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What every parent should read before becoming the bank of mum and dad

<p><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">In late 2023, economists Jarden estimated </span><a style="color: #467886;" href="https://www.afr.com/companies/financial-services/the-bank-of-mum-and-dad-is-good-for-70-000-new-analysis-concludes-20231129-p5enpp"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">15 per cent of mortgage borrowers received some form of financial support</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> from their parents. A separate poll by comparison site Finder around the same time </span><a style="color: #467886;" href="https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/first-home-buyers-reveal-huge-amount-aussie-parents-gifted-them-201221909.html"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">put the figure at 11 per cent</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">. Fast forward to February this year, with a UBS survey </span><a style="color: #467886;" href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-06/cost-of-living-sting-lessened-by-bank-of-mum-and-dad/104882754"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">suggesting almost half of first home buyers receive parental assistance</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">. Clearly, the Bank of Mum and Dad is a rapidly growing source of funds for younger people seeking to purchase property. However, some older Australians are now paying a hefty price for having done so without adequate planning and protections.</span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">On the hook</span></strong></p> <p><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Amid the excitement of homebuying, many parents overlook the fact they could be left on the hook to cover any shortfall. The worst-case scenario here is losing your own home, as well as your child losing theirs, if you went guarantor on their loan and they defaulted and you didn’t have a backup plan. If you loaned them money which they subsequently can’t repay, the principal amount goes unrepaid and you also miss out on the interest/compound growth that money could have earned if invested elsewhere. You may even be asked to fork out more in future if your child needs help to keep the property or to subsequently buy a replacement property. Unlike for a real bank, there is no public bailout for the Bank of Mum and Dad.</span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Financial shortfall</span></strong></p> <p><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">A common problem that I and other financial advisors are now seeing is parents inadvertently giving their children more than they can actually afford. Take people who acted as Bank of Mum and Dad before the pandemic hit. They budgeted how much they would need for retirement and then gave their adult kids money towards buying a home of their own. Then COVID-19 arrived. Countless jobs were lost and businesses shuttered. Many would-be retirees were forced to stay in the workforce for longer than planned. Next came the inflation crisis, with mortgages and living costs soaring. Retirement budgets blew-out as more money was suddenly needed for everyday expenses, particularly energy, insurance and food. Meanwhile ballooning house prices over the pandemic years saw first homebuyers needing even larger deposits. That all translated to significant financial shortfalls for the Bank of Mum and Dad.</span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Elder abuse</span></strong></p> <p><a style="color: #467886;" href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/family-domestic-and-sexual-violence/population-groups/older-people#abuse"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Government figures from 2023</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> estimate one in six older Australians suffer elder abuse in some form, with 2.1 per cent experiencing financial abuse – undue control, pressure or restricted access to their own money and financial decisions. Half (53 per cent) of elder abuse perpetrators are family members, with adult children the most common offenders.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Given the amount of money involved in property purchases, and the stresses associated with housing affordability, the potential for the Bank of Mum and Dad to suffer elder abuse is alarmingly high.</span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Relationship breakdowns</span></strong></p> <p><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Money is perhaps the greatest source of tension in relationships. Usually that is between partners, yet these can multiply for the Bank of Mum and Dad and its stakeholders. Some examples include:</span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">You and your partner disagree on what or how much assistance to provide.</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Your other children feel disadvantaged if they don’t receive the same financial assistance.</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Having provided the finances, you then interfere in how your child manages the property or their general finances, causing resentment to build.</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">A marriage breakdown (yours or your child’s) affects the repayment of a loan or the nature of a mortgage guarantee.</span></li> </ul> <p><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Protect yourself</span></strong></p> <p><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">While supporting children is the foremost concern of the Bank of Mum and Dad, it is important to protect yourself too. A written agreement outlining the nature of the support, conditions and contingencies is crucial to keep every aligned. Independent advice from your financial adviser, lawyer, mortgage broker and accountant ensures you fully understand what you are on the hook for, how much you can afford to contribute, and whether there are less-risky options.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Finally, be sure that the decision to support your child’s property ambitions is your own and that you aren’t coerced into it. If you’re concerned that you may be experiencing elder abuse, call the free </span><a style="color: #467886;" href="https://www.health.gov.au/contacts/elder-abuse-phone-line"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">elder abuse line on 1800 353 374</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">.</span></p> <p><strong><span style="line-height: 18.4px; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: #242424;">Helen Baker is a licensed Australian financial adviser and author of the new book, <em>Money For Life: How to build financial security from firm foundations (Major Street Publishing $32.99).</em> Helen is among the 1% of financial planners who hold a master’s degree in the field. Proceeds from book sales are donated to charities supporting disadvantaged women and children<em>. </em>Find out more at </span></strong><a style="color: #467886;" title="http://www.onyourowntwofeet.com.au/" href="http://www.onyourowntwofeet.com.au/"><strong><span style="line-height: 18.4px; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">www.onyourowntwofeet.com.au</span></strong></a></p> <p><strong><em><span style="line-height: 18.4px; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: #242424;">Disclaimer: The information in this article is of a general nature only and does not constitute personal financial or product advice. Any opinions or views expressed are those of the authors and do not represent those of people, institutions or organisations the owner may be associated with in a professional or personal capacity unless explicitly stated. Helen Baker is an authorised representative of BPW Partners Pty Ltd AFSL 548754.</span></em></strong></p> <p><em><span style="line-height: 18.4px; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: #242424;">Image: Shutterstock</span></em></p>

Money & Banking

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Parents whose newborn died at Northern Beaches Hospital speak out

<p>The grieving parents of a newborn who died following a series of medical delays at Sydney’s Northern Beaches Hospital say their daughter’s death was “completely avoidable” – and are calling for the facility to be returned to full public control.</p> <p>Harper Atkinson died in February, a day after experiencing severe complications at birth at the 488-bed hospital, which operates under a controversial public-private partnership model. Her parents, Leah Pitman and Dustin Atkinson, believe she could have been saved if urgent care had been available when it was needed most.</p> <p>“She should be here. She should be in our arms,” Leah <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-16/harper-atkinson-death-northern-beaches-hospital-parents-speak/105180276" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told ABC’s 7.30</a>. “But she’s not – and it’s because there was no urgency. No theatre ready. No proper staffing. And now we’ve lost her.”</p> <p>Harper’s death is the second tragedy in recent months to put Northern Beaches Hospital under scrutiny. In September 2024, toddler Joe Massa collapsed and later died after a three-hour wait in the hospital’s emergency department. Healthscope, the private operator of the facility, admitted that was an “unacceptable failing”.</p> <p>The NSW government has since vowed never to repeat the public-private model used at the hospital, which serves around 350,000 people on Sydney’s northern beaches.</p> <p>Leah was initially sent home from the hospital on a Friday due to staff shortages. She returned the next evening after going into labour at home. Though her midwife had prepared a bath for a water birth, things quickly went wrong.</p> <p>“I felt this intense pain in my lower back, and then my waters broke – with blood,” Leah recalled. “I looked down and just thought, ‘Oh God, is that normal?’”</p> <p>By 9:30pm, concern was mounting. But it wasn’t until around 10:30pm that an obstetrician arrived and diagnosed a suspected placental abruption – a life-threatening condition for both mother and baby. He immediately called for a Category One caesarean section, the most urgent level of surgical intervention.</p> <p>But despite the emergency, Leah was left waiting.</p> <p>“They kept saying, ‘Theatre’s not ready. Theatre’s not ready,’” she said. “I assumed it was busy. We later found out there is no 24/7 theatre.”</p> <p>Northern Beaches Hospital operates its operating theatre using an on-call model on weekends. Staff must be within 30 minutes’ reach – a delay Leah and Dustin believe cost their daughter her life.</p> <p>“I was on the operating table 33 minutes after the call,” Leah said. “Harper wasn’t delivered until nearly an hour after the emergency was declared.”</p> <p>When she was born at 11:52pm, Harper was unresponsive. It took 21 agonising minutes before she drew her first breath.</p> <p>The following day, Leah and Dustin were told Harper would not survive. They made the heartbreaking decision to turn off her life support.</p> <p>“I should be holding her for the rest of my life, not just once,” Leah said through tears. “Once isn’t enough.”</p> <p>The family says they were told during a hospital debrief that it was not “economically feasible” to run a 24/7 theatre service. For Dustin, that explanation only deepened their pain.</p> <p>“Prioritising profit over healthcare. That’s what went wrong,” he said.</p> <p>Northern Beaches Hospital has launched a review into Harper’s death. But her parents say the issue is already painfully clear. “Time delays,” Leah said. “Things weren’t urgent enough.”</p> <p>The couple is now calling for the hospital to be brought fully back under public control – and for systemic change in how emergency obstetric care is delivered across the state.</p> <p>“I feel incredibly angry,” Leah said. “Her death, we feel, was completely avoidable.”</p> <p>“We’re sharing this because Harper deserves to be more than just another sad story,” she added. “We want change – so this never happens to another family.”</p> <p><em>Image: YouTube / ABC</em></p>

