a clinician and a non-clinical consultant.
As we have talked about in previous episodes of The Better Ageing Podcast, falls later in life can often herald a rapid decline in independence and quality of life. We know that there are many preventive measures that can be taken to improve balance such as keeping active and seeking the help and guidance of a physiotherapist. However one other tool to improve balance and increase mobility are mobility and gait aids.
In this episode of The Better Ageing Podcast we're talking about gait and mobility aids, specifically what they are and who needs them. As we discuss, gait and mobility aids shouldn't be feared, rather they should be embraced when recommended as part of an exercise and physiotherapy program, as they are a key tool in sustaining and improving independence.
As always we hope this episode helps you or someone you care for.
Show notes/ topics covered:
0:14 - Welcome
1:00 - Introduction to gait and mobility aids
2:30 - Who is need of a mobility aid?
4:42 - What are mobility aids for?
7:20 - Common types of aids
9:04 - They shouldn't be recommended in isolation
10:22 - Getting the right size stick/frame
11:10 - How do you know it is time for a mobility aid
12:55 - Electric scooters and wheelchairs
14:07 - Take home message
About the experts:
Jason Lee and Dr Jane Fyfield have over 45 years of experience working with elderly Australians. Jason Lee runs his own physiotherapy practice, with a focus on strength and conditioning programs for over 60 year olds. Dr Jane Fyfield works as a consultant to aged care services, is a former Medical Director, and has worked in the public, private and government sectors as a clinician and a non-clinical consultant.
It's time we talked about incontinence.
Too often incontinence is dismissed as 'just part of the ageing process', yet over 4 million Australians suffer from bowel or urinary incontinence, both young and old, making it an extremely common condition, and one that as we find out in this podcast, is quite treatable.
Despite its commonality, incontinence is often deemed an embarrassing or socially awkward thing to talk about. This means that sufferers often stay silent when they could be getting treatment and advice that empowers them to take back their continence.
In this podcast we talk about what incontinence is, and the key signs to look out for, before talking about what someone can do to get the help they deserve. (Of course, the first step is often to book an appointment with your GP!)
As always, we hope this episode helps you or someone you care for.
Show notes/ topics covered:
0:14 - Welcome
0:53 - Incontinence is not just part of the ageing process
1:55 - We need to talk about it more
3:02 - Where does someone go to first for help?
5:20 - A definition of incontinence
6:57 - Which health professionals can help?
8:22 - Causal medical conditions need to be managed carefully
10:20 - Good toilet habits
11:36 - Pelvic floor physio
12:20 - Take home message
About the experts:
Jason Lee and Dr Jane Fyfield have over 45 years of experience working with elderly Australians. Jason Lee runs his own physiotherapy practice, with a focus on strength and conditioning programs for over 60 year olds. Dr Jane Fyfield works as a consultant to aged care services, is a former Medical Director, and has worked in the public, private and government sectors as a clinician and a non-clinical consultant.
Pain is a topic that is frequently talked about on The Better Ageing Podcast - often it is the reason that many of us head in to see our doctor or physiotherapist. Thankfully, pain is typically a temporary sign that something isn't quite right, but what about when pain doesn't go away?
In this episode we're talking about Chronic Pain; pain that lingers longer than it should, often with no obvious cause or acute injury. We take a look at some of the causes of chronic pain, the difference between chronic and acute pain, and discuss strategies for dealing with chronic pain (hint: 'just putting up with it' is not one of them!)
So if you or someone you know has struggled with ongoing pain, then we hope this episode helps and that you are able to take control of your pain to live a healthier and happier life.
Show notes/ topics covered:
0:19 - Welcome
1:31 - Introduction to chronic pain
5:18 - Everyone deserves to have their pain treated
6:57 - What isn't chronic pain?
9:19 - Chronic pain is often pain that lasts longer than 12 weeks
10:35 - Where do you go to discuss your chronic pain?
12:25 - Retraining your relationship with pain
14:58 - Make sure you get some help for your pain
About the experts:
Jason Lee and Dr Jane Fyfield have over 45 years of experience working with elderly Australians. Jason Lee runs his own physiotherapy practice, with a focus on strength and conditioning programs for over 60 year olds. Dr Jane Fyfield works as a consultant to aged care services, is a former Medical Director, and has worked in the public, private and government sectors as a clinician and a non-clinical consultant.
