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"Absolutely heartbroken": Son of AFL legend tragically dies at age 24

Warning: This article contains discussions about suicide that some readers may find distressing. The son of a premiership-winning AFL has tragically taken his own life, with his grieving family paying tribute to the "affectionate and cheeky" young man. Kye Hart, son of former West Coast Eagles player David Hart, died on Saturday at the age of 24. “On 21st September our family lost Kye who is a son, brother, uncle, nephew and grandchild. We are absolutely heartbroken and devastated,” a family member has written on a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/kye-david-hart" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe</a> fundraiser that has been established to help Mr Hart’s family with funeral expenses. “There aren’t enough words to describe how much we love Kye and how much we will miss him,” the fundraiser reads. “Kye’s love and affection was contagious, his cheeky beautiful smile would light up any room. Kye had the biggest heart and only wanted to give and help others." “In this incredibly difficult time we are reaching out for your support to navigate through the challenging times ahead. The funds raised will go towards covering immediate expenses and funeral costs." “We are grateful for your kindness, prayers and support through this tragedy.” Other friends and family paid tribute to Kye on social media, with one family friend writing, “His name was Kye Hart. Just 24 freaking years old for god’s sake. Enough! When are we going to sort mental health out in this world!” Another added, “Sorry for your loss and his family too. A life cut too short.” <p style="box-sizing: inherit; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 24px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Kye leaves behind his parents Linda and David Hart, who represented the West Coast Eagles in the 1980s and 1990s, helping them claim their victory in the premierships. Need to talk to someone? Don't go it alone. Call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit lifeline.org.au Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636 SANE: 1800 187 263; saneforums.org Mensline Australia: 1300 78 99 78 Image credits: GoFundMe <div class="media image" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 24px; align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: column; width: 705.202209px; max-width: 100%;"> </div>

Caring

Is it worth selling my house if I’m going into aged care?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/colin-zhang-1234147">Colin Zhang</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/macquarie-university-1174">Macquarie University</a> For senior Australians who cannot live independently at home, residential aged care can provide accommodation, personal care and general health care. People usually think this is expensive. And many assume they need to sell their home to pay for a lump-sum deposit. But that’s not necessarily the case. Here’s what you need to consider. <h2>You may get some financial support</h2> Fees for residential aged care are complex and can be confusing. Some are for your daily care, some are means-tested, some are for your accommodation and some pay for extras, such as cable TV. But it’s easier to think of these fees as falling into two categories: <ul> <li> an “entry deposit”, which is usually more than <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2020/06/eighth-report-on-the-funding-and-financing-of-the-aged-care-industry-july-2020-eighth-report-on-the-funding-and-financing-of-the-aged-care-industry-may-2020.pdf">$A300,000</a>, and is refunded when you leave aged care </li> <li> daily “<a href="https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/aged-care-home-costs-and-fees">ongoing fees</a>”, which are $52.71-$300 a day, or more. These cover the basic daily fee, which everyone pays, and the means-tested care fee. </li> </ul> To find out how much government support you’ll receive for both these categories, you will have a “<a href="https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/income-and-means-assessments/#aged-care-home">means test</a>” to assess your income and assets. This means test is similar (but different) to the means test for the aged pension. Generally speaking, the lower your aged-care means test amount, the more government support you’ll receive for aged care. With full support, you don’t need to pay an “entry deposit”. But you still need to pay the basic daily fee (currently, <a href="https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/aged-care-home-costs-and-fees">$52.71</a> a day), equivalent to 85% of your aged pension. If you get partial support, you pay less for your “entry deposit” and ongoing fees. <h2>You don’t need a lump sum</h2> You don’t have to pay for your “entry deposit” as a lump sum. You can choose to pay a rental-style daily cost instead. This is calculated as follows: you multiply the amount of the required “entry deposit” by the maximum permissible interest rate. This rate is set by government and is currently at <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2021/03/schedule-of-fees-and-charges-for-residential-and-home-care-schedule-from-20-march-2021_0.pdf">4.01%</a> per year for new residents. Then you divide that sum by 365 to give a daily rate. This option is like borrowing money to pay for your “entry deposit” via an interest-only loan. You can also pay for your “entry deposit” with a combination of a lump sum and a daily rental cost. As it’s not compulsory to pay a lump sum for your “entry deposit”, you have different options for dealing with your family home. <h2>Option 1: keep your house and rent it out</h2> This allows you to use the rental-style daily cost to finance your “entry deposit”. Pros <ul> <li> you could have more income from rent. This can help pay for the rental-style daily cost and “ongoing fees” of aged care </li> <li> you might have a special sentimental attachment to your family house. So keeping it might be a less confronting option </li> <li> keeping an expensive family house will not heavily impact your residential aged care cost. That’s because any value of your family house above <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2021/03/schedule-of-fees-and-charges-for-residential-and-home-care-schedule-from-20-march-2021_0.pdf">$173,075.20</a> will be excluded from your <a href="https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/organisations/health-professionals/services/aged-care-entry-requirements-providers/residential-care/residential-aged-care-means-assessment">means test</a> </li> <li> you can still access the capital gains of your house, as house prices rise. </li> </ul> Cons <ul> <li> your rental income needs to be included in the means test for your aged pension. So you might get less aged pension </li> <li> you might need to pay income tax on the rental income </li> <li> compared to the lump sum payment, choosing the rental-style daily cost means you will end up <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/money/super-and-retirement/seek-help-when-weighing-up-how-to-pay-for-your-aged-care-20191202-p53g16.html">paying more</a> </li> <li> you are subject to a changing rental market. </li> </ul> <h2>Option 2: keep your house and rent it out, with a twist</h2> If you have some savings, you can use a combination of a lump sum and daily rental cost to pay for your “entry deposit”. Pros <ul> <li> like option 1, you can keep your house and have a steady income </li> <li> the amount of lump sum deposit will not be counted as an asset in the pension means test. </li> </ul> Cons <ul> <li> like option 1, you could have less pension income, higher age-care costs and need to pay more income tax </li> <li> you have less liquid assets (assets you could quickly sell or access), which could be handy in an emergency. </li> </ul> <h2>Option 3: sell your house</h2> If you sell your house, you can use all or part of the proceeds to pay for your “entry deposit”. Pros <ul> <li> if you have any money left over after selling your house and paying for your “entry deposit”, you can invest the rest </li> <li> as your “entry deposit” is exempt from your aged pension means test, it means more pension income. </li> </ul> Cons <ul> <li>if you have money left over after selling your house, this will be included in the aged-care means test. So you can end up with less financial support for aged care.</li> </ul> <h2>In a nutshell</h2> Keeping your house and renting it out (option 1 or 2) can give you a better income stream, which you can use to cover other living costs. And if you’re not concerned about having access to liquid assets in an emergency, option 2 can be better for you than option 1. But selling your house (option 3) avoids you being exposed to a changing rental market, particularly if the economy is going into recession. It also gives you more capital, and you don’t need to pay a rental-style daily cost. <hr /> This article is general in nature, and should not be considered financial advice. For advice tailored to your individual situation and your personal finances, please see a qualified financial planner. Correction: this article previously stated the amount of lump sum deposit will not be counted as an asset in the aged-care means test, as a pro of option 2. In fact, the amount of lump sum deposit will not be counted as an asset in the pension means test.<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/161674/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/colin-zhang-1234147">Colin Zhang</a>, Lecturer, Department of Actuarial Studies and Business Analytics, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/macquarie-university-1174">Macquarie University</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/is-it-worth-selling-my-house-if-im-going-into-aged-care-161674">original article</a>. </div>