Caring

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A simple, science-backed way to sharpen thinking and improve memory – and it's not what you think

<div class="theconversation-article-body">Many of us turn to Sudoku, Wordle or brain-training apps to sharpen our minds. But research is increasingly showing one of the best ways to boost memory, focus and brain health is exercise.</p> <p>Our <a href="https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2025/03/06/bjsports-2024-108589">new research</a> reviewed data from more than 250,000 participants across 2,700 studies. We found exercise helps boost brain function – whether it’s walking, cycling, yoga, dancing, or even playing active video games such as Pokémon GO.</p> <p>Moving your body improves how we think, make decisions, remember things and stay focused – no matter your age.</p> <h2>What the science says</h2> <p>Our review adds to a growing body of research that shows regular physical activity <a href="https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2025/03/06/bjsports-2024-108589">improves</a> three key areas of brain function:</p> <ul> <li> <p>cognition, which is your overall ability to think clearly, learn and make decisions</p> </li> <li> <p>memory, especially short-term memory and the ability to remember personal experiences</p> </li> <li> <p>executive function, which includes focus, planning, problem-solving and managing emotions.</p> </li> </ul> <p>We conducted an umbrella review, which means we looked at the results of more than 130 high-quality research reviews that had already combined findings from many exercise studies. These studies usually involved people starting a new, structured exercise program, not just tracking the exercise they were already doing.</p> <p>To assess the effects on cognition, memory and executive function, the original studies used a range of brain function tests. These included things like remembering word lists, solving puzzles, or quickly switching between tasks – simple activities designed to reliably measure how well the brain is working.</p> <p>The improvements were small to moderate. On average, exercise led to a noticeable boost in cognition, with slightly smaller but still meaningful gains in memory and executive function.</p> <p>The benefits showed up across all age groups, though children and teens saw major gains in memory.</p> <p>People with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) showed greater improvements in executive function after physical activity than other population groups.</p> <p>The brain started responding fairly quickly – many people experienced improvements after just 12 weeks of starting regular exercise.</p> <p>Generally, the greatest benefits were seen in those doing at least 30 minutes of exercise on most days of the week, aiming for a total of about 150 minutes per week.</p> <h2>What’s happening in the brain?</h2> <p>Activities such as walking or cycling can <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.1015950108">increase the size of the hippocampus</a>, the part of the brain responsible for memory and learning.</p> <p>In <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.1015950108">one study</a>, older adults who did aerobic exercise for a year grew their hippocampus by 2%, effectively reversing one to two years of age-related brain shrinkage.</p> <p>More intense workouts, such as running or high-intensity interval training, can further <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1155/2017/8305287">boost neuroplasticity</a> – the brain’s ability to adapt and rewire itself. This helps you learn more quickly, think more clearly and stay mentally sharp with age.</p> <h2>Another reason to get moving</h2> <p>The world’s population is ageing. By 2030, <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ageing-and-health">one in six of people will be aged over 60</a>. With that comes a rising risk of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive decline.</p> <p>At the same time, many adults aren’t moving enough. One in three adults <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/physical-activity">aren’t meeting the recommended levels</a> of physical activity.</p> <p>Adults <a href="https://www.who.int/initiatives/behealthy/physical-activity">should aim for</a> at least 150 of moderate exercise – such as brisk walking – each week, or at least 75 minutes of more vigorous activity, like running.</p> <p>It’s also important to incorporate muscle-strengthening exercises, such as lifting weights, into workouts at least twice a week.</p> <h2>Everyday movement counts</h2> <p>You don’t need to run marathons or lift heavy weights to benefit. Our study showed lower-intensity activities such as yoga, tai chi and “exergames” (active video games) can be just as effective – sometimes even more so.</p> <p>These activities engage both the brain and body. Tai chi, for instance, requires focus, coordination and memorising sequences.</p> <p>Exergames often include real-time decision-making and rapid response to cues. This trains attention and memory.</p> <p>Importantly, these forms of movement are inclusive. They can be done at home, outdoors, or with friends, making them a great option for people of all fitness levels or those with limited mobility.</p> <p>Although you may already be doing a lot through daily life – like walking instead of driving or carrying shopping bags home – it’s still important to find time for structured exercise, such as lifting weights at the gym or doing a regular yoga class, to get the full benefits for your brain and body.</p> <h2>Real-life applications</h2> <p>If you’re a grandparent, consider playing Wii Sports virtual tennis or bowling with your grandchild. If you’re a teenager with signs of ADHD, try a dance class, and see if it impacts your concentration in class. If you’re a busy parent, you might be more clear-headed if you can squeeze a 20-minute yoga video session between meetings.</p> <p>In each of these cases, you’re not just being active, you’re giving your brain a valuable tune-up. And unlike most brain-training apps or supplements, exercise delivers far reaching benefits, including improved <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1389945721002914?casa_token=pXaOJcQJ7d0AAAAA:0i4BjaxqJ21AQ2bGXI4DfQ6twKNybrg7c2f0_Xs7t-hWyDOH0SuKGTfruy-JlC_rMokUM3iWdlSQ">sleep</a> and <a href="https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/57/18/1203">mental health</a>.</p> <p>Workplaces and schools are starting to take note. <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/smi.2654">Short movement breaks</a> are being introduced during the workday to improve employee focus.</p> <p>Schools that incorporate <a href="https://ijbnpa.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12966-017-0569-9">physical activity</a> into the classroom are seeing improvements in students’ attention and academic performance.</p> <p>Exercise is one of the most powerful and accessible tools we have for supporting brain health. Best of all, it’s free, widely available and it’s never too late to start.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/253751/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em>By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ben-singh-1297213">Ben Singh</a>, Research Fellow, Allied Health &amp; Human Performance, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ashleigh-e-smith-201327">Ashleigh E. Smith</a>, Associate Professor, Healthy Ageing, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/heres-a-simple-science-backed-way-to-sharpen-your-thinking-and-improve-your-memory-253751">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p> </div>

Mind

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Big changes are planned for aged care in 2025

