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What happens to teeth as you age? And how can you extend the life of your smile?

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/arosha-weerakoon-792707">Arosha Weerakoon</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a> A healthy smile <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37314011/">helps us</a> live long, well and happy lives. But just <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37436910/">like our bodies</a>, our teeth succumb to age-related changes. So what happens to teeth as you age? And what can you do to ensure your smile lasts the distance? <h2>First, what are teeth made of?</h2> The tooth crown is covered by a hard enamel coat that surrounds softer, brown dentine, which protects a centrally located pulp. Enamel is a complex weave of <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2584618/">brittle</a>, honeycomb-clustered strands that interact with light to make teeth appear opalescent (a pearly, milky iridescence). <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1601-1546.2012.00269.x">Dentine under enamel</a> forms most of the tooth crown and root, and is made of collagen, mineral, water and proteins. Collagen strands are <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0003996922002102?via%3Dihub#bib12">woven</a> to stretch and spring back, to <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0003996922002102?via%3Dihub#bib12">prevent teeth</a> from cracking and breaking when we grind and chew. The pulp has blood vessels and nerves that communicate with the rest of your body. Enmeshed in the dentine mineral and collagen are small, <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8809302/">interconnected tubules</a> formed by specialised cells called <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1047847799940960">odontoblasts</a> that settle around the pulp, once our teeth completely form. Each tooth contains a <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23803461/">finite number of odontoblasts</a>, unlike the constantly replenished special bone cells that renew. <h2>How do our teeth change as we age?</h2> Unable to renew, our teeth <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0003996922002102?via%3Dihub#bib19">become brittle</a>, and prone to fracture as dentine loses its spring. This is <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002817714613532?casa_token=1K9Y6CJXmsAAAAAA:t6y_b_Iy02AWpUGaiz4H8Fk0Kdfx6z1ypHiGOEjFqFNlU1jvSRCVjfYOyysgIErJvgCzh33c2hfX">more common</a> in teeth with existing crack lines, large fillings or root canal treatments. With time, the outer surface of enamel <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022391305004348?casa_token=xXfdecXrLaoAAAAA:YE_0swAFtT3RyCUeJmPwciixQ0hwL-foLyC2RGtnlyUSJ9O-pPLQz0B8XNd4Gq1AMtCN2BgnCrqo">thins</a> to reveal the relatively opaque dentine that darkens as we age. The dentine darkens because the collagen weave <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1047847722000697">stiffens and shrinks</a>, and the fluid in the tubules <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590152422000010?via%3Dihub">fills with mineral</a>. The odontoblasts continue to form dentine inside the tooth to reduce the translucent pulp space. The increase in dentine makes our teeth appear <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0003996913003294">opaque</a> and insulates from hot and cold sensations. This is why <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0300571215000494?casa_token=iiLtoxOZOYQAAAAA:RfaGR7lrq9dgWuO_nh6hLETzVUiIWdu-mB-Ev019vZH5t6meVyAHs3YpZzcu9FNrDBYQL6OExu6j">X-rays</a> are useful to detect cavities we may not feel. Food and drink particles fill micro-gaps and age-related fine crack lines that run up and down enamel to <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Yash-Kapadia/publication/322509199_Tooth_staining_A_review_of_etiology_and_treatment_modalities/links/5b4cd922a6fdcc8dae245b7d/Tooth-staining-A-review-of-etiology-and-treatment-modalities.pdf">discolour and stain</a>. These stains are easily managed by <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772559622000207">tooth whitening</a>. How else can you extend the life of your teeth and brighten your smile? Here are seven tips to avoid dental decline: <h2>1. Avoid unnecessary forces</h2> Avoid <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/sj.bdj.2012.722">using</a> your teeth to hold things such as working tools or to open packaging. Take measures to avoid forces such as <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1882761622000059">grinding or clenching</a> by wearing a night guard. If you have <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0109564122002421">large fillings</a> or <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0109564122001579?casa_token=kQPjGNgU2iQAAAAA:ytMnT5MLV8aRehNyyWD7qC7FXSBE5xpPCxnzZ2ryKsuyJePq1jHisue1udtN0Cs6NDYJ37xYHy_5">root canal-treated</a> teeth, speak to your dentist about <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/aej.12002?casa_token=RwMhhwmgjwwAAAAA%3AGCWVA9vjFX68S2DdKbCFl4jwTAjMeqVDoT3GtXTSjA7SMEc3ksktOMCUSz9ArikD4XhBM5v08nGCvmVF0g">specific filling materials or crowns</a> that can protect your teeth from cracking or breaking. <h2>2. Share the load</h2> If you are missing molars or premolars, distribute chewing forces evenly to prevent overloading your remaining teeth. Replace missing teeth with <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S010956411100858X?casa_token=4vrj3ssj0PEAAAAA:UODaFxNDCKmQ_lQs1faL6lh0xIeIfSFrRQBq-s0KF1ZvUJd6ytbXX37TVaiHLRzJPJaSDF_2aVmL">bridges</a>, <a href="https://aap.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1902/jop.2008.080188?casa_token=uA0r7imcRbUAAAAA%3AeXGszI5-Dcu4oKi33FCrRRviiAj0uyoP7V5wApIRQD1-1Zu-rkLAcoLhKMAJYVnC9tEnxj33UdNJIndEBA">implants</a> or well-fitted <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/13/6776">dentures</a> to support your bite. Get your dentures <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022391320301554">checked regularly</a> to ensure they fit and support adequately, and replace them at least every ten years. <h2>3. Preserve your enamel</h2> Reduce <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jcpe.12330?casa_token=W2Ib34A77-QAAAAA%3AnLZtwwqZuueyHf1CMX0K9MERSW_Pvc3w0KlpArFT1KNusuopjEUcWmGd8pDUA7fQcj6DMkcS-JnXISFV1w">further enamel and dentine loss</a> by selecting soft-bristled <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00016350802195041?casa_token=E-ErdP543QUAAAAA%3A0Wz5AWwQxntBIc3UndFX_5nVbAYoPDx-PX1tg7Umxjr_QepX3CSIFVXYcrrxWV9iTx99Afk8c_zff-o">tooth brushes and non-abrasive toothpastes</a>. Certain whitening toothpastes can be abrasive, which can <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8874033/">roughen and wear</a> the tooth surfaces. If you are unsure, stick with toothpastes that are labelled “sensitive”. Reduce your exposure to <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/sj.bdj.2012.722">acid</a> in food (think lemons or apple cider vinegar) or illness (reflux or vomiting) where possible to maintain enamel and prevent erosion. <h2>4. Enhance your saliva</h2> <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jtxs.12356?casa_token=1moXbwnrDQIAAAAA%3AHz3Im9lmR3h75TmG8FSUQH-8_0UGnQ9TNkgaPL79LlrCmwC3kzZZJaAB2mSZHf4X7PX5y3GKaVoY5cm5JA">Saliva</a> protects against acid attacks, flushes our teeth, and has antibacterial properties to reduce erosion and decay (holes forming). Saliva is also important to help us chew, swallow and speak. But our saliva quality and quantity reduces because of age-related changes to our salivary glands as well as certain medications prescribed to <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19392837/">manage chronic illnesses</a> such as depression and high blood pressure. Speak to your doctor about other medication options to improve your saliva or manage reflux disease to prevent erosion. <h2>5. Treat gum disease</h2> Aesthetically, <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37358230/">treating gum disease (periodontitis)</a> reduces gum shrinkage (recession) that typically exposes the relatively darker tooth roots that are more <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/00220345231166294">prone to developing holes</a>. <h2>6. Manage and prevent senescence</h2> <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36908187/">Cellular senescence</a> is the process that changes DNA in our cells to reduce our ability to withstand physical, chemical or biological damage. Cellular senescence enhances new cancer formation, the spread of existing cancers and the onset of chronic illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, osteoporosis and heart disease. You can prevent cell damage by managing lifestyle factors such as smoking, uncontrolled diabetes and chronic infections such as gum disease. <h2>7. Adapt and ask for help</h2> <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jan.15769?casa_token=SC-LouFQThsAAAAA%3A4jcvLRuJ56dGEm7ttvMad65hvUoZ7V5nvILg5sLFVZo8jxyQGR6YFeTcfM8sByTbdVrCWR1O5ytI3Z_crA">Ageing</a> can affect our cognition, hand dexterity and eyesight to prevent us from cleaning our teeth and gums as effectively as we once could. If this describes you, talk to your dental care team. They can help clean your teeth, and <a href="https://www.magonlinelibrary.com/doi/full/10.12968/bjon.2020.29.9.520?casa_token=_rol0NXx9c8AAAAA%3Aq8zgxiMSASwF1MRQZnZzfzmttn2x7FfGwsiIv71C_s_PTTmGD9JOIbqqtLNXa0oF9ogOjOCZwwpwB94">recommend products and tools</a> to fit your situation and abilities.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/215786/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/arosha-weerakoon-792707">Arosha Weerakoon</a>, Senior Lecturer, School of Dentistry, The University of Queensland and General Dentist., <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-happens-to-teeth-as-you-age-and-how-can-you-extend-the-life-of-your-smile-215786">original article</a>.

