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How hip pain led Sydney karate master to life-changing weight loss journey

<div> Sydney-based karate instructor and personal trainer Glenn Stephenson knows the toll that joint pain and extra weight can take on physical activity. Despite decades of experience as a martial arts coach, Glenn found himself increasingly limited by severe hip pain and unwanted weight gain. </div> <div> In 2021, at 95 kilograms, the 64-year-old’s arthritis and reduced mobility affected not only his work but also his confidence. “I couldn’t move around like I wanted to, and as a master instructor, it felt wrong to be teaching students while carrying so much extra weight,” he admits. </div> <div> Glenn’s pain and discomfort prompted him to make a drastic change. Instead of resorting to extreme dieting, he adopted a more sustainable approach to weight loss to reduce joint and liver inflammation, and regain his mobility. He shed 20 kilograms and now walks four kilometres daily. “I can move better, my mental health has improved, and I feel more capable of guiding my students,” he says. </div> <div> Today, Glenn encourages others struggling with weight to take a balanced approach to fitness and health. “I look the part now, which gives me confidence as a master instructor to show my students that staying active is achievable at any age.” </div> <div> Dietitian Kirby Sorenson, from health platform <a title="https://www.getmosh.com.au/?utm_term=mosh&utm_campaign=Cross_Search_Brand_Mosh&utm_source=paid-search&utm_medium=adwords&utm_content=100740202037&hsa_acc=5792635568&hsa_cam=1701000406&hsa_grp=100740202037&hsa_ad=697110582898&hsa_src=g&hsa_tgt=kwd-295213997936&hsa_kw=mosh&hsa_mt=p&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gclid=CjwKCAiAxKy5BhBbEiwAYiW--5qfGzQVQBG-CmA6baVMEeP5Zmk_oB_GOstA1n2vabFrLzbeDrEEnxoCM4YQAvD_BwE" href="https://www.getmosh.com.au/?utm_term=mosh&utm_campaign=Cross_Search_Brand_Mosh&utm_source=paid-search&utm_medium=adwords&utm_content=100740202037&hsa_acc=5792635568&hsa_cam=1701000406&hsa_grp=100740202037&hsa_ad=697110582898&hsa_src=g&hsa_tgt=kwd-295213997936&hsa_kw=mosh&hsa_mt=p&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gclid=CjwKCAiAxKy5BhBbEiwAYiW--5qfGzQVQBG-CmA6baVMEeP5Zmk_oB_GOstA1n2vabFrLzbeDrEEnxoCM4YQAvD_BwE" data-outlook-id="bc4b923a-a4a3-4af0-80db-e837cd64b4c7">Mosh</a>, is encouraging Australians to ditch the Body Mass Index (BMI) in favour of more modern diagnostics to determine the risk of disease linked to higher body fat, declaring it’s unfairly categorising people as being overweight. </div> <div> Ms Sorenson says knowing your Body Roundness Index (BRI) as well as your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) can more accurately predict the risk of diseases like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and heart disease because it works out body fat levels based on height and waist circumference, rather than the BMI method which relies on height and weight. </div> <div> “BMI has long been criticised for inaccurately categorising people as overweight or obese because it doesn’t differentiate between those who carry a lot of muscle and individuals with fat in the wrong places,” Ms Sorenson says. </div> <div> “The problem is that it only looks at overall weight, while the BRI focuses on fat held around the abdomen which is the riskiest fat in terms of overall health. </div> <div> Once the BRI is determined, Ms Sorenson says it can help to know your Basal Metabolic Rate, which is largely determined by your total lean mass to help determine a healthy path to maintaining a healthy weight range. </div> <div> “The basal metabolic rate or BMR gives you an idea of how many calories your body burns doing the bare minimum; breathing, blood circulation, brain and nerve function. It can vary greatly from person to person, which explains why individual weight loss journeys can be so different,” Ms Sorenson said. </div> <div> For more information visit Moshy’s online <a title="https://www.getmoshy.com.au/weight-loss/basal-metabolic-rate-calculator?srsltid=AfmBOoobS-PiI_4sJn2ykpEG6vzq6qkvQXammfLv4Rm-mS5nwll6EN0m" href="https://www.getmoshy.com.au/weight-loss/basal-metabolic-rate-calculator?srsltid=AfmBOoobS-PiI_4sJn2ykpEG6vzq6qkvQXammfLv4Rm-mS5nwll6EN0m" data-outlook-id="800f9af2-0a34-4ac4-801b-d16714c7ec2e">BMR calculator</a>. Image credits: Supplied </div>

Body

New research calls for later-in-life driving lessons

New research has shown that older drivers should be coming forward to test and update their driving skills to keep people safer on the road, and keep senior drivers behind the wheel for longer. A new website launched by the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and neuroscience institute NeuRA aims to help drivers aged in their 50s and above stay safe when driving, while also helping to update their skills to keep them on the roads for longer. Cognitive aging expert and UNSW professor Kaarin Anstey told <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-old-is-too-old-to-drive-in-australia-new-research-shows-ageing-motorists-should-have-driving-lessons/6a470fa9-f0c3-4571-a229-672e689f1e76" target="_blank" rel="noopener">9News</a> later-in-life driving lessons were crucial as our population grows and ages. "We obviously want people to stay on the road as long as it's safe for them to do so. And that's the issue: they have to be safe on the road," Anstey explained. "That's the point of the website, to empower older drivers, family members and health professionals." "We've been working on this issue of older drivers for over 20 years because the second biggest cause of injury in older adults is motor vehicle accidents or crashes (after falls)." Anstey said her research in <a href="https://www.unsw.edu.au/newsroom/news/2024/11/should-age-determine-how-long-drive-car" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Better Drive Study</a> analysed how the driving habits of older motorists changed if they had a refresher course. "A lot of people got their licence in an era where the cars were different, the roads were different, the road rules were different," she said. "We just feel there's a certain amount of improvement that probably all of us, not just the older age group but lots of people, could benefit in refreshing their driving skills." Anstey's pilot study, that followed motorists aged over 65 over 12 months, found older people were more likely to develop bad habits such as not checking blind spots or not keeping up to date with key road rules. She said people who did the driving lessons had a "big improvement" in their safety on the road. Later-in-life lessons could also identify if a person should be looking at giving up their licence, as Anstey added, "Sometimes there's people who we find who are not very safe drivers, or who have an impairment that they may not have been aware of." When asked what they thought of the initiative, some older drivers told 9News, "I think it's a good idea, there are some older people who definitely need a refresher but there are some that are still quite good." "I'd rather not go through those grills but I guess for everyone's safety it's a very good thing," another added. Image credits: Shutterstock

