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"It was a relief": Rebecca Gibney opens up on mental health struggles

Rebecca Gibney has revealed what a "relief" it was to finally open up about the mental health struggles she faced from 14 to 30-years-old. The New Zealand actress, 58, said she spent a lot of that time "pretending" she was okay despite growing up around domestic violence, as her mother suffered from abuse in the hands of Gibney's late father, Austin. In an interview with Stellar on Saturday, the Packed to the Rafters star shared that she is "loving" how mental health is now being framed. “When I started talking about my mental health struggles and anxiety ... it was a relief,” she told the publication. “I could drop the mask of pretending that I was OK. What I’m loving seeing is that more and more people are now going, ‘I’m not OK’”. Gibney first opened up about her struggles in 2017, when she opened up about the abuse her mother faced and how she was “beaten so badly she had bruises for six months on her legs. “She’d always shut the doors ... you’d hear the yelling and the shouting and the slapping, but you’d never actually see it," she told Women's Day, at the time. After Gibney's father died in 1982, the actress began seeing a therapist, but was "on Valium and in a dark place for quite a while”. In her latest interview with Stellar, Gibney also added that more needed to be done to prevent domestic violence and help survivors. “We still don’t want to talk about it. We need to really drill down (and question), ‘Why is this happening?’ We need more education, more centres," she said. “We need people to be able to get the help they need.” Images: Instagram

Mind

5 signs your friend is struggling with serious debt

Money is always going to be a sensitive topic, and part of the reason for this is the fact that so many people willingly suffer in silence. But if you notice the warning signs, you have to take action. Here are five signs your friend is struggling with serious debt. 1. They keep cancelling plans Whether you’re talking about dinner, drinks or even just the occasional coffee, if your friend keeps cancelling plans (particularly if they didn’t have a reputation for doing so in the past) that could be a sign that they’re struggling with their finances. 2. Unopened bills If you’re visiting your friend’s home and you notice a pile of unopened bills, this is a classic sign of money troubles. Generally these bills are left unopened because the recipient does not want to see what’s inside, or deal with the monetary consequences. 3. Sudden changes in behaviour Does your friend seem more fidgety that usual? Do they become cagey or defensive when money matters are mentioned? Are they bitter when discussing other people’s spending habits? This could indicate stress about their own individual financial situation. 4. Ignoring calls and knocks on the door If you’ve been staying at your friend’s house and noticed a knock on the door or phone that’s been left unanswered on multiple occasions this could be a very bad sign. Often this is out of fear of dealing with a debt collector who could be on the other side. 5. Not adapting to changes in circumstances very well Lifestyle changes generally come with a change in financial circumstances, but if you’ve noticed a sign that your friend is living in the same way that may be a sign that they’re ignoring the demands of their new situation and not putting themselves in a position to succeed. What can I do? Experts recommend taking the following steps if you know a friend who is struggling to deal with debt. That being said, sometimes just providing someone to talk to about it can make all the difference. <ul> <li>Encourage them to talk to their credit provider and discuss payment options.</li> <li>Talk about applying or a hardship variation to help make payments.</li> <li>Direct them to a financial counselling service.</li> <li>Encourage them to take up free legal advice.</li> </ul> Image credits: Getty Images

Money & Banking

1 in 4 households struggle to pay power bills. Here are 5 ways to tackle hidden energy poverty

<a href="https://energyconsumersaustralia.com.au/news/how-increases-in-energy-prices-are-impacting-consumers#:%7E:text=Energy%2520affordability%2520is%2520not%2520just,in%2520the%2520past%252012%2520months.">One in four Australian households</a> are finding it hard to pay their gas and electricity bills. As winter looms, <a href="https://www.aer.gov.au/news-release/default-market-offer-2023%25E2%2580%259324-draft-determination">energy price rises</a> will make it even harder. Cold homes and disconnections resulting from energy poverty threaten people’s health and wellbeing. <a href="https://www.acoss.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/ACOSS-cost-of-living-report2-March-2023_web_FINAL.pdf">Income support for welfare recipients</a> and retrofitting homes to make them more thermally efficient – by adding insulation, for example – can ease the burden. And when homes are not too cold or hot, <a href="https://theconversation.com/fuel-poverty-makes-you-sick-so-why-has-nothing-changed-since-i-was-a-child-living-in-a-cold-home-201787">people’s health benefits</a>. This in turn <a href="https://apo.org.au/node/319556">eases pressure on the public health system</a>. However, many people are missing out on assistance as programs often do not recognise their difficulties. Their energy vulnerability is hidden. <h2>What forms does hidden energy poverty take?</h2> <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214629623000737">Our newly published study</a> has revealed six aspects of hidden energy vulnerability. These are: <ol> <li> underconsumption – households limit or turn off cooling, heating and/or lights to avoid disconnections </li> <li> incidental masking – other welfare support, such as rent relief, masks difficulties in paying energy bills </li> <li> some households disguise energy poverty by using public facilities such as showers or pooling money for bills between families </li> <li> some people conceal their hardship due to pride or fear of legal consequences, such as losing custody of children if food cannot be refrigerated because the power has been cut off </li> <li> poor understanding of energy efficiency and the health risks of cold or hot homes adds to the problem </li> <li> eligibility criteria for energy assistance programs may exclude some vulnerable households. For example, people with income just above the welfare threshold are missing out on energy concessions. Energy retailer hardship programs also ignore people who have voluntarily disconnected due to financial hardship. </li> </ol> <h2>5 ways to help these households</h2> Our studies suggest trusted intermediaries such as people working in health, energy and social services can play a vital role in identifying and supporting such households. First, energy efficiency and hardship initiatives may be <a href="https://www.rmit.edu.au/about/schools-colleges/property-construction-and-project-management/research/research-centres-and-groups/sustainable-building-innovation-laboratory/projects/care-at-home-system-improvements">integrated into the My Aged Care in-home care system</a>. Energy poverty risk identification, response and referral could be built into the national service’s assessment form. This could leverage existing client screening processes. The system’s front-line staff could connect at-risk householders with energy counsellors. These counsellors could help people access better energy contracts, concessions, home retrofits and appliance upgrade programs. A new Commonwealth “energy supplement” could help pay for essential energy-related home modifications. This would help avoid My Aged Care funds being diverted from immediate healthcare needs. Second, general practitioners and other health professionals could help identify energy vulnerability among patients with medical conditions of concern. They could also provide letters of support emphasising renters’ health-based need for air conditioners or heaters. Third, energy providers could use household energy data to identify those that seem to be under-consuming or are often disconnected. They could also identify those that are not on “best offer” deals. They could be proactive in checking struggling householders’ eligibility for ongoing energy concessions and one-off debt relief grants offered by states and territories. Energy providers could also make it easier for social housing providers to ensure concessions for tenants renew automatically. Fourth, local councils could use their data to identify at-risk householders. They might include those with a disability parking permit, discounted council rates or in arrears, on the social housing waiting list, Meals on Wheels clients and social housing tenants. Maternal and child health nurses and home and community care workers making home visits could call attention to cold or hot homes. Councils could employ in-house energy counsellors to provide assistance and energy literacy training. Council home maintenance teams could develop bulk-buying, insulation and neighbourhood retrofit programs. Strategies to reduce vulnerability to energy poverty should be part of municipal public health and wellbeing plans. Under these strategies, net-zero-carbon funds set up by states and local councils to reduce emissions could finance targeted housing retrofits. We also suggest setting up a central helpline to improve access to energy assistance via local referrals. Fifth, residential energy-efficiency programs could become more person-centric. For example, we already have <a href="https://www.homescorecard.gov.au/">Residential Efficiency Scorecard</a> audits to assess the thermal quality of a home. These audits could also explore whether concessions and better energy deals are available to the household. <h2>Building capacity at all levels</h2> <a href="https://cur.org.au/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/tackling-hidden-energy-final.pdf">Capacity-building strategies</a> are needed at all levels – individual, community and government – to overcome the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214629623000737">challenges</a> of reducing energy poverty. Current obstacles include the competing priorities of service providers, lack of time and resources, and <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2214629622003553">poor co-ordination between siloed</a> programs and services. Access to essential energy services should be part of state and local governments’ strategic health plans. Housing, energy and health departments could work together to include housing retrofits in preventive health programs. A comprehensive approach is needed to overcome hidden energy poverty. It must include public education, integrated services and well-funded energy-efficiency programs. Regulatory reforms and ongoing funding are both needed to improve the availability of energy-efficient, affordable homes for tenants. Our suggested strategies start with improving the skills and knowledge of trusted intermediaries. Doctors, social workers, housing officers, community nurses and volunteers can play a central role. Using these front-line professionals to help identify and act on energy poverty offers a novel, cost-effective and targeted solution. This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/1-in-4-households-struggle-to-pay-power-bills-here-are-5-ways-to-tackle-hidden-energy-poverty-204672" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. Images: Getty