<div class="theconversation-article-body">There has been little new in pre-election promises for Australia’s aged-care workers, providers or the <a href="https://www.gen-agedcaredata.gov.au/topics/people-using-aged-care#agedcareuseinaustralia">1.3 million people</a> who use aged care.</p> <p>In March, Labor announced <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-anika-wells-mp/media/extra-26-billion-to-deliver-another-pay-rise-for-aged-care-nurses">A$2.6 billion</a> for another pay rise for aged-care nurses in addition to previous <a href="https://theconversation.com/aged-care-workers-have-won-a-huge-pay-rise-what-about-the-cleaners-cooks-and-admin-staff-who-support-them-226236">pay increases</a>.</p> <p> </p> <p>There’s been <a href="https://stories.theconversation.com/policy-tracker/">nothing substantial on aged care</a> from Labor or the Opposition since.</p> <p>Major changes are scheduled for the sector later this year, four years after the damning <a href="https://www.royalcommission.gov.au/aged-care/final-report">Royal Commission report into aged care</a>. Yet no additional funding has been announced.</p> <p>Estimates suggest funding is short <a href="https://www.stewartbrown.com.au/images/documents/StewartBrown_-_Taskforce_Funding_Reforms_Analysis_September_2024.pdf">around $5 billion</a> to address losses by residential care providers or the shortfall in <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/hcp/about">Home Care Packages</a>.</p> <h2>What can we expect this year?</h2> <p>A <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/aged-care-act">new Aged Care Act</a> will come into force on July 1 with a much greater emphasis on the rights of older people to get the care that suits their needs. This will mean:</p> <ul> <li> <p>a new system to regulate aged care</p> </li> <li> <p>a new independent complaints commissioner</p> </li> <li> <p>a new <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/support-at-home">Support at Home</a> program for older people who want to live at home, and in the community</p> </li> <li> <p>changes to fees for residential aged care.</p> </li> </ul> <p>But a number of problems remain and it is not clear the reforms being introduced this year will fix them.</p> <h2>Access is still an issue</h2> <p>Access to aged care <a href="https://www.igac.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-08/2024-progress-report-on-the-implementation-of-the-recommendations-of-the-royal-commission-into-aged-care-quality-and-safety.pdf">continues to be a problem</a>, particularly in rural and remote areas. The system is difficult to navigate for often vulnerable and confused consumers and their families.</p> <p>The government relies heavily on the <a href="https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/">My Aged Care website</a> to inform older people and their families about aged care options. But this provides only basic information and it is difficult to get individualised support.</p> <p>There is also a “digital divide” for a significant group who are unfamiliar with, and lack confidence in, using online services.</p> <p>So we need a much greater emphasis on providing local “one stop shops” for personalised support and advice, particularly when people first enter the aged-care system. These services could be provided through Centrelink or new regional aged-care offices.</p> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/660643/original/file-20250409-56-a7c9ej.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/660643/original/file-20250409-56-a7c9ej.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/660643/original/file-20250409-56-a7c9ej.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=288&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/660643/original/file-20250409-56-a7c9ej.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=288&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/660643/original/file-20250409-56-a7c9ej.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=288&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/660643/original/file-20250409-56-a7c9ej.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=361&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/660643/original/file-20250409-56-a7c9ej.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=361&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/660643/original/file-20250409-56-a7c9ej.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=361&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w" alt="Screenshot of My Aged Care website" /></a><figcaption><span class="caption">Not everyone can navigate websites to get information about the care they need.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/">Screenshot/My Aged Care</a></span></figcaption></figure> <p>About <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/disability/disability-ageing-and-carers-australia-summary-findings/latest-release">one-third of older people</a> say they need help to live at home. But to get assistance you need an aged-care assessment and that process too needs improving.</p> <p><a href="https://www.pc.gov.au/ongoing/report-on-government-services/2024/data-downloads/rogs-2024-partf-overview-and-sections.pdf">Waiting times for assessment</a> have blown out, with reported delays of up to <a href="https://www.theweeklysource.com.au/home-care/older-australians-are-increasingly-dying-waiting-for-home-care-packages-to-be-assigned">five months</a>.</p> <h2>Older people prefer to stay at home</h2> <p>There are some concerns the number of new aged-care beds is <a href="https://www.theweeklysource.com.au/aged-care/the-repercussions-of-a-need-for-6600-new-aged-care-beds-in-fy24-colliers">not increasing fast enough</a>. For instance, there are shortages of residential aged care in particular areas such as <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-13/act-government-shuts-burrangiri-aged-care-respite-facility/104927780">Canberra</a>.</p> <p>But admission times to residential aged care generally <a href="https://www.pc.gov.au/ongoing/report-on-government-services/2024/data-downloads/rogs-2024-partf-overview-and-sections.pdf">have not increased</a> and occupancy rates are <a href="https://www.pc.gov.au/ongoing/report-on-government-services/2024/data-downloads/rogs-2024-partf-overview-and-sections.pdf">declining</a>. This suggests older people <a href="https://www.australianageingagenda.com.au/royal-commission/most-want-home-based-aged-care/#:%7E:text=A%20survey%20of%20more%20than,to%20live%20in%20a%20facility.">would prefer home</a> to residential care.</p> <p>Yet increased demand for home-care packages is <a href="https://www.gen-agedcaredata.gov.au/getmedia/c2339cbc-3e13-4893-9d03-9ca43ecdc55f/Home-Care-Packages-Program-Data-Report-2nd-Qtr-2024-2025">not being met</a>.</p> <p>For those who need more intensive services at home, <a href="https://www.gen-agedcaredata.gov.au/getmedia/c2339cbc-3e13-4893-9d03-9ca43ecdc55f/Home-Care-Packages-Program-Data-Report-2nd-Qtr-2024-2025">waiting times</a> remain stubbornly and unacceptably long because there aren’t enough home care packages.</p> <p>Despite years of complaints, there are still more than <a href="https://www.theweeklysource.com.au/government-policy/home-care-wait-list-climbs-to-over-81000-with-six-month-delays-at-all-levels">80,000 people</a> on the waiting list for care at home.</p> <p>The new <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/support-at-home/about">Support at Home program</a> will introduce an eight-level system of support. The highest level of home-care funding will <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/support-at-home/features#key-elements-of-the-new-program">increase to $78,000</a> to bridge the gap between funding for home and residential care. But many more intensive care packages for home care will be needed to reduce waiting times.</p> <p>The Support at Home program also introduces significantly higher out-of-pocket costs for older people. Such costs for everyday services – such as meals, cleaning and gardening – currently funded through the Commonwealth Home Support Program will <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-02/support-at-home-program-handbook.pdf">increase significantly</a>.</p> <p>Most controversially, there will also be <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-02/support-at-home-program-handbook.pdf">greater out-of-pocket costs</a> for “independence” services including personal care, social support, respite care and therapy.</p> <h2>Staff shortages still a concern</h2> <p>For aged-care providers, <a href="https://theconversation.com/we-have-too-few-aged-care-workers-to-care-for-older-australians-why-and-what-can-we-do-about-it-232707">chronic workforce shortages</a> are still the biggest problem. Recent <a href="https://theconversation.com/aged-care-workers-have-won-a-huge-pay-rise-what-about-the-cleaners-cooks-and-admin-staff-who-support-them-226236">increases in wages</a> for aged-care workers, including nurses, are a step in the right direction. But wages are still low.</p> <p>It remains hard to attract staff, staff turnover is high and staff are under-trained, risking the quality of care. Shortages are particularly acute in rural areas.</p> <p>The <a href="https://ageingaustralia.asn.au/media-releases/ageing-australia-calls-on-all-parties-to-make-aged-care-an-election-priority/">aged-care industry is calling for</a> streamlined migration, better training and incentives for regional workers to make up the shortfall. But so far no new election announcements have been made.</p> <h2>No real reform</h2> <p>Despite changes we’ll see from July, the organisation and financing of aged care remains fundamentally unchanged.</p> <p>Overall, Australia’s aged-care system is still heavily privatised and fragmented. In <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-08/financial-report-on-the-australian-aged-care-sector-2022-23.pdf">2022-23</a> there were 923 home-care providers, 764 residential-care providers and 1,334 home-support providers, nearly all in the private and not-for-profit sectors.</p> <p>The Commonwealth continues to manage the sector through a cumbersome combination of highly centralised regulation and prescriptive funding contracts.</p> <p>It has not put into place an effective, regional management structure to plan, organise and govern the sector to drive quality, innovation, equity, responsiveness and efficiency.</p> <p>Nor has the Commonwealth been willing to adequately finance the system either through a levy, a social insurance scheme or via increased taxation. Instead, it’s upping the reliance on user fees to meet the cost of providing services.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/253727/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em>By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/hal-swerissen-9722">Hal Swerissen</a>, Emeritus Professor of Public Health, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/la-trobe-university-842">La Trobe University</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/big-changes-are-planned-for-aged-care-in-2025-but-youd-never-know-from-the-major-parties-253727">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p> </div>

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How long will you live? New evidence says it’s much more about your choices than your genes

