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The devastating way Shannen Doherty is preparing for death

Shannen Doherty has shared the heart-breaking way she is preparing for her death. The former actress, who is battling stage 4 breast cancer, has candidly shared how she is cleaning out her home and downsizing her possessions to make for an “easier transition” for her mum, Rosa, when she dies. “My priority at the moment is my mum,” the actress said during an episode of her <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lets-be-clear-with-shannen-doherty/id1718531401" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Let’s Be Clear</a><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lets-be-clear-with-shannen-doherty/id1718531401" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> podcast</a>. “I know it’s going to be hard on her if I pass away before her.” She continued, “Because it’s going to be so hard on her, I want other things to be a lot easier. I don’t want her to have a bunch of stuff to deal with. I don’t want her to have four storage units filled with furniture.” The 52-year-old explained that over the years, she started going through her belongings to get rid of unnecessary clutter and donate things "just in case" anything happened to her. The actress most recently made a trip to her Tennessee home to pack up her belongings after she decided to let go of her dream of living on the property and fostering horses. “So we were in Tennessee and I was packing up one of the places there,” she continued. “It was really hard and really emotional because to a certain extent — I felt like I was giving up on this dream of building this property out, and putting a house for me and a house for my mum and then extending the barn.” “That was one of my dreams,” she said while tearing up. “I was packing up and I started crying … I felt like I was giving up on a dream and what did that mean for me? Did it mean that I was giving up on life? Did it mean that I was throwing in the towel?" “And my mom was there and she was like, ‘Don’t get rid of this place, it’s fine. You don’t have to and you can keep going.’ I said, ‘Yeah, absolutely I can.’” A week later, Doherty returned to the home to pack everything up and relocate her belongings to her home in California. The actress explained that letting go of the property and other possessions helps “leave behind a cleaner, easier transition” for her family. Through the process, Doherty has learned her belongings don’t bring her as much joy as making memories with her mum and loved ones. “It allows me to take more trips because I’m making money, I’m selling it,” she continued. “Then I get to build different memories and I build memories with the people that I love. “I get to take my mum on vacations because I have all this extra play money lying around and I’m not digging into the money that’s in my estate that’s going to make sure that everybody in my life is taken care of once I’m dead.” Image credits: Instagram / Getty Images

Caring

Altitude sickness is typically mild but can sometimes turn very serious − a high-altitude medicine physician explains how to safely prepare

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/brian-strickland-1506270">Brian Strickland</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-colorado-anschutz-medical-campus-4838">University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus</a> Equipped with the latest gear and a thirst for adventure, mountaineers embrace the perils that come with conquering the world’s highest peaks. Yet, even those who tread more cautiously at high altitude are not immune from the health hazards waiting in the thin air above. Altitude sickness, which most commonly refers to <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000133.htm">acute mountain sickness</a>, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcad.2010.02.003">presents a significant challenge</a> to those traveling to and adventuring in high-altitude destinations. Its symptoms can range from <a href="https://doi.org/10.1089/ham.2017.0164">mildly annoying to incapacitating</a> and, in some cases, may progress to more <a href="https://doi.org/10.1183/16000617.0096-2016">life-threatening illnesses</a>. While <a href="https://doi.org/10.18111/9789284424023">interest in high-altitude tourism is rapidly growing</a>, general awareness and understanding about the hazards of visiting these locations <a href="https://doi.org/10.1089/ham.2022.0083">remains low</a>. The more travelers know, the better they can prepare for and enjoy their journey. As an <a href="https://som.cuanschutz.edu/Profiles/Faculty/Profile/36740">emergency physician specializing in high-altitude illnesses</a>, I work to improve health care in remote and mountainous locations around the world. I’m invested in finding ways to allow people from all backgrounds to experience the magic of the mountains in an enjoyable and meaningful way. <h2>The science behind altitude sickness</h2> Altitude sickness is rare in locations lower than 8,200 feet (2,500 meters); however, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430716/">it becomes very common</a> when ascending above this elevation. In fact, it affects about <a href="https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2024/environmental-hazards-risks/high-elevation-travel-and-altitude-illness">25% of visitors to the mountains of Colorado</a>, where I conduct most of my research. The risk rapidly increases with higher ascents. Above 9,800 feet (3,000 meters), up to <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430716/">75% of travelers</a> may develop symptoms. Symptoms of altitude sickness are usually mild and consist of <a href="https://doi.org/10.1089/ham.2017.0164">headache, dizziness, nausea, fatigue and insomnia</a>. They usually <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rceng.2019.12.009">resolve after one to two days</a>, as long as travelers stop their ascent, and the symptoms quickly resolve with descent. When travelers do not properly acclimatize, they can be susceptible to life-threatening altitude illnesses, such as <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resp.2007.05.002">high-altitude pulmonary edema</a> or <a href="https://doi.org/10.1089/1527029041352054">high-altitude cerebral edema</a>. These conditions are characterized by fluid accumulation within the tissues of the lungs and brain, respectively, and are the <a href="https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2024/environmental-hazards-risks/high-elevation-travel-and-altitude-illness">most severe forms of altitude sickness</a>. Altitude sickness symptoms are thought to be caused by <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fbjaceaccp%2Fmks047">increased pressure surrounding the brain</a>, which results from the failure of the body to acclimatize to higher elevations. As people enter into an environment with lower air pressure and, therefore, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.18036">lower oxygen content</a>, their <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fbjaceaccp%2Fmks047">breathing rate increases</a> in order to compensate. This causes an increase in the amount of <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/s1357-2725(03)00050-5">oxygen in the blood as well as decreased CO₂ levels</a>, which then increases blood pH. As a result, the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fbjaceaccp%2Fmks047">kidneys compensate</a> by removing a chemical called bicarbonate from the blood into the urine. This process makes people urinate more and helps correct the acid and alkaline content of the blood to a more normal level. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iv1vQPIdX_k?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption>Tips for preventing or reducing the risk of altitude sickness.</figcaption></figure> <h2>The importance of gradual ascent</h2> High-altitude medicine experts and other physicians <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(76)91677-9">have known for decades</a> that <a href="https://doi.org/10.1089/ham.2010.1006">taking time to slowly ascend is the best way</a> to prevent the development of altitude sickness. This strategy gives the body time to complete its natural physiologic responses to the changes in air pressure and oxygen content. In fact, spending just <a href="https://doi.org/10.1089/ham.2010.1006">one night at a moderate elevation</a>, such as Denver, Colorado, which is at 5,280 feet (1,600 meters), has been shown to <a href="https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-118-8-199304150-00003">significantly reduce the likelihood of developing symptoms</a>. People who skip this step and travel directly to high elevations are <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/jtm/taad011">up to four times more likely</a> to develop altitude sickness symptoms. When going to elevations greater than 11,000 feet, multiple days of acclimatization are necessary. Experts generally recommend ascending <a href="https://doi.org/10.1089/ham.2010.1006">no more than 1,500 feet per day</a> once the threshold of 8,200 feet of elevation has been crossed. Workers at high altitude, such as <a href="https://doi.org/10.1089/ham.2020.0004">porters in the Nepali Himalaya</a>, are at <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wem.2018.06.002">particular risk of altitude-related illness</a>. These workers often do not adhere to acclimatization recommendations in order to maximize earnings during tourist seasons; as a result, they are more likely to experience <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2024/environmental-hazards-risks/high-elevation-travel-and-altitude-illness">severe forms of altitude sickness</a>. <h2>Effective medications</h2> For more than 40 years, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1056/nejm196810172791601">a medicine called acetazolamide</a> has been used to <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682756.html">prevent the development of altitude sickness</a> and to treat its symptoms. Acetazolamide is <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557838/">commonly used as a diuretic</a> and for the <a href="https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/glaucoma">treatment of glaucoma</a>, a condition that causes increased pressure within the eye. If started <a href="https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.09-2445">two days prior</a> to going up to a high elevation, acetazolamide can <a href="https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.09-2445">prevent symptoms of acute illness</a> by speeding up the acclimatization process. Nonetheless, it does not negate the recommendations to ascend slowly, and it is <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wem.2019.04.006">routinely recommended only</a> when people cannot slowly ascend or for people who have a history of severe altitude sickness symptoms even with slow ascent. Other medications, including ibuprofen, have <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wem.2012.08.001">shown some effectiveness</a> in treating acute mountain sickness, although <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjmed.2018.10.021">not as well as acetazolamide</a>. A <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2028586/">steroid medication called dexamethasone</a> is effective in both treating and preventing symptoms, but it does not improve acclimatization. It is <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wem.2019.04.006">recommended only when acetazolamide is not effective</a> or cannot be taken. Additionally, it is important to <a href="https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/travel-to-high-altitudes">avoid alcohol during the first few days at higher altitudes</a>, as it impairs the body’s ability to acclimatize. <h2>Unproven therapies and remedies are common</h2> As high-altitude tourism becomes increasingly popular, multiple commercial products and remedies have emerged. Most of them are not effective or provide no evidence to suggest they work as advertised. Other options have mixed evidence, making them difficult to recommend. Medications such as <a href="https://doi.org/10.1089/ham.2007.1037">aspirin</a>, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.01355-2017">inhaled steroids</a> and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1089/ham.2011.0007">sildenafil</a> have been proposed as possible preventive agents for altitude sickness, but on the whole they have not been found to be effective. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/qjmed/hcp026">Supplements and antioxidants have no proven benefit</a> in preventing or treating altitude sickness symptoms. Both normal and high-altitude exercise are popular ways to prepare for high elevations, especially among athletes. However, beyond <a href="https://doi.org/10.1097/jes.0b013e31825eaa33">certain pre-acclimatization strategies</a>, such as brief sojourns to high altitude, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmaid.2013.12.002">physical fitness and training is of little benefit</a>. <a href="https://missouripoisoncenter.org/canned-oxygen-is-it-good-for-you">Canned oxygen</a> has also exploded in popularity with travelers. While <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/0140-6736(90)93240-p">continuously administered medical oxygen</a> in a health care setting can alleviate altitude sickness symptoms, portable oxygen cans <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wem.2019.04.006">contain very little oxygen gas</a>, casting doubt on their effectiveness. Some high-altitude adventure travelers sleep in <a href="https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-200131040-00002">specialized tents</a> that simulate increased elevation by lowering the quantity of available oxygen in ambient air. The lower oxygen levels within the tent are thought to accelerate the acclimatization process, but the tents aren’t able to decrease barometric pressure. This is an important part of the high-altitude environment that induces acclimatization. Without modifying ambient air pressure, these <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wem.2014.04.004">tents may take multiple weeks</a> to be effective. Natural medicines, such as <a href="https://doi.org/10.1580/08-weme-br-247.1">gingko</a> and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/s40794-019-0095-7">coca leaves</a>, are touted as natural altitude sickness treatments, but few studies have been done on them. The modest benefits and significant side effects of these options makes their use <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wem.2019.04.006">difficult to recommend</a>. <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8469948/">Staying hydrated</a> is very important at high altitudes due to fluid losses from increased urination, dry air and increased physical exertion. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1186%2Fs12889-018-6252-5">Dehydration symptoms</a> can also mimic those of altitude sickness. But there is <a href="https://doi.org/10.1580/1080-6032(2006)17%5B215:AMSIOF%5D2.0.CO;2">little evidence that consuming excessive amounts of water</a> can prevent or treat altitude sickness. The mountains have something for visitors of all interests and expertise and can offer truly life-changing experiences. While there are health risks associated with travel at higher elevations, these can be lessened by making basic preparations and taking time to slowly ascend.<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/222057/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/brian-strickland-1506270">Brian Strickland</a>, Senior Instructor in Emergency Medicine, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-colorado-anschutz-medical-campus-4838">University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus</a> Image credits: Getty Images 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/altitude-sickness-is-typically-mild-but-can-sometimes-turn-very-serious-a-high-altitude-medicine-physician-explains-how-to-safely-prepare-222057">original article</a>.

