Seniors – do you need help online?

Do you have a computer, mobile phone, Ipad or other tablet device you would like to use for the first time or with more confidence?

Jubilee Community Care can assist you with support workers available to provide one-on-one lessons across a variety of technologies.

It might be you want to join Jubilee’s online programs, keep in touch with family or friends over video chats or email, learn how to order your groceries or other items online, play games to keep your mind active or do other activities online.

If this is you, or your loved one, please contact us. Phone the Jubilee office on 3871 3220 or email activities@jccagedcare.org.au to find out more.

Jubilee Community Care client Jean joined an exclusive club on February 25 when she celebrated her 100th birthday. Jean was the centre of attention at a party that included family, interstate visitors and longtime friends.

Daughter Juleen said Jean was thrilled to have marked the milestone. “My daughter Ainslie, who lives in London, and my son Warwick who lives in Canada, Jean’s only grandchildren, flew over for the special week,” Juleen said. “Also there were old neighbours and friends mum hadn’t seen in 30 to 40 years, but they had always kept in touch so it was very exciting and quite overwhelming for her.”

Juleen said Jean loved receiving her letters of congratulations from Her Majesty the Queen, the Governor General, Prime Minister, Lord Mayor and local politicians. “She was thrilled she actually made it to 100 and has had a wonderful week of celebrations.”

Jean was born in Brisbane in 1920 soon after her parents arrived from England. She grew up in Sherwood, attending Sherwood State School and St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School. Jean had her own hairdressing business before the family moved to Darwin. Moves to Sydney and Adelaide followed before Jean and her family returned to Brisbane in 1970.

And Jean’s secret to old age – “Eating vegetables – the more the better,” Juleen said of her mother’s practice. “Though never a vegetarian, no meal was complete without at least four or five different vegetables,” she said. “In fact, though she is no longer able to type or correspond, when Jean’s grandson created an email address for Jean many years ago he made her password Veggies!”

Did you know Brisbane City Council can arrange for rubbish bin collection from within your property if you are infirm, you have a physical or sensory disability, no able-bodied person lives at your address, and the collection point for your bins will not pose a potential safety risk to staff.

To apply for bin collection assistance, phone the council on 3403 8888.

Vaccination for seniors aged 65 years or over is just as important as it is for children. The vaccines you need will depend on several things, including whether you missed out on childhood vaccines, if you are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, how old you are and whether you plan on travelling. Speak to your doctor or vaccination provider about your or your family’s specific needs. Some recommended vaccines are funded through the National Immunisation Program (NIP) or state and territory programs, while others can be purchased privately with a prescription.

The following vaccines are recommended to adults who are aged 65 years and older.
Flu
Shingles: The shingles vaccine is recommended for adults aged 60 years or older who have not previously been vaccinated. The vaccine is free through the NIP for people aged 70 years with a catch-up for people aged 71 to 79 years until October 2021.
Pneumococcal disease: The pneumococcal vaccine is free through the NIP for adults aged 65 years and older.

Booster vaccines
A booster is an extra dose of a vaccine that you have had before that ‘boosts’ the immune system. The following vaccinations need booster doses:
Diphtheria
Tetanus: A booster dose of a tetanus-containing vaccine is recommended for adults who are aged 50 years old or over who have not received a vaccine that has tetanus in the past 10 years (but have previously completed a primary course of 3 doses); or who have tetanus-prone wounds (any wound that is not a clean, minor cut) if your previous dose was more than 5 years ago.
Whooping cough: A single booster dose of a whooping cough vaccine is recommended for adults who have not been vaccinated for the past 10 years if you are aged 65 years or older or you are in close contact with infants.