GC_Over_50s_September_2024_No_112

2 Free carer support Carer Gateway is a national support service funded by the Australian Government. It offers emotional and practical support and services to anyone in a caring role. Wellways has been entrusted to deliver Carer Gateway services in your community. Specialised local support Our team of highly skilled workers who live and work in the Gold Coast area, offer carers the specialist knowledge and support to navigate the aged care space. Flexibility for ageing carers Our Carer Gateway services are available face-to-face, online, or over the phone. Particularly for ageing carers, this flexible approach ensures carers are supported to manage their daily challenges, reduce stress, plan for the future and ultimately improve their wellbeing in a way that suits their busy lives. How you can support carers As a local aged care provider, you meet these carers every day in the work you do. If you know a carer needing aged care navigation support, you can complete an online referral form via www.wellways.org/carer-gateway-registration Our team is available 6am–10pm, 7 days a week. Carers can access Emergency Respite care 24/7 by calling 1800 422 737. With an ageing population, the need for carers of older people and ageing carers themselves is increasing, meaning more carers need access to My Aged Care. Our Aged Care Navigators ensure that ageing carers, carers of older people and family carers with culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds have greater access to the information and support they require to successfully engage with the My Aged Care system. Wellways Carer Gateway Aged care navigation for carers Wellways respectfully acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands and waters of Australia. We are committed to inclusive communities. To find out more about Carer Gateway call 1800 422 737 or visit carergateway.gov.au Scan here or visit wellways.org/carer-gateway-registration for more information and resources CG0459 14.05.24 v2 Aging Eyes: Common Issues Your eyes change as you age. Some problems become more common as you get older, although they can affect anyone at any age. Presbyopia is when you can’t clearly see close objects or small print. It’s a normal process that happens slowly over your lifetime. You may not notice any change until around age 40. It’s easy to correct with reading glasses and contacts. Floaters are tiny spots or specks that drift across your field of vision. You’ll probably notice them in well-lit rooms, when looking at a bright screen, or outdoors on a bright day. They’re mostly normal, but they can signal a more serious eye problem, especially if their onset is sudden and dramatic. If you see them along with flashes of light, your retina might be detached from the back of your eye. If you notice a sudden change in the type or number of spots or flashes you see, visit your eye doctor as soon as you can. Dry eyes happen when your tear glands can’t make enough tears or produce low-quality tears. Your eyes might itch, burn, or turn red. It’s rare, but if you don’t take care of it, you could lose some vision. Your eye doctor may suggest a humidifier in your home or special eye drops that simulate tears. Doctors treat severe cases with tear duct plugs, prescription eye drops, or surgery. Tearing, when your eyes make too many tears, or the tears aren't draining properly, can happen if you're sensitive to light, wind, or temperature changes, or if your tear duct drainage systems are blocked. Shield your eyes and wear sunglasses. If that doesn't help, you may have a more serious problem, like an eye infection or blocked tear duct. Your eye doctor can treat both. Cataracts are cloudy areas that cover all or part of the lens of your eye. In a healthy eye, the lens is clear like a camera lens; light passes right through it and hits tissue at the back of your eye. That’s the retina, and it processes images. Cataracts block the lens and make it hard for you to see. They often form slowly, without pain, redness, or tearing. Some stay small and don’t affect your sight. If they cause problems, your doctor can remove them with surgery and replace your lens with an artificial version. Glaucoma is a disease that affects the eye's optic nerve. It typically results from too much pressure inside your eye. If the normal flow of the watery fluid between your cornea and lens is blocked, the fluid and pressure from it build up. If you don’t catch it early, it can lead to permanent vision loss and blindness. You may not have symptoms or pain early on, so get your eyes checked regularly. Treatment ranges from prescription eye drops and oral medications to surgery. Retinal disorders affect this thin lining on the back of the eye. It’s made up of cells that collect visual images and pass them on to your brain. Problems with your retina affect this image transfer. They include age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal vessel occlusions, and detached retina. Early diagnosis and treatment will help you keep your vision. Paris Miki Optical’s Store Manager Michael has over 31 year’s experience as a qualified Optical technician and has been working in the area for over 23 years. There is an onsite workshop for quicker spectacle making, so you don’t have to be without your own frames for weeks if we are using your own frame for new lenses; repairs can be done onsite and same day service is available on in store stock lenses. To make an appointment call on 5580 5010. see advert front cover

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