Ep 6 | Ageing well | How men can future-proof their mind and body and improve longevity
It Can't Hurt To AskShow Notes
This season of It Can't Hurt To Ask, we're taking a deep dive into your men's health questions and concerns. In this episode we're exploring how you can say fit, strong, and resilient as you age. Whether you're 25 or 45, it's never too early to start laying the foundations for healthy ageing. Our featured expert is Dr Eric Chung, professor of surgery at the University of Queensland and a consultant urologist at the Princess Alexandra Hospital. He's here to share tips to unlock your best self now and into the future. You'll hear from Queensland men, Andrew and Kevin, who share their experiences and views on staying healthy at any age. Learn about the many factors affecting ageing well. Besides the more obvious ones, such as a healthy diet and exercise, you'll also hear about the effects of risky behaviours, family history, chronic conditions, substance use, mental wellbeing, social connectedness, happiness, and even your sex life, on healthy ageing. If you'd like to learn more about men's health, listen to the other men's health episodes in this brand-new season. Please leave us a review—we'd love to hear your thoughts. Episode Resources: Ageing well Everyone deserves to live well and maintain their health and independence into the future. To learn more, visit the Australian Government's websites: Positive ageing is ageing well and Tips for healthy ageing. Many factors influence healthy ageing. Some of these, such as genetics, are not in our control. Others—such as exercise, a healthy diet, going to the doctor regularly, and taking care of our mental health—are within our reach. Exercise Physical activity is important at any age for good physical and mental health and wellbeing. It reduces the risk of many diseases, including some cancers. Learn how much exercise you should be doing and how to fit it into your day by reading the Physical activity and exercise guidelines for all Australians and the Choose Health, Be Active booklet. Diet Making smart food choices can help protect you from certain health problems as you age and may even help improve brain function. Visit the Australian guide to healthy eating for more information. Mental health and wellbeing Mental health, or mental wellness, is essential to your overall health and quality of life. It affects how we think, feel, act, make choices, and relate to others. Managing social isolation, loneliness, stress, depression, and mood through medical and self-care is key to healthy ageing. If you feel that you may be in need of mental health support and have never accessed a mental health service before, our mental health access line 1300 MH CALL (1300 642 255) is available 24/7. This is a confidential mental health telephone triage service and is the first point of contact to Queensland public mental health services. Organisations like Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636) and the Men's Shed Association are also available to provide mental wellbeing support. Find your local Men's shed location to connect with your community face-to-face, or speak to a Beyond Blue counsellor online or by phone. Preventive health Looking after your body and mind by getting vaccinated and avoiding risky behaviours – like smoking or drinking too much – can prevent many diseases and keep you healthy and well. If you're concerned about your own or someone else's alcohol and other drugs use. Call Adis 24/7 Alcohol and Drug Support on 1800 177 833. You can also visit their website for more information or to chat with a counsellor online. If you’re thinking about quitting smoking or vaping or are ready to quit contact Quitline on 13 78 48 or request a Quitline call by visiting their website.
More from It Can't Hurt To Ask
What's involved in caring for someone at the end of their life? What kind of support is available for people wanting to die at home? How can people provide care for loved ones while they are in hospital?
While it may feel uncomfortable, we can't talk about Death and Dying, without answering this one—what actually happens when someone is dying? Lauren tackles this question head on to find out more—what are the different stages of dying, how long does it take and what do the movies get right (if anything)? We also learn more about the importance of advance care planning as we age and how voluntary assisted dying works from Karen, a clinical nurse consultant from Toowoomba. In this episode, we'll hear from clinical nurse consultant Jacinta and palliative care specialist Dr Sheryl from Caboolture Hospital's palliative care service, who explain what to expect as people come to the end of their lives. Remember, death may feel scary, but talking about it shouldn't. After all, it can't hurt to ask! Resources: Talking about death and dying can bring up challenging emotions. If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental wellbeing, support is available: Lifeline: call 13 11 14 (24 hours a day) if you are experiencing a personal crisis or chat to a counsellor online. Beyond Blue: call 1300 22 463 for broad mental wellbeing support or speak to a counsellor online. Griefline: call 1300 845 745 (9am–6pm, Monday - Friday, 12 noon–6pm weekends). PalAssist has general information and advice about palliative care services in Queensland. Call 1800 772 273 (free for Queensland residents) or chat online (from 7am to 7pm, 7 days). In an emergency, always call Triple Zero (000).