Retirement Income

Beloved MasterChef star dies aged 64

Tributes have poured in for well-known Australian chef Greg Malouf, who has passed away at the age of 64. The Melbourne cook, who has been dubbed Australia’s godfather of Middle Eastern cuisine, appeared on MasterChef Australia throughout his career. His tragic death was announced on Saturday and the news has rocked the culinary industry, with friends, family and chefs alike taking to social media to pay tribute. Former MasterChef Australia judge George Calombaris shared a heartbreaking post to Instagram, saying the world has lost a “beautiful man”. “Along with so many today is a sad day for us all,” Mr Calombaris captioned a picture of the star. “We lost a giant of a human @gregmaloufchef. A beautiful man. Yes an amazing chef. I send love to his family and strength." “I will miss the banter of all things Greek v Lebanese food. RIP great man. See you on the other side. Gc xxx.” Many of Greg's celebrity friends quickly took to the comment section to share their sadness at his passing. "One of the giants," wrote fellow celebrity chef Miguel Maestre, while The Great Australian Bake Off star Matt Moran posted a crying emoji. Greg was well-known to lovers of Australian food for his frequent guest appearances on reality TV, including stints of MasterChef Australia and Food Safari. Image credits: Instagram

Caring

New research proves travelling can slow down the ageing process

It turns out that going on holiday is good for you in more ways than one. According to new research conducted at Edith Cowan University in Western Australia, travelling can actually slow the ageing process both physically and mentally. The study, published in the <a title="Journal of Travel Research" href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00472875241269892#:~:text=The%20principle%20of%20entropy%20increase%20provides%20a%20dynamic%20perspective%20to,Silva%20%26%20Annamalai%2C%202008)." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Journal of Travel Research</a>, is believed to be the first-ever that applied the theory of entropy - the general trend of the universe towards death and disorder – to tourism. "Tourism isn't just about leisure and recreation. It could also contribute to people's physical and mental health," ECU PhD candidate Fangli Hu said. "Ageing, as a process, is irreversible. While it can't be stopped, it can be slowed down." According to the research, travelling, exploring new corners of the world and engaging in unique and relaxing activities can stimulate stress responses and elevate metabolic rates, positively influencing metabolic activities and the body's self-organising capabilities. "Leisurely travel activities might help alleviate chronic stress, dampen over-activation of the immune system, and encourage normal functioning of the self-defence system," Fangli added. While some people prefer relaxing holidays, others prefer to stay on their feet and keep active during their travels, enjoying the many well-known benefits of exercise. It can "enhance the body's immune function and self-defence capabilities, bolstering its hardiness to external risks". In response to their study, the experts suggested that "travel therapy could serve as a groundbreaking health intervention." Despite the positive results of the research, experts also warned that travelling can exposed to infectious diseases, accidents, injuries, violence, water and food safety issues, and concerns related to inappropriate tourism engagement, which in turn will have the opposite effect on our health. "Conversely, tourism can involve negative experiences that potentially lead to health problems, paralleling the process of promoting entropy increase," Fangli said. Image credits: Shutterstock

Travel Tips

Common drug shows potential in reversing ageing

A common medication has been found to have anti-ageing qualities, with scientists finding that the drug can de-age monkeys. Metformin, a cheap and common diabetes drug that has been used since the 1950s, could be an anti-ageing elixir, with scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Beijing Institute of Genomics using the pill to "markedly" slow down ageing in the animals. According to the experts, the medication reduced deterioration of the brain and boosted cognitive abilities in the primates while also slowing down bone loss and aiding in the "rejuvenation" of several tissues and organs. The most significant improvements were seen in the liver and frontal lobe, the part of the brain responsible for language, reasoning, problem solving, memory, movement and personality. Researchers said all of the findings led to the conclusion that "metformin can reduce biological age indicators" up to six years, with the medication paving the way for ageing reversal in humans. The drug was previously tested on mice, but since testing the medication on Cynomolgus monkeys - that are both physiologically and functionally similar to humans - the tests have shown more promise for potential human trials. The researchers said of the 40-month study, "Our research pioneers the systemic reduction of multi-dimensional biological age in primates through metformin, paving the way for advancing pharmaceutical strategies against human ageing." The scientists added, "[The study] represents an important advance in the quest to delay human ageing, with geriatric medicine research gradually shifting its focus from treating individual chronic diseases to systemic intervention against ageing." Image credits: Shutterstock

