Keeping Active, Staying Connected!€¦ · Robina Social Group Presentation Monday 15th May @11am Robina Community Centre Room 2.2 (upstairs) $4.00 Inc: Morning Tea & Yoga Session

Welcome

New Members

Chair Yoga

Robina Social Group

Griffith Uni visit

Coming Up

First Aid training

COTA presentation

In this Issue:

April 2016

Newsletter

May 2017

Birthdays 2

3

4

5

5

8

10

13

Macular awareness 14

Recent trip photos 17

The Back Page 18

Keeping Active, Staying Connected!

23 members of the Pines Walking

Group joined in the Soldier On

Mateship run/walk Sunday 30

April. Many kicked up their heals

and ran part of the course.

Brilliant day! Many thanks to The

Pines Shopping Centre for

sponsoring our group.

Page 2 60 and better news


Annand Dulcie Davis June Power Jean

Blackford Margaret Fortune Pamela Scanlon Elaine

Brown Lindsay Grey Dennis Stemp Bev

Bushby Betty Kent Alex Strickland Elsa

Cardona Maria Libia Layton Lyn Watkins Sandra

Clair Richard Malam Ken Woollard Sandie

Collar Janet McLennan Lesley Wylie Evelyn

Page 4 Southern Gold Coast 60 & Better Program Inc—May 2017

Tuesdays—12.30-.1.30pm The Pines Meeting Room, 33 Guineas Creek Rd, Elanora


Robina Social Group

Presentation

Monday 15th May @11am Robina Community Centre

Room 2.2 (upstairs)

$4.00 Inc: Morning Tea & Yoga Session

Ph Kerry on 5525 6466 to book in





Upcoming Events

FREE

Upcoming

TECHNOLOGY WORKSHOPS


FIRST AID TRAINING

Wednesday 24 May




Tuesdays 10am

Presentation When: Thursday 18 May

Where: The Pines Meeting Room

Time: 9.30am

Morning tea available $2.00

Please enter your name in the

red folder ,for catering purposes,

at Reception on book with Kerry

on 5525 6466

Possibilities/advantages of staying well as you age

Your options of increasing wellbeing

Getting community and aged care services on board to assist you

How this can improve local and community services for everyone



Macular Degeneration Awareness Week (21-27 May)

Macular Degeneration is the leading cause of blindness and severe vision loss in Australia, particularly among the age-

ing population. Macular Degeneration Awareness Week is an annual event that seeks to raise awareness of macular

degeneration and to encourage individuals most at risk to get their eyes checked. In previous years, the Macular Dis-

ease Foundation Australia has provided free information packs—call 1800 111 709 for more information.

Brushing up on the basics: What is Macular Degeneration? Degenerative diseases of the retina are collectively coined

Macular Degeneration (referred to as MD in this article). Over time, vision becomes impaired and the ability to see,

read, drive and even recognise faces becomes difficult. The process of vision loss in MD is painless, and at its worst, it

can result in blindness in one or both eyes. Uncommonly it can occur suddenly, but most often, it develops over many

years.

Anatomy and Physiology The retina enables us to see general shapes and provides us with peripheral vision. The

macular is located at the centremost part of the retina. It is responsible for central and fine vision. Without the macular,

we wouldn’t be able to distinguish faces, read or engage in any other activity which requires fine vision. The Retinal

Pigment Epithelium (RPE) is a layer of cells underneath the retina. It is responsible for passing oxygen, sugar and

other essential nutrients and moving waste products (via blood vessels known as the choroid) from the retina. Waste

products, called drusen, break down and over time, build up under the RPE. These present as yellow spots when eyes

are examined by a professional. Vision loss occurs as RPE cells begin to die or RPE cells fail to prevent blood vessels

from growing into the retina.

Who is at risk? Risk factors include smoking, race (more common among Caucasians), family history and genetics

(50% greater chance of developing MD is family member had MD) and being aged 50 and over.