Travel Trouble

"I'm prepared for that": Sam Neill shares worrying cancer update

In a poignant and candid interview with Australian Story, beloved film icon Sam Neill shared a heartbreaking update about his ongoing battle with cancer. The 76-year-old actor <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/caring/let-s-not-worry-too-much-sam-neill-s-devastating-diagnosis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">revealed that he was diagnosed</a> with a rare form of blood cancer, angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, earlier this year, a condition that has tested his strength and resilience in profound ways. Neill's journey through this harrowing ordeal has been nothing short of inspiring. He opened up about his initial chemotherapy treatment, which unfortunately did not prove successful. However, his dedicated medical team, led by a compassionate doctor, made the crucial decision to switch him to an anti-cancer drug. This treatment shift yielded encouraging results, putting Neill into remission for over 12 months. The actor's words carried a mix of hope and vulnerability as he admitted that, tragically, this anti-cancer drug would eventually stop working. “I’m prepared for that,” Neill stated with a remarkable degree of composure. He went on to share that while facing one's mortality is, understandably, not a comforting prospect, he remains unafraid of it. These words exemplify Neill's unwavering strength and courage, qualities that have defined his illustrious career in film and have been a source of inspiration to countless fans worldwide. Despite the physical toll of his treatment, which leaves him feeling as if he's been through "10 rounds with a boxer" in the days following each session, Neill continues to dedicate himself to his craft. Retirement is not even on the horizon for this determined actor, who still finds profound joy in being in front of the camera and collaborating with fellow artists. Currently, Neill is engaged in the filming of an adaptation of Liane Moriarty’s Apples Never Fall on the Gold Coast. Additionally, he is set to appear in the second series of the mini-series The Twelve, filmed in Western Australia. Through the highs and lows of his journey, Neill has found an unwavering source of support in his close friend, Australian actor Bryan Brown. Reflecting on his storied career, which has spanned over five decades and touched the hearts of many, Neill expressed his gratitude for the privilege of working alongside numerous talented actors. He stated, "I can't tell you how privileged I am to spend that amount of time with so many actors, so many of whom I've really enjoyed and so many of whom I've really admired." This sentiment underscores the depth of his love for his craft and the art of storytelling. Despite the challenges he faces, Sam Neill is not merely focusing on his film career; he's also been dedicating time to working on a new book, titled Did I Ever Tell You This?. In this book, he plans to share personal stories and anecdotes from his rich and diverse career. For Neill, this book is a way to leave a lasting piece of himself for his children and grandchildren, ensuring that his experiences and wisdom are passed on to future generations. Images: Instagram

Caring

Five things to do before you die – because planning your eventual demise takes preparation

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/hui-yun-chan-715995">Hui Yun Chan</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-huddersfield-1226">University of Huddersfield</a> Many people who are struck with sudden, progressive or terminal illness are <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-are-patients-in-permanent-comas-routinely-kept-alive-43365">kept alive mechanically</a>, while families and doctors make decisions about treatment. As a researcher in medical law, particularly end-of-life decision-making, I have seen how this can become a minefield of legal and ethical problems. UK law allows people to plan in advance of any debilitating illness, and thus have some control over future treatment. This is known as “<a href="https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/end-of-life-care/advance-decision-to-refuse-treatment/">advance decisions</a>”. While these laws are in place, research shows the <a href="https://rm.coe.int/cdcj-2017-2e-final-rapport-vs-21-06-2018/16808b64ae">majority of people disregard or defer the discussions</a> primarily because they do not know how to raise them, or what to expect. While planning for your eventual demise probably sounds as fun as pulling teeth, it can be empowering. Following from <a href="https://pure.hud.ac.uk/en/publications/advance-directives-rethinking-regulation-autonomy-amp-healthcare-">my recent book</a>, here are five tips for how you can use the law to help you plan for what you want in the future – and make your voice heard when you may no longer have one. <h2>1. Gather information from experts</h2> First, you must think, gather information and talk to experts about how life can unfold in the case of progressive illness. This is important whether you are well but thinking about future incapacity, or whether you have actually been <a href="https://www.4pb.com/case-detail/re-ak-medical-treatment-consent/">diagnosed with illness</a>. A solicitor with expertise in advance directives can help you understand important laws, such as those that dictate when a person has <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2005/9/contents">sufficient “mental capacity”</a> to make lawful decisions. Lawyers can help you draft your will, and advise on how to protect or pass on your estate – including <a href="https://www.gov.uk/inheritance-tax">hidden costs</a>. They can also help you <a href="https://www.gov.uk/power-of-attorney">nominate someone</a> to make medical decisions for you when you become incapacitated, and decide the limits of their power. Do not just assume that your family members automatically have the power to decide for you legally. If you are ill, ask a doctor to inform you how your condition will progress so you can decide how you will deal with future events. For example, with dementia and other progressive illnesses, you must consider what quality of life you would tolerate. Similarly, in the case of pain, what treatment you would accept or refuse? Think big picture about your future life. Would you trade quantity of life for quality, opting for less time but with better quality of life? <h2>2. Setting your decisions in stone</h2> Now you have made some important decisions, the next step is about making these decisions clear in the right way, to the right people, and at the right time. I have <a href="https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030009755#aboutBook">documented many cases</a> across England and Wales where advance directives are disputed because they are invalid or inapplicable and there is a dispute about whether they are still legally able to make decisions. Considering your health, you may want to get a <a href="https://www.bma.org.uk/advice/employment/ethics/mental-capacity/assessing-mental-capacity">formal assessment</a> of your mental state and ability to make decisions. You should record any conversations you have in writing. Documents that show you have been supported (by friends, family or professionals) in your decision-making boost the validity of your choices, <a href="https://brill.com/view/journals/ejhl/25/1/article-p24_24.xml?lang=en">making them more binding</a> for healthcare professionals. Legally, just revealing your treatment preferences to your doctor or friends <a href="https://swarb.co.uk/w-healthcare-nhs-trust-v-kh-ca-17-sep-2004/">is not enough</a>. Writing things down is important, though never easy. Ask family or friends to support you in this process. If a loved one is aware of the choices you have made they are less likely to object to your medical decisions because they have been part of the decision process. <h2>3. Update when your situation changes</h2> Many people are caught out when their <a href="https://compassionindying.org.uk/making-decisions-and-planning-your-care/planning-ahead/advance-decision-living-will/review-update/">personal situation changes</a>, but they have failed to update their advance directives to reflect this – such as changing romantic relationships. Family conflict by your bedside is the last thing you want. Even if your circumstances are the same, regularly update to avoid “what was I thinking?” moments when it’s too late. <h2>4. Make sure it gets found</h2> Inform your family, doctors and lawyers what your advance directives are and where to find them. If the right people don’t have access to your directives, they are useless. In a recent example, the family of a Warwickshire woman was granted a £45,000 payout after she was <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-42240148">kept alive for 22 months against her will</a> – as the relevant documents had been misplaced. <h2>5. Don’t forget your online life</h2> Discussions on social media about how you wish to spend your twilight days may help as <a href="https://brill.com/view/journals/ejhl/25/1/article-p24_24.xml?lang=en">supporting information</a> to ensure the wishes in your advance directives are strengthened. You should also think about who you want to be granted (or denied) access to your online accounts and social media after your death. Streamlining this process, you can now <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2013/04/google-death-a-tool-to-take-care-of-your-gmail-when-youre-gone/274934/">create a social media will</a> online. Drafting an advance directive is an exercise in liberty. It allows our beliefs and preferences to be made clear even when we are physically or mentally unable to express them ourselves. An advance directive is our voice when we no longer have one. Use your voice wisely.<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/122296/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/hui-yun-chan-715995">Hui Yun Chan</a>, Senior Lecturer in Law, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-huddersfield-1226">University of Huddersfield</a> Image credits: Getty Images 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/five-things-to-do-before-you-die-because-planning-your-eventual-demise-takes-preparation-122296">original article</a>.

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How ‘dad jokes’ may prepare your kids for a lifetime of embarrassment, according to psychology