Body

What the government’s home care changes mean for ageing Australians

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/tracy-comans-696663">Tracy Comans</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/frances-batchelor-2209350">Frances Batchelor</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a> The Albanese government has this week announced it will introduce one of the <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-anika-wells-mp/media/once-in-a-generation-aged-care-reforms">largest reforms</a> to Australia’s aged-care sector to date. The package includes a A$4.3 billion investment in home care, now called “<a href="https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/support-at-home">Support at Home</a>”, to come into effect from July 2025. This reflects both the desire of many people to remain living at home as they age, and the government’s desire to reduce the costs of residential aged care. So what changes is the government making to home care packages? And what will these changes mean for ageing Australians? <h2>Reducing waiting times</h2> One of the major complaints about the current home care system is the long waiting times. Estimates suggest there’s a <a href="https://www.gen-agedcaredata.gov.au/getmedia/447b425c-63d6-4b96-a1fc-4dac805066ba/Home-Care-Packages-Program-data-report-1-January-%E2%80%93-31-March-2024">6–to-12-month wait</a> for the higher level 3 and 4 home care packages. For people with the highest needs, this is far too long. As of March this year, around <a href="https://www.gen-agedcaredata.gov.au/getmedia/447b425c-63d6-4b96-a1fc-4dac805066ba/Home-Care-Packages-Program-data-report-1-January-%E2%80%93-31-March-2024">45,000 people</a> were waiting for any level of home care. An additional 14,000 were already receiving a package, but on a lower level of home care than they were entitled to. With additional funding, the new system will <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-anika-wells-mp/media/once-in-a-generation-aged-care-reforms">support more participants</a>. It aims to shorten wait times to <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-09/support-at-home-fact-sheet.pdf">an average of three months</a> from July 2027. <h2>Changes to services</h2> The new system will replace the current four levels of home care packages with <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-anika-wells-mp/media/once-in-a-generation-aged-care-reforms">eight classifications</a> of funding for services. When participants are assessed, they will be assigned the most suitable category. There’s currently very limited information on what these classifications are, but the idea is they will provide more targeted services. A number of short-term supports will also be available. These include assistive technology (such as mobility aids) and home modifications. Some people will be able to access 12 weeks of restorative care – a more intensive program designed to build function after injury or illness – as well as palliative care support. The way different types of services are subsidised is also changing. Previously, the same means-tested co-contribution applied regardless of the type of service. Under the new system, services are categorised into clinical care (for example, physiotherapy or wound care), independence (such as help with bathing or cooking) and everyday living (for example, gardening or home maintenance). The new reforms fully subsidise clinical services regardless of income, whereas independence and everyday living services will attract co-contributions based on means testing. For example, <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-09/case-studies-support-at-home.pdf">a self-funded retiree</a> would pay nothing out of pocket for physiotherapy, but would pay 50% for help with showering and 80% towards gardening costs. A full pensioner would also pay nothing for physiotherapy, but pay 5% for help with showering and 17.5% of the cost of gardening. This is a positive change. Our research has previously highlighted a tendency for people with home care packages to choose everyday living services <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1155/2023/4157055">such as gardening</a> and cleaning and refuse clinical care such as allied health and nursing as these types of services were more expensive. These changes should make older people more likely to choose allied health and clinical care services, which will help them maintain their function and stay fitter for longer. <h2>Some challenges</h2> For the government’s reforms to deliver faster and better support at home, a number of issues need to be addressed. As people stay at home for longer, we also see that these <a href="https://academic.oup.com/ageing/article/52/5/afad058/7147101">people are frailer</a> and have more health conditions than in the past. This requires a different and more highly skilled home care workforce. The current <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2021/10/2020-aged-care-workforce-census.pdf">home care workforce</a> consists largely of personal care and domestic support workers alongside a much smaller skilled workforce of registered nurses and allied health professionals. But with the changing profile of people receiving care at home, there will need to be a greater focus on maintaining functional capacity. This might mean more allied health input will be required, such as from physiotherapists and occupational therapists. It’s difficult to source an appropriately skilled workforce across the sector, and almost impossible in <a href="https://www.ruralhealth.org.au/sites/default/files/publications/fact-sheet-allied-health.pdf">rural and remote areas</a>. Alternative models, such as training personal care workers to act as allied health assistants, and effectively using technology such as telehealth, will be necessary to meet demand without compromising on quality of care. One example of the need for upskilling in specific areas relates to caring for people with dementia. The majority of people who are living with dementia at home receive care from family carers, supported by home care workers. It’s vital that these care workers have adequate knowledge and skills specific to dementia. However, research has shown the home care workforce may <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31646701/">lack the knowledge and skills</a> to provide best-practice care for people living with dementia. Specialised <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/gps.6140">dementia training</a> for home care workers is effective in improving knowledge, attitudes and sense of competence in providing care. It should be rolled out across the sector. <h2>What about unpaid care at home?</h2> Unpaid carers, such as family members, provide <a href="https://www.pmc.gov.au/resources/draft-national-strategy-care-and-support-economy/goal-1-quality-care-and-support/support-for-informal-carers">significant amounts of care</a> for older people. The value of this unpaid care is estimated to be in the billions. As older people stay at home for longer, this is set to increase even further. However, carers with high care burdens are particularly vulnerable to <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352827316300283#s0025">poor physical and mental health</a>. Without adequate support, we may find extra caring pressures lead to a breakdown in caring relationships and an increase in other health-care costs for both the carer and care recipient. So we need to ensure carers have adequate financial, psychological and practical support. But the currently available detail on the reforms doesn’t indicate this has been adequately addressed. With careful implementation and ongoing evaluation, these reforms have the potential to significantly enhance the home care system. However, their success will depend on addressing workforce challenges, ensuring adequate support for unpaid carers, and maintaining a focus on the holistic needs of older Australians. More information about Support at Home is <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/support-at-home/about">available online</a>.<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/238890/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/tracy-comans-696663">Tracy Comans</a>, Executive Director, National Ageing Research Institute; Professor, Centre for Health Services Research, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/frances-batchelor-2209350">Frances Batchelor</a>, Director Clinical Gerontology & Senior Principal Research Fellow, National Ageing Research Institute, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</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-the-governments-home-care-changes-mean-for-ageing-australians-238890">original article</a>. </div>