There can be a lot of people involved in end-of-life care, so in this episode, we're finding out who's who and what they do. In this episode, Lauren meets with staff from across the state who help care for people who are dying, to find out what their jobs are and what they love about their work. From the role of doctors and nurses in palliative care settings, to allied health professionals and a geriatrician, we're finding out how many different disciplines can come together to support a person's quality of life in their final months, weeks and days. What's the most common request a palliative care music therapist gets? Why might an occupational therapist talk to a patient's neighbours? How does a geriatrician explain ageing? Come along for the journey to find out! Resources: Talking about death and dying can bring up challenging emotions. If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental wellbeing, support is available: Lifeline: call 13 11 14 (24 hours a day) if you are experiencing a personal crisis or chat to a counsellor online. Beyond Blue: call 1300 22 463 for broad mental wellbeing support or speak to a counsellor online. Griefline: call 1300 845 745 (9am–6pm, Monday - Friday, 12 noon–6pm weekends). PalAssist has general information and advice about palliative care services in Queensland. Call 1800 772 273 (free for Queensland residents) or chat online (from 7am to 7pm, 7 days). In an emergency, always call Triple Zero (000).
What if we told you that palliative care is less about death and dying, and more about living? In Episode 2 about Death and Dying, Lauren heads to different services across the state to find out what palliative care is, how it works and the many different ways you can access care. We start with a history lesson from Dr Graham, the director of the Specialist Rural Telehealth Service, who explains what palliative care is and who it's for. We will also hear from clinical nurse consultant Jacinta about how a hospital palliative care ward works, meet community palliative care specialist Dr Erin who explains what in-community care looks like, and find out how the Specialist Rural Telehealth Service delivers care to people in rural and remote areas from Dr Graham. Hit play to find out how palliative care services are evolving to meet the needs of people right across the state. Resources: Talking about death and dying can bring up challenging emotions. If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental wellbeing, support is available: Lifeline: call 13 11 14 (24 hours a day) if you are experiencing a personal crisis or chat to a counsellor online. Beyond Blue: call 1300 22 463 for broad mental wellbeing support or speak to a counsellor online. Griefline: call 1300 845 745 (9am–6pm, Monday - Friday, 12 noon–6pm weekends). PalAssist has general information and advice about palliative care services in Queensland. Call 1800 772 273 (free for Queensland residents) or chat online (from 7am to 7pm, 7 days). In an emergency, always call Triple Zero (000).
Death is one of life's few guarantees. It's natural and will happen to all of us—so why are we so afraid to talk about it? In Episode 1 of It Can’t Hurt to Ask ... about Death and Dying, our host Lauren kicks off the season by asking what seems like an obvious question: what are death and dying? The answer, however, is a little more complex. We're joined by Dr Christian, a palliative care specialist from Rockhampton Base Hospital and Laurelle, a social worker from our statewide Specialist Palliative Rural Telehealth Service based out of Gold Coast University Hospital. They help us explore the clinical definitions of death and dying (and how they differ from what we understand as death), share what we do and don't know about death, and help us understand what a "good death" really means. It may seem scary, but this episode is just the start of tackling the silence and stigma that surrounds death. Because talking about it can help us feel more prepared, more informed and help us live our lives to their fullest. Resources: Talking about death and dying can bring up challenging emotions. If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental wellbeing, support is available: Lifeline: call 13 11 14 (24 hours a day) if you are experiencing a personal crisis or chat to a counsellor online. Beyond Blue: call 1300 22 463 for broad mental wellbeing support or speak to a counsellor online. Griefline: call 1300 845 745 (9am–6pm, Monday - Friday, 12 noon–6pm weekends). PalAssist has general information and advice about palliative care services in Queensland. Call 1800 772 273 (free for Queensland residents) or chat online (from 7am to 7pm, 7 days). In an emergency, always call Triple Zero (000).