Home Hints & Tips

Struggling to start an exercise plan?

Many of us don’t like the idea of exercise, so we avoid it. Here’s the thing: our bodies were designed to move. Yet in developed countries like Australia, many of us spend far too much time sitting on our backsides. The fact that we are more sedentary has become a health issue: in fact, it’s killing us. The <a href="http://www.health.gov.au/">Department of Health</a> says low levels of physical activity is the <a href="http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/content/health-pubhlth-strateg-active-evidence.htm">fourth leading cause of death due to non-communicable diseases</a> (NCDs) worldwide, with heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancers contributing to more than three million preventable deaths annually (six per cent of deaths globally). The seven diseases most closely linked to physical inactivity (in descending order) are: <ol> <li>Diabetes</li> <li>Bowel cancer</li> <li>Uterine cancer</li> <li>Dementia</li> <li>Breast cancer</li> <li>Coronary heart diseases</li> <li>Stroke</li> </ol> The Department of Health says if all Australians did an extra 30 minutes of brisk walking at least five days each week, this would reduce “the disease burden” due to physical inactivity in the population by 26 per cent. The good news – and any personal trainer will tell you this – is that it is never too late to start exercising. In fact, recent research has found no difference between people who had always been fit and those who decided to take it up later in life. But even armed with this information, starting an exercise regimen can seem like more trouble than it’s worth. A lot of this has to do with the perception that exercise has to be goal-oriented, and a lot of us don’t enjoy feeling pressure to perform. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. “People often associate exercise with pain,” says Brisbane-based sports and exercise psychologist <a href="http://positivepsychologystrategies.com.au/about-patrea/">Patrea O’Donoghue</a>. She says exercise can be anything you want it to be these days – the image of a macho instructor barking at you to do 50 push-ups is a thing of the past. A lot of people don’t like showing their bodies in public, yet you can have your own trainer or yoga instructor on your phone via an app or do a workout in the privacy of your home on a treadmill and cycling machine. And it doesn’t have to cost a fortune. “People think it has to be all about joining a gym or buying a $2000 bike or looking the part, but you don’t need a fancy kit. You can just start with a decent pair of walking shoes.” Here are a few points exercise newbies need to consider: <ul> <li>See your doctor. If you’ve never really done much exercise, ask your GP to give you the all-clear to start an exercise program.</li> <li>Assess your diet. There is not much point in starting to exercise regularly if your diet doesn’t complement it. Even if your goal is not to lose weight but to rather get fit or healthy, a balanced diet will help.</li> <li>Think about what you would enjoy doing – walking, cycling, tennis, golf, jogging, swimming, yoga, or even skipping.</li> <li>Turn your exercise into a habit.</li> </ul> “If you decide, for instance, that you’ll go for a walk or to the gym twice a week, take steps to follow through with it no matter what,” says O’Donoghue. “If you find that work or a personal commitment means you won’t have time to go to the gym on the day you’d allocated, go anyway. Even if you just spend five minutes in the gym on that day, that’s psychologically and physically better than not going at all, as you’ve maintained the habit and you’re sticking to your commitment. “With any habit, any time you start to make excuses like not having time – you’re in danger. It’s like many people who make a New Year’s Eve resolution to get fit: they attack the gym for two weeks and completely overdo it, then never follow through. That’s never going to work.” Remember to take baby steps “If the person has been very sedentary in their habits and wants to make some lifestyle changes, I’d say to them, ‘Let’s start small’. I’d get them to look at one small thing they could do that they could attach to an existing behaviour, so they could say to themselves, ‘When I get home, I put on my walking shoes straight away and go for a walk’. Even if they just start off with five minutes, depending on their level of health. Start with just one thing and stick to it. “As they progressed, I’d ask them how long was acceptable to them to keep going so that the five minutes is turning into 15 minutes and so on. I’d ask them to tell me how many times a week they’re committing to do it. It’s not about saying it’s good or bad whether they did it or not but maintaining the habit and what’s realistic for them." O’Donoghue says she’d also ask the exercise newcomer to think about what successes they’ve had in their life (not associated with exercise) such as in their career or personal life and ask them to think about how they achieved that success. “It might be a presentation or how well they cook – get them to extract the key principles from that and apply it to their exercise. “It’s important to look at the role of feelings associated with exercise,” she says. If we have the thought one cold dark morning that we just don’t feel like doing any exercise and there is that self-talk going on in our heads, making sure you turn that around. Maintaining the momentum is very important.” You can exercise alone, with a friend, or in a group. What’s important is working out what will work best for you. “If someone said they really did struggle to exercise by themselves, I’d be encouraging them to exercise with a friend or neighbour or a group,” says O’Donoghue. “They are more likely to uphold a commitment to someone else than themselves. That sense of accountability can be useful.” It’s worthwhile knowing that research shows you don’t have to do a big block of exercise in one hit. You can break it down into 10-minute blocks – walk to the shops instead of driving; go up the stairs instead of taking the lift; even doing housework, standing up while watching TV, or doing some gardening counts! Think about anything that contributes to you burning calories. Before you start patting yourself on the back, O’Donoghue says it’s important to recognise the difference between being healthy and being fit. Initially, regular exercise such as fairly brisk walking for half an hour for five or six days is about getting healthy so that you are mildly out of breath as you walk – but if your aim is to get fit, your heart rate needs to go up when you exercise. Older Australians also need to think about doing some light strength training up to three times a week, using exercises to work all the major muscle groups of your body (legs, hips, back, chest, abdomen, shoulders and arms) to maintain bone health and muscle mass. To avoid injuries, have a professional show you how to apply low levels of impact on the muscles. Elastic band exercises, for example, are ideal. Are you ready to start exercising? What made you decide to give it a serious go? Written by Robin Hill. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/articles/health/exercise/struggling-to-start-an-exercise-plan.aspx">Wyza.com.au</a>.