Travel Trouble

"This can't be real": Couple's unbelievable op-shop find

An Australian man has made an epic discovery in his local op shop. Rob Klaric was browsing Lifeline's Mosman store on Sydney's north shore when he spotted two framed photos of himself and his wife, which they had lost while moving house more than 30 years ago. The photos were taken in 1988 when he and Leonie, his wife of 35 years, were backpacking across Europe. But turns out luck was on their side and they were reunited with their prized possession more than three decades later. "I'm still buzzing with this. I mean, what's the chances?" he told 2GB's Ben Fordham. "I've walked into a store and I see these pictures and I thought I was hallucinating." The photos hold special meaning for the couple, as it was taken in his mum's backyard when they went to visit her in Europe. "We backpacked across Europe, [went] to my mother's place in the north of Italy – so the photos are iconic because it's [taken] in my mother's backyard and Mum's just passed away a few years ago now." A year later, the couple got married, and the year following they had these images framed before they lost them in a move in 1993, when a removal company misplaced the boxes they were packed in. "I still tremble because I thought, 'this can't be real'." "The ironic thing is that my picture, apologies Leonie, mine was more expensive. It was $12 and hers was $8," he said. Klaric wondered if his late mother had something to do with the special find. "But look, it's got my mum, my beautiful old Italian mum, it's got her fingerprints all over it," he said. "Because those pictures were right in the middle [of the shop], on the floor, you would have never seen it unless you walked through the store. And if it was on the left or the right you wouldn't have seen it. "I think she's looking down from Heaven." Images: DailyMail

Family & Pets

110-year-old woman reveals the secret to a long life

Perth woman Bridget Grocke, who has just celebrated her 110th birthday, has revealed the very Aussie secret to her longevity. Ms Grocke, who has lived through two World Wars, the Great Depression, the Space Race, and the Information Age, is officially one of Australia's oldest residents. For sixty years, she has credited her old age to one glass of Emu Export beer everyday, as she chose a glass of the Aussie tipple over a slice of cake at her birthday party on Wednesday. “If there was a whole heap of beer and I was asked which one is your favourite I’d have to say this,” she told 9News as she held a glass of bush chook in her hand. “I’ve always known it. It tastes good. Cheers to Emu Export.” Born in Western Australia on November 18th 1914, Bridget spent her early years in Kalgoorlie and moved all across WA as the family followed her father’s work as an engine driver. Then at the age of 18, she took the leap and moved to Perth on her own. Ms Grocke spent her years working in fashion and customer service, also building her own family of four children with her husband, Jim, who she married at St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Subiaco in 1942. Despite losing her husband in 1985 and two of her children, Ms Grocke is surrounded by the love of her remaining son and daughter, 10 grandchildren, and 10 great grandchildren. Other than one of her beloved beers a day, Ms Grocke attributed her long life to her loving family, and her word of advice to younger generations was “if you’re nice to people they will be nice to you”. Ms Grocke’s daughter Jan Robertson said her mother’s adventurous spirit and loving family had kept her young at heart. “Mum was very easy going and she was strict, of course, but she always gave you the right path,” she said. “She has always been well. The only thing she got done was her cataracts at 100, before that she hadn’t been in hospital since childbirth.” Image credits: Nine News <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>

Caring

105-year-old shares the secret to longevity

A 105-year-old woman has celebrated her birthday by sharing her two secrets for a long, prosperous and stress-free life. Kathleen Hennings, who lives in a care home in Cheltenham, England, celebrated her 105th birthday with her family, friends and other residents, as she shared some valuable life advice. Kathleen was born in 1919 and had a successful career as an accountant, spending her free time watching operas and ballets at London’s Royal Opera House. Reflecting on her many happy years, Kathleen revealed the secret to living a long life as, “Drink Guinness and don’t marry!” The centenarian was first introduced to Guinness by her parents and her brother, and quickly fell in love with the dark Irish stout, drinking it religiously throughout her life. This is not the first time Kathleen has offered up this advice, and as a result, was treated to some gifts from Guinness as a birthday present. Kathleen was given a hamper by Guinness with pint glasses, a kitchen apron, slippers, chocolates, and, of course, plenty of the famous Irish drink. Commenting on her special birthday, Kathleen said: “It was so nice to see my lovely friends and neighbours. I’ve been spoiled. Thank you so much.” Image credits: Facebook