Body

15 great kitchen hacks to extend the life of food and save on waste

If you’re sick of throwing food in the bin (and wasting money), try these simple tips to reduce your wastage in the kitchen. 1. Use food scraps to grow vegetables Save the odds and ends from veggies such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, leeks, spring onions, celery, bok choy, garlic and even onions. These can all be replanted in some soil and will grow back. Just don’t forget to water them. 2. Reheat leftover slices of pizza in a frying pan If you aren’t a fan of floppy microwaved pizza, just pop your pizza into a hot fry pan instead. Your crusts will stay crispy and it will heat through much faster than it would in the oven. 3. Bring stale potato chips back to life in the microwave If you left the bag open overnight, fear not. Pop your stale chips in the microwave on high for 10 seconds or until crisp. 4. Use leftover herbs to make herb butter If your herbs are on the turn, just chop them up and mix with some melted butter. Pop it into some ice cube trays and freeze. Then you can enjoy the perfect portion of herb butter to use on your steak or to make homemade garlic bread. 5. Keep bananas fresher by wrapping the tips If you want your bananas to last longer in the fruit bowl, just wrap their tips with some cling film. They should keep for around three to five days longer. 6. Keep greens fresher in foil Celery, broccoli, and lettuce all last much longer in the fridge if you wrap them in foil first. 7. Keep pineapples sweet by storing upside down The sugars in this fruit can all end up on the bottom after the time spent in transit. So keep your pineapple upside down when you get home and the sweetness will be redistributed evenly. 8. Use a glass to peel a mango You can use a glass to slide the skin off your mango. This will avoid wasting any fruit that you’d normally toss after peeling with a knife. 9. Make a two-ingredient Nutella milkshake When you need a sweet treat but you’re nearly out of Nutella, just add warm milk to the jar and shake well. 10. Avoid sprouting potatoes by storing them with apples The ethylene gas in the apples helps to stop your potatoes from sprouting. 11. Keep leftover avocado fresh by storing it with a sliced onion There is sulfur in the onion and this keeps the avocado from going brown. 12. Keep cake fresh by covering with sliced bread Cover the exposed cake with some bread held in place with toothpicks and it will stay soft. 13. Extend the life of your eggs with vegetable oil By rubbing the eggshells with vegetable oil it will keep them fresher in the fridge for three to four weeks. 14. Keep lettuce fresh by storing in a brown paper bag No more sad and limp leaves! Keep your lettuce wrapped in a brown paper bag in the fridge. Plus, keeping the outer layers in place even if they have gone brown will keep the inside fresher for longer. 15. Reuse coffee grounds in the garden Plants such as roses, hydrangeas, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries and tomatoes will all appreciate a liberal sprinkling of your used coffee grounds. Image credit: Shutterstock

Home Hints & Tips

Paid parental leave extended to 26 weeks by 2026

Government-funded paid parental leave will be extended, and more pressure placed on fathers to share caring for babies, under an initiative to be unveiled by Anthony Albanese on Saturday. Parental leave will be lengthened by six weeks, phased in, to total 26 weeks by 2026, with use-it-or-lose-it provisions directed to having fathers undertake a greater part of the early parenting. Leave will be able to be taken in blocks between periods of work. Single parents will be entitled to the full 26 weeks. The present scheme is for 18 weeks government-funded leave to care for a newborn. There is a separate “Dad and Partner” payment for two weeks. <div data-id="17"> </div> The government says it will introduce reforms to modernise the system and improve flexibility from July next year. From July 1 2024 the time will start lengthening, with two extra weeks put on each year until the scheme reaches 26 weeks from July 2026. The government’s women’s economic equality taskforce, chaired by Sam Mostyn, will advise on details of the model, including what mix of flexible weeks and the use-it-or-lose-it component for each parent are considered best. Details will be in the October 25 budget. Albanese will formally announce the initiative when he addresses the NSW ALP conference on Saturday morning. In his speech, an extract of which was released ahead of delivery, Albanese says that, like the government’s child care policy, extending PPL is an economic reform. “By 2026, every family with a new baby will be able to access a total of six months paid leave, shared between the two parents,” he says. “We will give families more leave and more flexibility, so people are able to use their weeks in a way that works best for them. "Our plan will mean more families take up this leave, share in that precious time – and share the caring responsibilities more equally. "This plan will support dads who want to take time off work to be more involved in those early months. "It’s a modern policy, for modern families. It delivers more choice, it offers greater security – and it rewards aspiration.” Albanese says that extended leave was one of the clearest calls that came out of the recent jobs summit. “Businesses, unions, experts and economists all understand that providing more choice, more support and more flexibility for families and more opportunity for women boosts participation and productivity across the economy.” He says the government sees this as “the baseline, a national minimum standard. "We are encouraged that there are already employers across Australia competing to offer working parents the best possible deal. And we want to see more of it. "Because a parental leave system that empowers the full and equal participation of women will be good for business, good for families and good for the economy.” Minister for Women Katy Gallagher said that “having a child shouldn’t be an economic barrier for families or indeed act as a handbrake on the broader economy. "Right now, this burden is borne disproportionately by women but we know that good women’s policy is also good economic policy and this decision is evidence of that.” Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth said: “This will benefit mums, it will benefit dads, it’s good for children, and it will be a huge boost to the economy. "We know that treating parenting as an equal partnership helps to improve gender equality.” This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/paid-parental-leave-extended-to-26-weeks-by-2026-with-pressure-on-dads-to-share-more-early-caring-192506" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. Image: Shutterstock

