The Aussie male is not unique when it comes to a reticence to seek out health care when compared to their global mates. It is well known around the world that help seeking for health care occurs much more among women than it does men. Men are less likely than women to visit the doctor, resulting in more hospitalisations and deaths from preventable conditions. But, as men age, just like women, they become more vulnerable and a focus on men’s health issues and what it means to be healthy as an ageing male increases in importance. This is one of the key drivers behind the internationally celebrated Men’s Health Week. Occurring in the middle of June, this year the theme is Building Healthy Environments for Men and Boys, focusing on creating health environments for men’s mental, emotional, and physical health to thrive. We love this theme at Home Care Assistance, because it really speaks to our balanced approach to supporting men ageing in place, emphasising men’s health, wellness, and purpose.
At Home Care Assistance, we believe it is vital that men’s mental, physical, and emotional health is openly talked about and addressed so they can be ageing in place without the stress or worry about moving into aged care.
When it comes to physical health, men are at greatest risk of heart disease and cancer. The most common type of cancer diagnosed in Australian men is prostate cancer, with more than 19,000 diagnosed each year1. Reducing the risk of both heart disease and cancer is a natural part of our Balanced Care MethodTM and our focus on healthy eating and movement for health.
Good nutrition means regular meals, less alcohol, more water, more veggies, a balanced amount of protein and fresh food. Sounds simple enough, but did you know that according to a national health survey done by the ABS in 2008, only 5% of adult males eat sufficient fruit and vegetables? C’mon guys, we know you can do better than that, but if you need a little encouragement with your shopping list, or some help to make fruit and veg eating more enticing, our in-home care services are experts at getting your veggie intake balanced up, even if it means hiding them in your bolognese, like mum used to.
Also, as men age, changes to the skin can benefit from a little extra support. Ageing skin becomes drier and itchier, bruises become more noticeable and sweat glands also get less active. That means you might not sweat as much, but wounds on your skin may take longer to heal than before, and wound care can become a necessary part of life while ageing in place. In-home care services provide wound care for the elderly to prevent infection and support healing so that there is no limitation to a man’s quality of life due to skin abrasions.
Awareness of the importance of men’s mental health has never been higher – pandemic silver lining perhaps – and rightly so given the stats will still tell us that one in eight men will experience depression, and one in five men will experience anxiety at some stage in their lives2. Social isolation can be a trigger for both anxiety and depression but engaging a home care agency is a great way to keep men ageing in place, mentally and socially stimulated. Whether that be playing a game of cards together or supporting you with transport to attend a favourite social club like your local Men’s Shed. As well as companionship, Home Care Assistance in-home Care Workers bring a plethora of ideas to support cognitive function and prevent cognitive decline. Increasingly we are hearing about the ‘use it or lose it’ approach to cognition, and we have proprietary methods that can be great fun while exercising cognitive fitness to ward off the risk of dementia and the need to be googling ‘aged care near me’ any time soon.
So, the next time you find a senior man in your life saying, “she’ll be right”, why not remind him that Men’s Health Week is a great time to focus on his physical, emotional, and mental health so that “he’ll be right” too! At Home Care Assistance, our Care Workers can support your man to live a dignified life in the comfort of their own home that optimises their wellbeing in body and mind. A healthy man can stay at home for longer, and there is no denying that we are all on the same page with that idea.
References:
1 https://www.healthdirect.gov.au
2 https://www.beyondblue.org.au