Body

Stranger’s “kind” act for a struggling single mum

A struggling single mother has been moved to tears by a stranger’s random act of kindness while doing her grocery shopping. The mother, hailing from Ipswich in Queensland, was doing her shopping ahead of the school term starting up as she paced the aisles mentally tallying the cost of her groceries to not go over her strict budget. As she continued to add carefully selected items to her trolley, a young girl approached her with a gift. The girl handed her a $50 note saying it was a gift from her mother, in a random act of kindness that left her “shaking and crying”. “I had the most incredible thing happen to me today. I'm in Woolies Riverlink in Ipswich QLD getting a few things for back to school and I'm adding my shopping up on my calculator and checking the price of EVERYTHING,” the mum wrote in a Facebook post. “Next, a lovely little girl came up to me handing me a $50 and said 'My mummy wants to give you a gift', I said 'Thank you, have the wrong person, honey'.” The young girl assured the woman she was the person her mum wanted to give the $50 to and ran off before she could say anything else. “I looked up at her mum shaking and in tears and she gave me a nod and a thumbs up,” the woman said. “She had no idea just how much I needed this right now. Her kindness meant the world to me.” Many applauded the stranger’s generosity as more families are feeling the pressure with sky-rocketing costs of living, with like-minded budgeting mothers sharing how they were touched by the sweet story. “Made me cry this lovely Sunday morning. Always gives hope to know there are some really wonderful people out there,” one person said. “There are some truly wonderful people in the world! You don't have to give someone $50 to make their day - any small kind gesture can change the course of someone's life,” a second agreed. “There are some absolute angels out there for sure!” said another. Image credits: Getty Images

Caring

Michael J Fox reveals more details about his struggle with Parkinson's

Michael J. Fox has delivered an emotional and heartfelt speech, during which he recalled keeping his life-changing Parkinson’s diagnosis a secret, in fear it would impact his career. The famed actor was diagnosed with the disorder in 1991, at only 29 years old. It wasn’t until seven years after that he made public his health battle. As he accepted the Jean Hershel Humanitarian Award (an honorary Oscar recognising his philanthropic efforts), Fox said the “uncertainty” of his condition caused him to stay silent the entire time. "I was told I only had 10 years left to work. That was s---ty. That's what happened," he told the crowd, as per People magazine. "The hardest part of my diagnosis was grappling with the certainty of the diagnosis and the uncertainty of the situation. I only knew it would get worse. The diagnosis was definite, the progress was indefinite and uncertain." "Then I entered into seven years of denial, trying to make sense of it all," he recalled. "The kid who left Canada convinced that he would make anything happen, at least by working hard and by believing, now had a tall order in front of him.” He said he told "very few people" about his diagnosis and they all kept his "secret". "Then there were all kinds of doctors who helped me understand the physical processes that were at work, or not at work, in my brain, as the case may be," he shared. "Finally, I felt like I needed to tell everybody. I understood it would have a huge impact on my career." Fox eventually spoke about his diagnosis with American journalist Barbara Walters and the aftermath of the intimate interview surprised him. "What happened next was remarkable," he remembered. "The outpouring of support from the public at large, the beautiful reaction from all of my peers in the entertainment business, all of you, thank you, and the people that I worked with, was transformative." Images: Getty

Caring

Jennifer Aniston bares all to share struggles with infertility

Jennifer Aniston has bared all in her latest cover shoot, while opening up about her desperate struggle to have children. The 53-year-old actress admitted to <a href="https://www.allure.com/story/jennifer-aniston-december-2022-cover-interview" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Allure magazine</a> that she regrets the decision to not freeze her eggs when she was younger, revealing that she "threw everything" at her infertility battle, including going through IVF in a desperate attempt to conceive. "I was trying to get pregnant. It was a challenging road for me, the baby-making road," she said of her IVF journey, which the magazine notes was "several years ago". "All the years and years and years of speculation... It was really hard. I was going through IVF, drinking Chinese teas, you name it. I was throwing everything at it." She also slammed speculation that any of her former husbands, including Brad Pitt and Justin Theroux, initiated a divorce because she "wouldn't give him a kid", noting that the constant rumours about her relationship made her infertility battle all the more difficult. The actress added that she wishes someone had told her to freeze her eggs when she was younger, adding that she has now come to terms with the fact that she will never conceive children. "I would’ve given anything if someone had said to me, 'Freeze your eggs. Do yourself a favour.' You just don’t think it. So here I am today. The ship has sailed," she said. Aniston admitted that she was too focused on her career at the height of her fame from starring on the sitcom Friends to think about the possibility of having a family. "I just cared about my career. And God forbid a woman is successful and doesn’t have a child," she said. "And the reason my husband left me, why we broke up and ended our marriage, was because I wouldn’t give him a kid. It was absolute lies. I don’t have anything to hide at this point." Jennifer went on to say that she has come to terms with the fact she won't have children, saying she found some "relief" in the fact that the possibility of kids is no longer lingering over her as never-ending "maybe". She has found self-confidence in her age, saying she no longer cares what anyone thinks about her. "I would say my late 30s, 40s, I’d gone through really hard s***, and if it wasn’t for going through that, I would’ve never become who I was meant to be," she explained. Image credits: Instagram - Allure

Body

“There was a hole inside of me”: Rebecca Gibney's secret struggles

TV star Rebecca Gibney has opened up about her mental health, revealing she has battled with crippling panic attacks. The Kiwi actress spoke about her struggles during Monday’s episode of This Is Your Life, saying her mental health began to falter in the 1990s when she was rising to fame and her marriage to musician Irwin Thomas broke down. “It was pretty tough,” she told the program. “And that was the hard thing, you do put on a front. My career was going great guns. "I just couldn't verbalise there was a hole inside of me and I was tumbling into it." The Packed to the Rafters star said that at one point she was having 15 panic attacks a day, and recalled one of her lowest moments on a flight from France to Australia on which she said she needed five Valium to “survive”. "I had anxiety attack after anxiety attack. I was in such a hole, and I thought I'm not going to make it," she said. "I was struggling, and I couldn't verbalise what was wrong. I just knew there was a hole inside me and it was getting bigger and bigger, and I was tumbling into it. "I didn't even tell Mum, I couldn't even tell my family, because I couldn't explain it. "It's so important that now, people talk about their struggles. Because if you get the help, you can get through it. "Now I know that if I start to slide into that pit, I know that there's a way out of it." The 57-year-old credits therapy for helping in her recovery. Following the airing of Gibney’s episode of This Is Your Life, the actress took to Instagram to thank those involved and described it as a “joyous and humbling experience”. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CkoYi8TBQkK/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CkoYi8TBQkK/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Rebecca Gibney (@rebeccagibney_)</a> </div> </blockquote> “So much laughter, so many tears,” she wrote, sharing a collection of snaps from the show. “Thank you to all the beautiful people that showed up on the night and continue to show up in my life. I was blown away by the love - such a joyous and humbling experience.” Host Melissa Doyle also took to social media both to praise Gibney, describing her as “one of the world’s loveliest people”, and shared how the star was told she would be on the show. “The surprise is always the best part! We sprung @rebeccagibney_ in stunning New Zealand, on the set of ‘Under the Vines’,” Doyle wrote. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Ckpnq5wrPmz/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Ckpnq5wrPmz/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Melissa Doyle (@melissadoyleofficial)</a> </div> </blockquote> “I hid in the lighting truck waiting for the low-loader with her car on the back to arrive. To say she was surprised is an under statement (sic)! “Rebecca is truly one of the world’s loveliest people. The applause on set from her colleagues is testament to how much she is loved.” Image: @rebeccagibney_ (Instagram)