The coronavirus pandemic has rocked the world, however one of the most amazing things to witness has been the dedication and collaboration of the world's scientists in the development of multiple vaccine options to help stop the spread of Covid-19 disease.
In this episode we're looking at the vaccine options available in Australia, discussing the proposed rollout of the vaccine, and reminding everyone about the importance of the continuing to practice the 'CovidSafe' behaviours that have been instilled in us over the last year and a bit.
We encourage you to visit the Government Health website to find out more about the vaccine and when you can expect to be able to do your bit. https://www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/covid-19-vaccines
Show notes/ topics covered:
0:20 - Welcome
1:50 - Covid-19 vaccines in Australia
5:35 - Rollout timeline
6:50 - Talk to your GP
8:20 - CovidSafe behaviour refresher
11:32 - Concluding thoughts
About the experts:
Jason Lee and Dr Jane Fyfield have over 45 years of experience working with elderly Australians. Jason Lee runs his own physiotherapy practice, with a focus on strength and conditioning programs for over 60 year olds. Dr Jane Fyfield works as a consultant to aged care services, is a former Medical Director, and has worked in the public, private and government sectors as a clinician and a non-clinical consultant.
It's no secret a good night's sleep can do wonders for your mental and physical wellbeing, so why is it that after all these years of practicing many of us still struggle each night to get to sleep and stay asleep!
In this episode of The Better Ageing Podcast we're talking all things sleep, and sharing our tips and tricks for achieving a good night's rest. And, as we find out, often the recipe success starts long before you go to bed ...
So if you struggle to get your full 8 hours of sleep each night, then this episode is for you. It is our hope that this helps put you to sleep (but only after you've finished listened to the podcast!).
Show notes/ topics covered:
0:20 - Welcome
2:09 - How important is sleep?
3:07 - What if you don't get enough sleep?
4:54 - What is bed time hygiene?
6:54 - Achieving a good sleep position
9:31 - Pillow choice
11:14 - Pain after sleeping
12:43 - Daytime activities to help your sleep
14:16 - Is it OK to nap?
About the experts:
Jason Lee and Dr Jane Fyfield have over 45 years of experience working with elderly Australians. Jason Lee runs his own physiotherapy practice, with a focus on strength and conditioning programs for over 60 year olds. Dr Jane Fyfield works as a consultant to aged care services, is a former Medical Director, and has worked in the public, private and government sectors as a clinician and a non-clinical consultant.
After emerging in 2020 as a safe way to keep in contact with your health professionals, in this episode we're talking Telehealth; how it has changed, and how to get the most out of your next online consultation ...
It's episode 15 of The Better Ageing Podcast, the second in our new shorter format featuring easy to follow advice from our experts geriatrician Dr Jane Fyfield and physiotherapist Jason Lee.
Prior to 2020, the only way many of us would have considered going to the doctor or physio was in person, often planning ahead of time what to read in the waiting room. However due to the necessity to stay home last year, telehealth emerged as a way to stay in touch with your health professionals and continue consultations in a safe way.
Now, over a year on from the rise of telehealth, and hopefully having mastered the challenges of online video communication, we're discussing all things telehealth; how it's changed, what to expect in a consult, what to prepare, and asking the question, has telehealth become the new norm for health consultations for 2021 and beyond?
Whilst the question may remain unanswered for now, telehealth does have many benefits and advantages over physical consultations that go beyond the physical distancing considerations ... the fact that practitioners are typically always on time being one as Jane tells us!
So enjoy, and we hope you make the most of your next online consultation after listening!
Show notes/ topics covered:
0:25 - Welcome
1:24 - Telehealth continues
3:27 - Thinking of telehealth consultations as virtual consultations
6:58 - How to prepare for a telehealth consultation
9:55 - Do some conditions not suit telehealth?
13:08 - Telehealth is here to stay
About the experts:
Jason Lee and Dr Jane Fyfield have over 45 years of experience working with elderly Australians. Jason Lee runs his own physiotherapy practice, with a focus on strength and conditioning programs for over 60 year olds. Dr Jane Fyfield works as a consultant to aged care services, is a former Medical Director, and has worked in the public, private and government sectors as a clinician and a non-clinical consultant.