Retirement Life

How to complain about aged care and get the result you want

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jacqueline-wesson-1331752">Jacqueline Wesson</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/lee-fay-low-98311">Lee-Fay Low</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> It can be hard to know what to say, or who to talk to, if you notice something isn’t right for you or a loved one in residential aged care. You might have concerns about personal or medical care, being adequately consulted about changes to care, or be concerned about charges on the latest bill. You could also be concerned about theft, neglect or abuse. Here’s how you can raise issues with the relevant person or authority to improve care and support for you or your loved one. <h2>Keep records</h2> You can complain about any aspect of care or service. For instance, if medical care, day-to-day support or financial matters do not meet your needs or expectations, you can complain. It is best to act as soon as you notice something isn’t right. This may prevent things from escalating. Good communication helps get better results. Make written notes about what happened, including times and dates, and take photos. Try to focus on facts and events. You can also keep a record of who was involved and their role. Keep track of how the provider responded or steps taken to resolve the issue. Write notes of conversations and keep copies of emails. <h2>Who do I complain to?</h2> Potential criminal matters If you have concerns about immediate, serious harm of a criminal nature then you should contact the police, and your provider immediately. These types of serious incidents include unreasonable use of force or other serious abuse or neglect, unlawful sexual contact, stealing or unexpected death. The provider may have already contacted you about this. They are required to report such <a href="https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au/consumers/serious-incident-response-scheme">serious incidents</a> to both the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission within 24 hours, and to the police. Other matters For other matters, talk to the care staff involved. Try to find out more detail about what happened and why things went wrong. Think about what you expect in the situation. Then talk to the most senior person in charge, to see if they can make changes so things don’t go wrong in the future. This person may be called the nursing unit manager, care manager or care director. Providers must acknowledge and investigate your complaint, tell you their findings and actions taken, and follow up to see if you are satisfied. If you would like support to talk to the provider, the <a href="https://opan.org.au">Older Persons Advocacy Network</a> can help. This free service provides independent and confidential support to help find solutions with the aged-care provider. The network can also help you lodge a formal complaint. <h2>How to I lodge a formal complaint?</h2> If you are not satisfied with the way your provider responded, you can lodge a complaint with the <a href="https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au">Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission</a>. Be prepared to submit the facts and events, plus emails and correspondence, you have already collected. Think about what you want to happen to resolve the complaint. Each complaint is handled individually and prioritised depending on the risks to you or your loved one. The commission will start its processes within one business day when complaints are urgent. The resolution process took <a href="https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au/sites/default/files/media/acqsc-annual-report-2020-21.pdf">an average 40 days</a> in 2020-21. You can complain confidentially, or anonymously if you feel safer. But the commission may not be able to investigate fully if it’s anonymous. Also, there are limits to what the commission can do. It cannot ask providers to terminate someone’s employment, or provide direct clinical advice about treatment. Sometimes the commission has issued a “non-compliance” notice to the provider (for a failure to meet quality standards), and action may again <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-02/aged-care-complaint-about-southern-cross-care-young/101009716">be limited</a>. So it is a good idea to check the <a href="https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/non-compliance-checker">non-compliance register</a> beforehand to see if your provider is listed. <h2>What do others complain about?</h2> From October to December 2021, <a href="https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au/sites/default/files/media/acqs-sector-performance-data-oct-dec-2021.pdf">about a third</a> of Australian nursing homes had a complaint made to the commission against them. Some had more than one complaint. More than half of these complaints were lodged by family, friends or other consumers. The top reasons for complaints were about: <ul> <li> adequacy of staffing </li> <li> medication administration or management </li> <li> infectious diseases or infection control </li> <li> personal and oral hygiene </li> <li> how falls are prevented and managed </li> <li> consultation or communication with representatives and/or family members. </li> </ul> <h2>What if I’m still not happy?</h2> If you’re not happy when you receive the commission’s outcome, you can request a review with 42 days. You can also request the <a href="https://www.ombudsman.gov.au">Commonwealth Ombudsman</a> to review the complaint if you’re not satisfied with the commission’s decision or the way the commission handled your complaint. <h2>Remember, you have a right to complain</h2> The <a href="https://agedcare.royalcommission.gov.au">Aged Care Royal Commission</a> spotlighted the neglect and substandard care that can occur in nursing homes. Despite attempts to <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/concepts-for-a-new-framework-for-regulating-aged-care">lift the standard of aged care</a>, we know residents and carers still have concerns. Residents, and their representatives or families, have a legal <a href="https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au/consumers/standards/resources">right to speak up and complain</a>, free from reprisal or negative consequences. This right is also reflected in the <a href="https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au/consumers/consumer-rights">Charter of Aged Care Rights</a>, which providers are legally required to discuss with you and help you understand. <h2>Moving to another facility</h2> If you have exhausted all avenues of complaint or feel conditions have not improved, you may decide to move to another provider or facility, if available. This option may not be possible in rural areas. This is a difficult decision. It takes time, as well as financial and emotional resources. Starting again with a new provider can also be disruptive for everyone, but sometimes it may be the right choice. <hr /> Contact the <a href="https://opan.org.au">Older Persons Advocacy Network</a> on 1800 700 600, the <a href="https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au">Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission</a> on 1800 951 822 or the <a href="https://www.ombudsman.gov.au">Commonwealth Ombudsman</a> on 1300 362 072.<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/180036/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jacqueline-wesson-1331752">Jacqueline Wesson</a>, Senior Lecturer (Teaching and Research), Discipline of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/lee-fay-low-98311">Lee-Fay Low</a>, Professor in Ageing and Health, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</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/how-to-complain-about-aged-care-and-get-the-result-you-want-180036">original article</a>. </div>