Legal

Queen Elizabeth extends olive branch to Sussexes

Queen Elizabeth II has extended an offer to her grandson Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to join her for a break over the summer. Despite tensions amongst the royal family, the Queen invited the US-based Sussexes to stay with her at Craigowan Lodge in Balmoral. The Queen is expected to stay there for 10 weeks at the seven bedroom house and will have various family members join her. When and if the Sussexes accept her offer, it is expected that no other royals will be present, The Sun reported. “Staff have been told to expect the full list of royals including Harry, Meghan and their children Archie and Lilibet,” a Balmoral insider told the publication. “They are preparing for the Sussexes.” The Sussexes were in the UK from the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and spent only a limited time with the Queen in which she met their daughter Lilibet. It’s expected that the trip to Balmoral will give them quality family time. Images: Getty

Relationships

When pets are family, the benefits extend into society

There is a growing global trend to consider pets as part of the family. In fact, millions of people around the world love their pets, enjoying their companionship, going for walks, playing and even talking to them. And there is evidence suggesting that attachment to pets is good for human health and even helps build community. More and more often, animals are included in family events and become important to all members of the family. This can be particularly significant in single-parent families, where <a href="https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2214.2001.00202.x" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a pet can be an important companion to children</a>. Children with pets may have higher levels of <a href="https://doi.org/10.2752/089279306785593801" target="_blank" rel="noopener">empathy</a> and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1545-5300.2009.01296.x" target="_blank" rel="noopener">self-esteem</a> compared to those who do not have pets. Thinking of pets as family members can actually make the chores associated with pet care less stressful than they are for those who consider pets as property. Spending more time caring for a pet increases attachment to that animal which in turn <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/08927936.2018.1505269" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reduces stress in owners</a>. In the research my colleagues and I have done on <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2308-3417/3/4/75/htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">aging and social participation</a>, we found considerable analysis showing that interactions involving pets, especially if we care about them, can have a health-protective effect. Zooeyia (pronounced zoo-AY-uh) is the idea that pets, also known as companion animals, can be <a href="https://www.jabfm.org/content/28/4/526" target="_blank" rel="noopener">good for human health</a>. In fact, pet owners in Germany and Australia were found to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-005-5072-z" target="_blank" rel="noopener">visit their doctor 15 per cent fewer times annually than non-pet owners</a>. <h2>Healthy, emotional connections</h2> Many health benefits to humans occur when there is an emotional attachment to pets. And we tend to care the most for animals that live with us. For example, a study that looked at attachment to dogs found that people tended to <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.2752/089279306785415466" target="_blank" rel="noopener">care about their house dogs more than those that lived in the yard</a>. Higher levels of attachment to dogs has been associated with a greater likelihood of walking the dog and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnw051" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spending more time on those walks as compared with those with a weaker bond to their dogs</a>. Sharing your life with a pet has been associated with a decreased risk of <a href="https://insights.ovid.com/crossref?an=00005792-201703310-00028" target="_blank" rel="noopener">coronary artery disease, a reduction in stress levels and increased physical activity (especially through dog walking)</a>. The presence of a pet during stressful activities has been shown to <a href="https://journals.lww.com/psychosomaticmedicine/Citation/1998/01000/SOCIAL_INTERACTION_AND_CARDIOVASCULAR_REACTIVITY.52.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lower the blood pressure of couples taking part in a stressful task</a>. In fact, <a href="http://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/12672376" target="_blank" rel="noopener">levels of beta-endorphin, oxytocin and dopamine, among other markers, increased in both humans and their dogs</a> during caring interactions, demonstrating that time spent together is physiologically beneficial for both species. And owning a pet has been associated with an <a href="https://doi.org/10.1097/HJH.0000000000001214" target="_blank" rel="noopener">improved cardiovascular disease survival among older adults (aged 65 to 84 years old) being treated for hypertension</a>. <h2>Pets as family and community members</h2> Because pets are considered family members by many people, the loss of a dog or cat is often a cause for deep grief. A missing or dead pet is hard for many to replace because the relationship between the person and pet was specific to those individuals. The attachment between humans and animals is often so strong that it is common to <a href="https://doi.org/10.17744/mehc.26.3.udj040fw2gj75lqp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mourn in a way that is very similar to the feelings and behaviours associated with the loss of a human family member</a>. The bond between humans and animals is not just good for human health, it can also help <a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0122085" target="_blank" rel="noopener">build community</a>. People with pets often find that <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2005.01.017" target="_blank" rel="noopener">activities with their companion animal creates connections with other people</a>. Social networks that are developed based on shared concern over the welfare of animals can lead to increased human-human interaction, as well as activities involving pets (e.g. dog-walking clubs). Walking a dog gets people out of private spaces, which can be isolating, and <a href="https://doi.org/10.3122/jabfm.2015.04.140254" target="_blank" rel="noopener">into public areas where interactions with neighbors and other walkers are possible</a>. <h2>Protecting pets</h2> Societies create laws and institutions to protect companion animals from cruelty and neglect. In most jurisdictions, regulation of shelters and pounds has not evolved to reflect the beloved status of many pets, and instead consider pets as property. If a lost pet is not reunited with an owner within a few days it can be <a href="https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90a22" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sold to a new family, to a research lab, or be euthanized</a>. However, some countries, such as <a href="https://helpanimalsindia.org/news/library/saving-indias-street-dogs-from-abc-to-arv" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India</a>, <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.4415/ann_12_01_16" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Italy</a> and <a href="https://eng.coa.gov.tw/theme_data.php?theme=eng_news&id=481" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Taiwan</a> have legislated against the euthanasia of healthy shelter animals. But in North America euthanasia is still common. In 2017, Humane Canada found that among the shelters they surveyed, <a href="https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/cfhs/pages/427/attachments/original/1542135547/Humane_Canada_-_2017_Shelter_Statistics_-_FINAL.pdf?1542135547" target="_blank" rel="noopener">over 70 per cent of lost dogs and cats were unclaimed, and tens of thousands of dogs and cats were euthanized</a>. In 2016, <a href="https://www.ccac.ca/en/facts-and-legislation/animal-data/annual-animal-data-reports.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">4,308,921 animals were experimented on</a> in Canadian laboratories. Approximately <a href="https://www.animalalliance.ca/campaigns/pets-research/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">17,000 were pet dogs and cats who were provided by shelters to research laboratories</a> and later euthanized. The strength of the human-animal bond has resulted in the creation of not-for-profit animal rescues whose mission is to ‘pull’ lost and abandoned animals from shelters before they are euthanized or sold for research. For example, <a href="http://marleyshope.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Marley’s Hope</a> is a Nova Scotia all-breed rescue organization. The organisation also partners with the Sipekne’katik First Nation to help <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/sipekne-katik-first-nation-implementing-dog-population-control-program-1.3094215" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rehome roaming dogs as well as spay and neuter where possible</a>. The <a href="http://www.underdograilroadcanada.com/who-are-we.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Underdog Railroad</a> in Toronto, Ontario, rescues dogs and cats from high-kill shelters as well as those offered “free to a good home” online. And <a href="http://www.elderdog.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Elderdog</a> provides older adults with help to care for their pets as well as rescuing abandoned older dogs. The <a href="http://www.hsi.org/world/canada/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Humane Society International — Canada</a> assists in <a href="http://www.hsi.org/world/canada/news/releases/2018/06/spay-neuter-la-romaine-060718.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spay-neuter programs</a> as well as <a href="http://www.hsi.org/world/canada/work/endanimaltesting/qa/cosmetics_qa_canada.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">advocating for</a> and rescuing animals, including in the <a href="http://www.hsi.org/issues/dog_meat/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">international dog and cat meat industries</a>. They closed three South Korean dog meat farms and two slaughterhouses in 2018, rescuing 512 dogs, many of whom found homes in Canada and the USA. Mohandas Ghandi understood the importance of the human animal bond. In his autobiography he said “<a href="http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00litlinks/gandhi/part1/117chapter.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">man’s supremacy over the lower animals meant not that the former should prey upon the latter, but that the higher should protect the lower, and that there should be mutual aid between the two</a>.” Recognizing the ways that companion animals enrich human lives, and understanding the depth of the affection between many humans and animals, may be the key to not only better health, but to improving the welfare of society as a whole. This article originally appeared on The Conversation. Image: Shutterstock