Caring

“There is no better”: Christina Applegate’s health struggle

Christina Applegate has spoken candidly about the effects multiple sclerosis (MS) has had on her body. The actress was spotted filming her latest series Dead To Me and is noticeably in pain as she struggles to push through the chronic auto-immune disease. In an interview with the New York Times, Christina explained that she has to walk with a cane and occasionally requires help from crew members to hold her legs up. “This is the first time anyone’s going to see me the way I am. I put on 40 pounds (18kg); I can’t walk without a cane. I want people to know that I am very aware of all of that,” she said. Despite all this, Christina is determined to finish filming the popular Netflix series because “I had an obligation”. “The powers that be were like, ‘Let’s just stop. We don’t need to finish it. Let’s put a few episodes together [with previously recorded footage].’ I said, ‘No. We’re going to do it, but we’re going to do it on my terms,’” she said. It was only after they continued filming that Christina realised the weight of her decision and that there was “no better”. Christina first revealed her diagnosis in August 2021, sharing the news on Twitter and thanking everyone for their support. “Hi friends. A few months ago I was diagnosed with MS. It’s been a strange journey. But I have been so supported by people that I know who also have this condition. It’s been a tough road. But as we all know, the road keeps going. Unless some a**hole blocks it,” her tweet reads. According to MS Australia, MS is the most common acquired chronic neurological disease in young adults with diagnosis occurring between the ages of 20 to 40. MS affects three times more women than men in Australia. Images: TheImageDirect.com

Body

Real reason boy struggled to breathe for over half his life

A young boy who from the age of two began to struggle with his breathing must now undergo major surgery after being misdiagnosed by doctors. Marley was just two years old and had a lingering cough, which his parents didn’t think much of until a few years later when it got considerably worse. The young boy was eventually diagnosed with asthma, the treatment for which was expected to help him breathe. Unfortunately, Marley’s condition kept getting worse and his father Jay Enjakovic wanted to get to the bottom of it. Mr Enjakovic explained that his son was playing football and basketball and his health “went downhill pretty quick”. “He couldn’t run out his games, coughing a lot more, bringing a lot of food up, bringing water up every time he ate,” the worried father said on The Today Show. Then, together with his wife Skye, the pair were determined to find out what was wrong with their son, who was struggling for more than half his life. The now eight-year-old was in and out of hospitals when his condition turned critical in December 2021. X-rays of Marley’s oesophagus and trachea were done and it was there the family were shocked to be told that their son possibly had tracheoesophageal fistula. Tracheoesophageal fistula is when the oesophagus is connected to the trachea which makes food, drink and saliva enter from the trachea. Doctors were ready to do a surgery on Marley but were unable to due to the inflammation. They then decided to do another X-ray, which is when they were even MORE shocked to see that something was in fact lodged in the young boy’s throat. “A few hours later I received a phone call to meet his surgeon at recovery where they pulled a piece of plastic, an arts and craft plastic flower, from his airway,” Ms Enjakovic said. “I honestly couldn’t believe it! This was the whole cause of everything! I was relieved I finally had an answer. “We are unsure how long this price of plastic was lodged in his airway, but my guess is at least five years as that’s when we started noticing small issues, which became worse over time.” The flower has since been removed and Marley is due to undergo further surgery to help repair the airway and oesophagus. Images: The Today Show

Body

Readers Respond: What was one struggle you had with your newborn and how did you overcome it?

Though they may be bundles of joys, caring for newborns also comes with plenty of struggles, including sleepless nights, difficulties with breastfeeding, crying, and bouts of colic. When we asked about the struggles of looking after your newborn, here’s what you had to say. Rosemary Moreland - My youngest had no idea about breastfeeding. It took a month of dedication to the art before he caught on. Moira Thurgood - My second babe cried continuously for ten months. I just had to be patient and hope things would improve. Christine Veitch - My first baby would scream and hold her breath with wind pain (when) I was breastfeeding her. I stopped eating peas and her wind went away. Mick Gilbert - Colic, she eventually grew out of it nine months later… Marianne Prendergast - Colic with the first, eczema with the second, can’t remember if there was anything with the other two. Lizze Bartlett - She didn’t sleep much and the longest would be an hour and a half. Dan Robinson - My son had colic for 14 months and all you could do is hold him. Then he got quiet. It was a nightmare but my other two boys were great. To read what else you said, head <a href="https://www.facebook.com/oversixtyNZ/posts/pfbid0NA58pWtU6rh4zU4i1ok3GFXYUPMjUMcESbHDxFpr3WfhwaAiNJMb4HdAC51yvNMQl" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. Image: Getty Images