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p>One of the most enduring questions humans have is how long we’re going to live. With this comes the question of how much of our lifespan is shaped by our environment and choices, and how much is predetermined by our genes.</p> <p>A study recently published in the prestigious journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-024-03483-9">Nature Medicine</a> has attempted for the first time to quantify the relative contributions of our environment and lifestyle versus our genetics in how we age and how long we live.</p> <p>The findings were striking, suggesting our environment and lifestyle play a much greater role than our genes in determining our longevity.</p> <h2>What the researchers did</h2> <p>This study used data from the <a href="https://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk/">UK Biobank</a>, a large database in the United Kingdom that contains in-depth health and lifestyle data from roughly 500,000 people. The data available include genetic information, medical records, imaging and information about lifestyle.</p> <p>A separate part of the study used data from a subset of more than 45,000 participants whose blood samples underwent something called “<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41576-022-00511-7">proteomic profiling</a>”.</p> <p>Proteomic profiling is a relatively new technique that looks at how proteins in the body change over time to identify a person’s age at a molecular level. By using this method researchers were able to estimate how quickly an individual’s body was actually ageing. This is called their biological age, as opposed to their chronological age (or years lived).</p> <p>The researchers assessed 164 environmental exposures as well as participants’ genetic markers for disease. Environmental exposures included lifestyle choices (for example, smoking, physical activity), social factors (for example, living conditions, household income, employment status) and early life factors, such as body weight in childhood.</p> <p>They then looked for associations between genetics and environment and 22 major age-related diseases (such as coronary artery disease and type 2 diabetes), mortality and biological ageing (as determined by the proteomic profiling).</p> <p>These analyses allowed the researchers to estimate the relative contributions of environmental factors and genetics to ageing and dying prematurely.</p> <h2>What did they find?</h2> <p>When it came to disease-related mortality, as we would expect, age and sex explained a significant amount (about half) of the variation in how long people lived. The key finding, however, was environmental factors collectively accounted for around 17% of the variation in lifespan, while genetic factors contributed less than 2%.</p> <p>This finding comes down very clearly on the nurture side in the “nature versus nurture” debate. It suggests environmental factors influence health and longevity to a far greater extent than genetics.</p> <p>Not unexpectedly, the study showed a different mix of environmental and genetic influences for different diseases. Environmental factors had the greatest impact on lung, heart and liver disease, while genetics played the biggest role in determining a person’s risk of breast, ovarian and prostate cancers, and dementia.</p> <p>The environmental factors that had the most influence on earlier death and biological ageing included smoking, socioeconomic status, physical activity levels and living conditions.</p> <p>Interestingly, being taller at age ten was found to be associated with a shorter lifespan. Although this may seem surprising, and the reasons are not entirely clear, this aligns with <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140509110756.htm">previous research</a> finding taller people are more likely to die earlier.</p> <p>Carrying more weight at age ten and maternal smoking (if your mother smoked in late pregnancy or when you were a newborn) were also found to shorten lifespan.</p> <p>Probably the most surprising finding in this study was a lack of association between diet and markers of biological ageing, as determined by the proteomic profiling. This flies in the face of the extensive body of evidence showing the crucial role of <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s43016-023-00868-w">dietary patterns</a> in chronic disease risk and longevity.</p> <p>But there are a number of plausible explanations for this. The first could be a lack of statistical power in the part of the study looking at biological ageing. That is, the number of people studied may have been too small to allow the researchers to see the true impact of diet on ageing.</p> <p>Second, the dietary data in this study, which was self-reported and only measured at one time point, is likely to have been of relatively poor quality, limiting the researchers’ ability to see associations. And third, as the relationship between diet and longevity is likely to be complex, disentangling dietary effects from other lifestyle factors may be difficult.</p> <p>So despite this finding, it’s still safe to say the food we eat is one of the most important pillars of health and longevity.</p> <h2>What other limitations do we need to consider?</h2> <p>Key exposures (such as diet) in this study were only measured at a single point in time, and not tracked over time, introducing potential errors into the results.</p> <p>Also, as this was an observational study, we can’t assume associations found represent causal relationships. For example, just because living with a partner correlated with a longer lifespan, it doesn’t mean this caused a person to live longer. There may be other factors which explain this association.</p> <p>Finally, it’s possible this study may have underestimated the role of genetics in longevity. It’s important to recognise genetics and environment don’t operate in isolation. Rather, health outcomes are shaped by their interplay, and this study may not have fully captured the complexity of these interactions.</p> <h2>The future is (largely) in your hands</h2> <p>It’s worth noting there were a number of factors such as household income, home ownership and employment status associated with diseases of ageing in this study that are not necessarily within a person’s control. This highlights the crucial role of addressing the social determinants of health to ensure everyone has the best possible chance of living a long and healthy life.</p> <p>At the same time, the results offer an empowering message that longevity is largely shaped by the choices we make. This is great news, unless you have good genes and were hoping they would do the heavy lifting.</p> <p>Ultimately, the results of this study reinforce the notion that while we may inherit certain genetic risks, how we eat, move and engage with the world seems to be more important in determining how healthy we are and how long we live.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/251054/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/hassan-vally-202904"><em>Hassan Vally</em></a><em>, Associate Professor, Epidemiology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-long-will-you-live-new-evidence-says-its-much-more-about-your-choices-than-your-genes-251054">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p> </div>

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Baywatch actress passes away aged 61

<p>Pamela Bach-Hasselhoff has passed away at the age of 61. </p> <p>The <em>Baywatch</em> actress and ex-wife of David Hasselhoff was found dead in her Los Angeles home on Wednesday, according to multiple media outlets in the US. </p> <p>Law enforcement sources have told TMZ that her family members were concerned after not hearing from her and wanted to check up on her. </p> <p>First responders were then called to her home after receiving a report of an unconscious female, and she was reportedly pronounced dead at the scene, according to <em>Page Six</em>. </p> <p>She has reportedly died by suicide. </p> <p>"Our family is deeply saddened by the recent passing of Pamela Hasselhoff," a representative for David Hasselhoff said in a statement.</p> <p>"We are grateful for the outpouring of love and support during this difficult time, but we kindly request privacy as we grieve and navigate through this challenging time."</p> <p>Bach was married to Hasselhoff for 17 years from 1989 to 2006, with the former couple sharing two children: daughters Taylor Ann Hasselhoff, 34, and Hayley Hasselhoff, 32.</p> <p>She was also a grandmother to Taylor's daughter, born in August 2024. </p> <p>Pamela was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1963 and moved to Los Angeles in 1985. </p> <p>That same year, she met David on the set of <em>Knight Rider</em>, with the couple tying the knot four years later. </p> <p>Six years later, she joined the cast of <em>Baywatch</em>, where she played  reporter and businesswoman Kate 'Kaye' Morgan periodically in a few episodes across seasons two, three, five and six.</p> <p>Pamela and David filed for divorce in January 2006, citing irreconcilable differences.</p> <p><em>Image: MediaPunch/ Shutterstock Editorial</em></p> <p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, 'system-ui', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px; background-color: #ffffff;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Need to talk to someone? Don't go it alone. </em></span></p> <p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, 'system-ui', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px; background-color: #ffffff;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit lifeline.org.au</em></span></p> <p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, 'system-ui', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px; background-color: #ffffff;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636</em></span></p> <p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, 'system-ui', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px; background-color: #ffffff;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">SANE: 1800 187 263; saneforums.org</em></span></p> <p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, 'system-ui', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px; background-color: #ffffff;"> </p>

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Dolly Parton's husband dies at age 82

<p>Dolly Parton's husband, Carl Dean, has died at the age of 82. </p> <p>Dean was notoriously private during their almost 60 years of marriage, after he tied the knot with the country music icon in 1966. </p> <p>Parton announced the sad news of her loss in a statement on her Instagram, saying "words can't do justice" to the "love [they] shared for over 60 years".</p> <p>"Carl Dean, husband of Dolly Parton, passed away March 3rd in Nashville at the age of 82," the statement read.</p> <p>"He will be laid to rest in a private ceremony with immediate family attending. He was survived by his siblings Sandra and Donnie."</p> <p>"Carl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can't do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy," Parton said in the statement.</p> <p>The statement concluded sharing that, "the family has asked for privacy during this difficult time".</p> <p>Parton met Dean outside the Wishy Washy Laundromat the day she moved to Nashville at 18.</p> <p>“I was surprised and delighted that while he talked to me, he looked at my face (a rare thing for me)," Parton described the meeting.</p> <p>"He seemed to be genuinely interested in finding out who I was and what I was about.”</p> <p>They married two years later, on Memorial Day, May 30th 1966, in a small ceremony in Ringgold, Georgia.</p> <p>He later inspired Parton’s classic, “<em>Jolene</em>”, as Parton told <em>NPR</em> in 2008 that she wrote the song about a flirty a bank teller who seemed to take an interest in Dean.</p> <p>Parton and Dean kept strict privacy around their relationship for decades, Parton telling The Associated Press in 1984: “A lot of people say there’s no Carl Dean, that he’s just somebody I made up to keep other people off me.”</p> <p>She joked that she’d like to pose with him on the cover of a magazine, “So that people could at least know that I’m not married to a wart or something."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram/Jason Moore/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock </em></p>

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Man who saved the lives of over 2 million babies dies aged 88

<p>James Harrison OAM, the famous Australian blood donor who saved the lives of 2.4 million babies by donating his rare plasma, has died aged 88. </p> <p>Australian Red Cross Lifeblood has confirmed that Harrison died "peacefully" on February 17 at Peninsula Village Nursing Home on the NSW Central Coast. </p> <p>Harrison, also known as the Man with the Golden Arm, began donating in the 1950s became the world's most prolific blood and plasma donor thanks to his rare antibody, Anti-D, which helps mothers who are at risk of passing on deadly antibodies to their babies. </p> <p>Since he started donating at the age of 18, Harrison has donated 1173 times, continuing his kind act up until his retirement in 2018 aged 81. </p> <p>His family have since paid tribute to him, with his daughter Tracey Mellowship, remembering him as a generous soul. </p> <p>"James was a humanitarian at heart, but also very funny," she said. </p> <p>"In his last years, he was immensely proud to become a great grandfather to two beautiful grandchildren, Trey and Addison.</p> <p>"As an Anti-D recipient myself, he has left behind a family that may not have existed without his precious donations."</p> <p>Lifeblood Chief Executive Officer Stephen Cornelissen added that Harrison's impact has made a difference all around the world. </p> <p>"James was a remarkable, stoically kind, and generous person who was committed to a lifetime of giving and he captured the hearts of many people around the world," Cornelissen said.</p> <p>"It was James' belief that his donations were no more important than any other donors', and that everyone can be special in the same way that he was.</p> <p>"James extended his arm to help others and babies he would never know a remarkable 1173 times and expected nothing in return."</p> <p>"He leaves behind an incredible legacy, and it was his hope that one day, someone in Australia would beat his donation record," he added. </p> <p>"On behalf of Lifeblood, and the entire Australian community, we thank James for the incredible life- saving contribution he made and the millions of lives he saved."</p> <p>Harrison's rare blood and plasma may continue to save lives even after his death, with researches hoping they would be able to use his blood to develop lab-grown Anti-D. </p> <p><em>Image: Nine News</em></p>