Family & Pets

Homelessness is common for teens leaving out-of-home-care. We need to extend care until they are at least 21

Young people transitioning from out-of-home care – whether it’s foster, kinship or residential care – are disadvantaged in many ways. Many have experienced abuse, neglect, family hardship or illness. They may feel long-term grief due to family separation. And while some enjoy stable placements with committed foster or kinship carers, others – particularly those in residential care, supervised by rostered staff – may experience instability as friends or support workers come and go. Most exit the out-of-home care system at 18, or younger, without ongoing support. Unfortunately, however, many such young people quickly encounter homelessness, unemployment and contact with the criminal justice system soon after leaving out-of-home care. Instead of leaving these people to fend for themselves at age 18 (or younger), we need a nationally consistent model of extended care that supports care leavers until age 21. A tough transition A 2021 study by <a href="https://create.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/CREATE-Post-Care-Report-2021-LR.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the CREATE Foundation</a> (which represents young people who have experienced out-of-home care) found homelessness was common among people exiting the system. Almost 100 of the 325 sampled care leavers aged 18-25 experienced homelessness in the first year after their transition. Another <a href="https://apo.org.au/node/314424" target="_blank" rel="noopener">study</a> found: <blockquote> More than half the 1,848 Victorian care leavers in this study (using data from leavers during 2013 and 2014) accessed homelessness services in the four years after leaving care, while one in three had multiple homeless experiences. Participants with experiences of residential care and multiple foster care placements were more likely to experience housing disruptions. </blockquote> <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/child-protection/incomesupport-receipt-oohc/summary" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Another national study</a> noted care leavers were three times as likely as other young Australians to have received social security payments. Of course, many care leavers <a href="http://createyourfuture.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Stein-M.-ResearchReview.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">do integrate effectively</a> into the social and economic mainstream. Some have difficult lives but still manage to cope, while others struggle to overcome adversity and social exclusion. In general, those who achieve successful transitions tend to <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/cfs.12473" target="_blank" rel="noopener">leave care later</a> than 18 years of age and receive ongoing support well into their twenties from, for example <ul> <li> foster or kinship carers </li> <li> extended family members </li> <li> formal mentors or neighbours </li> <li> friends </li> <li> members of sporting, religious, cultural and other community groups. </li> </ul> These supportive relationships, which mirror the assistance that most of their non-care peers naturally access from their parents, provide the social capital needed to acquire housing, food, clothing, a driver’s licence and entry into sustainable education, employment and training. According to <a href="https://apo.org.au/node/314424" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one young person</a> who remained with their foster family in Victoria beyond 18 years: <blockquote> I was in the same home for 11 years, they were like my parents so they didn’t kick me out or anything. It wasn’t like I was in their care; I was like a part of the family. </blockquote> Conversely, those who experience troubled transitions from out-of-home care may experience social isolation, emotional adversity and hardship. <a href="https://apo.org.au/node/314424" target="_blank" rel="noopener">One young person from Victoria</a> who was suddenly forced to leave care commented: <blockquote> I mean if you have a kid, you’re not going to kick him out as soon as they turn 16. You’re not going to, you know, tell your kid that ‘oh you have to find your own way to learn how to drive or anything’. You’re going to take them by the hand, you’re going to help them with each of these things. Even after your kid’s left, you’re still going to, you know, check up on them, you’re going to go there make sure they’re eating properly, cleaning the place properly. I had no idea how to clean anything. </blockquote> Young people who have harder transitions often include those in <a href="https://lens.monash.edu/@politics-society/2019/12/13/1378567/from-care-to-custody-the-tragic-trajectory-of-crossover-kids" target="_blank" rel="noopener">youth justice custody</a> when they turn 18 years of age, some <a href="https://www.aracy.org.au/publications-resources/command/download_file/id/465/filename/ARACY_Showing_the_Light_FINAL_20220302.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">young parents</a>, those who have a major <a href="https://daneshyari.com/article/preview/346111.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cognitive disability</a> or <a href="https://apo.org.au/node/314424" target="_blank" rel="noopener">poor mental health</a> and <a href="https://apo.org.au/node/307306" target="_blank" rel="noopener">some Indigenous young people</a> who have been prevented from forming a connection with their culture, identity and community. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/459038/original/file-20220421-18-yi1uh7.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/459038/original/file-20220421-18-yi1uh7.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/459038/original/file-20220421-18-yi1uh7.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=398&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/459038/original/file-20220421-18-yi1uh7.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=398&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/459038/original/file-20220421-18-yi1uh7.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=398&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/459038/original/file-20220421-18-yi1uh7.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=501&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/459038/original/file-20220421-18-yi1uh7.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=501&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/459038/original/file-20220421-18-yi1uh7.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=501&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /></a><figcaption>Those who experience troubled transitions from out-of-home care may experience social isolation, emotional adversity and hardship. Shutterstock</figcaption></figure> Extended care as an early intervention strategy The best way to boost the life chances of all care leavers is to introduce a nationally consistent model of extended out-of-home care from 18 to 21 years. This is the model advocated by the <a href="https://thehomestretch.org.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Home Stretch campaign</a> led by Anglicare Victoria. Evidence from evaluations of extended care programs in the <a href="https://www.chapinhall.org/research/calyouth/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">US</a> and <a href="https://repository.lboro.ac.uk/articles/report/Evaluation_of_the_Staying_Put_18_Plus_Family_Placement_Programme_final_report/9580109" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UK</a> confirms providing support until age 21 can improve outcomes for care leavers. As of April 2022, the Home Stretch model has informed the introduction of major extended care safety nets in <a href="https://www.celcis.org/application/files/5716/2263/3274/2021_Vol_20_No_1_Mendes_P_Extending_out-of-home_care_in_the_State_of_Victoria_Australia.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">six out of Australia’s eight</a> states and territories. <ul> <li> <a href="https://thehomestretch.org.au/news/the-most-significant-reform-to-child-welfare-in-a-generation-victorian-government-leads-nation-in-announcing-universal-care-for-young-people-to-the-age-of-21" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Victoria</a> and <a href="https://www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au/2021-22/fact-sheets/communities.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Western Australia</a> offer support to young people leaving all forms of out-of-home care until age 21 </li> <li> <a href="https://thehomestretch.org.au/news/foster-care-payments-to-be-extended-until-age-21-by-new-sa-liberal-government" target="_blank" rel="noopener">South Australia</a>, <a href="https://thehomestretch.org.au/news/first-state-government-extend-care-21-years-australia/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tasmania</a> and the <a href="https://www.communityservices.act.gov.au/ocyfs/children/child-and-youth-protection-services/a-step-up-for-our-kids/out-of-home-care-strategy-2015-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Australian Capital Territory</a> fund an allowance to foster and kinship carers only until age 21. South Australia has introduced a <a href="https://www.childprotection.sa.gov.au/news/dcp-news/young-people-leaving-residential-care-to-be-better-supported-with-next-steps" target="_blank" rel="noopener">trial program</a> for residential care leavers in February 2022 - but it is only funded for two years to support 20 young people </li> <li> <a href="https://www.qld.gov.au/community/caring-child/foster-kinship-care/information-for-carers/money-matters/carer-allowances" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Queensland</a> offers the same assistance only until 19 years </li> <li> the <a href="https://thehomestretch.org.au/news/push-to-lift-nt-foster-care-age-to-21/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Northern Territory</a> has promised to legislate universal extended care soon </li> <li> <a href="https://thehomestretch.org.au/news/nsw-lags-nationally-on-caring-for-most-vulnerable-young-people-as-victoria-surges-ahead/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New South Wales</a> is the outlier in currently providing no form of extended care. </li> </ul> No state or territory allows young people living in residential care to remain in their existing homes beyond 18 years of age. Nor have any of them introduced <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/931987/Staying_Close_Break.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Staying Close</a> programs similar to those trialled in the UK, whereby residential care leavers are supported to live close to their former accommodation and maintain existing relationships with their former carers and support networks. The federal government, via the recently updated <a href="https://www.dss.gov.au/our-responsibilities/families-and-children/programs-services/protecting-australias-children" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children</a>, should establish a nationally consistent model of extended care that would universally assist all care leavers until age 21.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/181167/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/phillip-mendes-101820" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Phillip Mendes</a>, Professor, Director Social Inclusion and Social Policy Research Unit, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Monash University</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/homelessness-is-common-for-teens-leaving-out-of-home-care-we-need-to-extend-care-until-they-are-at-least-21-181167" target="_blank" rel="noopener">original article</a>. Image: Getty Images