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/shane-rogers-575838">Shane Rogers</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/edith-cowan-university-720">Edith Cowan University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/marc-hye-knudsen-1466723">Marc Hye-Knudsen</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/aarhus-university-967">Aarhus University</a> This Father’s Day you may be rolling out your best “<a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dad%20joke">dad jokes</a>” and watching your children laugh (or groan). Maybe you’ll hear your own father, partner or friend crack a dad joke or two. You know the ones: "What is the most condescending animal? A pan-DUH!" "Why don’t scientists trust atoms? Because they make up everything!" Yes, dad jokes can be fun. They play an important role in how we interact with our kids. But dad jokes may also help prepare them to handle embarrassment later in life. <h2>What are dad jokes?</h2> Dad jokes are a distinct style of humour consisting of puns that are simple, wholesome and often involve a cheesy delivery. These jokes usually feature obvious wordplay and a straightforward punchline that leaves listeners either chuckling or emitting an exaggerated groan. This corny brand of humour is popular. There are hundreds of <a href="https://www.menshealth.com/trending-news/a34437277/best-dad-jokes/">websites</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAgYiERRDPY&t=248s">YouTube videos</a> and <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@mmmjoemele/video/7207443872232770858">TikToks</a> dedicated to them. You can even play around with <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2019/06/us/dad-joke-generator-trnd/">dad joke generators</a> if you need some inspiration. <h2>Why are dad jokes so popular?</h2> People seem to love dad jokes, partly because of the puns. A <a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0191886922005025">study</a> published earlier this year found people enjoy puns more than most other types of jokes. The authors also suggested that if you groan in response to a pun, this can be a sign you enjoy the joke, rather than find it displeasing. Other research shows dad jokes work on at least <a href="https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.26613/esic.5.2.248/html">three levels</a>: 1. As tame puns Humour typically <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0956797610376073">violates</a> a kind of boundary. At the most basic level, dad jokes only violate <a href="https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781315731162-7/puns-tacit-linguistic-knowledge-debra-aarons">a language norm</a>. They require specific knowledge of the language to “get” them, in a way a fart joke does not. The fact that dad jokes are wholesome and inoffensive means dads can tell them around their children. But this also potentially makes them tame, which other people might call unfunny. 2. As anti-humour Telling someone a pun that’s too tame to deserve being told out loud is itself a violation of the norms of joke-telling. That violation can in turn make a dad joke funny. In other words, a dad joke can be so unfunny this makes it funny – a type of <a href="https://daily.jstor.org/the-dubious-art-of-the-dad-joke/">anti-humour</a>. 3. As weaponised anti-humour Sometimes, the purpose of a dad joke is not to make people laugh but to make them groan and roll their eyes. When people tell dad jokes to <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2F0033-2909.127.2.229">teasingly</a> annoy someone else for fun, dad jokes work as a kind of <a href="https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.26613/esic.5.2.248/html">weaponised</a> anti-humour. The stereotypical scenario associated with dad jokes is exactly this: a dad telling a pun and then his kids rolling their eyes out of annoyance or cringing from embarrassment. <h2>Dad jokes help dads be dads</h2> Dad jokes are part of a father’s toolkit for engaging with his loved ones, a way to connect through laughter. But as children grow older, the way they receive puns change. <a href="https://psychcentral.com/lib/humor-as-a-key-to-child-development#1">Children</a> at around six years old enjoy hearing and telling puns. These are generally innocent ones such as: "Why is six afraid of seven? Because seven ate nine!" As children age and their language and reasoning abilities develop, their understanding of humour becomes more complex. In adolescence, they may start to view puns as unfunny. This, however, doesn’t stop their fathers from telling them. Instead, fathers can revel in the embarrassment their dad jokes can produce around their image-conscious and <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/surviving-your-childs-adolescence/202203/adolescence-and-the-age-painful-embarrassment">sensitive</a> adolescent children. In fact, in a study, one of us (Marc) <a href="https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.26613/esic.5.2.248/html">suggests</a> the playful teasing that comes with dad jokes may be partly why they are such a widespread cultural phenomenon. This playful and safe teasing serves a dual role in father-child bonding in adolescence. Not only is it playful and fun, it can also be used to help <a href="https://www.dadsuggests.com/home/the-best-dad-jokes">educate</a> the young person how to handle feeling embarrassed. Helping children learn how to deal with embarrassment is no laughing matter. Getting better at this is a very important part of learning how to <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01650250143000535">regulate emotions</a> and develop <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.980104/full">resilience</a>. Modelling the use of humour also has benefits. Jokes can be a useful <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12144-019-00296-9">coping strategy</a> during <a href="https://psychcentral.com/lib/humor-as-weapon-shield-and-psychological-salve">awkward situations</a> – for instance, after someone says <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuRnsrHEQFg">something awkward</a> or to make someone laugh who has <a href="https://www.helpguide.org/articles/relationships-communication/managing-conflicts-with-humor.htm">become upset</a>. <h2>Dad jokes are more than punchlines</h2> So, the next time you hear your father unleash a cringe-worthy dad joke, remember it’s not just about the punchline. It’s about creating connections and lightening the mood. So go ahead, let out that groan, and share a smile with the one who proudly delivers the dad jokes. It’s all part of the fun.<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/212109/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/shane-rogers-575838">Shane Rogers</a>, Lecturer in Psychology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/edith-cowan-university-720">Edith Cowan University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/marc-hye-knudsen-1466723">Marc Hye-Knudsen</a>, Cognition and Behavior Lab, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/aarhus-university-967">Aarhus University</a> Image credits: Getty Images 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-dad-jokes-may-prepare-your-kids-for-a-lifetime-of-embarrassment-according-to-psychology-212109">original article</a>.

Family & Pets

Royal family prepares for Queen Elizabeth’s anniversary

As the one year anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s death approaches, the royal family are busy preparing for the emotional event. The Prince and Princess of Wales are expected to lead the tributes for the late monarch, while King Charles and Camilla are expected to commemorate the day privately at Balmoral Castle. According to reports from The Mirror, Prince William and Kate Middleton will deliver a message to the public honouring the life and legacy of Her Majesty on September 8th, using the occasion to "look forward". Plans are still underway as to whether the address will be made in person or via social media. Meanwhile, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will "pay their respects to Her Majesty in their own way", with no reports yet if they will stay in California or return to London for the anniversary. A source told the publication, "Her Majesty's passing was an event that truly signified the end of an era.” "The royal family has been in transition since then and following the coronation and conclusion of the summer holidays, there will be an expectation to see what is next." Reports have previously stated that King Charles will be at Balmoral Castle, in the Scottish Highlands, on the day and will spend the anniversary "quietly and privately” with Queen Camilla. His Majesty will be following his late mother's example, who always commemorated the death of her father King George V in private. Members of the royal family could still attend public engagements around the late Queen's anniversary, however there are "no plans" for any public event or private family gathering attended by all of them. Image credits: Getty Images

Family & Pets

Extreme Hollywood body transformations have become standard preparations for film actors – but we need to consider the consequences

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/gemma-sharp-314703">Gemma Sharp</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/bronwyn-dwyer-1453560">Bronwyn Dwyer</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a> “…when you’re shooting a film like Magic Mike, and you’re doing dance routines for two weeks at a time, you have to peak every day. So that became kind of crazy. We had a gym in the parking lot, and we’d all be lifting weights on set all day,” <a href="https://wegotthiscovered.com/movies/interview-channing-tatum-joe-manganiello-magic-mike/">explained actor Joe Manganiello</a>, about performing in the film Magic Mike. It is not unusual for actors to undergo drastic changes in preparation for a role, including gaining muscle and losing body fat for that shredded look. In fact, this is becoming the norm in Hollywood. <a href="https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a43945188/jake-gyllenhaals-road-house-transformation/">Jake Gyllenhaal</a> in Road House, <a href="https://www.insider.com/michelle-rodriguez-rege-jean-page-workout-dungeons-and-dragons-sdcc-2022-7">Michelle Rodriguez</a> in Dungeons & Dragons, and <a href="https://www.menshealth.com/entertainment/a42532547/paul-rudd-marvel-ant-man-interview/">Paul Rudd</a> in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, have all undertaken body modifications for roles this year. As the audience, we readily accept these body modifications to be part of the preparation for the role without necessarily considering the potentially long-term physical and mental health consequences. <h2>So how do they do it?</h2> From what Hollywood shares with the general public about these body modifications, which is generally very limited, it appears these transformations occur through excessive exercise and highly restrictive diets. Nevertheless, these Hollywood workouts are highly popular with ordinary people, with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Chris Hemsworth’s workouts <a href="https://sustainhealth.fit/lifestyle/most-searched-hollywood-actor-workouts/">particularly sought after</a>. These regimens resemble those of competitive bodybuilders, <a href="https://journals.lww.com/hrpjournal/Abstract/2019/07000/Competitive_Bodybuilding__Fitness,_Pathology,_or.3.aspx">whose success also relies on appearance</a>. The <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.2165/00007256-200434050-00004">typical process for bodybuilders</a> involves two phases: a “bulking” phase, during which the goal is to have enough energy for muscle growth, and a “cutting” phase, when the aim is to lose weight but not muscle. The end result of such a process is usually highly applauded, even though drastic measures have been taken to achieve such a look. Actors of all genders are undergoing these body transformations for <a href="https://www.sportskeeda.com/comics/10-marvel-actors-whose-body-transformation-shocked-world">various roles</a> such as superheroes, athletes, or the portrayal of real-life people. <h2>What are the consequences?</h2> “I’ve become a little bit more boring now, because I’m older and I feel like if I keep doing what I’ve done in the past I’m going to die. So, I’d prefer not to die,” <a href="https://www.menshealth.com/uk/fitness/lifestyle/a29725245/christian-bale-no-more-body-transformation-roles/">said Christian Bale</a>, who has undertaken multiple extreme transformations for roles. To achieve what is needed for a particular role, extreme measures are often taken. However, the consequences of these measures, such as use of substances, exercise dependence, and an increased risk of developing muscle dysmorphia and/or an eating disorder, is seemingly not common knowledge. A concern for the bodybuilding community is the widespread use of drugs, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4026349/">often multiple drugs at a time not obtained through prescription</a>. Androgenic-anabolic steroids are commonly used which can have extensive negative effects on the human body, including on the cardiovascular system, hormones, metabolism and even psychiatric wellbeing. Exercise dependence can also occur when an individual engages in an extreme amount of exercise, to the point at which <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11936-018-0674-3">physical, psychological or emotional harm</a> can occur. We are not sure exactly why exercise dependence happens, but it could potentially be a form of <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19585969.2023.2164841">behavioural addiction</a>. Another risk is <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4977020/">muscle dysmorphia</a>, a subtype of body dysmorphic disorder characterised by the individual being preoccupied with the idea their physique is not muscular enough, even if they have a high degree of muscle. <h2>What about the dieting impacts?</h2> There are many similarities between the requirements of bodybuilding and eating disorders. Both are characterised by restrictive diets, high levels of exercise, potential social isolation, and adherence to a <a href="https://journals.lww.com/hrpjournal/Abstract/2019/07000/Competitive_Bodybuilding__Fitness,_Pathology,_or.3.aspx">rigid schedule</a>. The seminal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S002231662210249X?via%3Dihub">Minnesota Starvation Experiment</a> fundamentally shaped our understanding of the changes a person can experience when they are consuming less than their daily nutrition energy needs, such as during the “cutting” phase for bodybuilders. This research showed that people who are experiencing starvation for a period of time will experience devastating impacts in the physical, psychological, behavioural and social aspects of their lives. Some of the many documented changes included reductions in heart muscle mass, heart rate and blood pressure, dizziness, fatigue, increased feelings of depression and anxiety, obsessive thoughts about food, and withdrawal from social activities and relationships. Concerningly, even once a person is renourished, the psychological issues around body size and food <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/eat.23095">can persist</a>. Therefore, even after an actor has returned to their pre-modification weight and size, it does not mean they have recovered from the consequences that came with that body modification. <h2>What are the impacts on the general public?</h2> Rapid changes in physical appearance are not realistically achievable for most people. So seeing actors doing this seemingly easily with the assistance of their professional teams sets an <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40894-022-00179-4">unrealistic standard</a>. For people without the same income or access to resources to achieve these body modifications in a safe way, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8872588/">more extreme means</a> would be undertaken and consequent damage to mental and physical wellbeing can ensue. These body modifications are definitely a case of “do not try this at home”. There are many risks when undertaking dramatic body modifications, most of which are not talked about in public. Actors are just as vulnerable to these risks, despite us rarely seeing what exactly they go through to achieve these dramatic transformations. Hollywood is a highly competitive environment, and being honest about body modification and its consequences could stop an actor landing their next gig. We don’t recommend body modifications in any way, but if someone does want to make a change to their lifestyle, we strongly recommend consulting with a team of health professionals to ensure physical and psychological safety during the process and beyond. –– If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, do not hesitate to reach out for support. For concerns around eating, exercise, or body image visit the <a href="https://butterfly.org.au/">Butterfly Foundation</a> or call the national helpline on 1800 33 4673. For concerns around drug use visit <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/drug-help">Drug Help</a> or call the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline on 1800 250 015.<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/207722/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/gemma-sharp-314703">Gemma Sharp</a>, Associate Professor, NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow & Senior Clinical Psychologist, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/bronwyn-dwyer-1453560">Bronwyn Dwyer</a>, , <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a> Image credits: 20th Century Fox 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/extreme-hollywood-body-transformations-have-become-standard-preparations-for-film-actors-but-we-need-to-consider-the-consequences-207722">original article</a>.

