polioperspectives
polioperspectives Supporting each other through changing times As we head towards the end of the year, I hope all is going well with local support groups and their members. I realise that for some groups, maintaining numbers is becoming increasingly difficult with at least two support groups calling it a day. Can I ask that if you find your group in the situation where you are no longer able to meet regularly, that you ensure finances are finalised and any DHHS funding you may have received and not expended is returned to DHHS. If you have equipment that you need to dispose of, it would be of great benefit to Polio Network Victoria if any funds received from the sale of such items could be donated to the Network. I would also ask that if your group does have to go to into recess, you ask your members‘ consent to have their contact details provided to Polio Network Victoria to ensure everyone is kept upto-date with any relevant information/news. This information will be kept confidential and not disclosed to any other organisation or source. The Polio Network Victoria Committee is currently very short on representatives. Gordon McKinnon has had some serious health issues, Joan Tie has had a nasty injury to her arm recently when she was preparing to head to Footscray for the last Committee meeting. Best wishes go to both these valuable members. Fran Henke also made herself available but was unable to continue and I thank her for her contribution. BUT it does mean that we are in urgent need of some additional people on the Network’s committee. Meetings are held at Independence Australia’s head office at 9 Ashley Street, West Footscray every two months. We commence at 11.00 and finish around 1.30 – 2.00. Lunch is provided and travel costs are reimbursed by IA. Please consider being part of the Network committee and if you are interested, contact me on email: kyrama@westnet.com.au Planning for Polio Day 2017 is well underway. This year the theme is “Your Mind Matters” and presenters on the day will highlight the importance of maintaining good mental health as we all deal with other changes in our lives. The venue for Polio Day 2017 is the iconic Bendigo Town Hall and the date is Saturday, October 21st with proceedings commencing at 10.00 and winding up around 3.00. This day will provide many with the opportunity to come and stay in a beautiful and historic part of Victoria. If you require accommodation over the period, please contact the Bendigo Visitor Information Centre and advise them that you are coming for the Polio Day event. I do hope as many as possible will be able to attend on the day. Registration and booking information is included in this edition of Inform. It was recently announced by The Hon. Greg Hunt MP, Minister for Health and Minister for Sport that funding would be provided to Polio Australia for the next three years to assist with Educational sessions for Health Professionals to enhance their knowledge and therefore treatment of Polio survivors nationwide. Congratulations to all concerned in securing this funding. I know it's been a long and arduous journey. The position for Administration Officer for Polio Network Victoria was advertised on line recently. I am hopeful we may soon have some specific support to continue with the work being undertaken. I wish each and every one of you all the best over the coming months and again urge you to consider becoming a part of the Polio Network Victoria Committee. Bev Watson Chair – Polio Network Victoria 20 Independence Australia
polioperspectives Aged care modelling doesn’t consider those living with a disability A PhD researcher says planning for aged care and ‘successfully ageing’ is not taking into account those living with physical disabilities. Provisional psychologist Nicola Heath’s comments were made at Polio Day 2017 at Bendigo Town Hall, where she pointed out that while Australia has an ageing demographic and people are living longer, one in five Australians live with a disability. “The dominant model of successful ageing states that to age well, older adults must be free of disease and disability, maintain high levels of cognitive functioning and remain actively engaged in life. “According to this model, it is therefore not possible for people with a long-term disability or impairment such as post-polio syndrome to be considered to be ageing successfully. “This is important because, despite concerns that the current model ignores and encourages the marginalisation of those ageing with disabilities, international governments have increasingly turned to the successful ageing research to help form policy responses that aim to limit the future burden of caring for an ageing population,” Ms Heath said. The theme of Polio Day 2017 was ‘Your Mind Matters’. Many polio survivors experienced often difficult and distressing periods in their lives, initially with long periods in hospital or within rehabilitation facilities, as well as isolation from families and isolation in the community due to the fear attached to the disease. Many are now experiencing unexpected new symptoms occurring between 15-40 years after the initial infection. Polio survivors are Australia’s largest physical disability group. Independence Australia’s Manager of Psychology, Dr Andrew Sinclair, told the gathering that chronic pain is a big issue for people living with a physical disability. He noted that many patients are not given the tools they need to deal with pain adequately, and psychology has a lot to offer in relation to chronic pain management. “We tend to think chronic pain is a fault with the system and we can fix it. While the medications we currently have can mask pain, they can’t fix chronic pain. Psychological approaches are a useful adjunct to medical treatment to manage persistent pain. “More than 50 per cent of clients referred to my team are referred for assistance to manage chronic pain. After just two four-hour pain management sessions for polio survivors in Geelong, many reported they now had the knowledge to make changes in their lives to enable them to better manage their pain,” Dr Sinclair said. Inform – Spring 2017 21