Legal

Landmark aged care reforms set to benefit millions of Aussies

The federal government has reached a deal with the coalition for the long-awaited aged care reforms including $4.3 billion for in-home services. This means that senior citizens will be given more support and choice to live their golden years in dignity, as they intend to help them live at home for longer and improve conditions and protections for those in aged care facilities. "$4.3 billion will be invested in Support at Home, to come into effect on the first of July next year," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced at Parliament House on Thursday. The Support at Home package is expected to help 1.4 million Australians live independently at home with support, before going into aged care by 2035. It will provide support for nursing, occupational therapy and day-to-day tasks like cleaning, showering, dressing and shopping, with wait times for packages cut from 12 to three months. The government will also pay all of the cost of clinical care services, with a lifetime contribution cap of $130,000 for non-clinical care costs. Those using the Support at Home program could also get $25,000 in aid to spend their final three months at home, instead of the hospital. The $5.6 billion reform package is also set to affect the availability of funding for residential aged care, including a "no worse off" assurance that people currently in aged care won't be asked to pay more for their care. New aged care quality standards will also be implemented to improve the sector and drive higher-quality care. The government also promised more resources to investigate and penalise bad behaviour by providers. Albanese said the reforms will be the "greatest improvement" to the aged care sector in 30 years. “This is about caring for the generation that cared for us,” he said. “We will deliver historic aged care reforms to ensure the viability and quality of our aged care system and support the growing number of older Australians choosing to retain their independence and remain in their homes as they age.” Aged Care Minister Anika Wells said the changes would lead to more services for older Australians. “Our reforms will create better and safer care, help reduce the fear of a system that has been neglected for far too long,” she said. The reform has been welcomed as the number of Australians over the age of 65 is expected to double and those older than 85 are predicted to triple in the next four decades. Images: Shutterstock

Caring

Rolf Harris' widow dies at age 93

The wife of disgraced paedophile TV star Rolf Harris has passed away at the age of 93, just one year after the death of her husband. Alwen Hughes stood by Harris when he was jailed in 2014 for 12 indecent assaults on four underage girls between 1968 and 1986. Hughes passed away due to a “stroke, frailty of old age, vascular dementia”, according to her death certificate. Harris died in May 2023 from neck cancer, after the couple were married for 65 years. According to reports by The Sun, Hughes has been pictured in a wheelchair and was reportedly suffering from Alzheimer’s disease in the years before her death. Alwen stood by her husband through the court proceedings and his. subsequent jail term, attending every day of Harris’ initial trial alongside their daughter Bindi. Speaking shortly after Harris’ conviction in 2014, singer Vince Hill said, “Alwen is very poorly. We’re all very worried about her." “I don’t know if she will survive his prison term. She’s quite fragile. She suffers from arthritis and she’s had hip replacements and God knows what.” Image credits: BER/CLS/Shutterstock Editorial

Caring

Hollywood legend dies at age 93

Hollywood acting legend James Earl Jones has died at the age of 93. <a href="https://deadline.com/2024/09/james-earl-jones-dead-1236082801/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Deadline</a> revealed that the actor passed away at his home in Dutchess County, New York, although no cause of death has yet been given. Jones was responsible for some of the most memorable roles in modern cinema history, lending his voice to iconic characters including Star Wars’ Darth Vader and The Lion King’s Mufasa. After making his big screen debut in the 1964 film Dr Strangelove, he went on to rack up hundreds of roles and didn't stop working until 2021, with his latest project being in the Eddie Murphy sequel, Coming 2 America. Jones' most notable roles came in films such as the original Coming To America, Field of Dreams and The Hunt for Red October, making him a household name in the movie industry. Throughout his career, Earl Jones won three Tony Awards, two Emmy Awards, a Grammy Award, and was also inducted into the American Theatre Hall of Fame in 1985. He went on to receive an honorary Academy Award in 2011, as well as a special Tony for lifetime achievement in 2017. Image credits: Joanne Davidson/Shutterstock Editorial

Caring

Olympian killed at just 33 years of age

Ugandan Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei, 33, has tragically passed away at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya, where she had been receiving treatment for severe burns sustained in an attack by her former boyfriend. A hospital spokesperson, Owen Menach, confirmed that Cheptegei succumbed to her injuries after suffering multiple organ failures. Cheptegei, who competed in the women’s marathon at the Paris Olympics just weeks ago, sustained burns to 80% of her body after her ex-partner, Dickson Ndiema, allegedly doused her in petrol and set her on fire during a domestic dispute. Trans Nzoia County Police Commander Jeremiah ole Kosiom revealed that Ndiema also suffered burns in the incident to 30% of his body, and that he remains in intensive care but is in a stable condition. Cheptegei's parents stated that she had recently bought land in Kenya’s Trans Nzoia County to be near athletic training centres in the region. A report from the local chief indicated that Cheptegei and her former boyfriend were involved in a heated argument over the property before the attack occurred. The Uganda Athletics Federation and the Uganda Olympic Committee have expressed their grief over the loss of Cheptegei. In a statement shared on the social media platform X, the Athletics Federation wrote, "We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our athlete, Rebecca Cheptegei early this morning who tragically fell victim to domestic violence." They further condemned the attack, calling for justice. Uganda Olympic Committee president Donald Rukare added, “May her gentle soul rest in peace and we strongly condemn violence against women. This was a cowardly and senseless act that has led to the loss of a great athlete. Her legacy will continue to endure.” Image: Narnabi / Wikimedia Commons

Caring

Hollywood legend dies at age 94

The Notebook star Gena Rowlands has passed await the age of 94 after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer's. Her death was confirmed today by representatives for her son, filmmaker Nick Cassavetes, who told TMZ that Rowlands died on Wednesday afternoon at her home in Indian Wells, California, surrounded by family including her husband Robert and daughter Alexandra Cassavetes. While no official cause of death has been announced, Rowlands had been suffering from Alzheimer's for five years. In June, director of The Notebook and Rowland's son Nick Cassavetes was discussing the film's 20th anniversary when he shared <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/hollywood-star-s-heartbreaking-health-update" target="_blank" rel="noopener">details</a> of his mother's diagnosis and how it was reminiscent of her character in the movie. “I got my mum to play older Allie, and we spent a lot of time talking about Alzheimer’s and wanting to be authentic with it, and now, for the last five years, she’s had Alzheimer’s,” Cassavetes told <a href="https://ew.com/the-notebook-star-gena-rowlands-has-alzheimers-8668642">Entertainment Weekly</a> of Rowlands’ character, who also had dementia. “She’s in full dementia. And it’s so crazy — we lived it, she acted it, and now it’s on us.” Gena’s mother, fellow actress Lady Rowlands, had also suffered from the same disease. While The Notebook was Rowlands’ most notable 21st century role, the acting veteran broke into the industry in the 1950s and earned two Academy Award nominations and multiple Golden Globe and Emmy Award wins throughout her career. She was known for her frequent collaborations with actor-director husband John Cassavetes in ten films, including 1974’s A Woman Under the Influence and 1980s Gloria. Image credits: New Line Cinema/Demmie Todd/Warner Bros/Spring Creek/Kobal/Shutterstock Editorial <div class="more-coverage-v2" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: #e0e1e2; float: right; margin-left: 16px; max-width: 40%; padding: 16px 0px;"> </div>