Caring

Struggling to learn a language? 6 tips on how pop songs can help

Traditional approaches to adult language teaching often use <a href="https://search.informit.org/doi/abs/10.3316/informit.254185326340682">resources</a> such as textbooks and generic learning materials that are less than inspiring for learners. <a href="https://researchoutput.csu.edu.au/en/publications/exploring-the-impact-of-popular-song-and-sources-of-popular-cultu">New research</a> shows using popular song, as well as films and TV series, for language learning can help connect with people’s interests and motivate them. Based on this research, we have developed six tips for using popular songs to learn a language. Learning a second language can be challenging at the best of times. It takes time and effort to learn a language. Better <a href="https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/978-3-030-02899-2_36.pdf">ways to promote enjoyment</a> of long-term learning are needed. Enjoyment helps sustain engagement with a language, which in turn can help improve learners’ confidence in their skills. This is where songs come into play. Songs are a common source of daily inspiration and relaxation, and they also have many qualities that aid learning. The lyrics <a href="https://doi.org/10.2307/3586887">repeat words</a>, are simple, “conversation-like” and generate personal associations. It’s important for both learners and teachers to be able to <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/280734191_English_Language_Teaching_in_the_post_method_era">relate to</a> their language-learning resources. Different people will have different backgrounds, interests and cultural contexts. Adult learners in particular often <a href="https://ijels.com/detail/an-investigation-into-factors-demotivating-students-in-efl-learning-at-tertiary-level/">require greater choice</a> in how they engage with language learning prompts. <h2>What did the research find?</h2> Newly released <a href="https://researchoutput.csu.edu.au/en/publications/exploring-the-impact-of-popular-song-and-sources-of-popular-cultu">doctoral research</a> on university students shows the benefits of using popular songs, films and TV series as prompts for learning a language. In online surveys, weekly diary entries and focus groups, these young adults unanimously <a href="https://researchoutput.csu.edu.au/en/publications/exploring-the-impact-of-popular-song-and-sources-of-popular-cultu">reported</a> they paid greater attention to the language and themes of popular songs beyond their scheduled classes. Students preferred popular songs due to their real-world <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/ccx071">authenticity</a>, the personalised choices available in streaming libraries, and relatable topics embedded within them. Learners were likely to encounter these songs outside the classroom, increasing their engagement with their studies. One student noted in her diary, "Using songs really helps me to participate more in class because it is something more familiar to me, because I listen to songs every day." A focus group participant said, "Especially in recent years, with technology, a film, a series or a song are much closer to us. We use them much more than a text or a book. After so many years with texts and books, this is much more interesting." One class task used Rudimental’s These Days, a song well known to students. They enjoyed this exercise in comprehension, making inferences as well as identifying tone and central themes of this song about a relationship break-up. Towards the end of the semester, another student noted in their diary, "It is the most fun way of learning and generally the most entertaining way of learning a foreign language." Another benefit relates to the <a href="https://acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/camh.12501?casa_token=iv_gNeISE0kAAAAA%3AlNGii2WZzUpJjLHStrMlulcZyyTOxCXUjvdTie7ZKXUE5cYV-5rhqCeXPFR2eYu8holJhkwS96TCvF7_">mental health challenges</a> young people are facing, especially during the pandemic. There is evidence to suggest the use of song can <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/1362168815606151">help reduce anxiety</a> about learning. <h2>6 tips for using songs to learn a language</h2> The new research resulted in the SMILLE Model shown below, as well as six recommendations to guide teachers on using popular song in the classroom. 1. Ensure teachers and learners (including learning groups) can self-select the songs and other media when designing learning tasks and for cross-cultural activities. 2. Bridge language learning tasks and songs, ensuring selections match the learning objectives. 3. Encourage the use of popular song and media outside the classroom to extend learning beyond school. 4. Avoid using textbooks or sources that don’t interest learners or they are less able to relate to. 5. Discuss with the learners how they relate to the popular song, film or TV series. Use these discussions as a springboard for learning tasks in and out of class. 6. Have a range of prompts prepared to help teachers determine students’ understanding of what is going on, the level of involvement, why the event is happening, the topics and messages being portrayed, cultural similarities or differences, and why the source was chosen. <h2>How do music and songs help with learning?</h2> Research shows music stimulates <a href="https://www.nlclibrary.ca/eds/detail?db=cat06118a&an=neos.4059079&isbn=9781400040810">higher-level thinking</a> and helps learners with both <a href="https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/studentwork/2845/">right-brain strengths and hearing abilities</a>. Music has also been shown to <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320692369_Songs_in_the_young_learner_classroom_A_critical_review_of_evidence">strengthen connections</a> to language. In literature classes, music has been <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/40648238">used as an emotional “hook”</a> to engage students’ interest in the works being studied. Learning resources linked to popular culture also help <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/02188791.2014.924392">motivate students</a> who see textbook-type resources as uninteresting or less relevant to their lives outside the classroom. <h2>Evidence of the benefits from around the world</h2> Research has shown embedding songs in language lessons has benefited younger learners across the world: <ul> <li> in <a href="https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/reading_horizons/vol42/iss1/8">the United States</a>, it improved kindergarten students’ motivation, excitement and enthusiasm about learning, increasing their desire to attend kinder </li> <li> in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1515/cjal-2016-0004">China</a>, kindergarten students’ vocabulary increased as a result of repeating targeted words in song lyrics </li> <li> in <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1080/0300443981440105">Singapore</a>, reserved and shy students became more confident and comfortable when attempting English pronunciations and were better able to recall difficult language instructions </li> </ul> <ul> <li> in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2009.08.002">Germany</a>, students improved their ability to form and identify plurals and vowels for unknown words in songs </li> <li> in <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17501229.2016.1253700">Scotland</a>, students in a singing-learning group showed greater improvements in a second language than a non-singing group </li> <li> in <a href="https://doi.org/10.7227/RIE.82.1">England</a>, students were able to learn targeted phrases better in song-focused lessons than those who didn’t use song. </li> </ul> Previous studies of university students have also shown the benefits of using songs for adult language learning: <ul> <li> <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2016.12.021">Finnish students</a> improved their writing fluency </li> <li> <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277267872_The_use_of_songs_as_a_tool_to_work_on_listening_and_culture_in_EFL_classes">in Colombia</a>, students’ listening skills, motivation and engagement in discussions all improved </li> <li> <a href="http://languageinindia.com/april2017/shabnamsongsforacademicwriting1.pdf">in Bangladesh</a>, using songs as audio prompts generated richer content in students’ writing and more positive and pleasant learning experiences </li> <li> <a href="https://app.amanote.com/v4.0.6/research/note-taking?resourceId=oahFAnQBKQvf0BhiOffl">Spanish students’</a> recall of text improved. </li> </ul> Our <a href="https://researchoutput.csu.edu.au/en/publications/exploring-the-impact-of-popular-song-and-sources-of-popular-cultu">research</a> adds to the evidence that popular songs and media are strong resources to kick-start and sustain adult motivation when learning a second language. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/struggling-to-learn-a-language-6-tips-on-how-pop-songs-can-help-184642" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Music

Type of person who struggles with the idea of terminal illness

People who tend to look after themselves by working out and eating healthy foods are more likely to struggle with the idea of death and the process of dying. Palliative care nurse Maryan Bova has helped people with dying for 25 years and said some people accept their terminal diagnosis while others struggle to come to terms with it. She revealed that those who lived a healthy lifestyle were those who felt more ripped off when they are given the awful diagnosis. “They're the ones that have looked after themselves their whole life, for example the yoga teacher who runs retreats and has probably never eaten anything that wasn't organic and green in their life,” she told Mamamia. “And yet they've been smacked down with a horrible diagnosis. It can feel like a slap in the face.” Maryan confessed that the job can be emotionally draining as some experiences stick with her, especially when she was in the same position. Her mother Helen was diagnosed with brain cancer and Maryan did what she did best - but this time it was someone close to her. "I knew what it would all end up looking like, but I also knew how to orchestrate the help that was needed for her to die at home in a space she was comfortable in,” she said. “It was a gift to have that time to talk openly, have important conversations and bond as a family. It was like mum became childlike again, a full-circle moment.” Maryan stressed that it was important to look at how people with a terminal diagnosis are treated in the last moments of their life. Images: Facebook/Shutterstock