Body

Meet the woman preparing to spend three years at sea

When Sharon Lane heard about a once in a lifetime trip offered by a cruising company for a three-year voyage around the world, she began dreaming of her life on board. The 75-year-old cruising fanatic, a retired teacher from California, is no stranger to all-or-nothing travel experiences. She has frequented Europe with her students, taught foreign languages, and in the 1990s, she up and left to spend two years in South Africa. While looking for her next adventure, Sharon discovered an incredible voyage with Life at Sea Cruises. The company is selling places on board the <a href="https://oversixty.co.nz/travel/cruising/world-first-three-year-cruise-revealed">MV Gemini</a>, which sets sail from Istanbul on November 1st 2023 on an epic three-year global journey that will take in most of the planet's prime cruising destinations. The MV Gemini will stop at 375 ports over its three-year voyage, with 208 of these including overnight stays. The ship will stop everywhere from India to China to the Maldives to Australia, with some multi-night stopovers. A recent convert to the world of cruising as she has gotten older, Lane said one of her favourite sensations is the calming feeling of being adrift at sea. "I actually prefer the ocean days, when we're just sailing through or powering through the oceans, it just thrills me," Lane tells <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/cruise-ship-three-years-mv-gemini-passenger-perspective/index.html">CNN Travel</a>. After hearing about the voyage from a friend, Sharon immediately started her planning and budgeting. "By midnight that night, I had done enough research that I booked a room," she says. The cheapest rooms on the MV Gemini cost around $US30,000 ($45,000) per year, including a discount for solo travellers. Since booking her ticket, Lane is busy working out the details before her embankment date in November. She is selling most of her possessions, giving up her rental lease and preparing for a long stint at sea. "The logistics are crazy," says Lane. "It's a leap of faith, but I know there will be a place here when I get back. Or maybe I'll end up living in another country. I don't know, the sky's the limit." While she is getting rid of most of her belongings, she is determined to bring along a few family photos for the journey, particularly a favourite picture of her now-adult grandsons back when they were kids and she took them on a whale-watching trip. "I have that laminated and I'll take magnets and I'll stick it to my door for two reasons," says Lane. "One, I get to see their faces every time I go in, which is always fun, and the other reason is it makes it really easy to know which door is yours, because you've got your grandsons smiling back." Lane hopes her epic journey might inspire others to take a risk and push themselves out of their comfort zone, as she still regrets the years she spent in midlife putting off travelling and doesn’t want others to hold the same regrets. "I think I was always waiting for the perfect time to go when everything is right in life, when money is right, when appointments are right, when other people want to go," she says. "Don't stay home," she encourages. "Home may be where the heart is, home may be where you hang your hat – hang your hat, and then get on the boat, get on the plane, get in the car, go somewhere." Image credits: CNN Travel

Cruising

The W word is tough to talk about, but we need to be better prepared

Widowhood isn’t a topic that is widely discussed. Yet with some women left financially ruined after the unexpected death of their spouse or partner – especially if they suddenly find themselves single parents. It is a discussion we should be having, both to support newly widowed women and to lessen the financial burden on those who may follow. ‘My partner is gone and I don’t know how I’m going to make ends meet.’ This is a situation that no one wants to face, yet many women sadly do. And it isn’t just elderly women or those in retirement. Between 2018 and 2020, suicide and accidental poisonings were the two <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/life-expectancy-death/deaths-in-australia/contents/leading-causes-of-death" target="_blank" rel="noopener">leading causes of death among 25-44 year-olds</a> – both of which can occur without warning. For the partners left behind, their grief is compounded by another painful loss – the loss of financial stability. ‘It won’t happen to me’ Too many women overestimate their financial resources and protections, while believing their partner will always be there to cover their back. Can you afford to pay the bills after the sudden loss of income – which may have been the bulk of your household earnings? Do you have the full picture of your, and your partner’s, assets, and debts? How will you juggle your job with the new-found constraints of being single, and potentially a single parent? If your partner was self-employed, is the business still profitable or even viable if they’re gone? Has its value suddenly diminished? These are just several of many issues widows face, at an already stressful time. Preventing the worst While we can’t control death, I think there are two equally important preventative actions women can – and must – take to avoid becoming cash-strapped widows. Firstly, ensure your partner looks after themselves. Men especially often ignore their own health, until it’s too late. Be a source of encouragement and support, and hopefully keep them earthside much longer, with a good diet, regular exercise, stress-relieving activities, and regular medical check-ups for physical and mental health. However, healthy lifestyles don’t guarantee a long life. Which is why contingency plans are crucial. Protecting yourself and your/your partner’s dependents should they die includes having: <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Emergency cash fund </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Household savings and investment plan </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Life insurance </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Funeral cover </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Current will </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Nominated superannuation/trust beneficiaries (which are separate from a will) </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Succession/exit plan for any business owned </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Self-employed people paying their worker’s compensation and superannuation </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Qualified tax and financial advice </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Good debt management </li> </ul> Coping with loss To every widow, let me first say I am so sorry for your loss. You may feel overwhelmed by your new reality. Money worries will only add to this. Some immediate options to ease this pressure and let you focus on processing your grief with loved ones include: <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Time off: Work may seem like a good distraction, but you risk making poor decisions under clouded judgement. Take bereavement/annual leave to keep money coming in. For the self- employed, have a business partner/senior employee cover for you. </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Notify your partner’s employer: To pay out remaining wages and entitlements. </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Life insurance, funeral cover: Check your partner’s policies, including through their superfund. Lodge a claim as soon as you can – it takes time to be processed and paid out. </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Get support: You may be eligible for <a href="https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/what-help-there-when-adult-dies?context=60101" target="_blank" rel="noopener">government support measures</a>, including deferred obligations and bereavement payments. </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> If your partner died at work: Worker’s compensation or other payouts could be owed to you. </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Counselling: Free services include <a href="https://griefline.org.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Griefline</a> or your/your partner’s Employee Assistance Program. </li> </ul> Life as a single woman It’s now entirely up to you to manage money and save for retirement. I recommend getting good professional advice to work through: <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Transferring assets to be under your name </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Maintaining a roof over your head – which may mean downsizing to a more affordable home </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Adjusting to life on one income </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Maximising earnings; minimising tax </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Investing larger payouts – your late partner’s superannuation, insurances, compensation </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Business strategy – how and whether to sell or continue trading </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Updating your will; providing for dependent children/elderly parents </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Meeting debt obligations </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Should you enter another relationship down the track, whether a binding financial agreement is needed </li> </ul> The death of a partner is emotionally devastating. Yet it needn’t devastate you financially too. No matter your situation or life stage, I implore you: take an active role in managing your money. The death of a partner will necessitate it, but you’ll make a difficult situation that bit easier by having financial strategies already in place to fall back on. Helen Baker is a licensed Australian financial adviser and author of the new book, On Your Own Two Feet: The Essential Guide to Financial Independence for all Women (Ventura Press, $32.99). 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. Find out more at <a href="http://www.onyourowntwofeet.com.au" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.onyourowntwofeet.com.au</a> Image: Shutterstock

Retirement Life

Readers respond: What is an adult problem that nobody prepared you for?

We asked our readers what the biggest surprise of adulthood was, and their answers were hilariously honest. From cooking everyday and having kids, to various aches and pains, here are all the adult problems that no one warned our readers about, before it was too late! Jill Short - Needing to cook a meal every single night!! Gail Fredericks - When you've got little kids, you can't go to the toilet on your own. Diane Porter - Having to do your work and everyone else’s too, washing, shopping, cleaning, everything- unless you want to live in a pigsty and have nothing to eat. Norma Fowler - Loss of mobility, the amount of paper work to get anything, the huge cost of nursing home care. Julia Metcalfe - Being tired. All. The. Time. Tolla Edda Anderson - Having to be more flexible as you age. That is having to adapt faster to a faster pace of life. Camellia Musumeci-Cali - How lonely it gets when your children leave home. Annette Bradshaw - When getting older, my head would write cheque’s that my body can’t cash. Lynda Gibbons - The aches and pains of old age. Wendy McKnight - Your body growing old while your mind is stuck on 35. Pam Garmony - Trying to figure out how to program ovens and microwaves when you stay away from home. Ron Wright - The fact that the hill at the end of our street gets steeper every year. Terri Vanderwerf - Thinking of things to eat for the rest of your life! Fran Matthews - Not been able to move quickly, after 2 hips 2 knee replacements in old age! Jim Mitchell - That the "golden years" actually don't have gold. Image credits: Getty Images