Retirement Life

Aussie Vietnam vet reunited with lost war medals just in time

A Vietnam veteran has been reunited with his lost war medals that were missing for a year, just in time for Remembrance Day. When attending a Remembrance Day event in New Zealand last year, Townsville veteran Malcolm Edmiston lost his medals somewhere along the journey to Christchurch from Brisbane. The medals were left sitting unclaimed in Brisbane Airport's lost and found after being found in an airport terminal, before airport staff launched a social media campaign to find their owner. After seeing a post on Facebook, Edmiston was finally reunited with his precious medals just in time for this year's Remembrance Day events. "It's very good to have them back, great to have them back, I thought they were gone and gone for good," Malcolm told <a href="https://9now.nine.com.au/today/lost-war-medals-returned-to-vietnam-veteran-in-time-for-remembrance-day/b03bf4df-0d3c-440b-9783-1e6c7ac73a11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Today</a>. "The zip was opened on my case and somehow they fell out, so it's a good reminder for us to take extra care when we pack." Malcolm was not the only one in his family to serve the country, sharing how his father served in the Royal Navy, he had uncles in the Royal Australian Air Force and and the Royal Air Force and a brother who served in Naval Reserve. His son also served in the Navy and with so many of his fellow Vietnam veteran soldiers no longer alive, having his medals back today is something special. "Remembrance Day is a very important day for me," he said. Brisbane Airport's media manager Peter Doherty added that he was thrilled to see the medals return to their rightful owner. He said, "For Malcolm's lifetime of service, the least we could do was the door-to-door service to get the medals back to him." Image credits: Today

Retirement Life

"Hardest year of my life": Prince William's candid admission

Prince WIlliam has made a candid admission about his life this past year, following the double cancer diagnoses of his father King Charles and wife Kate Middleton. When asked how this year has been in an interview with UK print media in Cape Town during his trip to South Africa, the royal replied: “Honestly? It’s been dreadful. “It’s probably been the hardest year in my life.” The Prince of Wales, who took time off while Princess Kate was being treated added: “So, trying to get through everything else and keep everything on track has been really difficult. “But I’m so proud of my wife, I’m proud of my father, for handling the things that they have done. But from a personal family point of view, it’s been, yeah, it’s been brutal.” While the King and Princess Kate have both issued statements about their health struggles, this is the first time William has spoken candidly on the subject. The Prince of Wales is in South Africa as part of Earthshot Week, and presented the Earthshot Prize Awards on November 6. When asked if his family had watched the live broadcast of the awards ceremony, he replied: “I don’t know yet. I haven’t clocked in with them yet but I hope they did. “But it’s interesting you say that, ’cause I couldn’t be less relaxed this year, so it’s very interesting you’re all seeing that. But it’s more a case of just crack on and you’ve got to keep going. “I enjoy my work and I enjoy pacing myself and keeping sure I have got time for my family too.” He also shared an update on his wife's condition saying that "she's doing well. Doing well". Image: Andrew Parsons/Kensington Palace/ Shutterstock Editorial

Family & Pets

I spoke to 100 Japanese seniors, and learnt the secret to a good retirement is a good working life

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/shiori-shakuto-1537774">Shiori Shakuto</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> What makes a good retirement? I’ve <a href="https://www.pennpress.org/9781512827088/after-work/">been researching</a> the lives of “silver backpackers”: Japanese seniors who embark on a later-life journey of self-discovery. Many experienced Japan’s high-growth economy, characterised by rigid gender roles. For many men who worked as iconic cultural figures of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salaryman">sarariiman</a> (white collar workers), excessive working hours were normalised and expected. Their absence from home was compensated by their female partners, many full-time stay-at-home mothers. Entering their 60s meant either retirement from work, or children leaving home. For men and women, retirement is understood as an opportunity to live a life for themselves, leading to a journey of self-discovery. <h2>Dedicating life to work</h2> I interviewed more than 100 older Japanese women and men and found a significant disparity in the quality of life between them. Japanese retired men who led a work-oriented life struggled to find meaning at the initial stages of retirement. One man I spoke to retired at the age of 60 from a large trading company. He was a successful businessman, having travelled the world and held various managerial positions in the company. His wife looked after the children most of the time. They bought a house with a yard in a suburb so the children could attend a good school. It significantly increased his commute, and further reduced his time with children. He also worked on weekends. He barely had time to develop his hobbies or get to know his neighbours. He idealised his retirement as a time to finally spend with his family and develop his own hobbies. When he retired, however, he realised that he and his family didn’t have any common topics of conversation. Through decades of excessive hours spent at work away from home, the rest of the family established a routine that did not include him. Taking up new hobbies at the age of 60 was not as easy as he thought, nor was making new friends at this age. “I became a nureochiba,” he lamented. Nureochiba refers to the wet fallen leaves that linger and are difficult to get rid of. The term is commonly used to describe retired men with no friends or hobbies who constantly accompany their wives. The retirement for many former sarariiman was characterised by boredom – having nowhere to go to or having nothing to do. The sense of boredom led to a sense of isolation and low confidence in old age. Many older Japanese men I spoke to lament not having built a connection with their children or communities at a younger age. <h2>Dedicating life to family and community</h2> Older Japanese women I spoke with were more well-connected with their children and local communities in later life. Many were in regular contact with their children through visits, phone calls and messages. Some continued to care for them by providing food or by looking after grandchildren. Children very much appreciated them. Many older women who had been full-time stay-at-home mothers had already taken up hobbies or volunteering activities at community organisations, and they could accelerate these involvements in their old age. Even women who worked full-time seemed to maintain better connections with their family members because working excessively away from home was simply not possible for them. Older men relied on these women’s networks and activities conducted at the scales of home and communities – from caring for others to pursuing hobbies – to enact a meaningful retirement. The sense of connection with family and communities, not to mention their husbands’ reliance on them, led to a high confidence and wellbeing among older women. I saw many instances where older women preferred spending time with their female friends than their retired husbands and embarked on adventurous trips alone. One woman went on a three-month cruise alone. Feeling liberated, she sent a fax message to her husband from the ship: “When I get off this ship, I will devote the rest of my life to myself. You will have to take care of your own mother.” Upon disembarking, she moved to Malaysia to start her second life. <h2>The silver backpackers</h2> Malaysia has become a popular destination for silver backpackers looking to embark on a journey of self-discovery. Some travel as couples, while others go alone, regardless of their marital status. For many male silver backpackers I spoke to, moving to Malaysia offers a second chance at life to make new friends, find hobbies and, most importantly, start anew with their partners. For many female silver backpackers, visiting Malaysia means being able to enjoy an independent lifestyle while having the security of friends and family in Malaysia and Japan. The experiences of older Japanese men and women can be translated into the experiences of anyone who spent excessive hours at work and those who spent more time cultivating relationships outside of work. The activities of the latter group are not as valued in a society that narrowly defines productivity. However, my research shows that it is their activities that carry more value in old age. Are you under pressure to work long hours? If you can, turn off your phone and computer. Instead of organising events for work, organise a dinner with your family and friends. Take up a new hobby in your local community centres. You can change how you work and live now for a better old age.<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/238571/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/shiori-shakuto-1537774">Shiori Shakuto</a>, Lecturer in Anthropology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</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/i-spoke-to-100-japanese-seniors-and-learnt-the-secret-to-a-good-retirement-is-a-good-working-life-238571">original article</a>. </div>