Caring

Older people can struggle with sustainable living

Image: Getty Improving the sustainability of Australia’s housing stock is crucial to meeting national emissions reduction goals. But for older adults, such changes can bring both benefits and challenges. My recent research examined the literature on environmental sustainability measures at residences for older adults. These included private homes, retirement villages and nursing homes. I found that while sustainability measures can bring multiple benefits to older people, they also bring challenges. For example, people living in sustainable dwellings may use less energy and water which leads to lower bills. But older people may suffer cognitive decline and struggle to use sustainable technology devices. The full effects of environmentally sustainable features must be better understood if we’re to provide seniors with high-quality residential environments. <h2>Sustainability and ageing: a complex mix</h2> Forecasts suggest that by 2056, 22% of Australians – or 8.7 million people – will be aged 65 or older. High-quality residential environments are important to maintaining the welfare of these people as they age. Environmental sustainability is playing an ever greater role in residential development across the board, including retirement villages. And previous research suggests most retirement village residents want to lead more sustainable lifestyles. As climate change worsens, the dwellings of older adults should allow them to adapt to these changing conditions. The reduced ability of elderly people to regulate their body temperature means global warming is a profound threat to this group. Improving the sustainability of a residential environment may include: <ul> <li>reducing waste</li> <li>using low carbon or recycled building materials</li> <li>solar passive design</li> <li>efficient heating and cooling</li> <li>using renewable energy such as rooftop solar.</li> </ul> Some residential projects for the elderly already include environmental sustainability. A case study of a not-for-profit retirement village in South Australia revealed practices such as innovative floor plans, thermally efficient building materials, good window orientation and a water harvesting system. And my previous research found a range of sustainability features at eight private and not-for-profit retirement villages in Queensland. However, while many retirement village developers prioritise “social sustainability” features such as care provision and social interaction, environmental sustainability is largely ignored. <h2>On the plus side</h2> The benefits of environmentally sustainable features in in older adults’ residential environment include: - reduced resource consumption: sustainable dwellings usually require less water and energy use, which lowers living costs. This is especially important for older adults who often have reduced financial capacity after retirement. Older people also use energy more intensively than other groups because they have fewer household members, greater heating requirements and spend more time at home. - reduced health risks: environmentally sustainable measures can lead to healthier indoor environments. For example, good ventilation and high-quality air conditioning often lead to improved indoor air quality and more comfortable ambient temperatures. - alleviated environmental challenges: many older people want their homes to be more environmentally friendly. Doing their bit to alleviate global problems such as greenhouse gas emissions can provide them with peace of mind. <h2>The potential downsides</h2> The challenges of environmentally sustainable home features for older adults include: - financial pressure: the income of many older adults is substantially reduced after retirement. This can conflict with the high initial investment of developing an sustainable housing and the cost of replacing existing systems with sustainable ones. - reducing energy consumption: in some cases, sustainability measures can involve tolerating slightly higher or cooler temperatures. For example, moving from a gas-heating system to a more sustainable type may delay the arrival of heat in a room and leave older people uncomfortable for a short time. This may conflict with older people’s increased sensitivity to ambient temperatures. - confusion and complexity: Older adults can have reduced cognitive capabilities affecting memory and information processing speed. As a result they may struggle to use sustainable technologies such as smart thermostats. Research has suggested ways of overcoming this, such as better recognising the diversity of older adults to achieve a better “person-technology fit”. <h2>Next steps</h2> Older adults have unique needs which their homes must satisfy, even when sustainability features are being adopted. Ageing should be seen as a dynamic process with physical, psychological and social dimensions. And the complex interrelationships of ageing, environmental sustainability and the residential environment also need to be recognised. Best practices and lessons learned in creating sustainable living environments for older adults should be shared. Finally, developers making sustainability decisions should consult other stakeholders. These include contractors, occupational therapists, researchers and most importantly, older adults themselves. This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/confusion-financial-pressure-discomfort-older-people-can-struggle-with-sustainable-living-despite-its-obvious-benefits-174535">The Conversation.</a>

Retirement Life

Confusion, financial pressure, discomfort: older people can struggle with sustainable living, despite its obvious benefits

Improving the sustainability of Australia’s housing stock is <a href="https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=building+sector+australia+emissions+the+conversation&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8">crucial</a> to meeting national emissions reduction goals. But for older adults, such changes can bring both benefits and challenges. My <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0360132321007344">recent research</a> examined the literature on environmental sustainability measures at residences for older adults. These included private homes, retirement villages and nursing homes. I found that while sustainability measures can bring multiple benefits to older people, they also bring challenges. For example, people living in sustainable dwellings may use less energy and water which leads to lower bills. But older people may suffer cognitive decline and struggle to use sustainable technology devices. The full effects of environmentally sustainable features must be better understood if we’re to provide seniors with high-quality residential environments. <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/441440/original/file-20220119-15-60lcsc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="Older man walks down corridor" /> Sustainability measures can bring benefits and challenges to older people. Shutterstock <h2>Sustainability and ageing: a complex mix</h2> Forecasts suggest that by 2056, <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports-data/population-groups/older-people/overview">22% of Australians</a> – or 8.7 million people – will be aged 65 or older. High-quality residential environments are important to maintaining the welfare of these people as they age. Environmental sustainability is playing an ever greater role in residential development across the board, including retirement villages. And <a href="https://www.hindawi.com/journals/jar/2014/919054/">previous research</a> suggests most retirement village residents want to lead more sustainable lifestyles. As climate change worsens, the dwellings of older adults should allow them to adapt to these changing conditions. The reduced ability of elderly people to regulate their body temperature means global warming is a profound threat to this group. Improving the sustainability of a residential environment may include: <ul> <li>reducing waste</li> <li>using low carbon or recycled building materials</li> <li>solar passive design</li> <li>efficient heating and cooling</li> <li>using renewable energy such as rooftop solar.</li> </ul> <a href="https://new.gbca.org.au/case-studies/building/stockland-takes-sustainability-retirement-living/">Some residential projects</a> for the elderly already include environmental sustainability. A <a href="https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/F-08-2011-0060/full/html">case study</a> of a not-for-profit retirement village in South Australia revealed practices such as innovative floor plans, thermally efficient building materials, good window orientation and a water harvesting system. And my previous research <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0959652619341605">found</a> a range of sustainability features at eight private and not-for-profit retirement villages in Queensland. However, while many retirement village developers prioritise “social sustainability” features such as care provision and social interaction, environmental sustainability is <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0959652617313963">largely ignored</a>. <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/441450/original/file-20220119-25-1qtv5d.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="elderly woman holds hands of carer" /> Forecasts suggest that by 2056, 22% of Australians will be aged 65 or older. Shutterstock <h2>On the plus side</h2> The benefits of environmentally sustainable features in in older adults’ residential environment include: - reduced resource consumption: sustainable dwellings usually require less water and energy use, which lowers living costs. This is especially important for older adults who often have reduced financial capacity after retirement. Older people also use energy <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0301421597000402">more intensively</a> than other groups because they have fewer household members, greater heating requirements and spend more time at home. - reduced health risks: environmentally sustainable measures can lead to healthier indoor environments. For example, good ventilation and high-quality air conditioning often lead to improved indoor air quality and more comfortable ambient temperatures. - alleviated environmental challenges: many older people want their homes to be more environmentally friendly. Doing their bit to alleviate global problems such as greenhouse gas emissions can provide them with peace of mind. <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/441438/original/file-20220119-15-124namg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="elderly person's hands on heater" /> Sustainable dwellings usually require less water and energy use, Shutterstock <h2>The potential downsides</h2> The challenges of environmentally sustainable home features for older adults include: - financial pressure: the income of many older adults is substantially reduced after retirement. This <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0301421511005222">can conflict</a> with the high initial investment of developing an sustainable housing and the cost of replacing existing systems with sustainable ones. - reducing energy consumption: in some cases, sustainability measures can involve tolerating slightly higher or cooler temperatures. For example, moving from a gas-heating system to a more sustainable type may <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421515001172">delay</a> the arrival of heat in a room and leave older people uncomfortable for a short time. This may conflict with older people’s <a href="https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/enepol/v84y2015icp250-256.html">increased sensitivity</a> to ambient temperatures. - confusion and complexity: Older adults can have <a href="https://academic.oup.com/bmb/article/92/1/135/332828">reduced cognitive capabilities</a> affecting memory and information processing speed. As a result they may struggle to use sustainable technologies such as smart thermostats. Research has <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0301421514006259">suggested</a> ways of overcoming this, such as better recognising the diversity of older adults to achieve a better “person-technology fit”. <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/441437/original/file-20220119-25-fkfanl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="Four older women shelter from the sun under umbrella" /> Older people may have increased sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures. Paul Miller/AAP <h2>Next steps</h2> Older adults have unique needs which their homes <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0360132321007344">must satisfy</a>, even when sustainability features are being adopted. Ageing should be seen as a dynamic process with physical, psychological and social dimensions. And the complex interrelationships of ageing, environmental sustainability and the residential environment also need to be recognised. Best practices and lessons learned in creating sustainable living environments for older adults should be <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0959652618325241">shared</a>. Finally, developers making sustainability decisions should consult other stakeholders. These include contractors, occupational therapists, researchers and most importantly, older adults themselves.<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/174535/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/xin-hu-685656">Xin Hu</a>, Lecturer, School of Architecture and Built Environment, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a> 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/confusion-financial-pressure-discomfort-older-people-can-struggle-with-sustainable-living-despite-its-obvious-benefits-174535">original article</a>. Image: Shutterstock