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Last Australian 'Rat of Tobruk' dies age 102

Thomas Pritchard, Australia's last "Rat of Tobruk" has passed away at the age of 102. Pritchard was part of the famous garrison who held the eponymous Libyan port against a furious Nazi siege in World War II. The Rats of Tobruk Association announced Pritchard's death on Saturday, honouring his service to his country. "Tommy was a stalwart member of our association and a most humble veteran, having served with the 2/5th field ambulance throughout the Middle East and the South West Pacific," the association wrote in a post. "We as an Association are extremely grateful to have had Tommy for so long yet we mourn his loss and the last direct linkage with some 14,000 Australian servicemen who served in Tobruk." The post added that Pritchard would be farewelled in a private family funeral, as was Tommy's wishes. However, they added that a public memorial for all Rats of Tobruk will take place in Melbourne, with the date yet to be confirmed. The Rats of Tobruk were an Allied garrison of about 26,000 soldiers, including 14,000 Australians, commanded by Australian Lieutenant-General Leslie Morehead. They were besieged by the Nazi Afrika Korps, comprised of German and Italian troops, from April 10th to November 27th 1941. The Africa Korps, under the leadership of Nazi general Erwin Rommel, had never known defeat, until he faced the Rats for 231 days, who denied Rommel a port on the Libyan coast as the Nazis were unable to take control of Tobruk. The nickname came from American-born Nazi propagandist William Joyce, who, when he heard the Allied soldiers were taking cover in the pre-existing below-ground defences of the city, derided them as living like "rats". However, Aussies took the nickname with pride as they celebrated their victory. Image credits: Rats of Tobruk Association

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"Misleading": IOC condemns "abuse" hurled at Olympic boxer

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has released a statement to condemn the "abuse" and "discrimination" that has targeted Algerian boxer Imane Khelif after her controversial match in Paris. The match, which was abandoned after just 46 seconds when her Italian opponent Angela Carini tapped out, caused quite the stir when Carini said she had "never been hit that hard in my life". Following the controversial match, Khelif's history came to light with many pointing out how she was permitted to fight at the Olympics despite being disqualified from the women’s boxing world championships last year for failing gender eligibility tests. Khelif, who was born female and has always identified as such, has been hit with a wave of transphobic abuse from high profile figures including J.K Rowling and Elon Musk after the revelations came to light. The 25-year-old athlete, who has been boxing since she was a child and has always competed in women’s categories, was tested by the International Boxing Association (IBA) with IBA president Umar Kremlev saying DNA tests had “proved they had XY chromosomes and were thus excluded”. For males, XY is the combination of chromosomes while XX is the combination in females. As Khelif has always identified as female, there are a number of medical conditions that can cause a woman to also have XY chromosomes. The IOC has since spoken out in defence of Khelif, denouncing the “abuse” levelled at the Khelif as “discrimination”, while confirming she had followed the eligibility criteria to compete at the Games. “Every person has the right to practise sport without discrimination,” the <a href="https://olympics.com/ioc/news/joint-paris-2024-boxing-unit-ioc-statement" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> released on Friday said. “We have seen in reports misleading information about two female athletes competing at the Olympic Games Paris 2024." The second athlete in question is referring to fellow boxer, Chinese Taipei’s Lin Yu-ting, who underwent the same testing from the IBA and returned the same XY chromosome results as Khelif. “The two athletes have been competing in international boxing competitions for many years in the women’s category, including the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, International Boxing Association (IBA) World Championships and IBA-sanctioned tournaments." “The IOC is saddened by the abuse that the two athletes are currently receiving.” The statement went on to call out the IBA's DNA testing, reading, "The current aggression against these two athletes is based entirely on this arbitrary decision, which was taken without any proper procedure – especially considering that these athletes had been competing in top-level competition for many years." "Such an approach is contrary to good governance." Image credits: Facebook/YAHYA ARHAB/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Editorial