Distortion (straight lines appear wavy)

Treatment Unfortunately, there is no magic pill or injection to cure MD. However, the earlier the disease is detected,

the sooner action can be taken, and the more vision can be retained. MD has many stages, and treatment is provided

accordingly. Lifestyle behaviours such as stopping smoking, exercising and eating well can prevent and slow the ef-

fects of early stage MD. Nutritional supplements, specifically Vitamin C, Vitamin E, betacarotene, zinc and copper, are

often prescribed during the intermediate and late stages. Green leafy vegetables are rich in these nutrients. Omega 3

fatty acids, found in oily fish, have also shown promising results in delaying the effects of MD. Other treatments include

injections, laser surgery and photodynamic therapy. Yearly eye examinations are also recommended in people over

50. It is important to note that treatments cannot reverse vision loss; they can only prevent and delay further degrada-

tion.

Grief and Loss Throughout any stage of MD, even with glass, lenses or surgery, every day activities such as cooking,

shopping and even reading the mail, may become very challenging. The loss of independence and vulnerability attrib-

uted to one’s loss of vision can be very distressing and even traumatising. Alas, support is readily available: teams of

medical specialists (doctors, optometrists, OTs & counsellors) and friends and family are able to provide advice and

emotional support. Interestingly, pets are also commonly confided in among individuals experiencing changes in health

and wellness.

DISCLAIMER: If you have any concern about your vision, talk to your GP asap.

Sources https://www.mdfoundation.com.au https://nei.nih.gov/health/maculardegen/armd_facts https://

www.retinaaustralia.com.au/md.htm

Community News


Community News

The Pines Shopping Centre at Elanora until May 18.

AMSLER GRID The Amsler Grid is a simple preventative measure designed to aid in the early

identification in macular degen-

eration. When using and Amsler

Grid, you must use any eye wear

you have been prescribed by your

doctor to ensure accurate results,

and when ready, sit about 14

inches away from the grid and

cover one eye, then repeat with

the other eye. When focusing on

the black dot in the middle of the

grid, all surrounding lines should

be clearly visible. If there is any

break in the lines, or if they ap-

pear blurred or otherwise dis-

torted, contact an ophthalmologist

immediately, as this could be a

sign of macular degeneration.


19 April 2017. What a fabulous day we had on our trip down to Bangalow to the

Heritage Cafe and Museum for Morning tea where we enjoyed a presentation

about Bangalow and the Museum. Then it was on to The Pantry and Pecan

Farm for lunch and pecan farm tour. Owner, Ash, explained how they harvest

and process their Pecans. The trees are shaken vigorously, the pecans drop to

the ground and a rolling pecan picker is manually used to collect the pecans.

The spring is pressed down on the nut, which spreads the wires allowing it to

slip between them. Many of us gave it a go. It was quite light to manoeuvre but

we are sure it would become backbreaking after a time. Lunch was very good

and followed by Pecan Pie! Just Yum!


The Back Page Southern Gold Coast 60 & Better Program Inc—May 2017

https://www.facebook.com/Southern-Gold-Coast-60-Better-Program-Inc-530415720380162/

Southern Gold Coast

60 & Better Program

Inc

33 Guineas Creek Rd

PO Box 4514

ELANORA QLD 4221

Phone:

(07)

5525 6466

Management

Committee

President

Sue Hird

Vice President

Yvonne O’Keefe

Treasurer

Don Whitby

Secretary

Jim Hart

Committee

Barbara Marshall

Gwen Walsh

Terry O’Keefe

Manager

Sherree Fleming

Centre Assistant

Kerry Galbraith

Website: www.goldcoast60andbetter.org.au Email: [email protected]

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Southern-Gold-Coast-60-Better-Program-Inc/530415720380162

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Southern-Gold-Coast-60-Better-Program-Inc/530415720380162

Documents

Keeping Active, Staying Connected!€¦ · Robina Social Group Presentation Monday 15th May @11am Robina Community Centre Room 2.2 (upstairs) $4.00 Inc: Morning Tea & Yoga Session