Caring

Wake up Jeff! Extended napping in seniors may signal dementia

<div> <div class="copy"> Daytime napping in older people is common and a normal part of aging, however, in excess it may also foreshadow <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/predictive-test-for-alzheimers-disease/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alzheimer’s disease</a> and other <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/dementias-rising-pressure/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dementias</a>, according to a <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/alz.12636" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">new study</a>. Researchers found that excessive daytime napping predicts an increased future risk of Alzheimer’s dementia. And, once dementia or its usual precursor – mild cognitive impairment – are diagnosed, the frequency and/or duration of napping accelerates rapidly. The results were published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association. “Daytime sleep behaviors of older adults are oftentimes ignored, and a consensus for daytime napping in clinical practice and health care is still lacking,” says co-first author Dr Peng Li, based at the Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Massachussets, US. “Our results not only suggest that excessive daytime napping may signal an elevated risk of Alzheimer’s dementia, but they also show that faster yearly increase in daytime napping may be a sign of deteriorating or unfavored clinical progression of the disease,” adds Li. The study tracked data from 1,401 seniors for up to 14 years. Those studied, approximately three-quarters of whom were female, had an average age of 81 years. They wore watch-like devices that tracked mobility continuously for up to 14 days every year. Each prolonged period without activity detected by the device between 9am and 7pm was interpreted as a nap. In addition, they underwent yearly neuropsychological tests to evaluate cognition. At the start of the study 75.7% of participants had no cognitive impairment, while 19.5% had mild impairment and 4.1% had Alzheimer’s disease. The researchers found that longer and more frequent daytime naps were a risk factor for developing dementia in cognitively normal older men and women. As the disease progressed, annual increases in the duration and frequency of napping accelerated – especially after the clinical manifestation of Alzheimer’s dementia. This occurred independent of known risk factors for dementia – including age and night-time sleep duration and fragmentation. “We found the association between excessive daytime napping and dementia remained after adjusting for night-time quantity and quality of sleep,” says co-senior author Dr Yue Leng of the University of California San Francisco. “This suggested that the role of daytime napping is important itself and is independent of night-time sleep.” This increase in napping may be explained by a <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/alzheimers-disease-destroys-neurons-that-keep-us-awake/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2019 study</a>, which compared the post-mortem brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease to those without cognitive impairment and found they had fewer wake-promoting neurons in three brain regions. The authors acknowledge the limitation that, because the study participants were older, the findings may not easily translate to younger cohort. They also suggest that future studies should test whether a direct intervention in daytime napping can lower the risk of Alzheimer’s dementia or cognitive decline. “I don’t think we have enough evidence to draw conclusions about a causal relationship, that it’s the napping itself that caused cognitive aging, but excessive daytime napping might be a signal of accelerated aging or cognitive aging process,” says Leng. “It would be very interesting for future studies to explore whether intervention of naps may help slow down age-related cognitive decline.” “Our hope is to draw more attention to daytime sleep patterns and the importance of patients noting if their sleep schedule is changing over time,” adds co-senior author Dr Kun Hu, also of Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Image credits: Getty Images  <img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=185634&title=Wake+up+Jeff%21+Extended+napping+in+seniors+may+signal+dementia" width="1" height="1" data-spai-target="src" data-spai-orig="" data-spai-exclude="nocdn" /> </div> <div id="contributors"> This article was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/body-and-mind/alzheimers-dementia-nap/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cosmosmagazine.com</a> and was written by Imma Perfetto. </div> </div>

Mind

The ban on cruise ships has once again been extended

Image: Shutterstock The cruise ship industry has lamented on the cruising ban in Australia being extended until February 2022. Yesterday Health Minister Greg Hunt declared the human biosecurity period has been extended until the 17th of February. Consequently, cruise ships will not be allowed into Australia, although the ban will be reviewed in a month. The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) said the decision was a "devastating blow for thousands of Australian workers". 18,000 Australians depend on the cruise market for their livelihoods, CLIA managing director Joel Katz said. "In other countries close to five million people have already sailed successfully under the cruise industry's extensive new health protocols," he said. "We need federal and state governments to use the coming weeks for genuine discussions with the cruise industry so we can plan a similar revival in Australia." The cruise industry's new health measures include vaccination mandates and testing, as well as various quarantine and distancing measures. "Cruising has changed enormously in response to the pandemic and the work our industry has done with medical experts internationally has resulted in health protocols that are successful in mitigating the risks of COVID-19," Mr Katz said. "With vaccination rates increasing and borders opening, we need agreement on the way forward throughout Australia so there can be a careful revival of cruise tourism in communities around the country." The biosecurity period determinations also mandate pre-departure testing and mask-wearing on international flights, as well as restrictions on outbound travel for unvaccinated Australians. "These arrangements have been a significant contributing factor in Australia's success in avoiding the catastrophic effects of COVID-19 seen in many other countries," the announcement from Mr Hunt said. "The Government continues to work constructively with the cruise ship industry, with whom we remain actively engaged alongside state and territory governments to enable a phased resumption of cruising in Australia on the basis of medical advice. "As part of this work, the Government will continually review, on a monthly basis, whether the current restrictions on cruise ships can be safely lifted or amended."

