Here2bhelpful Concierge Services

28/05/2023

Explore 10 ways minimalism reduces busyness, helping you focus on what truly matters for a simpler, more fulfilling life.

28/05/2023

Calling all pet parents and furry friends🐾
Queen's Bday (oops Kings!!!) is just around the corner, and we're here to make it extra special for you and your beloved pets! 🎉
🐾 Need a break during the long weekend? Let us take care of your fur babies while you relax and enjoy your time away.
🐾 Your precious pets will feel safe and secure in their own home this winter.
🐾Your pets deserve nothing but the best Royal treatment and we are committed to providing them with the utmost care and attention . Send us a DM today or call and we can chat further about your beauties requirements

21/06/2022

Going away for the weekend? Taking a holiday? Back at the office? Does your pooch or cat need some company and cuddles? We are here to help you.
Send us a DM and we can chat

06/11/2021

14/04/2021

Is it time to downsize and get rid of that clutter....

Chat to us to help you reduce, redistribute, recycle and resell your unwanted belongings so you have more space, less stuff, more money and less clutter in your life.

Because life really IS better with less stuff!

07/04/2021

I’m not your ‘good girl’ – why older people don’t like being spoken to like a baby

Calling older people names like ‘sweetie’ or ‘dear’ is quite common in aged care homes. But researchers have found that when aged care workers speak to older people as though they are children, it creates the perception of incompetence, and that can lead to a downward spiral.

We have all heard of an older person being called ‘sweetie’ or ‘dear’, or being rewarded with the words ‘good boy’. While this type of language is usually delivered with the best of intentions, speaking to older people as though they are children also is a sign of ageist attitudes and creates the sense that the older person is incompetant.

The issue of talking to aged care residents as though they are children came up on HelloCare’s Aged Care Worker Support Group recently, and we decided to explore the topic.

Members of the group recognised that ‘elderspeak’, as the practice is called, is disrespectful and patronising, and not in keeping with the first Aged Care Quality and Safety Standard: ‘I am treated with dignity and respect’.

‘Elderspeak’ creates a “downward spiral”
Researchers have shown that elderspeak can even lead to declines in both mental and physical health.

In a study, researchers videoed conversations between 20 residents and staff in aged care homes.

The researchers found that when the carers used elderspeak, patients became more aggressive, less cooperative and less receptive to care.

When staff spoke to them as though they were children, the older people grimaced, screamed and refused to cooperate with staff.

Dr Kristine Williams, one of the report’s authors, told The New York Times that care staff who use elderspeak don’t realise the implications of the language they’re using. They don’t realise they’re giving older people the message that they’re incompetent.

The language “begins a negative downward spiral for older persons, who react with decreased self-esteem, depression, withdrawal and the assumption of dependent behaviours.”
Dr Kristine Williams
Little insults lead to negative perceptions of ageing
A fellow researcher, Becca Levy, associate professor of epidemiology and psychology, Yale University, said using ‘elderspeak’ contributes to poor perceptions of ageing.

“Those little insults can lead to more negative images of ageing,” she told The New York Times.

“Those who have more negative images of ageing have worse functional health over time, including lower rates of survival.”

Levy’s research has shown that those who have a positive attitude towards ageing live 7.5 years longer than those with a less positive image of ageing, a larger increase than that associated with exercising more or not smoking.

What is ‘elderspeak’?
As mentioned, elderspeak is the practice of speaking to older people as though they were children.

The examples used by the researchers included ‘good girl’ and ‘honey’.

They also tested the collective ‘we’, such as in the question ‘how are we feeling?’, which is both grammatically incorrect and implies the older person can not make a decision themselves.

Features of elderspeak include simple vocabulary, short sentences, slow, loud speech and inappropriately intimate terms of endearment.

How should we speak to older people?
Colin McDonnell, dementia consultant at Calvary Care, told HelloCare that speaking to older people as though they are children is humiliating and frustrating for them.

To begin with, McDonnell says older people should be called by their name and if they have a title, for example professor, then they should continue to be called by that title.

When you speak to older people, use a “normal” tone and “normal” language, McDonnell said.

Body language makes up 95% of how we communicate, so also keep it in mind. Make sure you are at the person’s eye level, and establish eye contact. Lean in a little to show your interest. Don’t stand over older people when you talk to them, because that might make them perceive a power imbalance and feel intimidated.
“The way we communicate with older people is very important to maintaining their dignity and quality of life,” McDonnell said.

“It’s upsetting”
Understanding the impacts of elderspeak is particularly important for people living with dementia.

People living with dementia cling to their sense of self or personhood, Williams told The New York Times.

“If you know you’re losing your cognitive abilities and trying to maintain your personhood, and someone talks to you like a baby, it’s upsetting.”

30/03/2021

Have you ordered your Easter Boxes, head to That Platter Box to place an order

11/01/2021

Extreme heat is expected in the Geelong region today.

Here are some tips to help prevent heatstroke:
- Drink plenty of water.
- Plan ahead - reduce activity and avoid exercise.
💦 Stay cool and keep air circulating around you.
🍉 Eat smaller meals and cold meals.
👕 Wear light-coloured, loose-fitting clothing.
👴👵 Check in on older, sick and frail family, friends and neighbours.
- Never leave children, older people or pets in cars.

If you must be out in the heat:
- Limit outdoor activity to the coolest part of the day.
👒 Protect yourself from the sun and ‘slip, slop, slap’.
😎 Slide on some sunglasses.
- Rest regularly in the shade and drink fluids frequently.

20/04/2020

16/03/2020

We are here2bhelpful, especially during these extreme trying times. We can assist by doing the running around for you, and deliver right to your door step. Just send us a pm and we shall try to help!

29/02/2020

Living the simple life! Let's try lovelies!

Want a minimalist kitchen? Here's a starting point to inspire you to simplify your kitchen.

14/02/2020

You're probably a busy person—it seems most people are these days. But let me try to convince you of a project that will bring beauty and possibility to your home and family. Consider these seven reasons to declutter your kitchen.

13/01/2020

We really don’t need bulk amounts of stuff!

How many towels do you need? This was the surprisingly life-changing question I faced on a Saturday afternoon in early 2012, as I scrutinized my linen cupboard.

13/01/2020

Own Less, Live More 🔑 → http://bit.ly/live-uncluttered

*affiliate link