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Our research shows 4 in 10 Australians in aged care are malnourished. What can we do about it?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jonathan-foo-1551045">Jonathan Foo</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/marie-claire-oshea-1373994">Marie-Claire O'Shea</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/griffith-university-828">Griffith University</a> In the next 40 years <a href="https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-08/p2023-435150-fs.pdf">in Australia</a>, it’s predicted the number of Australians aged 65 and over will more than double, while the number of people aged 85 and over will more than triple. If you’re not really interested in aged care, you should be. Given these figures, you will almost certainly be engaging with aged care services at some stage – either for yourself, or supporting family members or friends seeking aged care. One service you are likely to encounter is residential aged care homes. In the past few years this sector has been under more scrutiny than ever before. Changes to legislation, workforce and funding are in motion. But the question remains as to whether these changes can happen fast enough to meet our ageing population’s needs. One area of need not being adequately met at present is nutrition. In a <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/12/13/1296">new study</a>, we’ve found four in ten older Australians living in residential aged care are not receiving enough of the right types of nutrients, resulting in loss of weight and muscle. This is known as malnutrition. <h2>Good nutrition is essential for healthy ageing</h2> Malnutrition in older people is <a href="https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au/providers/food-nutrition-dining/why-meals-matter">associated with</a> poorer overall health, such as increased risk of falls and infections. This can accelerate loss of independence for older people, including the need for extra assistance with basic activities such as bathing and dressing. Older people are at increased risk of <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(22)02612-5/abstract">malnutrition</a> for a range of reasons. These can include decreased appetite, difficulties with chewing and swallowing, and the presence of other chronic diseases such as Parkinson’s disease or dementia. Importantly, ensuring adequate nutrition is about more than just offering healthy foods. We eat not only to meet nutritional requirements, but for enjoyment and socialisation. We each have different preferences around what we want to eat, when and with whom. Food provision poses a challenge for residential aged care providers who must navigate the range of residents’ preferences together with dietary restrictions and texture modifications. This must also be balanced against the practicalities of having the right number of appropriately trained kitchen and mealtime assistance staff, and working within funding constraints. Understanding more about who is malnourished in aged care can help providers better address this problem. <h2>Malnutrition is an ongoing problem in aged care</h2> We looked at more than 700 aged care residents in New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia. We assessed participants for malnutrition using a screening tool that collects data on medical history and dietary intake, and includes a physical examination of muscle and fat. We found 40% were malnourished, including 6% who were severely malnourished. This likely underestimates the true rate of malnutrition, as residents with dementia were excluded. International <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/13/2927">studies</a> have shown an average of 80% of aged care residents with dementia are malnourished or at risk of developing malnutrition. Our findings are broadly in line with a synthesis of <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378512219301148">38 international studies</a>, which reported an average malnutrition rate in residential aged care of 52%. In Australia, malnutrition was highlighted as <a href="https://www.royalcommission.gov.au/aged-care">a priority</a> for immediate attention in the 2021 Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. Its report cited <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/british-journal-of-nutrition/article/dairy-food-supplementation-may-reduce-malnutrition-risk-in-institutionalised-elderly/52E93ADD586C634A3913A2AFE9D07847">an Australian study</a> of 215 residents, published in 2017, which found 68% were malnourished or at risk of malnutrition. It’s difficult to directly compare malnutrition rates between studies due to differences in diagnostic measurements. But it’s clear malnutrition is an ongoing challenge in aged care. <h2>What can we do about it?</h2> Since the royal commission, we’ve seen the strengthening of the <a href="https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au/providers/quality-standards/strengthened-quality-standards">quality standards</a> to be included in the new Aged Care Act, anticipated to be introduced to parliament in 2025. The strengthened quality standards provide an important framework to guide action by aged care providers on malnutrition. Key requirements include partnering with residents to design food options, regular assessment and reassessment of resident nutrition requirements, developing systems to monitor and improve satisfaction with food, designing pleasant dining environments, and providing staff with the training they need to achieve all of the above. However, achieving these standards will require investment of money and time. At the moment, <a href="https://kpmg.com/au/en/home/insights/2023/09/australian-aged-care-sector-analysis.html">64% of residential aged care providers</a> in Australia are operating at a financial loss. While we know carers and facility managers want to provide the best care possible, it’s difficult to achieve this when contending with underlying financial problems. As such, our teams at Monash and Griffith universities are focusing on strategies that minimise the burden on staff and providers. We are working on automating malnutrition screening. Current tools take 10–15 minutes and should be used when a new resident moves into an aged care home and regularly during their stay. But anecdotal evidence suggests providers lack the staff and funding needed to routinely carry out this screening. Instead, we aim to use existing data from aged care providers, including quarterly reports from the <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/qi-program">National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator Program</a>, to detect malnutrition automatically. This will allow staff to focus more on care. Given the complexity of malnutrition, it’s likely that addressing the issue at a national scale will take some time. In the short term, for those with loved ones in aged care homes, we encourage you to be actively involved in their care, including noticing and speaking up if you think more can be done to optimise their nutrition.<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/235507/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jonathan-foo-1551045">Jonathan Foo</a>, Lecturer, Physiotherapy, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/marie-claire-oshea-1373994">Marie-Claire O'Shea</a>, Senior Lecturer, School of Health Sciences and Social Work, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/griffith-university-828">Griffith University</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/our-research-shows-4-in-10-australians-in-aged-care-are-malnourished-what-can-we-do-about-it-235507">original article</a>. </div>

