HEALTHY AGEING NEWSLETTER- Autumn Edition 2015 Client-Centred, Care and Choice

HEALTHY AGEING NEWSLETTER- Autumn Edition 2015 Client-centred, Care and Choice Page 1 Front cover In this edition  Knock, knock who’s there?  Anzac Centenary in Moonee Valley  Enjoy your meals at one of our Dining Room Cafes  Launch of community café  Home Care Packages are changing  Man Cave  Men’s Shed Up-Cycling Shop  Travel safely and confidently  Seniors seminar series  Community Meals and Transport Knock, knock who’s there? Know your rights when a sales agent knocks:

 It’s ok to say no if you are approached by a sales agent at your door, you don’t have to agree to anything.

 Check their identity card. By law they must tell you their name, business contact details and why they’re there.

 Speak to them through a screen door or ask them to return when you have someone with you. If you want them to leave, tell them – they must leave immediately.

 You do not have to agree to anything on the spot – if you feel pressured to sign anything, tell the sales agent that you want time to consider the offer.

 It’s ok to change your mind – if you agree to buy from a door to door sales agent but later decide that the offers not for you, you can cancel any contract without reason within 10 business days.

For more information visit accc.gov.au/doortodoor Page 2 (second page inside) In Brief – box down left hand side Anzac Centenary in Moonee Valley Australians are commemorating the Anzac Centenary (2014-18), marking 100 years since our involvement in the First World War. Council, with a community group, has developed a schedule of events and activities to celebrate this important anniversary throughout 2015 with a particular focus on Anzac Day and Remembrance Day. For more information visit mvcc.vic.gov.au/100anzacmv

Enjoy your meals at one of our Dining Room Cafes Home and Community Care eligible residents and their carers are welcome to enjoy a meal at the Dining Room Cafes. Bookings are preferred, however walk- ins are welcome. Community Transport is available if required. Please call 9243 8701 to book.

Crown Street Stables café

Located at 40 Crown Street, Flemington, Crown Street Stables is one of Moonee Valley’s oldest working stables. The facility has been available as a hall for hire since 2014 and is also a venue for Council-run programs including a knitting group, and yoga and Pilates classes.

The café aims to connect local residents in a friendly and safe setting, and includes a social enterprise element which will provide training and employment pathways for people with disability.

Enjoy a varied menu at affordable prices with a subsidy on items for Seniors Card, Disability Support pension and Disability Companion Card holders.

Opening hours are 11am to 3pm, Monday to Friday.

Home Care Packages are changing

Council wants to assist residents to understand the changes to the Australian Government Home Care Package Program.

Home Care Packages are a bundle of tailored services provided to people with complex needs. A formal assessment is required.

These packages will be delivered on a consumer directed care basis from 1 July 2015.

Under consumer directed care the consumer must be allowed to decide the level of involvement they want in managing their package of services. You could control coordination of care and services, and the level of involvement in your Home Care Package. It’s up to you.

Men’s Shed Up-Cycling Shop Men’s Shed Aberfeldie, 5 Rutherford Street, Aberfeldie, has an Up-Cycling Shop which is open to the public and proudly sells items built or restored by Men’s Shed participants.

Our product range includes handmade wood-turned pens, model trains, planter boxes, coffee tables and restored antique furniture.

The men are always exploring new items to produce that may be of interest to the public – the sky’s the limit! They have just completed a beehive box template to attract the bee keeping enthusiasts. They can make the beehive boxes to suit any keeper’s needs.

The Upcycling Shop has extended its trading hours on Saturdays from 9am to 1pm and are also open from 9am to 1pm on Thursdays. We welcome you to come and take a look!

Travel safely and confidently

Would you like to use public transport more, but not quite sure how it all works? Our free Seniors Transport Guide contains all the information you need to become more mobile and travel with confidence. The guide is available online at mvcc.vic.gov.au/connected or in hard copy at the Civic Centre, Moonee Valley Libraries and neighbourhood centres.

We’re also running a four-week Wiser Walker Wiser Traveller® course beginning in April. To express your interest call 9243 8835 or email [email protected]

A discounted rate is available for eligible seniors and residents with a disability.

Man Cave The popular Man Cave at the Moonee Valley Festival was an area where men could get information about male health and wellbeing including information about some local service providers.

Stallholders included Co-Health, Diabetes Victoria, Ascot Vale YMCA, Prostate Cancer Awareness Foundation, Moonee Valley Men’s Shed, Alcoholics anonymous, and U3A.

If you couldn’t make it to the Man Cave but have a question about men’s health then call on 9243 8894 or come along to the men’s health network meeting at 2pm on Wednesday, 6 May at the Civic Centre.

Seniors seminar series

Council’s Aged and Disability Services are running a series of free information sessions on important health and lifestyle topics for seniors. This series aligns with Council’s Healthy Ageing Strategy, which guides the actions of the whole community to provide an age-friendly city.

Learn how you can improve your health and wellbeing, and prevent or minimise the impact of some common conditions.

 Oral health Monday, 4 May

 Road safety for seniors Wednesday, 27 May

 Hearing loss: prevention and early intervention Monday, 22 June

All sessions will run from 10am-11.30am at the Clocktower Centre, 750 Mt Alexander Road, Moonee Ponds. Morning tea will be provided.

Bookings are essential - contact Council’s Healthy Ageing Officer on 9243 8835 or email [email protected] to reserve your place.

Transport and carer support may be available by request for a small fee. Two weeks’ notice is required to book these services.

Visit mvcc.vic.gov.au/connected for more details about the seminar series, as well as other programs and activities available for seniors. Page 3 Community Meals and Transport Oh what fun it is to ride on a Community Transport bus Community Meals and Transport held Christmas Lights tours over four nights in December, where over 300 residents attended. They enjoyed a Christmas dinner at Ascot Vale Neighbourhood Centre followed by a tour of magnificent displays of Christmas lights and nativity scenes.

Meals were provided by Community Meals Dining Room Café and transport by Councils Community Transport, with these sessions were supported by our Direct Care staff.

A number of residents called the next day with their positive feedback. Some of the feedback was;

“I just wanted to say I enjoyed myself on the lights tour and the meal was lovely as well can’t wait for next year”

“I just wanted to say thank you for such an amazing night. The staff were great hosts, the meal was really enjoyable and the lights were amazing, they took me back to my childhood memories of Christmas!”