Mind

Prepare for a healthy holiday with this A-to-E guide

So your well-earned holiday is finally here. But before you pack your swim gear, magazines and camera, take a moment to think about your health. Experiencing an illness in a foreign destination can be very challenging. Obviously it will reduce the quality of your trip, but it can also leave travellers with unexpected costs and exposed to a foreign medical system. On occasion, serious complications can follow. More than <a href="http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/products/961B6B53B87C130ACA2574030010BD05">nine million Australians</a> travel internationally per year, with most trips undertaken by people between the ages of 25 and 55. The top ten <a href="http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/products/961B6B53B87C130ACA2574030010BD05">most popular destinations</a> for Australians are New Zealand, Indonesia, the USA, UK, Thailand, China, Singapore, Japan, Fiji and India. A range of new health problems can be encountered during travel, and existing health problems can be exacerbated. Staying healthy is all about being informed, prepared and sensible. The <a href="http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/15/11/09-1147_article">leading causes</a> of infection-related illness during travel are <a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/353/bmj.i1937">travellers’ diarrhoea</a>, <a href="http://www.mja.com.au/journal/2002/177/4/9-infections-returned-traveller">respiratory infections and infections transmitted by mosquitoes</a>. Minimise your chances of experiencing these by following a simple ABCDE. <h2>A: Allow time to prepare</h2> Around popular holiday periods, it pays to allow plenty of time to book an appointment at a travel clinic, or a local medical clinic that offers travel vaccinations. Some vaccinations have two or three doses and may need four weeks for the course to be completed. Examples include vaccines for <a href="https://theconversation.com/zika-dengue-yellow-fever-what-are-flaviviruses-53969">Japanese encephalitis</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/explainer-the-rabies-virus-28654">rabies</a>. If travelling as a family, several visits may be required for preparing children for travel certain destinations. Keep in mind that your travel medicine practitioner may need detailed information about your exact itinerary, your past childhood vaccinations, your medical history and medications. If you have all this information readily available, you can get the most out of your travel consultation. If you have an existing medical condition, get checked out to make sure it’s being managed as expected. For example, blood pressure medications may need to be adjusted if your blood pressure is either too high or too low. Yellow fever immunisations and other live vaccines – those that contain active components – should be avoided if you are on medications that reduce your immunity, such as steroids like <a href="http://www.nps.org.au/medicines/hormonal-and-metabolic-system/corticosteroids-oral-and-injectable/prednisolone-corticosteroids-oral-and-injectable">prednisolone</a>. You may need alterations to immunosuppressive medications some weeks before you travel, or an official letter exempting you from a vaccine that is necessary for entry into certain countries (as is the case with yellow fever vaccine). <h2>B: Behaviour - think about it</h2> Holiday makers often seek to get out of their comfort zones. But it’s worth avoiding the temptation to completely let your hair down: behaviours you would never entertain in the home setting should be avoided in a foreign setting as well. You may also need to alter some of your daily living behaviours. Traveller’s diarrhoea can largely be avoided by using bottled water in any setting that you consume water, including staying hydrated, brushing your teeth, washing fruit and salads, and making ice blocks and other drinks. Eat food from venues that appear to adhere to good food hygiene standards – although this can be difficult to judge. Avoid hawker food or street food where items may have been left for long periods at temperatures where bacteria can multiply. When uncertain of hygiene standards, selecting packaged food is the safest choice. Respiratory infections are common in travellers. If you find yourself in a crowded setting where someone appears unwell and is coughing, create a distance to reduce the risk of being infected. Alcohol-based hand gels are useful to maintain hand hygiene and may protect you from infection due to common colds and other viruses that linger on surfaces. Smart packing is also important. You should travel with sunscreen and clothes that protect you from sun exposure, and repellent that has an active component to repel insects if travelling to an area where mosquitoes can transmit infections such as <a href="https://theconversation.com/zika-dengue-yellow-fever-what-are-flaviviruses-53969">dengue</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/does-zika-virus-pose-a-threat-to-australia-53557">Zika</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-the-world-can-cut-malaria-cases-by-90-in-the-next-15-years-47146">malaria</a>. Avoid acquiring a sexually transmitted infection by using barrier protection (condoms) for sexual intercourse. <h2>C: Check safety, and have a check up</h2> Review travel warnings at a reputable website, such as <a href="http://smartraveller.gov.au/Pages/default.aspx">SmartTraveller</a>. A general check up is advised to ensure your health is stable. Health conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes or a lowered immune system may put you at greater risk of travellers’ diarrhoea. Cancer or recent operations can increase risk of developing a <a href="http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2297171">blood clot</a>. Check ups are also a good opportunity to ensure that your vaccinations are up-to-date (see below). <h2>D: Drugs (medications) and vaccines are vital</h2> Medications that can reduce the time or severity of travellers’ diarrhoea are recommended for almost any destination, but particularly when travelling to developing countries where food hygiene standards can be variable. Examples include antibiotics such as azithromycin that treat bacterial causes of diarrhoea, and drugs such as tinidazole to treat parasitic causes of diarrhoea. Medications such as doxycycline or malarone that protect against being infected with malaria are recommended in <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/malaria/about/distribution.html">some regions</a> within Africa, Asia, South America and the Pacific. <a href="https://theconversation.com/zika-a-rare-benign-virus-suddenly-turns-nasty-and-heads-for-the-us-52792">Zika virus</a> infection generally causes a mild illness or no symptoms at all. Pregnant female travellers are advised to avoid travel to a Zika endemic area. Couples planning a pregnancy in the near future should seek advice from a health professional if travelling to a Zika endemic country. If you’re travelling to destinations that are above 2500 metres (such Cusco in Peru), talk to your doctor about medications that help prevent or manage altitude sickness. The normal schedule of vaccinations provided to Australians may not cover you for illnesses found in your holiday destination. Extra vaccinations are necessary for certain destinations. For example, <a href="https://theconversation.com/zika-dengue-yellow-fever-what-are-flaviviruses-53969">yellow fever</a> is transmitted by mosquitoes and can cause anything from mild fevers to a severe illness involving multiple organs. Vaccination against yellow fever is required for entry into countries with known yellow fever transmission, and for returning back to Australia if visiting an area of known transmission. Australians may consider vaccinations against the following diseases before travel to popular holiday destinations: <ul> <li>Hepatitis A</li> <li>Hepatitis B</li> <li>Influenza</li> <li>Japanese encephalitis</li> <li>Meningococcal disease</li> <li>Rabies</li> <li>Tuberculosis</li> <li>Typhoid</li> <li>Varicella (Chickenpox) </li> <li>Yellow fever</li> <li>Cholera</li> <li>Measles</li> <li>Polio</li> <li>Tetanus</li> </ul> A full <a href="https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list/">list of countries and recommended vaccinations</a> has been compiled by the USA’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Even if you’re previously been vaccinated for some of these conditions, as time passes you may require boosters to strengthen your immunity. <h2>E: Enjoy your trip!</h2> Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/prepare-for-a-healthy-holiday-with-this-a-to-e-guide-69552" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Domestic Travel

Preparations begin for the Queen ahead of Philip’s memorial service

After her recent mobility issues, a huge operation is underway <a href="https://honey.nine.com.au/royals/queen-elizabeth-plans-to-make-monarch-comfortable-at-prince-philip-memorial-westminster-abbey/fea7f70c-1c00-47cb-8573-d9cbd674aa15" target="_blank" rel="noopener">to ensure</a> Queen Elizabeth II is as comfortable as possible ahead of her late husband’s memorial service. The service to commemorate Prince Philip one year after his death is due to take place at Westminster Abbey on March 29, but the Queen may be taking a different route than usual in and out of the Abbey. Buckingham Palace aides are said to be considering several options to allow the Queen to attend the mass without being seen walking with difficulty, including entering the Abbey via the Poet’s Corner or arriving by helicopter, per <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/18003126/queen-prince-philip-memorial-service-military-operation/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Sun</a>. The monarch was last seen at the Abbey in October 2021 for the 100th anniversary of the Royal British Legion, where she was spotted using a walking stick. Soon after that event, which saw her take her usual route into the Abbey, the Queen was forced to cancel a number of events on her doctors’ orders. According to the publication, staff have ruled out using a wheelchair, and are considering using privacy screens to shield the monarch from cameras as she walks. Another idea could see the Queen break with tradition and arrive before the other guests to take her seat early. “Everything is being looked at to make sure the Queen makes it to Philip’s service,” a source told The Sun. “But the most important thing is to make sure she is comfortable. “A 15-minute flight is better than an hour in the back of a car. Some days she can walk around easily. Other days she cannot. It varies day by day.” The Queen, who turns 96 next month, is hoping to lead the mourners at Prince Philip’s service. Other senior royals in attendance will include Prince Charles and Camilla, Prince William and Kate Middleton, as well as European royals who were unable to attend the funeral and surviving members of the Duke of Edinburgh’s family from Germany. Image: Getty Images

Caring

Four things tsunami-vulnerable countries must do to prepare for the next disaster