Retirement Life

"The time has come": Ray Hadley announces retirement

After 43 years on air, Ray Hadley has announced he will be stepping back from his hosting role at 2GB. Hadley shocked his loyal listeners on Thursday morning, saying his extensive career has been "one hell of a ride". “It’s been a hell of a ride from a young bloke who wanted to call the races," he said. "But the time has come for someone else to do the job. So December 13 will be my last day broadcasting." “Apparently the story has broken somewhere. There’s always a leak somewhere, so I may as well do it now, earlier than I anticipated,” he said. “Sometimes you can’t keep things secret, and I suppose in the media, that’s what happens." “I’ve achieved far more than I ever thought I would. My children, Dan, Laura, Emma and Sarah, have made sacrifices over the years for me to realise my ambitions." "Back in September I turned 70, I started to think, how long I've got left on this Earth, and do I want to keep getting up at half past three in the morning, meaning I go to bed early. At social events I'm always the first out the door. I don't want to be the first out the door anymore." Hadley assured listeners he would not be disappearing completely, clarifying, "I'm not retiring from work. I'm just retiring from full-time radio. I'll bob up somewhere in 2025 but not in a full-time capacity, and certainly not on radio." Shortly after making the on-air announcement, NSW premier Chris Minns called into the show to share a tribute. “Ray, you shocked us all. What a massive day in New South Wales radio, and a huge loss for Sydney in particular," Mr Minns said. “We’re genuinely going to miss you. I’m in shock at the moment. It’s a distinguished career. It’s an incredible legacy. But if I was someone up in one word, I would just say fearless, a broadcasting career that’s been completely fearless, and you’ve never, ever pulled your punches in something that you believe in." Image credits: Instagram

Retirement Life

Readers response: What’s one thing you wish you had known before retiring?

When it comes time to retire, there are always things we wish we knew first before entering our golden years. We asked our readers what they wish they knew before retiring, and the response was overwhelming. Here's what they said. Margaret Walsh - As long as you are fit and active, it's great. Just don't get crook or disabled, it sucks. Judi Bradshaw - I retired 9 times and kept going back to work as I didn't find myself ready to stop work, but finally retired at 73. Took awhile to adjust but now 75 and full time travellers, just loving life. Marcus von Moger - How good it was going to be. Chris Bailey - How boring it is, I’d go back to work in a heartbeat if I could. Ellen Fowler - That the government would keep changing the rules. Michael L Carrigg - Just how long it takes dealing with government departments that clearly are understaffed, especially in the front line service areas. Jim Burgess - Finding reasonably priced accommodation. Nicol Kyriakidou - That it would be so great! Having the whole day to yourself. Taking it easy, meeting friends, going shopping. Doing everything at your leisure. Gaye Johnson - You never get a day off!!! David Brown - How good it is. I should have retired 20 years earlier. Image credits: Shutterstock

Retirement Life

Woman cured of Type 1 diabetes in life-changing clinical trial

Marlaina Goedel was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was just five-years-old, and not only was the disease controlling her, but it almost cost her life. "I've crashed my car into a brick building before having a diabetic attack while driving," Goedel recalled. Her condition was so extreme that she felt robbed of a normal childhood, telling the Daily Mail that she was in and out of hospital with life-threatening diabetic ketoacidosis, which causes toxic chemicals to build up in the blood due to a lack of insulin. Now 30-years-old, the Illinois woman no longer needs daily insulin shots and can finally enjoy sugar again thanks to a pioneering stem cell therapy that has cured her of type 1 diabetes. Goedel was one of three Americans who have been cured of their type 1 diabetes thanks to the clinical trial involving an islet cell transplant. It is a one-off infusion that involved transplanting islet cells into her liver to help her body produce insulin on its own. After four weeks, she no longer needed to take insulin. "[My doctor] said, ‘Mark it on your calendar. Today is the day. Stop all insulin,'" Goedel said of the life-changing moment. "I just went quiet and finally said, ‘I’m here. I’m in shock. I’m going to need you to repeat that.’" The trial was being run at the University of Chicago Medicine Transplant Institute. While Islet cell transplants isn't a new procedure, the current anti-rejection medication used can be toxic to the transplanted cells, potentially making it less effective over time. The clinical trial that ran at the university tested out a new antibody called tegoprubart, which was given to Goedel and the two other patients. Tegoprubart is made from lab-made antibodies that trick the immune system into thinking the body made the cells on its own, preventing them from being rejected. The patients were then given islet cells from a deceased donor's pancreas, which were then infused into the patient's small blood vessels in their liver. Those cells then lodged into the blood vessels and started producing insulin. For Goedel the only side effect of the procedure was "feeling like I got punched in the ribs," with the procedure lasting just an hour. "The cure is out there," Goedel told the Daily Mail. With her new lease on life, Goedel plans to go back to school and go horse riding without worrying about suffering an attack and causing an accident. "It took a while to get used to saying, 'I am cured. I am diabetes free.' It's been very freeing," she said. "No one should have to live with this disease. I know that now more than ever." Images: Good Morning America/ UChicago Medicine

Caring

Readers response: Have you picked up any new skills or learned something unexpected since retiring?