Retirement Income

Garden birds are struggling: four ways to help

More than a quarter of Britain’s birds are now on the RSPB’s <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/uk-conservation-status-explained/" target="_blank">red list</a>, meaning that their numbers are in severe decline. Some of the recent additions to the red list are thought of as common garden birds, such as the greenfinch. Others, such as the swift and house martin, only spend spring and summer visiting the UK before migrating to warmer climes. But the environment they encounter in the UK, as well as along their migration routes, affects their survival significantly. Many of the species that we feed in our gardens and on balconies are under threat. Here are four ways to help them. 1. Clean your bird feeders and bird baths In the wild, with a few exceptions such as starlings, birds don’t come into close contact with each other much. This lack of contact makes it harder for diseases to spread. Bird feeders change this dynamic. The presence of a bird feeder means that many individual birds from many different species feed in the same area. This leads to the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.bto.org/community/news/201803-feed-birds-scientists-highlight-risks-disease-garden-bird-feeders" target="_blank">spread of disease</a>, because birds often poo where they eat, leaving pathogens to infect the next visitor. <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/438076/original/file-20211216-23-13tbwiw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="Two birds on a house shaped feeder" /> Greenfinches on a bird feeder. <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/greenfinches-perching-on-bird-feeder-spring-1667803654" target="_blank" class="source">Chamois huntress/Shutterstock</a> The greenfinch, a once common garden bird now added to the red list, has suffered because of this. The disease <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/gbw/gardens-wildlife/garden-birds/disease/trichomonosis" target="_blank">trichomonosis</a>, which used to just infect pigeons and doves, has spread to greenfinches with deadly consequences. Regular cleaning of your garden bird feeders and bird baths can reduce this risk. 2. Install bird nesting boxes Many people help birds by putting up nest boxes in their gardens. But these boxes are mostly made for robins and tits who nest in open boxes, or ones with small holes. These nest boxes mimic the crevices and holes that would be available in mature trees. Swifts and house martins are new entrants to the red list, and both of these will readily use man-made nesting places if we provide them – with a few modifications for their needs. House martins will nest in a pre-made or home-made <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/how-you-can-help-birds/nestboxes/how-to-attract-house-martins/" target="_blank">nest cup</a> which mimics the mud nests house martins make for themselves. Swifts will <a rel="noopener" href="http://www.saveourswifts.co.uk/attractswifts.htm" target="_blank">nest in boxes</a>, but they take a bit more work to attract. The best way to do this is to play their screeching call from a speaker placed close to the nest box, to get them to investigate and hopefully nest. You can make nest boxes attractive to these species by installing them in the eaves of your home, as they need them to be up high so they can take flight from them easily. 3. Add some insect-friendly plants Many of the species entering the red list, such as the house martin and house sparrow, feed on insects. Insects numbers have <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2019/february/the-world-s-insect-populations-are-plummeting-everywhere-we-look.html" target="_blank">declined rapidly</a>, so it is no surprise that these avian predators are finding it hard to feed themselves and their chicks. You may love a neat and tidy garden or balcony, but set aside an area to be a bit messier and weedier to attract insects. Adding <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.rhs.org.uk/science/conservation-biodiversity/wildlife/plants-for-pollinators" target="_blank">pollinator-friendly plants</a>, such as lavender, foxglove and sedum, could really boost insect numbers – natural bird food – in your garden. 4. Reduce dangers to birds <a rel="noopener" href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0049369" target="_blank">Pet cats are predators</a> and can target species like house sparrows, which remain on the red list. Even the presence of cats could be enough to <a rel="noopener" href="https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2664.12025" target="_blank">scare birds</a>, reducing the number of young they may be able to have. This may have a more damaging impact on bird populations than the number of birds killed by cats. <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/438077/original/file-20211216-17-10dzdgj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="Cat stalking along fence under roses" /> Cats are predators and their presence affects bird populations. <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/cat-burglar-front-roses-on-prowl-1503499694" target="_blank" class="source">Lilly P. Green/Shutterstock</a> If you own a cat, there are ways for you to reduce its effect on bird numbers. A collar with a bell is an effective way to warn birds and other animals about a cat’s presence. In addition, you could consider restricting when cats are allowed outside to just the daytime, as birds can be more vulnerable in the very early morning when they wake and start to look for food. Alternatively, you could keep cats inside entirely. It is very common in Australia and the US for cats to remain indoors. These changes may seem small and your garden or outdoor space may not be big, but gardens in the UK <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/habitats/towns-and-gardens" target="_blank">cover more area</a> that all of our nature reserves put together. Encouraging wildlife in these garden habitats can make a big difference.<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/173025/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/becky-thomas-506528" target="_blank">Becky Thomas</a>, Senior Teaching Fellow in Ecology, <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/royal-holloway-university-of-london-795" target="_blank">Royal Holloway University of 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/garden-birds-are-struggling-four-ways-to-help-173025" target="_blank">original article</a>. Image: Getty Images

Home & Garden

Woman documents her daily struggles as the “most attractive person”