The eruption of an underwater volcano and subsequent tsunami that hit Tonga on January 16, was one of the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-60106981" target="_blank">most violent natural disasters</a> in decades. While this event had <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/tonga-struggles-with-ash-psychological-trauma-after-eruption-tsunami-2022-01-23/" target="_blank">catastrophic consequences</a>, such incidents are relatively common as volcanoes are naturally unstable, unpredictable and exist throughout the world. I have spent most of my career conducting post-disaster field research, improving coastal defences and supporting people to become more resilient to tsunamis and less anxious about the risk. The challenge facing countries in these naturally vulnerable parts of the world is to adapt and educate their citizens to take their own safety actions. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/442734/original/file-20220126-13-1wfggn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/442734/original/file-20220126-13-1wfggn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="Map showing areas of the world at risk from tsunamis." /></a> Sketch of global tsunami hazard (as of May 2009). <a rel="noopener" href="https://reliefweb.int/map/world/world-sketch-global-tsunami-hazard-may-2009" target="_blank" class="source">UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction</a> Here I have outlined four things that vulnerable countries must urgently do to mitigate the consequences of tsunamis: 1. Educate people to be more resilient Education is one of the most effective defences. Regardless of the size of the wave or strength of seawalls, people are much more likely to survive a tsunami if they know exactly how to react once an alert is triggered. Vulnerable countries must therefore urgently create an educated, close-knit community that is aware that they are exposed to the risk and accept it as an aspect of their life and culture. I conducted focus group meetings with people, businesses and communities in Indonesia <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/krakatoa-is-still-active-and-we-are-not-ready-for-the-tsunamis-another-eruption-would-generate-147250" target="_blank">after the Anak Krakatoa tsunami in 2018</a>. In these groups, we established designated high ground areas and clear signage directing people to these safe zones. Evacuation events, such as mock tsunami drills, must be practised regularly so that people are familiar with safe areas and know where to go in the instance of a real tsunami. In Tonga specifically, where a third of the population is under the age of 15, tsunami safety must be taught at both primary and secondary school levels. Familiarising their young population with tsunamis, as well as other natural hazards such as <a rel="noopener" href="https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/disasterfacts.pdf" target="_blank">cyclones and earthquakes</a>, will create a more resilient and less anxious adult population. 2. Create effective early warning systems A decrease in ocean water surface levels is a clear sign that a tsunami is about to hit. Vulnerable countries must create early warning systems using satellites, drones and tide gauges to measure the vertical rise or fall of water to identify tsunamis before they happen. In light of the tsunami in Tonga, it would also help to place equipment such as <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.whoi.edu/what-we-do/explore/instruments/instruments-sensors-samplers/conductivity-temperature-depth-ctd-sensors/" target="_blank">conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD)</a> instruments, seismometers and thermal cameras near underwater volcanoes, while also observing the waters above with satellites. Buoys that measure the height and direction of waves can also be placed out at sea. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/442939/original/file-20220127-28-ypjzpu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/442939/original/file-20220127-28-ypjzpu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="A yellow buoy in the ocean" /></a> A tsunami detection buoy off the coast of Thailand. The Mariner 4291 / shutterstock When water levels are triggered, tsunami alert messages are sent out, giving people enough time to escape the impact zones. I experienced this myself while conducting fieldwork in a small town on the southern coast of Japan in 2018. There was <a rel="noopener" href="https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20181102/p2a/00m/0na/018000c" target="_blank">an earthquake</a> during my stay and before the ground had even stopped shaking my colleague received a text alert from the regional government with instructions. I grabbed my passport and prepared to go towards a nearby hill if he received a follow up “red alert” text – fortunately, that particular earthquake did not cause a tsunami, and we were able to stay where we were. 3. Establish a strong coastal defence scheme Tsunami-vulnerable countries must urgently create strong coastal defence schemes of offshore breakwaters, <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2018/mar/09/after-the-tsunami-japan-sea-walls-in-pictures" target="_blank">tsunami walls</a> and flood levees. Tsunami waves hit hard, so ideally these foundations will be made of reinforced concrete to avoid erosion. Natural protections like <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.princeton.edu/news/2006/12/15/living-coral-reefs-provide-better-protection-tsunami-waves" target="_blank">coral reefs</a> could be strengthened with nature-based solutions such as rock armour or heavy sandbags, which will lower the cost for developing countries. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/442947/original/file-20220127-4868-6qoq3p.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/442947/original/file-20220127-4868-6qoq3p.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="Man walks along concrete wall" /></a> A new coastal dyke in the city of Sendai, Japan, built after the 2011 tsunami. Ravindra Jayaratne, Author provided Critical infrastructure like power plants, densely populated communities and tourist hotspots must be built on higher ground, where possible. A good example of this comes from Miyagi and Iwate prefectures, Japan, which were badly hit by the 2011 Tohoku tsunami (the one which caused a nuclear disaster in neighbouring Fukushima). Some towns were <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/japan-tsunami-2011-fukushima-rebuilt-city-rikuzen-takata-residents-still-scared/" target="_blank">rebuilt on elevated ground</a> that had been filled in with compacted soil. If space is available, coastal forests with tall trees could be planted between communities and the beach to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.naturebasedsolutionsinitiative.org/publications/vegetation-bioshields-for-tsunami-mitigation-review-of-effectiveness-limitations-construction-and-sustainable-management/" target="_blank">act as a buffer zone</a>, limiting the impact of waves and reducing flooding, while also improving the local ecosystem. These defences may damage the tourist-friendly aesthetic of white sandy beaches, but they could save lives. 4. Form a regional approach to tsunamis The effects of the underwater volcano eruption and tsunami in Tonga were felt around the Pacific in Australia, New Zealand, Japan and America. These vulnerable countries must implement a regional approach to defending and responding to tsunamis. Aid must be given before tsunamis hit, not just after. This can be done through sharing data, expertise, research facilities and equipment. It is vitally important that this information is specifically given to developing countries to help strengthen their own defences. The underwater volcano near Tonga is active. And even if the recent eruption was a one in 1,000 year event, there is still a strong chance that it will erupt again since geological deposits show that major eruptions like this one tend to involve a <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-the-tonga-eruption-was-so-violent-and-what-to-expect-next/" target="_blank">series of many individual explosive events</a>. Countries that are threatened by tsunamis can’t prevent these natural disasters from happening, but they can adapt to be better prepared for when they do. Foreign aid will be vital for Tonga to recover from this horrific incident. However, education and collaboration will be its most important defence in the longer term.<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; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/175721/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ravindra-jayaratne-1147986" target="_blank">Ravindra Jayaratne</a>, Reader in Coastal Engineering, <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-east-london-924" target="_blank">University of East London</a> This article is republished from <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/four-things-tsunami-vulnerable-countries-must-do-to-prepare-for-the-next-disaster-175721" target="_blank">original article</a>. Image: Getty Images

Domestic Travel

How to prepare your home for holiday guests

Are you ready to host overnight guests? One of the most enjoyable things about the holiday season is spending extended time with family and friends. It’s especially great to welcome them into your home. But before you host overnight guests, you’ll need to make sure your house is ready for company. Know your guests Are your adult kids bringing their partners to stay? Will the in-laws be spending a few days? Chances are those guests will have different sets of needs and expectations, so it’s important to understand ahead of time what those will be. Consider everything from food allergies to sleeping accommodations. An air mattress might be fine for a twentysomething, but not for your mother-in-law. Fortunately, it’s easy to figure out — just ask them. Get answers for what kind of food they like, preferred sleeping arrangements, etc. It’s important that your guests feel comfortable. The first step is taking the time to show them you want their stay to be a pleasant one. Clean the house It should be obvious, but with company settling in for a few nights, definitely give your house a good cleaning from top to bottom. Pay extra attention to the rooms where your guests will be sleeping, and the bathrooms. This also is a good time to make some basic repairs, like touching up scratches in the paint or tightening up the grab bar in the shower. Think about safety, too. With more people in the house, it might be good to tie down Christmas lights or add a non-slip pad under your doormat. Guest bedroom Do you know where your guests will sleep? You need a plan for that as soon as you know who’s coming to stay. It’s probably better to nail down that detail even before inviting them, if possible. Are there enough beds for everyone? If not, think about getting an air mattress, hideaway bed or folding bed. You may need one if you’re asking the kids to bunk together to clear out an extra room for Grandma and Grandpa. Your company will appreciate clean, fresh bedding, so throw those extra sheets, pillowcases and comforters in the washing machine ahead of time. Stock extra pillows and blankets for your guests, too. Be sure to put a light next to the bed, too. That allows them to read or check their phone before settling in for the evening. It’s also a safety feature. Your guests are in an unfamiliar environment, so easy access to a light helps them move around safely at night. These days phone chargers are essential, so be sure there’s an easy way for company to plug in their electronic devices. Even with phones, a clock is still a nice touch and convenient addition to a guest room. Your guests will also appreciate a place to unpack their suitcase, especially if they’re staying for more than a couple nights. If there’s a dresser in the room, clear out a couple of drawers for them to use. Also, consider giving them some wardrobe space or an extra rod to hang clothes. Prepare the bathroom Before company shows up, know which bathroom to assign them. Ideally, they’ll have their own to use. If that’s not possible and they have to share, you can still take steps to make them feel comfortable. You can never have enough clean bath towels, hand towels and washcloths for company. Stock extra clean linens in the bathroom, and let your guests know where they can find them. Though most people will bring their own toiletries, you should provide them as well. Set out shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, an extra toothbrush or two (in the package), soap, lotion, etc. It’s worth having extra things like cotton swabs, clean nail clippers, tampons, contact solution and anything else your guests might need to make their stay more comfortable. Oh, and show them where the plunger and wastepaper basket are. That helps them avoid potentially embarrassing situations. Stock the kitchen Buy extra snacks and goodies for your pantry and refrigerator. This is also where it’s essential to know the needs of the people staying with you. Do they have special dietary concerns? If you know that ahead of time, you can stock up on the right food and beverages. It may sound obvious, but show them where everything is and make them feel comfortable accessing it when they want something to eat or drink. Coffee is always appreciated. So be sure to have extra on hand. Have everything out and ready to go so early risers in the group can help themselves. Table space is something to consider, too. If you don’t have enough seating for everyone at your holiday dinner, you can always pick up a folding table and extra chairs so everyone has a seat. Plan and relax Whoever comes to stay with you for the holidays, have a plan for things to do. Take them to the museum or go see a show. Find out what they like to do and make plans to do it. Conversely, don’t be afraid to give your guests their space. They might want to tour the city themselves or enjoy a dinner out on their own one night. Do your best to prepare your home for company, but it’s also important to accept that things may not be perfect. And they don’t have to be! Do your best to make everyone feel welcome, and they’ll appreciate it. It’s the holiday season and your friends and family are coming to stay with you, so enjoy it! Written by Ryan Van Bibber. This article first appeared in <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/food-home-garden/home-tips/how-to-prepare-your-home-for-holiday-guests" target="_blank">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a rel="noopener" href="http://readersdigest.innovations.co.nz/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRA87V" target="_blank">here’s our best subscription offer.</a> Image: Getty Images <img style="width: 100px !important; height: 100px !important;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820640/1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f30947086c8e47b89cb076eb5bb9b3e2" />

Home & Garden

Should I take a gift? As borders open, how to prepare for reuniting with your grandkids