Cruising

The one factor that will see lockdown extended

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post-body-container"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> Victoria has recorded 11 new infections yesterday but the lockdown is still likely to lift at the end of the week. However, there is one factor that could force authorities to extend the restrictions, as there are now 83 locally acquired COVID-19 infections. A significant rise in mystery cases would be the one thing that would keep restrictions in place. “We are certainly on course to lift the lockdown as scheduled,” one senior Victorian government insider told the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.heraldsun.com.au/" target="_blank">Herald Sun</a>. “Unless there is a massive shock, we would be expecting that to happen.” The West Melbourne cluster is still of great concern and the variant is "more dangerous" and needs to be contained. Authorities believe that the variant leaked into the community from an overseas traveller despite genomic sequencing not turning up any matches to those in hotel quarantine. “This is almost certain that’s where this one has come from. Most people who have come across our borders have come through hotel quarantine, but we have no definite link to any particular breach,” federal chief medical officer Professor Paul Kelly said. “There was some speculation at some point this may be due to people who received some [hotel quarantine] exemptions. I’m assured by my colleague, the chief health officer in the ACT that there’s been no positive cases. They have all received the standard number of tests anyone who would be in hotel quarantine get.” Acting Premier James Merlino said that Victoria is living in a "different environment" due to the new variant. “There’s a reason why public health is so concerned about the Delta variant,” he said. “It is much, much more infectious than what we were dealing with last year. The last thing we want to see is this variant of the virus getting out and becoming uncontrollable,” he said. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that he is "hopeful" that restrictions would be lifted "as soon as possible". “I would be urging that we move toward lifting those restrictions as soon as possible,” Mr Morrison said. “Hopefully [we] see Victoria opened again soon. Particularly for those parents who are having to keep their kids at home away from school. Kids have lost enough time out of school, over the course of the last 18 months.” </div> </div> </div> </div>

News

Patient zero of Sydney's latest outbreak revealed as restrictions are extended

The Sydney COVID-19 patient dubbed "BBQ man" after he visited multiple BBQ stores around the city while infectious has been named, finally providing an explanation for his shopping spree. Investment company Apollo Global Management managing director Tom Pizzey has been identified by the Australian Financial Review as the man linked to Sydney's latest COVID-19 scare. Mr Pizzey is understood to have the "double mutant" Indian strain of the virus, with his wife also testing positive to COVID-19. AFR reported Mr Pizzey is still dealing with symptoms of the virus, with Apollo confirming it is assisting NSW Health in relation to a positive virus case. “The employee has not travelled outside Australia this year,” an Apollo spokesperson told AFR. Mr Pizzey, who is one of Apollo's only two full-time employees in Australia, is understood to be the mystery COVID-19 case who visited multiple venues on May 1 while unknowingly infectious, including multiple BBQ stores. He visited two different Barbecue Galore stores as the chain is in its early stages of auction. Mr Pizzey was checking out the stores for Apollo, with reports the company is considering acquiring the chain. In the same day, Mr Pizzey also visited Joe’s Barbeques & Heating in Silverwater, Tucker Barbecues in Silverwater and The Meat Store in Bondi Junction

News

Why Australian international travel ban extended by three months

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> The Australian Federal Government has extended the ban on international travel by a further three months, which means the ban will be in place until at least June 17th. The announcement means that the mandatory 14-day hotel quarantine for returned travellers will likely remain in place for the rest of 2021. Health Minister Greg Hunt said that the extension of the "human biosecurity emergency period" was based on medical and epidemiological advice provided by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee. "The AHPPC has advised the Australian government the Covid-19 situation overseas continues to pose an unacceptable public health risk to Australia, including the emergence of more highly transmissible variants," he said. "The extension of the emergency period for a further three months is about mitigating that risk for everyone's health and safety." Opposition's foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong called on the government to take responsibility for the border closures. "When Scott Morrison closed the borders he had no plan for the consequences," she said to the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/heartache-for-stranded-australians-border-ban-extended-until-june-20210302-p5777o.html" target="_blank">Sydney Morning Herald</a>. "A year later, 40,000 Australians are still stranded overseas, the border closure has been extended and there's still no plan for safe, national quarantine." Australian Industry Group chief executive Innes Willox called for "certainty" on the international borders "as soon as possible". “We are a migrant nation. Our skilled migrants have been a huge driver of our economy,” he said. “Without migration - and the certainty around it - we are diminished economically and culturally.” </div> </div> </div>

International Travel

“This is not about new rules”: Dan Andrews set to extend state of emergency

The Victorian has launched a bold attempt to extend the state of emergency until the end of the year. Premier Daniel Andrews said on Tuesday that the government is planning to introduce a bill into parliament that will extend Victoria’s state of emergency past its maximum legislated period of 12 months. The Premier declared a state of emergency in Victoria on March 16, 2020 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. While it has been extended in four-week periods, the government will need to pass new laws if they want to extend it for longer than 12 months. The bill will attempt to extend the state of emergency until December 15 this year. It will allow the chief health officer to introduce directions that may help stop the spread of the virus. This may include mask wearing restrictions or stay-at-home orders. Mr Andrews stressed that the bill would not mean new rules will suddenly be introduced. He clarified that the extension was needed for “legal certainty” for coronavirus measures. “These rules are all about staying safe and staying open,” the Premier said. “We can’t go to a situation where there are no rules. “I’m very confident we will have that good faith, constructive discussion with any and all members of parliament who want to be engaged and that will get this passed. “We can’t have mandatory quarantine unless we have a rule book, and you can’t have rules unless they’ve got legal authority, and that’s what the state of emergency gives us. “This is not about new rules. This is just about keeping the current rules in place and potentially loosening them off as conditions continue to get better.”

News

"We're not going to survive": Aussie couple stuck in extended quarantine speak out

A couple stuck in hotel quarantine beyond the expected 14-day requirement say they understand why the system has been put in place but they would at least like some fresh air and empathy after being stuck in a room with no balcony. Geoff and Karen Crooks are having to remain in hotel quarantine for a further two weeks after the extremely contagious UK strain of coronavirus spread at the Grand Chancellor Hotel in Brisbane. "We're not going to survive in this room for another 14 days," Mr Crooks told A Current Affair host Leila McKinnon. Mr Crooks was unable to attend his brother's funeral due to the quarantine directive and said it hasn't been easy due to the lack of help and him waiting all day to see a nurse. "Understand what issues we're having," he said. Mrs Crooks said the news they would have to remain in quarantine for an extra two weeks was broken to them by police just over an hour before they were scheduled to leave, which wasn't easy to hear. But their issue is not with hotel quarantine, they just want it to be more comfortable. "I doubt very much whether the premier of Queensland has even talked to anybody who's gone through quarantine and understands just the circumstances you've got to stay in. This room is 10 paces across," Mr Crooks said. Mr Cooks has now been tested five times, with all tests coming back as negative, including a pre-travel test which was done in the US and a test he requested because of sinus issues while in quarantine. He said he was surprised more wasn't done earlier as the severity of the UK strain has been known for quite a while. "It was three levels above us, six days before that we knew about it," Mr Crooks said. While the couple knows they won't be let out soon, and they don't expect to be, they do want others to know that they aren't sitting by the pool drinking cocktails. "We were prepared to do quarantine, we knew all about it, we've done our homework, that's part of the system. (But) it's about doing it again (and) making sure the facility was better than the last time, have some compassion," Mr Crooks said. He said their new room is smaller than their first and now had no balcony. He would like Ms Palaszczuk to give people a call and talk to them to understand the issues with the rooms, which he said were designed for a one-to-two night stay, not for two or four weeks of quarantine. Mrs Crooks said it was lucky she and her husband get on, but she feels for those doing it on their own. The couple said an online quarantine community has helped during their stay. "We would just like to say thank you to all those guys supporting us because there's a heap of people in our position," Mr Crooks said.

