SHARING a nice cup of tea or a mince tart could be enough to make a dramatic difference this Christmas.
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Western Victoria Primary Health Network is calling on people to check in with elderly friends and neighbours, who can sometimes be overlooked in the festive season.
WVPHN chief executive officer Leanne Beagley said this could be a challenging time for vulnerable and isolated populations, particularly through distance in rural and regional parts of the region.
“Christmas and the New Year period can be can be a time of extreme loneliness for some elderly people in our community. Experiences of loss and bereavement can be heightened during this period and the hot weather can have serious health and medical impacts,” Dr Beagley said.
“We are asking our western Victoria community and indeed all Australians, to reach out and check in.”
About 20 per cent of the population is aged 65-plus with the WVPHN boundary – including Ballarat, the Grampians, Geelong, the Surf Coast, Warrnambool and the Wimmera.
Dr Beagley said most home visits and community services were unavailable during the holiday period and could often exacerbate loneliness for isolated residents.
She said many older people tended to reflect on loved ones who had died but there were lots of community events and Christmas activities to involve them in during the excitement and energy of the season.
Health professionals identify a direct link between loneliness and health conditions like dementia, obesity, depression, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and sleep disorders, according to WVPHN.
Major isolating issues for the elderly in the festive season can include mobility and concerns of falling, anxiety in rooms with lots of people, and depression.
Dr Beagley also issued an important reminder to check on older community members as summer continued to heat up as older people did not always realise when they were overheated, due to normal age-related body changes.
KEY HELPLINES: afterhours GP: 1800 022 222; National Home Doctor Service: 13 74 25; myagedcare: 1800 200 422; Lifeline: 13 11 14; Dementia Support Australia: 1800 699 799; Veterans home care: 1300 550 254; emergency respite: 1800 052 222; after-hours palliative care: 1800 548 225 (5pm - 9am).