As border restrictions lift, family reunions are being planned around Australia. This is an exciting but also uncertain time, particularly for grandparents who have been separated from grandchildren. Over the past months (and in some cases, years), grandchildren will have grown and changed. They may have new interests, routines and skills. You may even have the <a rel="noopener" href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1474704919875948" target="_blank">transformative experience</a> of meeting a new grandchild for the very first time. With older grandchildren, <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/grandparent-grandchildren-video-calls-are-vital-during-covid-19-here-are-simple-ways-to-improve-them-141534" target="_blank">digital technologies</a> may have kept you in contact and up-to-date. But with younger grandchildren, this is harder, and it may be time to rekindle relationships. We are researchers investigating the roles grandparents play and the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/21582041.2018.1433317" target="_blank">influence</a> this has on families and communities. So, how can grandparents make the most of this time? The special role of grandparents Due to increased lifespans, grandparents have more time and ability to invest in their grandchildren than <a rel="noopener" href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0963721411403269" target="_blank">ever before</a> in human history. The grandparent-grandchild relationship can be a very special one. A grandparent’s involvement in a child’s life, whether through shared actives or a listening ear, is <a rel="noopener" href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1099-0860.2009.00215.x" target="_blank">linked</a> to the child’s well-being. <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/429276/original/file-20211029-23-1y65rbj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="Grandparents hug a baby." /> Researchers are finding increasing evidence of the importance of grandparent-grandchild relationships. Image: Shutterstock The benefits depend on your family situation, but can include improved psychological adjustment for <a rel="noopener" href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/j.1728-4457.2011.00379.x" target="_blank">grandchildren</a>, increased <a rel="noopener" href="https://doi.org/10.1017/S004727941700071X" target="_blank">workforce participation</a> for mothers, and a longer and happier life for <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1090513816300721" target="_blank">grandparents</a>. The importance of asking questions When preparing to see your grandchildren again, our first suggestion is to ask your grandchild’s parents what they think is a good idea for your first catch-up. What does your grandchild enjoy doing at the moment? What is their daily routine? Is there anything to avoid? If you are meeting a grandchild for the very first time, bear in mind the parents have gone through huge changes since you last met. As with older children, ask the parents what will suit them in terms of visit type and time. Be <a rel="noopener" href="https://raisingchildren.net.au/grown-ups/grandparents/family-relationships/being-a-grandparent" target="_blank">open and honest</a> about what support you think you can provide, and be aware the parents needs may change (they may want more or less help than they anticipated). When it comes to discussing the changes a new baby has brought, grandparents are trying to juggle in their mind the thrill of participating in their grandchild’s life, without disrupting or overstepping parents’ boundaries. From our yet to be published research, we understand this is not a simple matter for many families, but starting the conversation is important in maintaining these valuable relationships. Persistent, not pushy Your grandchildren may be feeling shy when you first meet. So even though this may have been a longed-for reunion, you may need to tread carefully. This is perfectly normal and can be overwhelming for everyone. Just take your time, and let them get to know you again. Your first instinct will be to catch up on the thousands of lost hugs, but it may work better stay close by and let them come to you. <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/428728/original/file-20211027-27-42qfit.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="Grandparents playing with grandkids." /> With young children, you don’t have to plan something fancy for your first catch-up. Image: Shutterstock The good news for grandparents is that several research projects have shown what grandchildren <a rel="noopener" href="http://www.hoepflinger.com/fhtop/Grandchildren.pdf" target="_blank">really want</a> is simply for grandparents to be “there when needed”. So just “being there” – interested and available – for your first visit is perfectly fine. This helps reduce expectations of what you feel you need to do. Gifts Your first inclination may be to bring something exciting to play with together. But on top of seeing each other again, rushing in with a new treat might be too much. You will need to read the room. Consider taking something small, or maybe you can keep something in the car and bring it out once everyone has warmed up. Parallel play Play is obviously central to children’s learning and experience. Early in life, however, this may mean playing alone, which may be confusing for some of us. A good way to work with this while rekindling your relationship is parallel play, particularly if a child is aged between two and five. Parallel play involves playing next to your grandchild and letting them come to you when they are ready. This is one way you might need to put the patience and persistence we discussed earlier into practice. Let grandchildren lead (within reason) In the same vein, don’t feel as though you need to take the lead when working out what to do with your grandchild, either. Or that your idea for reading a certain book or doing a particular puzzle is the one your grandchild will go with. <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/428727/original/file-20211027-15-34v14w.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="Grandparents push a grandchild on a swing." /> Seeing your grandchild again could be as simple as a walk to the park. Image: Shutterstock Often, seemingly simple activities like a walk to a park are the most rewarding. Here your grandchild has the opportunity to show you about their world and what they like to do on their terms. It is also a good way to see how your grandchild has grown and developed. We want to show our unconditional affection and love for our grandchildren, <a rel="noopener" href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0038026120916104" target="_blank">this feels natural</a>, and we know it can be so valuable. But in the the early stages of getting to know each other again, don’t put pressure on you or them. Being available, interested, curious and patient is enough. Rebecca Bullingham, a masters student in medical and health science at Edith Cowan University, contributed to this article.<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; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/169731/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/david-coall-408193" target="_blank">David Coall</a>, Senior Lecturer, <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/edith-cowan-university-720" target="_blank">Edith Cowan University</a> and <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/shantha-karthigesu-1284704" target="_blank">Shantha Karthigesu</a>, Teaching and Research Scholar, <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/edith-cowan-university-720" target="_blank">Edith Cowan University</a> This article is republished from <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/should-i-take-a-gift-as-borders-open-how-to-prepare-for-reuniting-with-your-grandkids-169731" target="_blank">original article</a>. Image: Getty Images

Relationships

What you need to know before preparing your will

Image: Getty Creating or updating our Wills is one of those things it is easy to put off. However, the peace of mind you’ll have knowing your affairs are in order and your loved ones will be taken care means everything. Even if you hate paperwork, it is also so much easier and quicker than you might think. Here’s what you need to know. <div id="firstFloatAd"></div> Everyone needs a Will, no matter the size of their estate It’s time we all start thinking of Wills as an essential part of any good financial plan for anyone over the age of 18. A Will is something everyone should have in place, regardless of your marital status, how much money you have and whether or not you are a parent. A properly drafted Will ensures your wishes will be carried out even when you aren’t around to make sure they are. It will help minimise unnecessary costs and ensure your gifts and things you care about are given to those you want to receive them. If someone does die without a Will in place this is called “dying intestate”. This person would not have an executor in place who ensures your wishes are indeed carried out. There is a risk that assets would not go to the best people as the state decides where assets and all property goes. People with beloved pets can ensure their trusted friends are taken care of in their Wills. Unfortunately, even our most loved animal companions can’t actually be a beneficiary. However, it is possible to leave a pet to a trusted friend or loved one who can also be allocated funds in your Will to help care for them for the rest of animal’s life. Of course, if you do have children under the age of 18 it is extremely important you have a Will, even if you don’t have many assets. This allows you to nominate a testamentary guardian who will save the decision of who looks after your children if their parents pass away being made by the family court. Key questions to ask yourself when preparing your Will Before you are ready to put your Will in place, make sure you are aware of all of your assets, including superannuation, cars, special jewellery or items of sentimental value and have decided who your beneficiaries will be. Also, consider if you have any special requests you would like carried out. Remember, you can alter your Will whenever you choose to as long as it is printed out (even if you are using a digital Will), is signed, witnessed and kept somewhere safe. It’s important to not be afraid to talk about our Wills where relevant. Encourage healthy discussions to ensure everyone you love also has one in place. Clever money saving hack to create a legally binding Will These days there are so many options when it comes to doing your Will. In fact, you can create your legally binding custom Will in less than 20 minutes at home. For example, Australia’s leading online estate planning platform Willed has been created by lawyers, and is a simple to use, intuitive and secure platform to create a custom legal Will. While typical legal fees could cost you anywhere from $600 to $6,000, Willed is an affordable, accessible and secure option for all Australians as you can get a legally valid will for just $159. Clever, right? How to continue your legacy in your Will through charity bequests It is important to remember that it is possible to pass on some of your assets to a charity or a cause which is close to your heart. Ryan Solomon, co-founder and Head of Legal at Willed, says, “Think of it as an important way to celebrate your legacy with a positive contribution to an important charity of your choice.” The most important bit of admin is to ensure you include specific wording such as the charity’s business name and ABN. However, it’s much easier when you go with an online platform such as Willed who pre-fill all of this information for you and allow you to simply choose your favourite charity from the Fundraising Institute of Australia’s database. This makes it so easy to outline your request and ensure the causes you care about are supported. Solomon adds, “It is up to you if you decide to let your chosen charity know of your wishes in your Will or not. However, many charities appreciate being able to thank you now for your generous bequest.” This is a sponsored article produced in partnership with Willed. This article is written in partnership with Willed and first appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/food-home-garden/what-you-need-to-know-before-preparing-your-will">Readers Digest</a>.

Legal

Kate Middleton prepares for Prince George and Princess Charlotte’s return to school

The Cambridge family have made the most of their summer holidays. However, Prince George, 8, and Princess Charlotte, 6, are set to return back to school while their little brother, three-year-old Prince Louis will start his second year of nursing school. While the three siblings along with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been vacationing in the UK this year, it is reported the family opted for a trip to the Isles of Scilly during their summer break. A royal insider told OK! magazine that Duchess Kate chooses to be a hands-on parent, and because of that, the family have had a highly organised, jam-packed summer. "Because of who they are, William and Kate have had to be highly organised parents,” the source said. “But as parents, Wills and Kate have developed this brilliant knack of letting as much as they can seem spontaneous and that’s how the children see it.” <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7843571/george-charlotte-louis-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/72520a753d714687b08e3eeb4ef4cdb9" /> The insider added that Kate ensures her children are on their best behaviour while in public. They said: “Table manners, thank you letters, little courtesies are being drilled into the children so they become automatic. “If George has been naughty, and he has been on occasion, Kate and William are good at explaining to him the rights and wrongs of what’s happened”. Both Charlotte and George go to Thomas’s Battersea, an exclusive primary school in London. Prince Louis will attend Willcocks Nursery School for another year, before he follows in his older siblings steps and graduates to Battersea. Images: Getty Images

Family & Pets

50% of Australians are prepared to pay more tax to improve aged care workers’ pay, survey shows

The final report from the aged care royal commission this week was damning. Speaking of a system in crisis, it calls for an urgent overhaul. The Morrison government has been facing difficult questions regarding which of the 148 recommendations it will adopt. It also needs to grapple with how to pay for the much-needed changes. On this question, the royal commissioners disagree. Commissioner Lynelle Briggs calls for a levy of 1% of taxable personal income, while commissioner Tony Pagone recommends the Productivity Commission investigate an aged care levy. A 1% levy could cost the median person who already pays the medicare levy about $610 a year, while boosting funds for the aged care sector by almost $8 billion a year. So far, the government has played down the idea of new taxes. There is a view this would be hard sell for a Coalition elected, at least in part, to lower taxation. But as debate continues about how to make the changes we need to aged care (and not just talk about it), our research suggests many Australians support a levy to improve the quality and sustainability of our aged care system. Our research In September 2020, we surveyed over 1,000 Australians aged 18 to 87 years, representative by age, gender and state. We wanted to find out how the pandemic influenced attitudes to health, well-being and caring for others. Our findings indicated overwhelming public support for aged care reform, to ensure all older Australians are treated with dignity. The vast majority of our respondents (86%) either “strongly agreed” or “agreed” Australia needed more skilled and trained aged care workers. On top of this, 80% thought aged care workers should be paid more for the work that they did. More than 80% also either “strongly agreed” or “agreed” that nurses working in aged care should be paid at an equivalent rate to nurses working in the health system. Currently, nurses working in aged care are paid, on average, about 10-15% less. The crunch point Importantly, 50% of our respondents showed a willingness to pay additional tax to fund better pay and conditions for aged care workers. Of those willing to pay more tax, 70% were willing to pay 1% or more per year. This finding supports previous larger-scale research we undertook for the royal commission, before the pandemic. Here we found similar levels of public support for increased income tax contributions to support system-wide improvements. This suggests politicians seem to underestimate the public appetite for improvements to the system, and people’s willingness to contribute to achieve this. Changing ideas about economic ‘success’ Our survey findings also highlighted a growing recognition among Australians of the importance of a broader range of social and economic goals. For some time, economists, academics, organisations and peak bodies have been calling for a move away from traditional economic indicators (such as economic growth and expanding gross domestic product) at any cost, towards a broader definition of success. This would see governments focus on policies that promote a more equal distribution of wealth and well-being, where the fundamentals of community cohesion are highly valued and our natural resources are protected. We asked our survey respondents to rank the relative importance of seven key areas of public policy in framing Australia’s pathway to recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, including: <ul> <li>dignity (people have enough to live in comfort, safety and happiness)</li> <li>nature and climate (a restored natural world which supports life into the future)</li> <li>social connection (a sense of community belonging and institutions that serve the common good)</li> <li>fairness (equal opportunity for all Australians and the gap between the richest and the poorest greatly reduced)</li> <li>participation (having as much control over your daily life as you would want)</li> <li>economic growth (an increase in the amount of goods and services produced in Australia), and</li> <li>economic prosperity (full employment and low inflation levels). The criteria ranked most important by the largest proportion of our survey respondents were dignity (20.1%) and fairness (19.3%).</li> </ul> Traditional economic indicators were not the highest priorities for the Australians we surveyed. Instead, economic growth and prosperity were only ranked as a top priority by 15.3% and 15.2% of our respondents respectively. This suggests the general public recognises the importance of moving beyond the traditional markers of a successful society. What Australians want Our research shows significant aged care reform is entirely consistent with the current priorities of the Australian public. The burning question now is whether the Morrison government will step up to the challenge. Written by Rachel Milte and Julie Ratcliffe. This article first appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/50-of-australians-are-prepared-to-pay-more-tax-to-improve-aged-care-workers-pay-survey-shows-156299">The Conversation</a>.