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We have too few aged care workers to care for older Australians. Why? And what can we do about it?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/hal-swerissen-9722">Hal Swerissen</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/la-trobe-university-842">La Trobe University</a> In a country like Australia, we all expect that when we get old, we’ll be able to rely on a robust aged care system. But aged care providers can’t find staff and a crisis is brewing. If the problem isn’t fixed, there are serious risks to quality and access to services for older people who need support. There are also broader social, economic and political consequences for undervaluing the rapidly expanding health and social assistance workforce. Aged care <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2021/10/2020-aged-care-workforce-census.pdf">employs</a> around 420,000 people. Around 80% of those are front line staff providing care and demand for them is increasing rapidly. <h2>Australians are ageing</h2> The number of people aged 80 and over is <a href="https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2019-03/IGR_2010_Overview.pdf">projected to double</a> by 2050. At the same time, informal family care is becoming less available. In the next 25 years, <a href="https://www.australianageingagenda.com.au/executive/shortfall-of-400000-aged-care-workers-predicted-by-2050/">twice as many</a> aged care staff will be needed. Currently, about 1.4 million older people <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/older-people/older-australians/contents/aged-care">receive</a> aged care services, including basic and more intensive home care and residential care. Health care and social support job vacancies and ads are the highest of any industry. Between 30,000 and 35,000 additional direct aged care workers a year are already needed. By 2030 the <a href="https://cedakenticomedia.blob.core.windows.net/cedamediacontainer/kentico/media/attachments/ceda-duty-of-care-3.pdf">shortfall</a> is likely to be 110,000 full time equivalent workers. <h2>Why don’t enough people want to work in aged care?</h2> Despite recent <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/topics/aged-care-workforce/what-were-doing/better-and-fairer-wages">pay increases</a>, it is difficult to attract and retain aged care workers because the work is under-valued. The Australian workforce is undergoing profound change. A generation ago, manufacturing made up 17% of the workforce. Today it has fallen to 6%. By contrast, the health care and social assistance workforce has doubled from 8% to 16%. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/607090/original/file-20240716-17-hup1e8.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/607090/original/file-20240716-17-hup1e8.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&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/607090/original/file-20240716-17-hup1e8.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=337&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/607090/original/file-20240716-17-hup1e8.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=337&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/607090/original/file-20240716-17-hup1e8.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=337&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/607090/original/file-20240716-17-hup1e8.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=423&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/607090/original/file-20240716-17-hup1e8.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=423&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/607090/original/file-20240716-17-hup1e8.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=423&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /></a><figcaption>The manufacturing workforce has declined, while health, aged care and social assistance has risen. ABS 6291.0.55.001 Labour Force, Australia.</figcaption></figure> Manufacturing jobs were <a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Manufacturing-Briefing-Paper-FINAL.pdf">mainly</a> secure, full-time, reasonably paid jobs dominated by male workers. By contrast, jobs in aged care are often insecure, part-time and poorly paid, dominated by women, with many workers coming from non-English speaking backgrounds. Since moving to take over aged care in the 1980s, the federal government has over-emphasised <a href="https://arena.org.au/a-genealogy-of-aged-care/">cost constraint</a> through service privatisation, activity-based funding and competition, often under the cover of consumer choice. The result is a highly fragmented and poorly coordinated aged care sector with almost 3,200, often small and under-resourced providers centrally funded and regulated from Canberra. This has <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/a-matter-of-care-australia-s-aged-care-workforce-strategy.pdf">led to</a> high levels of casualisation, low investment in training and professional development, and inadequate supervision, particularly in the home care sector. Aged care is facing a perfect storm. Demand for care and support staff is increasing dramatically. The sector is poorly coordinated and difficult to navigate. Pay and conditions remain poor and the workforce is relatively untrained. There are no minimum standards or registration requirements for many front-line aged care staff. <h2>What are the consequences?</h2> An understaffed and under-trained aged care workforce reduces access to services and the quality of care and support. Aged care providers <a href="https://www.agedhealth.com.au/content/compliance-and-governance/news/troubled-outlook-for-aged-care-reforms-1224428737#:%7E:text=Its%20report%20found%20that%2053.8,was%20%22impossible%20to%20achieve%22.">routinely report</a> it is difficult to attract staff and they can’t meet the growing demand for services from older people. Staff shortages are already having an impact on residential care occupancy rates falling, with some regional areas now down to only 50% occupancy. That means older people either don’t get care or they are at increased risk of neglect, malnutrition, avoidable hospital admissions and a poorer quality of life. Inevitably, lack of aged care workers puts pressure on hospital services when older people have nowhere else to go. <h2>What needs to be done?</h2> Addressing these challenges requires a multifaceted approach. Australia will need a massive increase in the number of aged care workers and the quality of the care they provide. Wages have to be competitive to attract and retain staff. But better pay and conditions is only part of the story. Unless aged care becomes a career the community recognises, values and supports, it will continue to be difficult to train, attract and retain staff. The recent <a href="https://www.royalcommission.gov.au/aged-care">Royal Commission on Aged Care Quality and Safety</a> highlighted the need for a more skilled workforce, emphasising the importance of ongoing professional development for all staff. To date the federal government’s aged care workforce initiatives have been underwhelming. They are a limited and piecemeal rather than a coherent workforce strategy. In the short term, skilled migration may be part of the solution. But progress to bring in skilled aged care workers has been glacial. Currently only about 1% of providers <a href="https://theconversation.com/overseas-recruitment-wont-solve-australias-aged-care-worker-crisis-189126">have agreements</a> to bring in staff from overseas. At best, overseas migration will meet only 10% of the workforce shortfall. Registration, qualifications and training for direct care work have to become mandatory to make sure care standards are met. Much more significant and systematic incentives and support for training will be needed. Supervision, career progression and staff development will also have to be dramatically improved if we are to attract and retain the workforce that is needed. “Learn and earn” incentives, including scholarships and traineeships for aged care, are needed to attract the future workforce. At the same time, a much broader investment in upskilling the entire workforce through continuing professional development and good quality supervision is necessary. Like manufacturing a generation ago, aged care needs to become valued, skilled, secure and well-paid employment if it is going to attract the staff that are needed to avoid a looming crisis.<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/232707/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/hal-swerissen-9722">Hal Swerissen</a>, Emeritus Professor of Public Health, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/la-trobe-university-842">La Trobe University</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/we-have-too-few-aged-care-workers-to-care-for-older-australians-why-and-what-can-we-do-about-it-232707">original article</a>. </div>

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Country singer dies aged 79

Country singer Kinky Friedman has passed away aged 79. A post shared on his social media account confirmed the news that he was surrounded by family and friends before his death. “Kinky Friedman stepped on a rainbow at his beloved Echo Hill surrounded by family and friends,” the post read. “Kinkster endured tremendous pain and unthinkable loss in recent years but he never lost his fighting spirit and quick wit. Kinky will live on as his books are read and his songs are sung.” The musician, whose real name is Richard Samet Friedman, developed a cult following for his unique and quirky approach to country and Western music. His first album Sold American was released in 1973, and he also toured with Bob Dylan on his Rolling Thunder Revue. Outside of his music career, Friedman was also a writer, penning detective novels and a working as a columnist for Texas Monthly. He published his first book Elvis, Jesus and Coca-Cola: A Novel in 1994 and ten years later published his second one, Kinky Friedman’s Guide to Texas Etiquette: Or How to Get to Heaven or Hell Without Going Through Dallas-Fort Worth. In 2006 he dabbled in politics, running for the Governor of Texas and received 12.6 per cent of the votes among six candidates. He also helped run the Echo Hill Gold Star Camp for children, with his sister Marcie. Kent Perkins, a longtime friend of Friedman, paid tribute to the musician on social media. “Somewhere in heaven,” he wrote, “I’m sure there’s a quiet corner with a big easy chair, a bright floor lamp, a big stack of biographical books, and a few old dogs wagging their tails to the faint smell of cigar smoke.” Image: Rick Diamond/ Shutterstock Editorial

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First lady of Australian television dies aged 92