Caring

Kochie grills Health Minister over extended coronavirus lockdown

Sunrise host David ‘Kochie’ Koch has butted heads with Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos over the state’s controversial roadmap out of coronavirus restrictions. Koch accused the state government of “going rogue” with their plan and setting “unrealistic” targets that need to be achieved before businesses are allowed to reopen. It was recently announced that Melbourne’s stage four restrictions will stay in place for an additional two weeks, but from September 14 the nightly curfew will start an hour later at 9 pm and run until 5am. People living by themselves will be able to nominate a friend of family member who can visit them, while two hours of daily exercise will be allowed, including “social interactions” such as having a picnic at a local park or reading a book at the beach. The curfew won’t be lifted until October 26, with people only permitted to leave their homes for non-essential reasons. The lockdown will only lift on that date if the average number of daily cases is below five and there are less than five unknown cases. Koch questioned the Health Minister over this number, saying NSW regularly records more than 5 cases and has not gone back into lockdown. “This target of getting under five cases a day for 14 days before you get back to any semblance of normal is way different to NSW, which is managing it with an economy that’s relatively open,” he said. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Businesses have blasted the Victorian government's plan to lead the state out of its coronavirus lockdown, saying the road map to lifting restrictions does not go far enough, quick enough. Latest updates: <a href="https://t.co/NkVFH2ldL2">https://t.co/NkVFH2ldL2</a> <a href="https://t.co/enii4GMmEE">pic.twitter.com/enii4GMmEE</a> — Sunrise (@sunriseon7) <a href="https://twitter.com/sunriseon7/status/1302733548370104322?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 6, 2020</a></blockquote> “NSW fluctuates between five cases a day to sometimes in the low teens, but they manage it and keep businesses open, keep kids at school, they keep the economy going and more particularly for the mental health of citizens.” But Mikakos firmly stood her ground, saying Victoria was in a “different position” to its neighbour. “New South Wales has done a great job and we acknowledge that, but Victoria is in a different position,” she said. The Minister said the state’s roadmap was “designed in accordance with the expert advice from our public health officials and based on the modelling we receive.” “Modelling shows if we go too fast too quickly then we risk having a third wave,” she added. “We want to bring down our cases significantly before we can safely reopen businesses and other economic activity.” “If we just have a little more patience then we can get there, but I do acknowledge the huge sacrifice everyone is making.”

News

Victoria’s State of Emergency to be extended 18 months

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has announced the State of Emergency will be extended to 18 months and lockdown restrictions will go beyond September. Mr Andrews says the state cannot afford to lower the restrictions, and as a result the government will continue a State of Emergency which will give them the power to impose stricter lockdown restrictions. “It is not an unlimited extension, it is nothing more than a recognition that this virus won't be over on September 30,” the premier said. “I would love nothing more for there to be no need for any rules on September 14, but I don't think that is the reality.” While the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 only allows a State of Emergency to operate for six months, Mr Andrews says that amendments are being made to change it. “That is the legal instrument that allows rules about face masks, about COVID safe work plans in workplaces large and small, that is the legal instrument that sits behind density limits in pubs and cafes and restaurants,” he said. “Things like a positive person, someone who has got this virus, and required to isolate at home. “We will extend the state of emergency provisions within the public health and well-being act for a maximum of a further 12 months.” Mr Andrews said the decision to ask parliament to extend the restrictions was about “protecting everyone” in Victoria. “They will need to be in place after September 13. I wish that wasn't the case. Even if there had not been a second wave these rules would still need to be in place,” he said. “Because there is not a jurisdiction in the world that is going to just be going back to absolute normal, where there are no limits on restaurants, no limits in cafes, no masks at all, no need to isolate if you've actually got this. “All of those very common sense provisions they need when you're beyond the 13 September. The law doesn't quite provide for that. We want to make a change.” The premier warns that if there is no vaccine within the next 12 months, the state may have to extend restrictions again. “We would be in a similar position to now where we would have to go back to the Parliament. No-one is asking for an unlimited five years, 10 years, run forever. 12 months we think is appropriate. That is to say it is foreseeable,” he said. “I hope we are wrong in predicting this will still need rules in 12 months. Hopefully we have got a vaccine by then. “But even then, the vaccine will take time to develop, manufacture, administer, and the efficacy of the vaccine, what is the life-cycle of that, does it protect you for three months, six months, here, forever, the whole notion of boosters, those sorts of things. “So this is nothing more or less than a logical extension in time, changing the law of the state to ensure it is equal to the challenge of state faces.”

News

JobKeeper extended to Christmas but eligibility has tightened

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text "> The JobKeeper wage subsidy is going to be extended until Christmas at a reduced rate of over $1000-a-fortnight. There will be a tighter eligibility test for companies trying to get the wage subsidy. <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/economy/australian-economy/coronavirus-australia-jobkeeper-to-be-extended-until-christmas-eligibility-tightened/news-story/2d8836820665488a1daebb74e4dea28f" target="_blank" class="_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtflink">News.com.au</a> has confirmed that JobKeeper will reduce the current wage subsidy from $1,500 a fortnight but extend the support to coronavirus affected businesses until the end of the year. The new measures will be outlined on Thursday, but casuals will no longer be able to secure a flat-rate payment regardless of whether they are full-time or part-time in the new JobKeeper phase. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has confirmed that the new turnover test will apply when the current scheme will end on September 27th to ensure that companies that have bounced back from COVID-19 are removed from the program. “As we have highlighted there will be another phase of income support. It will stick to the principles that have guided us well. It will be targeted, it will be proportionate, it will be scalable, and it will be using existing systems,‘’ he told <a rel="noopener" href="http://news.com.au/" target="_blank" class="_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtflink">news.com.au</a>. “The JobKeeper payment is an economic lifeline to millions of Australians and hundreds of thousands of businesses. “Barring the spread of the virus in significant numbers beyond Victoria, we expect to see the other state and territory economies continue their recovery towards a COVIDSafe economy.” The new monthly testing options for JobKeeper could include companies to submit monthly updates on business turnover to the Australian Taxation Office to prove that cash flow is down. Finance Minister Mathias Cormann confirmed the shift to a new turnover test as sensible. “When the JobKeeper program was first announced, and businesses had to demonstrate a drop in turnover of 30 per cent or 50 per cent depending on their level of turnover, once they were in they were in for the entire six month period,” he told Sky News on Sunday morning. “As we get to the end of that six months, towards the end of September, it is going to be important to reassess which businesses still should be receiving this support. “In the first six months, irrespective of what happened to your turnover after you initially qualified, you were in — but as we go into this next period, there is a need to reassess whether that support, you still need it for specific businesses." </div> </div> </div>

Money & Banking

Incredible but true: Terminally ill scientist extends life for decades by becoming "world's first full cyborg"

A British scientist who is terminally ill said he has transformed into “the world’s first full cyborg”. 61-year-old Peter Scott Morgan, who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in 2017, said he decided to extend his life using technology. This week, the roboticist emerged after 24 days in intensive care to reveal that “Peter 2.0 is now online”. “All medical procedures now complete and a huge success,” Scott-Morgan wrote on a Twitter post. “Long research road ahead but in great spirits.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> Just home from 24 days in Intensive Care. All medical procedures now complete and a huge success. My mini-ventilator keeping me breathing is a LOT quieter than Darth Vader’s. All speech is synthetic but at last sounds like me again. Long research road ahead but in great spirits. <a href="https://t.co/JPjwjagDLT">pic.twitter.com/JPjwjagDLT</a> — Dr Peter B Scott-Morgan (@DrScottMorgan) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrScottMorgan/status/1193923007045132289?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 11, 2019</a></blockquote> The processes Scott-Morgan underwent during his intensive care included a laryngectomy to avoid the danger of saliva potentially entering his lungs – which he described as trading his natural voice for “potentially decades of life”. He also had a laser eye surgery and developed a life-like avatar of his face, which was designed to respond using artificially intelligent body language. The scientist, who was told by experts he might only have until the end of this year to live, said last month: “I’m not dying, I’m transforming. Oh, how I love science.” Scott-Morgan said the transition, which turned him into “the most advanced human cybernetic organism ever created in 13.8 billion years”, would not be his last. “It won’t stop there; I’ve got more upgrades in progress than Microsoft,” he wrote on his website. “Mine isn’t just a version change. It’s a metamorphosis.” Scott-Morgan said MND, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease, should be seen as an opportunity to “upgrade” rather than a death sentence. “Over time, more and more with MND, with extreme disability, with old age, with a passion simply to break free from their physical straightjacket, will choose to stand beside me,” he wrote. He is now lobbying British MPs for support for his Right to Thrive campaign, which calls for increased access for people with MND to life-sustaining technologies, including tracheostomy and cough-assist machine.