Retirement Income

Prince Harry isolating in preparation for rush back to UK

Prince Harry is reportedly in isolation at his California home in case he has to rush back home to the UK in the event Prince Philip’s condition worsens. The 99-year-old was rushed to King Edward VII hospital in London on Tuesday after he complained of “feeling unwell”, a statement from Buckingham Palace said. Reports claim the Duke of Sussex is joined by wife, Meghan Markle and their one-year-old son Archie in isolation at their Montecito home. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7839958/marlon-brando-15.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/df060bb322a44dee8066703a766bfba6" /> Prince Harry has reportedly made arrangements to fly privately if the situation calls for it and is kept “regularly informed” of his grandfather’s condition. British tabloids claim the royal family have immunity in the UK when it comes to travelling, and therefore Harry would be allowed to travel freely without having to quarantine.

Caring

Brexit: how the UK is preparing to secure its seas outside the EU

Four dinghies carrying 53 migrants who tried to cross the English Channel from France were intercepted by British and French authorities <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-52207869">in early April</a>. The crossings are a reminder of the importance of maritime security and safety to the UK. Brexit has led to many uncertainties, including over the governance of the UK’s seas in the future. Withdrawal from EU regulations at the end of the Brexit transition period on December 31 2020 raises questions over how to face the difficult task of managing maritime risks which are currently managed alongside the EU. Uncertainty has also spurred new government efforts by shining a light on the need to secure UK waters, something we’ve written about in <a href="http://www.bristol.ac.uk/media-library/sites/policybristol/briefings-and-reports-pdfs/SafeSeas%20report_v5.pdf">a new report</a>. The UK faces <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/322813/20140623-40221_national-maritime-strat-Cm_8829_accessible.pdf">rapidly evolving risks</a> to its shipping lanes, fishing grounds and marine infrastructure. These risks include <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/722074/fisheries-wp-consult-document.pdf">illegal fishing</a>, human trafficking, <a href="https://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/who-we-are/publications/173-national-strategic-assessment-of-serious-and-organised-crime-2018/file">organised crime such as smuggling</a>, <a href="https://rm.coe.int/the-united-kingdom-s-strategy-for-countering-terrorism-june-2018/16808b05f3">terrorism</a>, and the potential for protests <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/dec/04/greenpeace-banned-from-protesting-on-shell-north-sea-oil-rigs">at sea</a>. Terrorist attacks could cause significant loss of life if targeted against ferries and cruise liners. Illegal fishing could affect <a href="https://www.seafish.org/media/Publications/SeafishGuidetoIUU07-2016.pdf">the livelihoods of fishers and marine biodiversity</a>, while other risks could have an impact on the wider economy in a context where <a href="https://www.ukchamberofshipping.com/latest/why-ports-are-crucial-britains-future/">95% of Britain’s trade</a> flows via the ocean. These risks tend to interlink with each other in ways that are increasingly well documented in other regions of the world. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016578361400143X">In Somalia</a>, for example, local fishers losing their stock as a result of illegal fishing have <a href="https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/atf/cf/%7B65BFCF9B-6D27-4E9C-8CD3-CF6E4FF96FF9%7D/s_res_2442.pdf">turned to piracy</a>. What unintended consequences of new risks might appear in UK waters is still not fully understood. Maritime security threats can also take place simultaneously. Without greater understanding of these risks, it’s difficult to know which should be prioritised. Added complication of Brexit These issues have been complicated by the <a href="https://blog.oup.com/2019/10/brexits-challenge-maritime-security/">UK’s withdrawal from the EU</a>. During the current transition period the UK manages its waters within a wider EU maritime governance framework and under EU regulations, as it did while it was an EU member. While the UK isn’t expected to cease all cooperation with the EU when this comes to an end, it will be required to depend more on national enforcement and regulations. This shift is most visible in the fisheries sector. As part of the EU, British fisheries were managed under the Common Fisheries Policy meaning both UK and EU fishing boats had access to quotas in UK waters. Such arrangements are <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308597X17307376">likely to come to an end</a> with the UK choosing to regulate its own waters. UK ports are also a hotspot for change as they seem likely to withdraw from EU port legislation. This could lead to <a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2019/308/pdfs/uksiem_20190308_en.pdf">new national regulatory</a> challenges such as a need to balance harmonisation with the EU with the pursual of British priorities like the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/freeports-consultation">creation of freeports</a>, aimed to give British trade a competitive edge. Taking sole responsibility is made difficult by other complicating factors. In the UK, different risks are managed by <a href="https://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2018-02-23.HL5857.h">different government agencies</a>, with problems of jurisdictional overlap. Depending where it takes place, multiple agencies could be involved in illegal fishing, for example. This could include the Marine Management Organisation, Marine Scotland, and the Royal Navy’s Fishery Protection Squadron. Other agencies may contribute boats or intelligence, such as the National Maritime Information Centre, Border Force and the National Crime Agency. Yet, a common understanding of the threats and consistent communication between departments <a href="http://www.safeseas.net/a-moment-of-opportunity-britain-and-the-maritime-security-challenge/">is lacking in some areas</a>. This is more of a problem for devolved issues such as fisheries, which add even more authorities, departments and agencies to the picture. The relationships between these different organisations are likely to be further tested by the <a href="https://blog.oup.com/2019/10/brexits-challenge-maritime-security/">challenges posed by Brexit</a>. Opportunity for reform But Brexit also offers the UK an opportunity to improve its maritime security. The leak of <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/831199/20190802_Latest_Yellowhammer_Planning_assumptions_CDL.pdf">Operation Yellowhammer</a> in 2019 raised the public profile of maritime issues such as delayed freight in ports, the illegal entry of EU fishing boats into UK waters and potential clashes between fishing vessels. This came at a time where there were high profile landings of <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-46358700">illegal migrants along the south coast of the UK</a>, while Operation Yellowhammer warned of stretched maritime enforcement capabilities. The UK has started off well. In 2019, the UK government created the <a href="https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2019-09-05/debates/CAD11F2C-9E6C-4092-9417-C34D68330187/MaritimeSecurity">Joint Maritime Security Centre</a> (JMSC) to coordinate all the different agencies involved and foster interaction between them. The JMSC conducted a joint UK maritime security exercise at the end of 2019, highlighting how coordination can improve enforcement. It is also preparing a new UK maritime security strategy. Interactions between the different government agencies involved in managing the risks to the UK seas need to become more frequent and overcome existing divides to create habits of cooperation and communication. Other groups such as fishing communities need to be included in deliberations. Transparency and information sharing in the process of drafting a new maritime security strategy can help to identify common goals, encourage involvement, and establish a shared basis for action. A review of resources would also be worthwhile to identify the means the UK has to secure its waters, what gaps exist, and how these means can best be shared. Written by Scott Edwards and Timothy Edmunds. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/brexit-how-the-uk-is-preparing-to-secure-its-seas-outside-the-eu-133548">The Conversation.</a>

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The devastating way Shannen Doherty is preparing for death

Altitude sickness is typically mild but can sometimes turn very serious − a high-altitude medicine physician explains how to safely prepare

"I'm prepared for that": Sam Neill shares worrying cancer update

Five things to do before you die – because planning your eventual demise takes preparation

How ‘dad jokes’ may prepare your kids for a lifetime of embarrassment, according to psychology

Royal family prepares for Queen Elizabeth’s anniversary

Extreme Hollywood body transformations have become standard preparations for film actors – but we need to consider the consequences

Meet the woman preparing to spend three years at sea

The W word is tough to talk about, but we need to be better prepared

Readers respond: What is an adult problem that nobody prepared you for?

Prepare for a healthy holiday with this A-to-E guide

Preparations begin for the Queen ahead of Philip’s memorial service

Four things tsunami-vulnerable countries must do to prepare for the next disaster

How to prepare your home for holiday guests

Should I take a gift? As borders open, how to prepare for reuniting with your grandkids

What you need to know before preparing your will

Kate Middleton prepares for Prince George and Princess Charlotte’s return to school

50% of Australians are prepared to pay more tax to improve aged care workers’ pay, survey shows

Prince Harry isolating in preparation for rush back to UK

Brexit: how the UK is preparing to secure its seas outside the EU

News

Shop

Catalogues

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Entertainment

Property

Information

Keep up to date

Search

The devastating way Shannen Doherty is preparing for death

Altitude sickness is typically mild but can sometimes turn very serious − a high-altitude medicine physician explains how to safely prepare

"I'm prepared for that": Sam Neill shares worrying cancer update

Five things to do before you die – because planning your eventual demise takes preparation

How ‘dad jokes’ may prepare your kids for a lifetime of embarrassment, according to psychology

Royal family prepares for Queen Elizabeth’s anniversary

Extreme Hollywood body transformations have become standard preparations for film actors – but we need to consider the consequences

Meet the woman preparing to spend three years at sea

The W word is tough to talk about, but we need to be better prepared

Readers respond: What is an adult problem that nobody prepared you for?

Prepare for a healthy holiday with this A-to-E guide

Preparations begin for the Queen ahead of Philip’s memorial service

Four things tsunami-vulnerable countries must do to prepare for the next disaster

How to prepare your home for holiday guests

Should I take a gift? As borders open, how to prepare for reuniting with your grandkids

What you need to know before preparing your will

Kate Middleton prepares for Prince George and Princess Charlotte’s return to school

50% of Australians are prepared to pay more tax to improve aged care workers’ pay, survey shows

Prince Harry isolating in preparation for rush back to UK

Brexit: how the UK is preparing to secure its seas outside the EU

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