We're excited to say that The Better Ageing Podcast is back for 2021!
After some time off during the strange and challenging year that was 2020, we're back and excited to share our new and improved shorter format for 2021.
Each episode we will be talking about one specific topic, with the simple aim of improving the health and wellbeing of our (gracefully) ageing population, As always, you will hear easy to follow advice from our experts geriatrician Dr Jane Fyfield and physio Jason Lee. The goal is that you will be able to listen to these shorter episodes on your commute to work, over a morning coffee, or a walk with your dog.
In this week's episode we are discussing weight management, and what this means as we age.
Jane discusses how as we age maintaining weight is often more of a challenge than reducing weight, and that it takes a two pronged approach for healthy weight management; diet and exercise. Jane shares her tips for achieving a healthy diet, before Jason discusses the importance of varying your exercise to ensure it is sustainable long term.
As always, thank you for listening and we hope you enjoy the episode. Please share it with those that you care for, and remember, we'd love to submit your question to have it answered by Jane and Jason on the show!
Show notes/ topics covered:
0:24 - Welcome
1:40 - What does weight management mean as we age?
3:21 - Diet tips and tricks
4:59 - Weight management and exercise
About the experts:
Jason Lee and Dr Jane Fyfield have over 45 years of experience working with elderly Australians. Jason Lee runs his own physiotherapy practice, with a focus on strength and conditioning programs for over 60 year olds. Dr Jane Fyfield works as a consultant to aged care services, is a former Medical Director, and has worked in the public, private and government sectors as a clinician and a non-clinical consultant.
Lucky for some, unlucky for others we're back for episode 13 of The Better Ageing Podcast!
In this episode we're discussing the easing back of coronavirus restrictions in Australia and in particular how to return to exercise safely, and maintaining new found hygiene and physical distancing behaviours.
Jason explains how to manage returning to exercise or activity that you may have altered or stopped due to coronavirus, with a focus on managing your load to prevent injury, before sharing his tips on ensuring you have good posture given you might have increased your amount of sitting recently. Jane then discusses the importance of keeping up the habits you've learnt during isolation to ensure you minimise the risk of spreading infection and avoiding higher risk situations.
As this has been recorded from three separate locations using Zoom, rather than our traditional podcast studio, you may notice different audio quality, and the occasional internet delay (read: Jason's internet), so please bear with us!
Show notes/ topics covered:
1:36 - Welcome
5:36 - What does returning to exercise safely mean?
8:40 - Two extremes: exercising a lot more or doing a lot less
11:52 - Posture tips
13:36 - Protocols at health practices
15:16 - Maintaining new hygiene behaviours
19:40 - Be mindful of your behaviour and high-risk situations
21:04 - What about masks?
35:50 - Audience question: Should I keep doing video health consults or go back into my clinic?
29:09 - Closing story: A genie that only gives one wish
And after another short hiatus, we're back! Whilst the coronavirus crisis may have kept us separated momentarily, we've come together virtually via Zoom to record Episode 12!
For this episode, we're talking about two important topics, wellbeing in the face of adversity, and telehealth consultations.
Jane and Jason discuss both the mental and physical aspects of health during this unusual time, stressing the importance of keeping both socially and physically active at home during this unusual time - of course whilst maintaining physical distancing. We then unpack what telehealth consultations are, and what you can expect if you are considering an online consultation with your GP, physio or other health professional. And as we find out, with the right structures in place from your clinician, telehealth consultations can be as valuable as physical consultations.
As this has been recorded from three separate locations using Zoom, rather than our traditional podcast studio, you may notice different audio quality, and the occasional internet delay (read: Jason's internet), so please bear with us!
We will be also publishing the video recording of our podcast on our Facebook page, so make sure to check that out if you prefer to watch as well as listen!