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Methanol victims parents call for boycott

<p>The parents of Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, the two Melbourne teenagers who died of methanol poisoning in Laos, have urged Australians to boycott the country, after the government refused to meet with them three months after the tragedy. </p> <p>The two 19-year-olds were on a trip of a lifetime in Vang Vieng last November when they fell ill after consuming drinks that contained methanol at the Nana Backpacker Hostel. </p> <p>Bianca's parents, Mark and Michelle Jones, have told ABC on Monday that they still have not received any updates from the Laos government. </p> <p>“I mean, our girls were murdered and nothing’s getting done. And that’s really hard,” they said. </p> <p>“What are they hiding? That’s what I’m thinking, that’s what we’re all thinking. Someone’s got to be accountable for it.”</p> <p>Holly's mum has also urged Australian's against travelling to the country, saying: “Don’t go. Don’t go. It’s just not safe for travellers, it just isn’t, and we’ve seen that first hand." </p> <p>Mr Bowles added, if Laos wants “people to come to your country, make it safe. Make it a safe place”.</p> <p>The parents of Anne-Sofie Orkild, who also passed away after consuming the drink, agreed that a boycott of Laos is their only hope for answers. </p> <p>“It’s a lot of leverage, it’s a lot of money,” they said. </p> <p>“Our recommendation is not to go to Laos, it will hurt them.”</p> <p>Though the hostel remains closed, the staff members who were arrested after the tragedy have since been released from custody and are believed to be under house arrest, according to the ABC. </p> <p>“We were led to believe they had 12 people in custody, they’ve all been released,” Mr Jones said. </p> <p>“It’s incredibly concerning, it seems to reek of a cover-up.</p> <p>“I can’t imagine that from the distilling process through to handing out drinks, there’s not one Lao national who was involved in the chain – so something seems incredibly off.”</p> <p>Since the tragedy, the Australian government has backed the families' call for a transparent and thorough investigation, with Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong telling <em>Sunrise </em>last month: “I completely understand the anguish of the families who haven’t heard from the Laotian government for the last couple of months.</p> <p>“We will continue to press the Laotian government.”</p> <p><em>Image: 60 Minutes/ 7News</em></p>

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Hollywood star dies aged 39

<p>Michelle Trachtenberg has passed away aged 39. </p> <p>The former child star rose to fame in the 1996 film <em>Harriet the Spy</em>, before going on to have memorable roles on popular TV shows including <em>Buffy the Vampire Slayer</em> and <em>Gossip Girl</em>. </p> <p>Police responded to a  911 call on Wednesday just after 8am local time, where “officers observed a 39-year-old female unconscious and unresponsive,” inside a Manhattan apartment, according to a NYPD statement. </p> <p>Paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene, with no foul play suspected. </p> <p>Her official cause of death will come from the New York Medical Examiner. </p> <p>A NYPD source old <em>ABC News</em> that Trachtenberg may have been experiencing complications from a recent liver transplant, and is believed to have died of natural causes. </p> <p>"The family requests privacy for their loss. There are no further details at this time," a representative for Trachtenberg told <em>CNN </em>in a statement.</p> <p>Trachtenberg appeared in 66 episodes of <em>Buffy the Vampire Slayer</em> playing Dawn Summers, the younger sister of the title character played by Sarah Michelle Gellar. </p> <p>She also featured in 28 episodes of <em>Gossip Girl </em>as Georgina Sparks, between 2008 and 2012. </p> <p><em>Gossip Girl </em>creators Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage have paid tribute to the actress, writing:  “We are deeply saddened by the news of Michelle’s passing. Michelle was so funny, kind, and talented." </p> <p>“Her portrayal of Georgina Sparks was an iconic fan favorite, and grew from a one season villain to a beloved character who returned over the course of six seasons. She was a delight to have on set and will be deeply missed. Our thoughts are with her family.”</p> <p><em>Image: SBM/Plux/ Shutterstock Editorial</em></p> <p> </p>

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Legendary soul singer dies aged 88

<p>Roberta Flack, the legendary Grammy-winning singer and pianist, has passed away at the age of 88. Known for her intimate vocal style and timeless hits such as "Killing Me Softly With His Song" and "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face", Flack was one of the most influential recording artists of the 1970s and continued to impact music for decades.</p> <p>Flack died at home surrounded by her family, her publicist Elaine Schock confirmed in a statement on Monday (early Tuesday AEDT). She had been battling ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, since 2022, which had rendered her unable to sing.</p> <p>Flack’s rise to fame came unexpectedly in her early 30s when Clint Eastwood featured "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" in his 1971 film <em>Play Misty for Me</em>. The song, a hushed and emotional ballad, captivated audiences, topped the Billboard pop charts in 1972, and earned a Grammy for Record of the Year. She repeated this achievement the following year with "Killing Me Softly With His Song", making history as the first artist to win consecutive Record of the Year Grammys.</p> <p>Discovered in the late 1960s by jazz musician Les McCann, Flack’s voice was praised for its profound emotional depth. McCann famously remarked, "Her voice touched, tapped, trapped, and kicked every emotion I’ve ever known." Unlike some of her contemporaries, Flack often chose a reflective and measured approach in her performances, blending elements of jazz, soul\ and classical music. Her music resonated deeply with fans and also aligned with the social and civil rights movements of the era. She had close ties to figures like Reverend Jesse Jackson and activist Angela Davis, whom she visited in prison while Davis faced — and was later acquitted of — serious charges.</p> <p>Flack also sang at the funeral of baseball trailblazer Jackie Robinson and contributed to Marlo Thomas' feminist children’s project, "Free to Be... You and Me."</p> <p>Born in Black Mountain, North Carolina, and raised in Arlington, Virginia, Flack displayed extraordinary musical talent from a young age. A gifted pianist, she earned a full scholarship to Howard University at just 15 years old. Before her breakthrough, she taught music at junior high schools in Washington, DC, while performing in clubs at night, attracting notable admirers like Burt Bacharach and Johnny Mathis.</p> <p>Flack’s collaborations with close friend and fellow Howard University alumnus Donny Hathaway resulted in hits like "Where Is the Love" and "The Closer I Get to You". Their partnership was tragically cut short when Hathaway died in 1979 after suffering a breakdown. Reflecting on their bond, Flack told Vibe in 2022, "Our musical synergy was unlike anything I'd had before or since."</p> <p>Though her commercial peak was in the 1970s, Flack found later success with "Tonight, I Celebrate My Love", a duet with Peabo Bryson in the 1980s, and Set the Night to Music with Maxi Priest in the 1990s.</p> <p>In 1996, she gained renewed attention when the Fugees' Grammy-winning cover of "Killing Me Softly" introduced her music to a new generation, leading to a special performance alongside the hip-hop group. Throughout her career, Flack won five Grammys and was nominated for eight others.</p> <p>In 2020, she was honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, with artists like John Legend and Ariana Grande celebrating her legacy. In a 2020 interview, she reflected on her passion for music: "Through music, we understand what we are thinking and feeling. No matter what challenge life presents, I am at home with my piano."</p> <p>Roberta Flack’s voice and artistry transcended generations, leaving an indelible mark on music and culture. While she may be gone, her legacy will live on through her timeless recordings and the artists she inspired.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Music

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Centenarian shares the secrets to a long life

<p>A centenarian has share the few simple things she credits for her long life, just days after celebrating her 100th birthday. </p> <p>Sydney woman Betty Woodhams spent her milestone birthday doing one of her favourite things: buying for new plants from Bunnings. </p> <p>Woodhams was treated to a warm reception from staff as she perused the aisles snapping up new flowers for her small balcony garden. </p> <p>The mother-of-two told <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-14414941/I-just-turned-100-life-lessons-want-young-person-know-late-beauty-secret-Ive-sworn-years.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Daily Mail Australia</em></a> that she credits her age and enduring happiness down to great friends, a balanced diet, no regrets and "always wearing a hat".</p> <p>"Try to stay happy, even when things may seem like they are getting the better of you," Betty told the publication.</p> <p>"There really is something good in everything. Relaxing with a glass of wine at dinner or enjoying the odd champagne or two with friends always helps too."</p> <p>Betty grew up in Parramatta before moving to Bondi when she married her late husband Ron in 1951.</p> <p>The couple then built their dream house in Tambourine Bay, Lane Cove, while Betty immersed herself in her career as a secretary in the TV and publishing industry.</p> <p>Betty always surrounds herself with good friends, stays socially active and never sweats the small stuff, as she said, "don't get stuck on the negative things".</p> <p>"It doesn't matter what your age is, there's always something you can do to stay active whether it's walking, gardening, swimming or even a day at the races," she says. </p> <p>"Age is just a number. We do all age but you choose to get old!"</p> <p>Betty also hopes to change the perception of "getting older" and insists there's nothing "boring" about it, as she said, "People assume that life gets boring and quiet. It will if you let it!"</p> <p>"Yes you do slow down but that doesn't mean you stop. You can still get out and enjoy yourself... just at a slower pace!"</p> <p><em>Image credits: Daily Mail Australia </em></p>