When many of us retire and our time is now fully our own, some people use this time to pick up a new skill or hobby they've always wanted to try. We asked our readers if they have picked up any new skills since retiring, and the response was overwhelming. Here's what they said. Marion Thompson - Cycling, travelling and watercolour art. Dee Douglas - How to take a walk and look at everything with new eyes rather than a head filled with work issues. Margaret Mason - Line dancing and croquet since moving in the last 18 months. I have actually been retired for 18 years and in that time also learnt some New Testament Greek. Yvonne Cooper - Spoon carving and wood work. Loving it! Glenn Azlin - Competed Certificate III Applied Languages (Mandarin). Anne O'Donohue - How to take all week to do the chores I could do in a day. Helen Morgan - It turns out I am very good at doing nothing, a real expert! Sheila Ball - Taking time to read a book. Image credits: Shutterstock

Retirement Life

Readers response: What’s your favourite destination you’ve visited later in life and why?

When it comes to travelling, some destinations are better than others for different points in your life. We asked our readers what their favourite destination they've ever visited later in life is, and the response was overwhelming. Here's what they said. Robin Liersch - Africa! Not about the big cities but the animals, landscape and people are lovely. Nature at its best. Karen Ambrose - Sri Lanka. A fabulous tour. Sandra Way - Switzerland, such a beautiful country. Deb Moore - Scotland! The highlands. Because of my ancestry, now that I have been there I feel so very drawn back. Wendy Beckhouse - Cambodia, Angkor Wat is amazing. Beautiful people and great food. Patricia Monro - Singapore. A beautiful safe country with spectacular scenery everywhere. Our family lived there for a couple of years so our visits were perfect. Simply love Singapore. Christina Hutchings - Norway. Especially Geirangar. The people and places were fantastic. Would love to go back. Barbara Mules - Uzbekistan, not at all what I expected. So many beautiful old buildings, good food and lovely people. Elizabeth Jeffreys - Italy. Love the country, people and food. Helen Dickenson - Antarctica, the Parthenon and Machu Picchu because I never thought I could physically do it but I’m glad I managed it. Regina Johnson - South Island, New Zealand. Spectacular. Ian J Wilson - Japan, without a doubt. Val Goodwin - Croatia, wonderful place and people. Image credits: Shutterstock

Travel Tips

Man decides to end his own life after waiting for at-home care

A terminally ill man has made the heartbreaking decision to end his life after waiting 10-month for end of life care. Cyril Tooze, an 86-year-old from South Australia's Fleurieu Peninsula, was approved for a Level 4 Home Care Package in January. The package - which is the highest available care for individuals with high-level needs under the federal government’s MyAgedCare scheme - would give Mr Tooze up to $59,594 annually for daily assistance with physical, medical and social tasks. But almost one year on from the approval, his funds and support have yet to be delivered. It’s understood his family, who live interstate, contacted the government to enquire about receiving an urgent reassessment, and were told he could be waiting another three to six months. Independent MP Rebekha Sharkie told reporters that his family were also told a reassessment “could delay it even longer”. While waiting for his vital funds, Mr Tooze - who suffers from terminal heart and lung conditions and regularly requires morphine for pain relief - has worsened and has been hospitalised after suffering a fall at home. Tired of waiting for help to arrive, Tooze has started the process of ending his life through South Australia’s voluntary assisted dying scheme. “There is no hope ... I don’t want to live my life laying in a bed waiting for something to happen,” he told <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/terminally-ill-mans-heartbreaking-decision-to-end-his-life-after-10-month-wait-for-home-care-in-australia-c-16471785" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7News</a>. “You can’t live like that, that’s unfair, we don’t deserve that in such a country as Australia.” Following the media coverage of his case, Tooze was contacted by the Aged Care Department, who said the package could temporarily be made available. Sharkie said Tooze’s situation was “shameful”, saying, “What devastates me is that Mr Tooze feels voluntary assisted dying is the only course available to him, and that is because we as a nation have failed him." “I would say, if Mr Tooze had that package in a timely manner, as he should have, he would probably be sitting at home now, making himself a cup of tea.” Anglicare Australia’s <a href="https://www.anglicare.asn.au/2024/09/20/life-on-the-wait-list-report-shows-older-australians-are-going-without-support/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link-type="article-inline">Life on the Wait List report</a> revealed that as of May 2024, 68,109 Australians had been approved for a Home Care Package but were facing wait times of up to 15 months to access it. Image credits: 7News