Body

Coles extends urgent ice cream recall

Coles supermarkets have extended an urgent recall of ice cream, after concerns that some of the products for sale may contain harmful metal fragments. <a href="http://www.news.com.au/" target="_blank">News.com.au reports</a> the initial recall, issued two weeks ago, applied to Coles Mini Classics Vanilla 360ml ice creams with a best before date of April 16 and April 17, 2020, as well as the Almond variety with a best before date of April 18, 2020. But the recall has been extended to included Coles Mini Classics sixpack ice creams with the before date of April 17, 2020, which have been on sale since May 16, 2018, after the initial recall. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Coles recalls more ice creams amid concerns they may contain metal fragments: <a href="https://t.co/leCEvM8X5f">https://t.co/leCEvM8X5f</a> <a href="https://t.co/m97UM0lp2N">pic.twitter.com/m97UM0lp2N</a> — news.com.au (@newscomauHQ) <a href="https://twitter.com/newscomauHQ/status/997665916581183493?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 19, 2018</a></blockquote> On its website, Coles said: “The recall is due to the potential presence of metal fragments. Customers should not eat these products. “Customers who purchased any of these products should return it to their nearest Coles supermarket store for a full refund.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> .<a href="https://twitter.com/Coles?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Coles</a> supermarket has issued another recall of its own brand of ice cream over fears it may contain metal fragments. The supermarket giant says the <a href="https://twitter.com/Coles?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Coles</a> Mini Classics six-pack vanilla ice cream carrying a best before date of April 17 2020 should not be eaten. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Icecream?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Icecream</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/7News?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#7News</a> <a href="https://t.co/uvuvzapA1X">pic.twitter.com/uvuvzapA1X</a> — 7 News Sydney (@7NewsSydney) <a href="https://twitter.com/7NewsSydney/status/997595153966628865?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2018</a></blockquote> Customers concerned about their health should seek medical advice. Coles has issued an apology to customers, and those seeking more info can contact Coles Customer Care on 1800 061 562. What are your thoughts?

News

10 hilarious extended versions of classic album covers

We’re always told not to judge books by their covers, but does the same go for albums? Great cover art can make us love a good album even more, and some of them are so iconic, it’s hard to imagine the album without it. But have you ever wondered what’s going on just outside the frame? Well, Igor Lipchanskiy has, and he’s earnt tens of thousands of Instagram followers thanks to his creative extensions of famous album covers. The graphic designer has taken on everyone from David Bowie to Madonna, and the results are clever, imaginative and very funny. To see some of his best work, scroll through the gallery above. Image credit: Igor Lipchanskiy/Instagram.

Music

How to extend the “ring time” on your smartphone

Lisa Du is director of <a rel="noopener" href="https://readytechgo.com.au/" target="_blank">ReadyTechGo</a>, a service that helps people gain the confidence and skills to embrace modern technology. Mobile phone ring times... sometimes you just can't get to your phone quick enough! By default, your phone rings for 15 seconds before it diverts the call to voicemail (if you have voicemail feature switched on). You can change the length of your ring time by increments of five seconds, up to 30 seconds. The steps will be slightly different, depending on your mobile phone carrier. In this guide, we show you step by step how to extend the ring time on your mobile phone! How to extend the ring time on TELSTRA mobile: 1. On your mobile phone, tap on the Call function (like making a new call). 2.Using the keypad on your mobile phone, dial the following sequence: **61*101** (number of seconds: 15, 20, 25 or 30). Example: To extend the ring time to 30 seconds, dial: **61*101**30. 3. Tap on the call / send button. A message will pop up to let you know that the code is successful. How to extend the ring time on OPTUS mobile: 1. On your mobile phone, tap on the Call function (like making a new call) 2. Using the keypad on your mobile phone, dial the following sequence: **61*321** (number of seconds, (15, 20, 25 or 30) and then the hash key (#). Example: To extend the ring time to 30 seconds, dial: **61*321**30# 3. Tap on the call / send button. A message will pop up to let you know that the code is successful. Thank you to our Alert Reader Catherine for providing the OverSixty team with the updated code for Optus users! How to extend the ring time on VODAFONE mobile: 1. On your mobile phone, tap on the Call function (like making a new call) 2. Using the keypad on your mobile phone, dial the following sequence: **61*121**11* (number of seconds: 15,20,25 or 30). Example: To extend the ring time to 30 seconds, dial: **61*121**11*30. 3. Tap on the call / send button. A message will pop up to let you know that the code is successful.

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What happens to teeth as you age? And how can you extend the life of your smile?

15 great kitchen hacks to extend the life of food and save on waste

Paid parental leave extended to 26 weeks by 2026

Queen Elizabeth extends olive branch to Sussexes

When pets are family, the benefits extend into society

Homelessness is common for teens leaving out-of-home-care. We need to extend care until they are at least 21

Wake up Jeff! Extended napping in seniors may signal dementia

The ban on cruise ships has once again been extended

The one factor that will see lockdown extended

Patient zero of Sydney's latest outbreak revealed as restrictions are extended

Why Australian international travel ban extended by three months

“This is not about new rules”: Dan Andrews set to extend state of emergency

"We're not going to survive": Aussie couple stuck in extended quarantine speak out

Kochie grills Health Minister over extended coronavirus lockdown

Victoria’s State of Emergency to be extended 18 months

JobKeeper extended to Christmas but eligibility has tightened

Incredible but true: Terminally ill scientist extends life for decades by becoming "world's first full cyborg"

Coles extends urgent ice cream recall

10 hilarious extended versions of classic album covers

How to extend the “ring time” on your smartphone

Our Partners

News

Shop

Catalogues

Newspaper

Contests

Entertainment

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Property

Compare

Games

Information

Keep up to date

Search

What happens to teeth as you age? And how can you extend the life of your smile?

15 great kitchen hacks to extend the life of food and save on waste

Paid parental leave extended to 26 weeks by 2026

Queen Elizabeth extends olive branch to Sussexes

When pets are family, the benefits extend into society

Homelessness is common for teens leaving out-of-home-care. We need to extend care until they are at least 21

Wake up Jeff! Extended napping in seniors may signal dementia

The ban on cruise ships has once again been extended

The one factor that will see lockdown extended

Patient zero of Sydney's latest outbreak revealed as restrictions are extended

Why Australian international travel ban extended by three months

“This is not about new rules”: Dan Andrews set to extend state of emergency

"We're not going to survive": Aussie couple stuck in extended quarantine speak out

Kochie grills Health Minister over extended coronavirus lockdown

Victoria’s State of Emergency to be extended 18 months

JobKeeper extended to Christmas but eligibility has tightened

Incredible but true: Terminally ill scientist extends life for decades by becoming "world's first full cyborg"

Coles extends urgent ice cream recall

10 hilarious extended versions of classic album covers

How to extend the “ring time” on your smartphone

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