Caring

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Grieving parents blame hospital over two-year-old's death

<p>Two grieving parents are calling for an independent investigation into a Sydney hospital after the death of their two-year-old son. </p> <p>Elouise and Danny Massa took their son Joe to the emergency department at Northern Beaches Hospital on the morning of September 14th after he had spent the night vomiting.</p> <p>The toddler had hypovolemia, a condition that occurs when the body loses too much fluid, and later tragically died.</p> <p>Joe's parents claim the hospital failed their son "at every level" and he would still be alive if he had received the proper care. </p> <p>In a statement provided to <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/grieving-parents-demand-urgent-investigation-into-sydney-hospital-after-death-of-twoyearold-son/a0de6011-adf3-49d2-8206-73ed21331c30" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>9News</em></a>, the parents said Joe's heart rate was at 183 beats per minute when they arrived at the emergency department, yet he was misclassified as a low priority, category three patient, instead of red zone, category two.</p> <p>The parents went on to allege that the Northern Beaches hospital missed critical warning signs, including when Joe lost consciousness, and his mother's requests for an IV drip were denied.</p> <p>"I can't tell you what it's like to hold your son in your arms … to be told to sit in your chair while your child is agitated, going in and out of consciousness, lips are turning blue," Mrs Massa told 2GB on Thursday morning.</p> <p>"To be told to wait and have your baby literally dying in your arms is unfathomable and should not be happening at any hospital."</p> <p>For almost three hours, Joe was not hooked up to monitoring equipment while sitting in an emergency department chair. </p> <p>A serious adverse event review conducted by the hospital after Joe's death identified multiple failures, with the report claiming there was a "delay and failure to recognise deterioration" in Joe's condition.</p> <p>Healthscope, which operates the hospital, said in a statement: "Northern Beaches Hospital offers its deepest condolences to the Massa family for the loss of their son, Joe. We recognise Joe's death has caused unimaginable heartache and grief for the family."</p> <p>"We have met with the family to apologise and hear directly about their tragic experience and to discuss the findings of the Serious Adverse Event Review."</p> <p>"We will continue to support the family in any way that we can as we implement the improvements identified in the review, including improvements around triaging processes and internal escalation processes." </p> <div>Joe's mother said no parents should have to go through the pain their family has endured since Joe's untimely death.</p> <p>"Joe was the most beautiful boy, loved by his sister and brother," she said.</p> <p>"He loved dinosaurs. He had the most infectious smile. He was just two months off turning two years old. He was, and is still, the light of our world. The system at Northern Beaches Hospital, the emergency department, entirely failed us at every possible level."</p> <p><em>Image credits: 9News</em></p> </div>

Legal

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Protein and healthy ageing: What you need to know if you're over 50

<p>Healthy ageing is the new middle-aged mantra, but where do you start? If you’re over 50, one of the quickest wins in the battle to feeling great and ageing well is to increase your protein intake.</p> <p>Protein is an essential pro-ageing nutrient; it’s not just for gym junkies. It is vital to combat the serious impacts of ageing.</p> <p>Protein helps to stop age-related muscle loss and keep bones strong, when combined with exercise. It supports immune function and plays an essential role in maintaining and repairing body tissues and wound healing.</p> <p>Nutrition scientist Louise Fisher specialises in healthy ageing. She helped <a href="https://www.boldhealth.com.au" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bold Health</a> develop its +50 pro-ageing protein powder and she has recently reviewed the past five years of published scientific research on protein and ageing to determine how much protein you really need to age well.</p> <p>The science on protein is moving fast. So, we asked Louise Fisher to share the latest insights on the eight most common questions about protein and healthy ageing. Here are her answers:</p> <p><strong>Does protein help with healthy ageing?</strong></p> <p>Protein is essential for healthy ageing. It helps keep your bones healthy and most importantly, it helps preserve muscle mass to stay strong.</p> <p>From as young as 30, you start to lose muscle mass and strength. This decline is barely noticeable at first, but it can accelerate to become a major problem as you get older impacting strength and mobility, increasing the likelihood of falls and even reducing your lifespan.</p> <p>The good news is you can slow down muscle loss, and even build muscle well into your 90s. Many studies have shown that a higher protein diet, combined with resistance training, is the best way to combat age-related muscle loss and preserve mobility.</p> <p>If you think of your muscles as a brick wall, the protein makes up the bricks and the resistance exercise is the work to build the wall. You need both to build that muscle.</p> <p>That’s not the only way protein helps you age well. Every cell in your body contains protein and your body is constantly using protein. Apart from building and maintaining muscles, protein helps repair tissues, forms the antibodies for your immunity system and the blood cells of our circulatory system, makes up many hormones, such as insulin, builds body structures of bones and collagen, and forms the enzymes we need to absorb nutrients from food and use energy.</p> <p><strong>Why do you need more protein once you turn 50?</strong></p> <p>The 50s are a good time to reassess your diet because simple changes now can have a big effect on your quality of life. Generally, as you age, you need fewer carbohydrates, because insulin resistance and higher blood glucose levels can become a common problem, while more protein becomes essential for muscle health, bone health and general wellbeing.Protein is made up of amino acids. As you get older, your body needs more amino acids to maintain, repair and build muscle. It also becomes less effective at using the amino acids. This is called anabolic resistance.</p> <p>As an example, one study revealed men in their 20s could build muscle with 20g of protein, while men in their 70s needed 40g of protein.</p> <p>Women, especially, need to prioritise protein for optimal bone health, because the drop in oestrogen with menopause increases the risk of developing osteoporosis. As you build and move your muscles, muscle contractions stimulate bone rebuilding. This helps maintain your bone density and reduce the risk of fractures. Stronger muscles help build stronger bones. Higher protein intakes are associated with a lower risk of hip fractures in older adults. </p> <p><strong>How much protein do you need for healthy ageing?</strong></p> <p>The latest science, combined with newer methods of assessing protein needs, show most healthy adults over 50 should consume at least 1g-1.2g of protein for each kilo they weigh, to help maintain muscle mass and age well.</p> <p>The formula is the same, whether you’re male or female. So, as an example a 70kg woman should aim for at least 70-84g of protein a day, and at least 90-108g of protein a day for a 90kg man. If you are doing strength training, as recommended, or other strenuous physical activity, you’ll need even more protein. I recommend at least an extra 20-30g of protein to help with muscle recovery on training days. </p> <p>The other group that needs higher protein intakes are people who might have a poor diet or those recovering from surgery or illness.</p> <p><strong>What are the signs that you’re not getting enough protein?</strong></p> <p>The early warning signs that you are not getting enough protein can be hard to spot. It could be that you are picking up more colds and viruses than normal, or that scratches do not heal as quickly.</p> <p>Sometimes that muscle weakness can show up in little things, for example it’s harder to open jars because of a small drop in grip strength. If you’re not getting enough protein, your body prioritises protein use for functions that keep you alive, such as repairing tissues, maintaining immunity, making new blood cells, hormones and enzymes.</p> <p>Building and maintaining muscle becomes a lower priority. On average most Australians do eat enough protein, but for some groups that’s not the case. People over 50 are at real risk of not getting enough protein to thrive.</p> <p><strong>When is the best time to consume protein for healthy ageing?</strong></p> <p>It may be best to spread your protein intake across the day, getting at least 20-30 g at main meals. Some studies indicate you absorb protein better this way, rather than relying on one high protein meal. In practice, it makes reaching your protein targets much more achievable.</p> <p>In my experience, people often miss protein at breakfast, especially if they just have a coffee or tea and toast or a piece of fruit to start the day. For something quick and easy, I’d suggest Greek yoghurt topped with nuts and fruit or high protein cereal with high protein milk.</p> <p>If you find it hard to eat first thing in the morning, or need something on the go, a protein shake is a great option.If you have been exercising, aim to get that extra 20-30g of protein soon afterwards. Again, a protein shake is often the easiest way to do this.</p> <p><strong>What are the best sources of protein for people over 50?</strong></p> <p>To age well, you need to choose the right sources of protein. It’s not just a matter of eating more sausages, bacon or a bigger steak. To help manage risk factors for heart disease such as cholesterol, it is important to have most of your protein from foods that are low in saturated fats.</p> <p>This means focusing on plant protein and lean animal sources, including lean meat, chicken, fish, legumes (dried and tinned beans, lentils), plant protein powders, tofu, nuts and seeds, reduced fat dairy, and eggs.</p> <p><strong>What’s the best protein powder for people over 50?</strong></p> <p>Look for a protein powder that is low in sugar and has added vitamins and minerals, because, as you get older, you need to make every mouthful count. It’s also a better bang for your buck.</p> <p>On my checklist are vitamin B12, vitamin D, calcium, folate and magnesium. These essential nutrients also support healthy ageing by helping to maintain muscle, bone, and heart health, as well as fight fatigue.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Tip:</em></span> To avoid that bloated feeling you can sometimes get after drinking a protein shake, choose a protein powder that is lactose-free. Some people find blends with prebiotic fibres and digestive enzymes also help.</p> <p><strong>Why is eating more protein important if you’re dieting?</strong></p> <p>When you lose weight, you also generally lose some muscle mass as well. And the greater the rate of weight loss, the greater the loss of lean muscle.</p> <p>Maintaining protein intakes and resistance training, while trying to lose weight, is important to keep your strength, but not all weight loss methods make it easy to get enough protein.</p> <p>Intermittent fasting often involves people regularly skipping a meal. If poorly planned, this can lead to a shortfall in protein intake. With the increase in use of GLP-1 agonist drugs, such as Ozempic or Wegovy, for weight loss, we’re also starting to see nutritionists suggest that people prioritise protein intake to reduce the risk of sarcopenia, severe muscle and strength loss.</p> <p>Using a protein shake that is low in sugar and contains additional vitamins and minerals is a convenient way to get the nutrients you need and minimise muscle loss.</p> <p><em><strong>Louise Fisher is a highly qualified nutrition scientist with more than 10 years of experience as a clinical dietitian. Her key areas of expertise are healthy aging, diet, and exercise.</strong></em></p> <p><em><strong>Image credits: Supplied</strong></em></p>