Caring

MedicAlert: The life-saving service that just got even better

While traditional MedicAlert IDs have long been trusted for their reliability, the company that currently protects more than four million members worldwide has taken a huge step forward in enhancing emergency care and personal safety by <a href="https://www.medicalert.org.au/qr-code" target="_blank" rel="noopener">integrating QR codes</a> into their medical IDs. These QR codes are a modern addition that provide rapid, comprehensive access to critical medical information, ensuring timely and accurate assistance in emergencies. When a MedicAlert QR code is scanned, first responders and healthcare professionals can immediately access the wearer’s detailed medical history. This includes information on allergies, chronic conditions, medications and emergency contacts, as well as your uploaded documents like Advanced Care Directives and specialist letters. The quick retrieval of this data can be lifesaving, especially in situations where every second counts. MedicAlert’s QR codes are designed to be user-friendly and secure. Scanning the code with a smartphone or any QR code reader directs the user to a secure webpage containing the medical profile of the ID wearer. This ensures that sensitive information is both accessible when needed and protected from unauthorised access. One of the standout features of MedicAlert QR codes is their global functionality. No matter where you are in the world, emergency responders can scan the code and access the information in multiple languages. This is particularly beneficial for travellers, providing peace of mind that their medical information is always within reach. <img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-70799" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2024/10/MEDICALERT-22nd-May-2024-219_O60.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> The information linked to a MedicAlert QR code can also be easily updated. This means any changes in medical conditions, medications or emergency contacts can be promptly reflected, ensuring that the most current information is available at all times. As a registered Australian charity, MedicAlert also ensures that all online data is securely stored within Australia, providing peace of mind regarding the privacy and protection of your personal medical information. Their commitment to safeguarding your health data while offering reliable and accessible emergency support makes them an invaluable ally in maintaining your wellbeing. For a limited time, get 60% off all stainless steel MedicAlert products with the discount code 60OVER60. For more information, visit <a href="https://www.medicalert.org.au/qr-code">https://www.medicalert.org.au/qr-code</a> <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HkmBEXerAFQ?si=FFtmmhywyzu6EPUr" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> Images: MedicAlert This is a sponsored article produced in partnership with MedicAlert

Caring

Real estate agent flees the country after stealing from clients

A real estate agent from Melbourne has allegedly fled the country after reportedly taking off with hundreds of thousands of dollars she stole from clients and employees. According to <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/real-estate-agent-debra-lawry-accused-of-stealing-hundreds-of-thousands-from-clients-and-employees/29121a3e-546c-44fe-8dff-70253c14a8b0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">9News</a>, Debra Lawry, who traded as Debra Watchman with Ray White Romsey, has been accused of stealing money from her clients and staff by emptying the company's trust accounts and telling her colleagues she was in hospital while actually flying to Europe at the end of last month. One of Lawry's alleged victims is primary school teacher Shay Preston, who had just sold her family home with the estate agency. While she got the deposit back from Ray White, the theft cost the single mum thousands of dollars in extra expenses in the meantime. "It was very hard, very anxious, very stressful," Preston told 9News. "It's been a very stressful month." While clients are among those who have been stolen from, employees have also been impacted and are allegedly owed tens of thousands of dollars in unpaid super, leave entitlements and commission, including from Ms Preston's sale. "I felt horrible, they have done, they were doing a job for us and regardless of who they were working under, they did a job," Preston said. Staff at the agency claim they discovered their boss had been trying to book long-term accommodation in Italy after they found her office cleared out. "I hope she steps one toe out of wherever she is and just they get her, because that's a lot of people that she's hurt," Preston said. In the lead-up to Lawry's disappearance, Consumer Affairs Victoria publicly announced it was looking to suspend or cancel her estate licences, alleging she had deliberately failed to comply with auditing obligations over the last four years. Image credits: Ray White

Legal

New report reveals huge amount of super needed to retire

Australians will need nearly $600,000 in their superannuation to retire comfortably, according to a new report. The Association of Superannuation Funds (ASFA) Retirement Standard report found that home-owning singles would need $595,000 to retire at 67 with a “comfortable” lifestyle, while a home-owning couple in relatively good health would need $690,000. This means that home-owning couples would need $73,337 per year while home-owning singles would need $52,085 for a comfortable lifestyle. Their analysis also found that for a more modest lifestyle, a superannuation balance of $100,000 is needed for both singles or couples. Both budgets assume the retirees own their homes and are relatively healthy. On Wednesday, financial commentator Betsy Westcott told Sunrise that Aussies needed to start thinking about retirement earlier to make the most of their savings. “The longer that you contribute to super and pay attention it to it, the less you have to do to create that really golden retirement because age is your superpower,” Westcott said. “If you’re not paying attention to your super, which, let’s be honest, most of us aren’t, you could be missing out on some really big gains (to the overall balance).” She added that most people retired closer to 65 than 67 and ended up with a lot less superannuation than the benchmark. While the ASFA retirement standard took into account “everyday spending,” Wescott said it did not factor in expenses like helping children buy a home, or buying into a retirement village. She also stressed that these benchmarks were just a guide saying: "Personal finance is just that, it is personal.” “Your idea of a golden retirement will look different to your neighbour’s, your cousin’s, your best friend’s." Image: Shutterstock

Retirement Life

Radio legend calls it quits

Gus Worland has announced his departure from Triple M after 16 years with the network. The radio legend shared the news during The Rush Hour show he co-hosts with Jude Bolton each weekday afternoon on 104.9 in Sydney. "After 16 years, starting back in 2009, I'm leaving Triple M," he said on the show. He revealed that he would be focusing on his foundation Gotcha4Life, dedicated to teaching Aussies how to manage their mental health, with their Mental Fitness Gym program being rolled out in schools around the country. "I've decided to focus 100 per cent on Gotcha4Life which, of course, you blokes have been a part of and the station has been very supportive of me being away and doing that work. "I just feel it's right. It's at the stage now where it really needs critical leadership and critical energy ... just the passion, so forth, that goes behind Gotcha4Life." In an interview with 9Honey, he revealed that moving on from the show will be difficult. "Especially when you've done it for more than a few years, you know what I mean? I feel like we've been through the trenches a bit together," he said. He also spoke about how his gig on Triple M has helped him cope with the intensity of the work he is doing for his foundation. "To give me the balance of fun and being able to come in here after horrific stories, and then to see everyone and have a laugh and have a cuddle and eat too much sugar," he said. "I've needed that. I don't know how well I'll go without it, to be honest with you." But despite the uncertainty, Worland said he felt it was "the right call." "It's going to take me probably, you know, a few months or maybe a year to work out whether or not I can just do that job without the balance of media, but I'll still do my Wide World of Sports on Channel 9 and I'll do my Weekend Today on Channel 9," he said. While he has been getting offers from other media organisations, he said that the majority of his energy will be focused on his foundation. "I've got to be strong in my convictions," he said. "Gotcha needs me every day, fully focused." He hopes that one day mental fitness will be a subject in schools. "We've just started a primary schools program and I want to really focus in on the little ones and making sure that they're learning that it's okay to show their emotions at a young age when a lot of us have our emotions turned off," he said. "And I will continue to speak to every pollie [politician] and tell me what's a more important subject than mental fitness." Worland will stay on the show until the end of the year, ahead of his replacement being announced. Images: Triple M/ The Rush Hour/ Instagram