Show notes/ topics covered:
1:35 - Welcome
5:04 - Wellbeing in the face of adversity
8:27 - We have evolved to focus on potential threats and negativity
10:36 - Wellbeing in this time of adversity
13:06 - We're engaged as a community
16:34 - Physical aspect of wellbeing at home
24:37 - Concluding thoughts on wellbeing during this time
25:25 - Telehealth consultations
30:28 - Preparing for a telehealth consultation
33:12 - Common questions: don't I need manual treatments, and can these sessions be claimed like a normal appointment?
38:29 - Audience question: is it safe to be going to the GP, will I get coronavirus?
42:10 - Closing story
Happy New Year! It might be a tad late, but we're extremely excited to be back for 2020 with Episode 11 of The Better Ageing Podcast.
In this episode, Jane provides timely advice on how to avoid spreading infections as the world grapples with the new coronavirus. Then, Jason discusses post-operative treatment and rehabilitation following orthopaedic surgery with the help from Jane's personal knee replacement experience.
As always, thank you for listening and we hope you enjoy the episode. Please share it with those that you care for, and remember, we'd love to submit your question to have it answered by Jane and Jason on the show!
Show notes/ topics covered:
1:36 - Welcome
5:00 - How to not spread infections: introduction
5:58 - What is a virus?
8:53 - Jane's top tips for avoiding the spread
13:50 - Are masks a good idea?
17:08 - Summary of ways to avoid the spread
20:31 - Post-operative rehabilitation
21:21 - What is orthopaedic surgery?
23:25 - The work after surgery is as important as the surgery itself
26:30 - Rehabilitation first steps: the hospital
28:52 - What happens when you're discharged after surgery?
32:05 - Audience question: difference between tennis and golfer's elbow?
34:54 - Closing story
Happy holidays! In this bonus episode we're spreading the festive cheer and bringing you the 10 closing stories from our first 10 episodes.
We hope this brings you a smile or two this holiday season, and maybe even gives you a joke that you can add to your repertoire to pull out at your next party.
As always, thank you for listening and we hope you enjoy the episode.
Jokes:
1:21 - The Italian tomato garden
3:17 - Old ice fisherman
4:19 - Long-lost friends find a magic lamp
5:24 - Old man goes to the doctor
6:15 - Old man goes to the zoo
7:01 - Dog goes to the vet
8:21 - Two cannibals
9:56 - Man stopped by the police
10:57 - The Pope goes driving
12:22 - Recurring dreams
It's the tenth episode of The Better Ageing Podcast! This episode we discuss continence and in particular urinary incontinence, and a common physio complaint, Tennis Elbow.
Jane breaks down urinary incontinence and tells us that it can be both managed and continence can be restored, and highlights the importance of talking to someone about this condition which can sometimes be ignored due to embarrassment. Jason then explores the frustrating condition of tennis elbow and provides easy to follow advice for both rehabilitation and prevention.
As always, thank you for listening and we hope you enjoy the episode. Please share it with those that you care for.
Show notes/ topics covered:
1:37 - Welcome
4:41 - Continence
6:02 - Urinary incontinence
7:37 - When should you worry about it?
11:48 - Pelvic floor exercises
13:11 - What contributes to incontinence
14:35 - A myth about incontinence
18:14 - Tennis Elbow
20:38 - Why does tennis elbow occur?
23:48 - Treatments
27:25 - Exercises for Tennis Elbow
28:44 - How to avoid Tennis Elbow
31:28 - Audience question: when to start worrying about posture
35:12 - Closing story
Our ninth episode of The Better Ageing Podcast has come just in time for the warmer weather down under! In this episode we discuss good posture, and how to manage the heat in the warmer months.
Together Jason and Jane provide easy to follow advice that will get you thinking about your own posture, with tips on how to achieve a good posture, and what the effect posture has on our body. Geriatrician Jane then shares her advice on how to avoid heat stress, and the warning signs to look out for, particularly for those elderly loved ones you care for.
Show notes/ topics covered:
1:30 - Welcome
3:55 - Introduction to posture
6:33 - Why is good posture important?
7:38 - Less stress on your muscular-skeletal system
10:02 - What does poor posture look like?
11:32 - Are you born with it?