Body

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"Profound sadness": Bali bombing hero dies at age 67

<p>Bali bombings survivor and hero Erik de Haart has died at the age of 67. </p> <p>The Sydney man was in Bali in 2002 with his Coogee Dolphins rugby league team when terrorists detonated bombs in two busy bars, killing 202 people, including 88 Australians.</p> <p>Mr De Haart was dubbed a hero after he was credited with pulling people out of the wreckage.</p> <p>He died aged 67 died of a suspected heart attack on Sunday.</p> <p>De Haart was a lifelong member of the Coogee Dolphins, with club president Wayne Hack issuing a statement after his tragic passing. </p> <p>“It is with profound sadness that we advise of the sudden passing of Coogee Dolphins life member Erik de Haart,” he said. “Erik was a loyal servant, life member and sponsor of our club."</p> <p>“He will forever be remembered in the immediate aftermath of the Bali tragedy of 2002 as a hero. Erik continued his ongoing support of the Coogee Dolphins for many years and in 2005 was honoured with a life membership."</p> <p>“The Coogee Dolphins would like to extend our deepest and heartfelt sympathies to Erik’s immediate and extended family and his many friends.”</p> <p>During the devastating 2002 attack in Bali, de Haart lost six of his friends but still helped save others by pulling them from the burning rubble. </p> <p>"I heard these girls crying for help, screaming. They were behind a section of the roof that had fallen in," de Haart told AAP in 2016.</p> <p>"The flames from the burning thatch were probably knee to mid-thigh high. I had to make a decision. Do I try and get them out and perhaps die in the attempt?"</p> <p>"I had to walk away and leave those girls to die and it's something that's haunted me for a long, long time ... It's made me feel like an impostor."</p> <p>"People say 'you're a hero'. And I remember those girls and I don't think I'm a hero."</p> <p><em>Image credits: SBS / Insight </em></p>

Caring

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What’s the difference between ageing and frailty? One is inevitable – the other is not

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/julee-mcdonagh-1525476">Julee McDonagh</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-wollongong-711">University of Wollongong</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/caleb-ferguson-72">Caleb Ferguson</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-wollongong-711">University of Wollongong</a></em></p> <p>Ageing is a normal part of the life course. It doesn’t matter how many green smoothies you drink, or how many “anti-ageing” skin care products you use, you can’t stop the <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2685272/">ageing process</a>.</p> <p>But while we’re all getting older, not everyone who ages will necessarily become frail. Ageing and frailty are closely related, but they’re not the same thing.</p> <p>Let’s break down the difference between the two.</p> <h2>What is ageing?</h2> <p>On a biological level, ageing is the result of the build-up of <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ageing-and-health">cellular and molecular damage</a> in the body over time.</p> <p>The ageing process causes a gradual decline in physical and mental function, a higher risk of disease, and eventual (and unavoidable) death.</p> <p>Still, some people think they can cheat the system, <a href="https://fortune.com/well/article/bryan-johnson-live-longer-unrecognizable-anti-aging-procedure/">spending millions</a> trying to stay young forever. While we may be able to reduce the <a href="https://theconversation.com/do-these-three-popular-anti-ageing-skincare-ingredients-work-heres-what-the-evidence-says-182200">appearance of ageing</a>, ultimately there’s <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s44324-024-00040-3">no magic pill</a> to <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2685272/">increase our longevity</a>.</p> <p>Around one in six Australians are over the age of 65 (<a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/older-people/older-australians/contents/demographic-profile">16% of the total population</a>). Yet <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03601277.2024.2402056">as individuals</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/fear-of-ageing-is-really-a-fear-of-the-unknown-and-modern-society-is-making-things-worse-220925">a society</a> many of us still have a <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/health-and-wellness/we-ve-been-constructed-to-think-a-certain-way-the-psychology-of-ageing-20231213-p5er6a.html">fear of ageing</a>.</p> <p>But what is it about ageing we are so afraid of? When it comes down to it, many people are probably less afraid of ageing, and more afraid of becoming frail.</p> <h2>What is frailty?</h2> <p><a href="https://www.afn.org.au/what-is-frailty/">Frailty</a> is defined as a state of vulnerability characterised by a loss of reserve across multiple parts of the body.</p> <p>Frailty is generally characterised by <a href="https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/clinical/frailty-declared-a-medical-condition">several physical symptoms</a>, such as weakness, slow walking speed, exhaustion, unintentional weight loss, and low activity level.</p> <p>Lower bone density and osteoporosis (a condition where the bones become weak and brittle) are also <a href="https://josr-online.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13018-024-04875-w">associated with frailty</a>, increasing the risk of <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1279770723020250">falls and fractures</a>.</p> <p>Notably, someone who is frail is less able to “bounce back” (or recover) after a stressor event compared to someone who is not frail. A stressor event could be, for example, having a fall, getting a urinary infection, or even being admitted to hospital.</p> <p>Frailty is more common in older people. But in some cases, frailty can affect younger people too. For example, people with advanced chronic diseases, such as <a href="https://academic.oup.com/eurjcn/article/22/4/345/6775229">heart failure</a>, can <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.5694/mja15.00801">develop frailty</a> much younger.</p> <p>Frailty is dynamic. While it can get worse over time, in some cases <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S037851221830478X">frailty can also be reversed</a> or even prevented through health and lifestyle changes.</p> <p>For example, we know physical inactivity and a sedentary lifestyle can <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(19)31786-6/abstract">significantly increase a person’s risk</a> of becoming frail. On the flip side, evidence shows doing more exercise can <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36746389/">reduce frailty in older adults</a>.</p> <p>There are other lifestyle modifications we can make too. And the earlier we make these changes, the better.</p> <h2>Preventing frailty</h2> <p>Here are some <a href="https://youtu.be/41cMkvsaOOM">key things</a> you can do to <a href="https://www.self.com/story/how-to-avoid-frailty-old-age">help prevent frailty</a>:</p> <p><strong>1. Get moving</strong></p> <p>Exercise more, including resistance training (such as squats and lunges, or grab some stretchy resistance bands). Many of these sorts of exercises can be done at home. YouTube has some <a href="https://youtu.be/XDQo4wslr7I?si=FAoyHLDZgSG5AN1r">great resources</a>.</p> <p>You might also consider joining a gym, or asking your GP about seeing an accredited exercise physiologist or physiotherapist. Medicare <a href="https://www9.health.gov.au/mbs/fullDisplay.cfm?type=item&amp;q=10953&amp;qt=item">subsidies may be available</a> for these specialists.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/topics/physical-activity-and-exercise/physical-activity-and-exercise-guidelines-for-all-australians/for-older-australians-65-years-and-over">physical activity guidelines</a> for older Australians recommend at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity on most days or preferably every day.</p> <p>The guidelines also highlight the importance of incorporating different types of activities (such as resistance, balance or flexibility exercises) and reducing the time you spend sitting down.</p> <p><strong>2. Stay socially active</strong></p> <p>Social isolation and loneliness can <a href="https://academic.oup.com/gerontologist/article-abstract/64/10/gnae114/7734069">contribute to the progression of frailty</a>. Reach out to friends and family for support or contact local community groups that you may be able to join. This might include your local Zumba class or bridge club.</p> <p><strong>3. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to regularly check your medications</strong></p> <p>“Polypharmacy” (when someone is prescribed <a href="https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/our-work/healthcare-variation/fourth-atlas-2021/medicines-use-older-people/61-polypharmacy-75-years-and-over">five or more medications</a>) is associated with an increased <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6005607/">risk of frailty</a>. The presence of frailty can also interfere with how the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0047637419300387">body absorbs medicines</a>.</p> <p><a href="https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/home-medicines-review">Home medicine reviews</a> are available for older adults with a <a href="https://www9.health.gov.au/mbs/fullDisplay.cfm?type=item&amp;q=900">chronic medical condition or a complex medication regimen</a>. These reviews aims to help people get the most benefit from their medicines and reduce their risk of <a href="https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-04/fourth_atlas_2021_-_6.2_medications_management_reviews_75_years_and_over_0.pdf">experiencing adverse effects</a>.</p> <p>Always consult your doctor before making any changes to your current medications.</p> <p><strong>4. Eat a protein-rich diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables</strong></p> <p><a href="https://academic.oup.com/biomedgerontology/article/61/6/589/589472?login=true#9578331">Low nutrient intake</a> can negatively impact physical function and may increase your risk of becoming frail. There’s some evidence to suggest eating more protein may <a href="https://academic.oup.com/ageing/article/49/1/32/5618813">delay the onset of frailty</a>.</p> <p>A food-first approach is best when looking to increase the <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7598653/#:%7E:text=Many%20studies%20have%20described%20an,are%20necessary%20to%20prevent%20frailty.">protein in your diet</a>. Protein is found in <a href="https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/protein#protein-foods">foods such as</a> lean meats, poultry, seafood, eggs, dairy products, legumes and nuts.</p> <p>Adults over 50 should aim to eat <a href="https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/nutrient-reference-values/nutrients/protein">64 grams of protein</a> per day for men and 46g per day for women. Adults over 70 should aim for 81g per day for men and 57g per day for women.</p> <p>Ask your GP for a referral to a dietitian who can provide advice on a dietary regime that is best for you.</p> <p>Supplements may be recommended if you are struggling to meet your protein needs from diet alone.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. 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More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/julee-mcdonagh-1525476"><em>Julee McDonagh</em></a><em>, Senior Research Fellow of Frailty Research, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-wollongong-711">University of Wollongong</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/caleb-ferguson-72">Caleb Ferguson</a>, Professor of Nursing and Director of Health Innovations, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-wollongong-711">University of Wollongong</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/whats-the-difference-between-ageing-and-frailty-one-is-inevitable-the-other-is-not-247450">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