Renowned Australian children’s presenter Dawn Kenyon has died aged 92. Kenyon, originally Dorothy Dingwell, was born in Toowoomba in 1932 and made her TV debut in 1956, the same year that it was introduced in Australia. She became the country's first female host of children's show, with her appearance on Captain Fortune, and was later referred to as the “first lady of Australian television”. Known affectionately as Miss Dawn, she hosted several early Australian children's shows and became a household name with her role on Channel Seven’s Romper Room in the late 1950s, almost a decade before ABC’s Play School made its debut in 1966. In addition to her on screen roles, she also made significant contributions behind the scenes as a producer and screenwriter. A year after she made her TV debut, she married Fred Kenyon, a British TV engineer, and they share three children, Steven, Peter and Anne. After her marriage she chose to step away from her presenting career and relocated to England when her husband accepted a job there. Her legacy endured, with her friends in the media industry paying tribute to her as news broke of her death. “Dawn was always a shining light,” Australian journalist Anita Jacoby said. “She was so often the first to greet us, introduce us to new families, and lead us deeper into that magic of the Merry Makers,” 60 Minutes’ Jeff McMullen said. Image: National Archives of Australia/ news.com.au

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Hollywood legend Donald Sutherland dies at age 88

Legendary Hollywood actor Donald Sutherland has died at the age of 88 after a battle with an ongoing illness. The actor, known for his roles in M*A*S*H, Klute and The Hunger Games, passed away on Thursday in Miami, his agency confirmed. Donald's actor son Kiefer announced his father's death in an emotional post on Instagram, reflecting on his illustrious career. “With a heavy heart, I tell you that my father, Donald Sutherland, has passed away,” he began. “I personally think one of the most important actors in the history of film. Never daunted by a role, good, bad or ugly." “He loved what he did and did what he loved, and one can never ask for more than that. A life well lived.” <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C8cgckJJ548/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C8cgckJJ548/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Kiefer Sutherland (@kiefersutherland)</a> </div> </blockquote> Tributes from past colleagues have flooded social media, as director Ron Howard reflected on working with the iconic actor. "I was blessed to direct him in Backdraft. One of the most intelligent, interesting & engrossing film actors of all time," he wrote on X (formerly Twitter). "Incredible range, creative courage & dedication to serving the story & the audience with supreme excellence." Helen Mirren, who co-starred with Sutherland in 2017's The Leisure Seekers, also paid tribute to her late friend, saying in a statement, "Donald Sutherland was one of the smartest actors I ever worked with. He had a wonderful enquiring brain, and a great knowledge on a wide variety of subjects." "He combined this great intelligence with a deep sensitivity, and with a seriousness about his profession as an actor. This all made him into the legend of film that he became." Sutherland’s career spanned more than 50 years and 140 film credits and earned an Emmy for his role as a Soviet official in the fact-based HBO movie Citizen X, as well as a pair of Golden Globes. Sutherland’s big break came when he was cast as one of The Dirty Dozen in the star-studded 1967 film, before landing a role in the movie version of M*A*S*H, and also playing alongside Jane Fonda in her Oscar-winning portrayal of a high-class “call girl” in the crime mystery Klute. Image credits: Ace Pictures/Shutterstock Editorial

Caring

"Terrifies me": Tracy Grimshaw reveals her biggest fears around ageing

Tracy Grimshaw has headed back to TV alongside alongside Dr Nick Coatsworth in a new medical series Do You Want To Live Forever? In an interview with 9Entertainment, the journalist explained why she chose to return to TV, after standing down from A Current Affair in 2022 following 17 years on the show. She explained that what pulled her to the medical series was "the extreme end of longevity." "People who shake the tree always fascinate me, particularly if they're putting their bodies on the line," she said. "It's so new, some of this stuff... that's probably what brought me in, but we're not just going to be at that end of the whole longevity discussion. "We're talking to people on how they can improve their quality of life and address issues that might lead to a premature death." In the interview she also revealed her own fears on ageing, especially what she finds most terrifying about it. "I'm not too scared about the passage of time," she began. "The only thing that scares me about getting older is becoming feeble." "Alzheimer's terrifies me. My brain has always been I think the best part of me, and it would be really sad to lose that." The show itself follows four pairs of everyday Aussies, including sisters from The Block, Eliza and Liberty, husband and wife, Enver and Eliana, partners Luke and Taylor, and father and son duo Duncan and Tom, as they undergo medically supervised trials and health interventions that may provide clues to help us live longer. Image: Channel 9

Restaurant sparks debate over “age discrimination”

A US restaurant has gone viral for their "age policy" after they decided to ban young people in a bid to create a “grown and sexy” vibe. Bliss Restaurant opened its doors in St. Louis, Missouri last month and have already caused an uproar for their unique policy where men under 35 and women under 30 are not allowed in. Owners Marvin Pate and his wife, said that they created the rule to help them “maintain a sophisticated environment, uphold our standards, and support the sustainability of our unique ambience”. Despite getting some backlash over the policy, they insist that they will stick to their code. “I think Bliss is a home away from home,” he told local news station KSDK. “You can come here and actually feel like you’re at a resort. People will feel like they’re on a vacation. “Of course, we have been getting a little backlash because of our policy, but that’s OK. We’re sticking to our code.” Pate is so committed to providing a space for older people, that if anyone looks younger than 30, they will get their ID's checked. “The restaurant is just something for the older people to come do, have a happy hour, come get some good food and not have to worry about some of the young folks who bring some of that drama,” assistant manager Erica Rhodes added. A few people have slammed the restaurant, suggesting that the rule was “age discrimination”. “The owner barely makes his own age requirement. Come on,” one vented online. “I’ve never seen a bar fight that wasn’t started by some drunk over 30,” another added. “I feel like it’s usually older people acting out nowadays," and another person replied: “Y’all ever seen a Karen under 30?” However, in the age of young influencers, many thought the restriction “makes sense". “Ah, Bliss, no influencers with those bright lights and filming while everyone else is trying to have a nice meal,” one said. “I like the concept, it’s time we mature adults can dine in a relaxing atmosphere without kids screaming, parents screaming, aggressive behaviours,” another added. “I love the age requirements. Please keep it like this. Don’t change it a lot of places back in the day had age requirements I’m glad that somebody finally taking it back protect your business I support,” a third wrote. “I love this idea!!!! Perfect!!!! And for all those gripping and complaining about it…..or have some smartelic comment….. just wait. One day your day is coming," another mused. Images: Instagram

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