In a world inundated with media perceptions of beauty, plastic surgery and many people on the constant search for superficial validation, a lot of people are striving for beauty. But, as Ariana will tell you, being beautiful is a constant struggle. The 21-year-old American college student posted a video to her TikTok account, saying she often feels that other girls exclude her because they are so jealous of her looks. In posting the video, a hesitant Ariana said she was worried about posting the confession in case she got “attacked”. While applying her makeup, she spoke candidly to the camera saying, “So there‘s a topic I really want to talk about, and I wanna talk about it often but I have a hard time doing it because I know I’m going to get attacked.” “It goes along with pretty privilege. Obviously, pretty privilege is a thing, we know this, we know there‘s a lot of pros to that.” <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CTXrmwzpNfb/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CTXrmwzpNfb/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by ari;) (@arianasavannahh)</a> </div> </blockquote> She goes on to say that there are a lot of “downsides” to being good looking, and she wanted to share her “experience as a woman”. “As I said, this topic is very difficult to talk about, because if you know you know, and if you don‘t know, you’re probably going to attack me, my personality, which I am expecting,” she said. “This is why I don‘t talk about it often.” Ariana explains that she was often excluded by women, and always wondered why. “College was really the hardest point for me. Girls will always be like oh my gosh, I love you so much, you‘re so gorgeous, we’re gonna hang out,” she said. “The time comes around and I always am left out, and talked about poorly behind my back, and it never makes sense because I am always being so kind and genuine.” <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CTDHfpbJ9NP/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CTDHfpbJ9NP/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by ari;) (@arianasavannahh)</a> </div> </blockquote> Ariana assures her viewers that it was not her personality turning people away from her, but rather her blindingly good looks. “I was super outgoing, especially around girls, and loved empowering women and just being a b**ch, you know we love being b**ches, in a good way,” she said. “So I would come home from college on the weekends because I had nothing to do and I would cry to my mum.” Her mum backed her up as a teenager, saying all the girls were just jealous and that was why she found it hard to socialise with other women. Ending the video that has been viewed over 350,000 times she said, “If you know me, you know I don‘t carry myself that way, I was so confused and thought this probably is not true, my whole life that this is the reason I can’t make girlfriends.” The post has racked up thousands of comments from fellow beautiful people, saying they empathise with Ariana and her difficult situation, as they have all banded together online to create a pretty privileged group of people. Image credits: Instagram @arianasavannahh

Beauty & Style

Kate Middleton admitted to the Queen her parenting struggles

A royal expert has claimed Duchess Kate opened up about her parenting struggles to the Queen, following the birth of Prince George. Katie Nicholl who is a royal correspondent has claimed that both Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge struggled greatly following the birth of their first son, and found it difficult to manage parenting along with their royal duties. In the documentary True Royalty: Kate Middleton: Heir We Go Again, Nicholl said, "Kate was having a conversation with the Queen in which she confided that she had found being with George on her own, and not having a full-time nanny or a maternity nurse, very hard." <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7843159/kate-4.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/955db3bf04fd4c869e2d65cbd2255f3f" /> Nicholl said the parents wanted to be "hands-on" and give Prince George a normal upbringing, however things did not go according to plan. "They did it until September and then they recruited a nanny," said Nicholl. The couple recruited Maria Borallo, who now cares for Prince George, 8, Princess Charlotte, 6, and Prince Louis, 3. William and Kate have Maria in the house for support, but Nicholl says Kate's mum, Carole, is also a stronghold for the royal couple and a great support. "One of the things that allows William and Kate to be so ordinary is the presence of the Middletons in their lives. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7843158/kate-3.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/051f0d13111c49e6b2c2b3a34544526f" /> "Carole is a regular through those golden gates at Kensington Palace, she whizzes through in her Land Rover. There is no security because everybody knows her," she said. Since having children, Kate has spent a lot of her time supporting children and their families including those struggling with addiction, poverty, or homelessness. The Duchess announced the launch of The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood back in June, which aims to "transform" the lives of parents and children for "generations to come". "My own journey into understanding the importance of early childhood actually started with adults, and not with children," she said. "It was about prevention. I wanted to understand what more we could do to help prevent some of today's toughest social challenges, and what more we could do to help with the rising rates of poor mental health." Images: Getty Images

Family & Pets

"You've just made this even harder": Chris Hemsworth's body double reveals struggle

Chris Hemsworth's body double has revealed he's eating seven meals a day to try and keep up with the Hollywood heart throb's size. Bobbly Holland Hanton has revealed the Thor actor is making his life harder as his size keeps growing by the day. “Everyone is like ‘Wow look at the size and him’ and I’m like yeah that’s brilliant, I’m that guy’s double’, so I text him, I’m like, ‘Thanks very much dude, you've just made this even harder’,” he told Nova’s Fitzy and Wippa. “I train with him a lot, we train all the time, we’re on the same diet regime and training. “He’s the biggest though he’s ever been so I have to be the biggest I’ve ever been which is a challenge but I’m up for it.” Hemsworth eats seven meals a day and they need to be the right meals at the right time, which means his stunt double has to do the same. “Every two hours we are eating, it’s become a chore, I don’t enjoy eating at all, every two hours it’s like get calories in, training twice a day, it’s full on,” he told the show. “We’re training so much, we are packing on so much size, it’s difficult on the body. “I find carrying around the extra weight is difficult and hard to maintain on the ligaments.” The pair first worked together on Thor: The Dark World in 2013 and have gone on to feature in several movies together. Becoming close friends, Holland Hanton has previously said Hemsworth is like family.

Body

"I've struggled": Roger Federer's heartbreaking admission about his own children

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text "> Roger Federer is undoubtedly one of the most popular tennis stars of all-time and has convinced fans around the world to take up the game of tennis due to his skills. Despite his skills, he explained that it hasn't been easy for himself and wife Mirka to introduce tennis to his four children, Charlene, Myla, Lenny and Leo. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7836877/federer-body.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/417e2a5b96db4332a0c32257a2a10171" /> "I have struggled with my children. I have tried to promote tennis at my household with playing a lot of matches against Rafa, Novak and everybody but my kids don't care,” he said during a television interview with ON. "They need daddy home from the practice or from the matches. We tried to put a racket in their hand and a ball in the other and see what happens. “You see very quickly if kids like to play with the ball or go running outside. I think you see the differences very quickly." He admitted that some of his children have taken up tennis, but it took persistence. "Now all four kids play tennis. Because I don't want to be the guy whose kids don't play tennis. especially not with my background and my wife's background,” he added. “But what can you do honestly? You can just go out there and try it time and time again." The 38-year-old has undergone two knee surgeries this year and has announced he will not be playing again until next year. "Personally, it has been very pleasant to stay in the same place for a long time, I hadn't experienced that for more than 25 years," Federer said at the launch of the "Roger Center Court" running shoes created by Swiss brand On. This week was scheduled to be the second week of Wimbledon, but it was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. "But of course I miss Wimbledon, of course I would like to be there currently playing on Centre Court for a place in the second week. "Clearly, one of my big goals, and that's why I do recovery work every day and work so hard, and why I'm preparing for a 20-week physical preparation block this year, is because I hope to play at Wimbledon next year." </div> </div> </div>

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Woman documents her daily struggles as the “most attractive person”

Kate Middleton admitted to the Queen her parenting struggles

"You've just made this even harder": Chris Hemsworth's body double reveals struggle

"I've struggled": Roger Federer's heartbreaking admission about his own children

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Woman documents her daily struggles as the “most attractive person”

Kate Middleton admitted to the Queen her parenting struggles

"You've just made this even harder": Chris Hemsworth's body double reveals struggle

"I've struggled": Roger Federer's heartbreaking admission about his own children

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