15:18 - Tips to achieve good posture
20:22 - Posture in the office
24:37 - Heat stress
28:40 - What to look out for
30:35 - Planning for the heat
34:37 - Audience question: too many questions for my doctor appointment
38:52 - Closing story
In the eighth episode of The Better Ageing Podcast Jason talks us through how to develop a structured exercise program that features cardiovascular exercise and strength training, and Jane discusses making the best use of your doctor.
Together the pair provide easy to follow advice that will enable you to start a basic exercise program to find your 30 minutes of exercise a day, and prepare you for your next visit to the doctor, ensuring you know the right questions to ask and tips to follow so that your consult doesn't feel like a blur!
Show notes/ topics covered:
1:37 - Welcome
4:17 - What is a structured exercise program?
8:15 - The talk test for cardiovascular exercise
8:55 - Heart rate for moderate exercise
13:35 - 5 days of moderate exercise
16:24 - The 10% rule
19:21 - Strength training
24:15 - How to increase strength training safely
27:36 - Making the best use of your doctor
31:00 - Taking someone with you to the doctor
36:05 - Audience question - aspirin to prevent risk of stroke
39:07 - Closing story
It's the seventh episode of The Better Ageing Podcast, and in this episode we're discussing the daunting, yet important topic of Stroke, and the particularly common and sometimes unknown condition of Frozen Shoulder, or Adhesive Capsulitis.
Our experts Jason Lee (physiotherapist) and Dr Jane Fyfield (geriatrician) provide insight into what's happening during stroke, ways to minimise your risk, what to do if someone has a stroke, and what rehabilitation looks like following stroke, before providing very practical insight into avoiding and managing frozen shoulder.
Show notes/ topics covered:
1:37 - Welcome
4:17 - What is a stroke?
6:15 - Risk factors for stroke
10:58 - Signs of a stroke
19:17 - Trajectory of treatment of a stroke
20:40 - Neuroplasticity for rehabilitation
23:50 - What happens after hospital?
27:09 - Adhesive capsulitis
32:50 - Three stages of frozen shoulder
36:30 - Medical interventions
47:25 - What to do at home
51:01 - Audience question - ankle/wrist weights at home
54:52 - Closing story
In our exciting sixth episode of The Better Ageing Podcast we're discussing what it means to 'age well' and a common condition experienced in ageing, bursitis and tendon pain.
As always, our experts Jason Lee (physiotherapist) and Dr Jane Fyfield (geriatrician) provide great insight and practical advice on what ageing well means for you, with the summation that is a different answer for everybody, and how to prevent and manage bursitis and/or tendon pain.
Show notes/ topics covered:
1:37 - Welcome
4:37 - Why do we want to age well?
7:09 - What is frailty?
8:06 - What does ageing well look like?
15:55 - Who is responsible for ageing well?
21:52 - Bursitis and tendon pain
29:20 - What to do if you have pain
38:11 - Audience question: is it ok to wear angle/wrist guards
41:41 - Closing story
It's our fifth episode of The Better Ageing Podcast and we're talking about two 'Ds' of ageing: diabetes and dementia.
This week's episode is particularly important as over 1 million people in Australia have been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, and Dementia is seen by many as one of the most daunting conditions.
Our experts Jason Lee (physiotherapist) and Dr Jane Fyfield (geriatrician) break down both diseases, providing practical advice for people who have Type 2 Diabetes or are pre-diabetic, and explain ways to minimise the risks of dementia and how an early diagnosis can assist you to take control of your life.
Show notes/ topics covered:
1:37 - Welcome
4:15 - What is diabetes?
5:50 - Type 2 Diabetes
8:20 - What does diabetes actually mean?
10:03 - How to know if you have diabetes
11:34 - Diabetes treatments
12:35 - Can it be reversed?
15:55 - Who's at risk of diabetes?
18:38 - Hyper vs hypo
20:20 - Diabetes and exercise
25:55 - Dementia
28:55 - Early dementia diagnosis
33:35 - Can you prevent a diagnosis?
35:15 - Dementia and exercise
42:29 - Three key things to remember for dementia
44:14 - Audience question: how long to get better after knee replacement
47:14 - Closing story
It's our fourth episode of The Better Ageing Podcast, and this week's episode is quite a personal one as Jane talks about her experience of living with arthritis, and of having a knee replacement.
