Heart Week, at the start of May, is a good reminder to get a heart check. As the recent deaths of Shane Warne and Kimberley Kitching have shown, heart attacks aren’t limited to older men who are unfit and stressed. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death for people around the world. In […]
With the final report of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System, tabled on 2nd March 2021, Council on the Ageing (COTA) Victoria will be hosting a forum in Morwell to unravel the Royal Commission’s recommendations and the impact they will have on people aged 50 plus. The report outlined the changes to create
This month, one of COTA Victoria’s programs, Older Men: New Ideas (OM:NI) men’s discussion groups, will celebrate its 10th anniversary at its very popular Eltham group. OM:NI Eltham is one of the state’s 29 Older Men: New Ideas (OM:NI) men’s discussion groups that aims to empower older men to take control of their lives after
Welcome to April! It seems this year really is flying by, perhaps because we at COTA Victoria have been so busy. For one thing, we’re starting to reengage with older people in person. It’s a tentative reengagement: we’re still experimenting with the technologies we are now familiar with vs the old-style face-to-face events. As you will
The federal election has been called for Saturday 21 May 2022. Until then, we have a unique window of opportunity to try and influence the decisions of candidates who are standing for election. Every older person who needs aids, equipment or home modifications (collectively known as assistive technology) should be able to access these supports
COTA Victoria volunteers recently participated in a Victorian Government consultation to develop a new Transport Accessibility Strategy that will improve accessibility for everyone across the transport network. Our volunteers were asked to think about what makes a good transport experience, such as having somewhere to sit, or having access to fresh air. Volunteers were also
COTA Victoria’s Working Together projects support people aged 50+ along their training and employment pathway. We will match volunteer mentors with people returning to the workforce or wanting to re-train for a more sustainable job. The projects are running across the North and Western suburbs of Melbourne and in Greater Bendigo. Come on, be a
All too often, and for all sorts of reasons, we skip a regular exercise program. Because we don’t have time, because it’s too far or too expensive to go to the gym… or simply because it’s cold outside! But rather than missing out altogether, try building simple exercises into your daily routine. Our Random Acts
Are you friendly and enjoy having a chat? Can you spare a few hours a week to help people experiencing loneliness or social isolation? We need you! We are recruiting volunteers for our FriendLine service; a free phone service for those experiencing loneliness or social isolation. FriendLine is a national support service ready for a
Council on the Ageing (COTA) Victoria is calling on Victorian State Government to prioritise significant spending on mobility, transport and digital inclusion for older people in the upcoming May budget. COTA Victoria’s six priorities featured in its pre-budget submission highlight the depth and breadth of the gaps in services older Victorians are experiencing including social
Happy autumn! I can’t believe summer is over and we are now into autumn. It really seems that the days fly past at a faster rate of knots with every passing year. As the numbers start to come down and Victoria settles into living with COVID-19, I’m taking heart with the slow return to face-to-face
COVID-19 vaccinations for people over 70: Are you due for your third dose? If you received your second COVID-19 vaccination three or more months ago, you should get your third dose now. It’s now even easier for people aged 70 and over to get their third dose with a free vaccination at home appointment. Three