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Parents protest against teens bailed after allegedly wielding fake gun at shoppers

<p>Furious parents have staged a protest outside the Melbourne home of a 14-year-old bailed after allegedly pointing an imitation gun at shoppers. </p> <p>Two teenage boys allegedly stole the imitation guns from a store at Somerville in Melbourne’s southeast on Thursday morning, before pointing the guns at shoppers. </p> <p>“Officers were quickly on scene and arrested three boys,” Victoria Police said in a statement on Friday.</p> <p>“A 14-year-old and 16-year-old have since been charged with possess imitation firearm, affray and theft. They were bailed to appear before a children’s court at a later date. A 13-year-old boy was released without charges.”</p> <p>The two boys allegedly threatened a woman who was holding her 18-month-old with the fake gun. </p> <p>“My daughter was playing in the playground. They walked over to her and pointed the gun directly in her face. My daughter was looking straight at him," she told 3AW on Friday. </p> <p>"We were very shocked and scared. There were a lot of witnesses who were scared as well, which is understandable.”</p> <p>“I just keep picturing a gun in my daughter’s face, which isn’t very nice,” she added. </p> <p>“It will take a little bit of time, but we’ll try and move on. My family and partner are disappointed and upset as well.”</p> <p>The boys that were arrested were released just hours later, sparking outrage at the state's lax bail laws, with almost a hundred fed-up locals gathering outside the teen's house on Friday night. </p> <p>“They came from everywhere. They were calling them ‘dog’ and everything, just, you know, just ‘get off this property’ and ‘get out of this street’,” a local told <em>7News</em>.</p> <p>Footage on social media showed the large groups of people gathered on the street, with police in attendance. </p> <p>“It was a peaceful protest to send a message to these young kids people have had enough,” one local wrote on Facebook.</p> <p>“We have all had enough of crime, bad behaviour, drugs and lenient court sentences,” another woman said.</p> <p>After the peaceful protest, Victorian opposition leader Brad Battin urged against “vigilante” behaviour.</p> <p>“Kids are getting bail, they’re sticking their finger up at the government each and every time they get on social media and brag that they can steal a car, do an aggravated burglary and be back on the street in an hour-and-a-half,” he told <em>7News</em>.</p> <p>“But to go on to vigilante acts after is only going to make matters worse.” </p> <p><em>Images: 7News</em></p>

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AFL legend dies at age 43

<p>AFL West Coast premiership winner Adam Hunter has died at the age of 43. </p> <p>The athlete was found unresponsive just after midnight in Bunbury, south of Perth, and could not be revived.</p> <p>Hunter was coach of the South Bunbury reserves team and had attended training on Tuesday night prior to his death, before he returned home complaining of chest pains and an ambulance was called to the house he shares with his mother.</p> <p>WA Police issued a statement on Wednesday, saying, “About 12:20am this morning, 5 February 2025, police and St John Ambulance were called to a residence in Withers upon report of a non-responsive male."</p> <p>“Upon arrival paramedics immediately commenced first aid, however; the man could not be revived. The 43-year-old man was declared deceased at the scene."</p> <p>“The death is being considered non-suspicious, and a report will be prepared for the Coroner.”</p> <p>Hunter played 151 games for the Eagles and the defender turned swingman solidified his place in history at the 2006 grand final.</p> <p>He kicked West Coast’s last goal of the game, his celebration becoming an iconic moment in club history as they sealed victory over the Sydney Swans after falling short in the same match-up in the 2005 decider.</p> <p>“We are devastated by the loss of 2006 premiership Eagle Adam Hunter,” West Coast said in a statement on Wednesday. “Our thoughts are with his family, teammates and friends.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: West Coast Eagles </em></p>

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“What is wrong with people?”: Baggage claims photo reignites age-old debate

<p dir="ltr">A single photo of an airport’s baggage claim area has kicked off a heated debate about travel etiquette.</p> <p dir="ltr">A frustrated traveller snapped the image of a crowded luggage carousel at Melbourne Airport and posted it to Reddit, reigniting the age-old debate about one of people’s most annoying habits when going on holiday.</p> <p dir="ltr">"I returned to Melbourne last night on an international full flight, and the lack of self-awareness from some people was astounding," the post read, accompanied by the photo of a crowded baggage claim carousel. </p> <p dir="ltr">"Despite the clear signs instructing passengers to stay behind the yellow line at baggage collection, many ignored them, standing right in front of it," she continued.</p> <p dir="ltr">"As someone who is on the shorter side, I already struggle to see over a 6ft grown man. After taking this photo, two more people stood directly in front of me.”</p> <p dir="ltr">"At that point, I firmly said in a loud voice, 'Stand behind the yellow line; it's there for a reason'. Thankfully, they moved."</p> <p dir="ltr">"Seriously, what is wrong with people? There's plenty of space around – why stand right in front of me? Rude AF!"</p> <p dir="ltr">The post quickly received hundreds of comments, with plenty of people equally baffled by the act and wondering why the selfish act takes over so many people in airports.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Those two are probably the first to stand up and get their carry-on bags out of the overhead compartments as soon as the wheels touch down," one person commented.</p> <p dir="ltr">"You really triggered them with this one. Imagine asking people to be considerate," another said.</p> <p dir="ltr">But others didn't see an issue at all, with one person writing, "I just say 'excuse me' and reach between people to grab my bag. Most people get out of your way."</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p>

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