Our experts Jason Lee (physiotherapist) and Dr Jane Fyfield (geriatrician) provide really practical advice for people living with arthritis and/or thinking about a joint replacement of the knee or hip. They discuss ways to manage arthritis, how to 'prehabilitate' before a joint replacement, things to expect following surgery, and how to get the best results from a joint replacement through proper rehabilitation.
Show notes/ topics covered:
1:37 - Welcome
4:10 - Living with arthritis
5:20 - How life with arthritis can be made a bit easier
14:40 - Surgery isn't the end point
16:40 - Why would you consider joint replacement?
19:25 - Prehabilitation and planning
20:35 - Is replacement a last resort?
23:08 - Prehabilitation exercises
32:38 - "It was the most difficult thing I think I have ever done"
34:22 - Rehabilitation exercises
41:08 - Audience question: fish oil
43:50 - Closing story
It's the third episode of The Better Ageing Podcast. In this episode, experts Jason Lee (physiotherapist) and Dr Jane Fyfield (geriatrician) discuss osteoporosis and back pain with host, Jonathan Reece. Listen in as the pair provide simple, real-world advice that you can easily follow and share with those that you care for.
Show notes/ topics covered:
1:38 - Welcome
3:40 - What is osteoporosis and osteopenia?
5:07 - Warning signs and how to identify early
5:45 - Dexa scans
7:20 - What age for regular scans
8:58 - Diet for osteoporosis and weight bearing exercise
9:28 - Weight bearing exercise is the key
10:55 - Improving bone density
12:53 - Fractures
14:37 - Getting enough calcium from non-dairy sources
16:05 - Back pain basics
17:44 - Pain assessment
18:18 - What aggravates and what eases back pain
19:40 - Sciatica
20:58 - What to do in the acute pain phase
21:48 - Hot or cold?
22:36 - Preventing recurrence in the long term
24:09 - Audience question: dementia
26:25 - Closing story
It's the second episode of The Better Ageing Podcast. The show that aims to improve the health and wellbeing of our ageing population, empowering women and men to live healthier, more independent lives, for longer.
In this episode, experts Jason Lee (physiotherapist) and Dr Jane Fyfield (geriatrician) discuss strength training and fitness over fatness. Listen in as the pair provide simple, real-world advice that you can easily follow and share with those that you care for.
Show notes/ topics covered:
1:38 - Welcome and introductions
3:44 - What is strength training?
4:43 - Benefits of strength training
5:08 - Best way to start strength training
5:56 - Muscle weakness - a doctor's perspective
6:50 - Safe strength training
8:38 - Quality over quantity
9:56 - How often should we do strength training?
11:08 - Is cycling strength training?
12:38 - Jason's favourite exercises
13:40 - Fitness over fatness
14:55 - Focus on getting fit
15:43 - Is it OK to eat anything then?
16:39 - Audience question
17:05 - Dizziness and falls
18:18 - Vestibular physio
19:11 - Thank you for listening
19:59 - Closing story
Welcome to the first episode of The Better Ageing Podcast, the show that aims to improve the health and wellbeing of our ageing population, empowering women and men to live healthier, more independent lives, for longer.
In this episode, experts Jason Lee (physiotherapist) and Dr Jane Fyfield (geriatrician) discuss joint pain (in particular arthritis) and falls and balance. Listen in as the pair provide simple, real-world advice that you can easily follow and share with those that you care for.
Show notes/ topics covered:
1:31 - Welcome and introductions
3:37 - What is arthritis?
5:40 - Do drugs work for arthritis?
7:10 - Joint pain physiotherapy first steps
9:07 - Rheumatologists
9:40 - What can we do about arthritis/joint pain?
10:34 - Best exercises for arthritis
11:34 - Walking aids
13:15 - What to ask your GP about arthritis
14:55 - Falls and balance
16:45 - A proactive approach to balance
18:38 - Best exercises for balance
19:55 - Kettle exercises
21:03 - Balance after a fall
23:50 - Sloppy slippers
25:56 - What to do at home
26:50 - Medications affecting falls/balance
27:20 - Audience question
28:00 - Moving/resting after back pain
28:26 - Thank you for listening
29:41 - Closing story