Retirement Life

The science of happier dogs: 5 tips to help your canine friends live their best life

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/mia-cobb-15211">Mia Cobb</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a> When you hear about “science focused on how dogs can live their best lives with us” it sounds like an imaginary job made up by a child. However, the field of <a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/podcast/ourchangingworld?share=2ec8e0ad-5008-4b2d-ae2e-a288e2a77f50">animal welfare science is real</a> and influential. As our most popular animal companion and coworker, dogs are very deserving of scientific attention. In recent years we’ve learned more about <a href="https://theconversation.com/dogs-can-get-dementia-but-lots-of-walks-may-lower-the-risk-189297">how dogs are similar to people</a>, but also how they are distinctly themselves. We often think about how dogs help us – as companions, <a href="https://theconversation.com/meet-moss-the-detection-dog-helping-tassie-devils-find-love-142909">working as detectors</a>, and keeping us <a href="https://theconversation.com/is-owning-a-dog-good-for-your-health-238888">safe and healthy</a>. Dog-centric science helps us <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2021.666898/full">think about the world from a four-paw perspective</a> and apply this new knowledge so dogs can enjoy a good life. Here are five tips to keep the tails in your life wagging happily. <h2>1. Let dogs sniff</h2> Sniffing <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/animal-emotions/201902/allowing-dogs-sniff-helps-them-think-positively">makes dogs happier</a>. We tend to forget they live in a smell-based world because we’re so visual. Often taking the dog for a walk is our daily physical activity but we should remember it could be our dogs’ only time out of the home environment. Letting them have a really good sniff of that tree or post is full of satisfying information for them. It’s their nose’s equivalent of us standing at the top of a mountain and enjoying a rich, colour-soaked, sunset view. <h2>2. Give dogs agency</h2> Agency is a <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1284869/full">hot topic in animal welfare science</a> right now. For people who lived through the frustration of strict lockdowns in the early years of COVID, it’s easy to remember how not being able to go where we wanted, or see who we wanted, when we wanted, impacted our mental health. We’ve now learned that <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1250251/full">giving animals choice and control</a> in their lives is important for their mental wellbeing too. We can help our dogs enjoy better welfare by creating more choices and offering them control to exercise their agency. This might be installing a doggy door so they can go outside or inside when they like. It could be letting them decide which sniffy path to take through your local park. Perhaps it’s choosing which three toys to play with that day from a larger collection that gets rotated around. Maybe it’s putting an old blanket down in a new location where you’ve noticed the sun hits the floor for them to relax on. Providing choices doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. <h2>3. Recognise all dogs are individuals</h2> People commonly ascribe certain personality traits to certain dog breeds. But just like us, dogs have their own personalities <a href="https://scitechdaily.com/food-vs-toys-scientists-reveal-what-dogs-truly-prefer/">and preferences</a>. Not all dogs are going to like the same things and a new dog we live with may be completely different to the last one. One dog might like to go to the dog park and run around with other dogs at high speed for an hour, while another dog would much rather hang out with you chewing on something in the garden. We can see as much <a href="https://www.science.org/content/article/your-dog-s-breed-doesn-t-determine-its-personality-study-suggests">behavioural variation within breeds as we do between them</a>. Being prepared to meet dogs where they are, as individuals, is important to their welfare. As well as noticing what dogs like to do as individuals, it’s important not to force dogs into situations they don’t enjoy. <a href="https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/behaviour/understanding">Pay attention to behaviour</a> that indicates dogs aren’t comfortable, such as looking away, licking their lips or yawning. <h2>4. Respect dogs’ choice to opt out</h2> Even in our homes, we can provide options if our dogs don’t want to share in every activity with us. Having a quiet place that dogs can retreat to is really important in enabling them to opt out if they want to. If you’re watching television loudly, it may be too much for <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/canine-corner/202407/how-good-is-a-dogs-hearing-compared-to-humans">their sensitive ears</a>. Ensure a door is open to another room so they can retreat. Some dogs might feel overwhelmed when visitors come over; giving them somewhere safe and quiet to go rather than forcing an interaction will help them cope. Dogs can be terrific role models for children when teaching empathy. We can demonstrate consent by letting dogs approach us for pats and depart when they want. Like seeing exotic animals perform in circuses, dressing up dogs for our own entertainment seems to have had its day. If you asked most dogs, they don’t want to wear costumes or be part of your Halloween adventures. <h2>5. Opportunities for off-lead activity – safely.</h2> When dogs are allowed to run off-lead, they use space differently. They tend to explore more widely and go faster than they do when walking with us on-lead. This offers them important and fun physical activity to keep them fit and healthy. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2AchEFiDwA8?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption>Demonstrating how dogs walk differently when on- and off-lead.</figcaption></figure> A recent exploration of <a href="https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/we-checked-if-melbourne-really-is-a-dog-friendly-city">how liveable cities are for dogs</a> mapped all the designated areas for dogs to run off-leash. Doggy density ranged from one dog for every six people to one dog for every 30 people, depending on where you live. It also considered how access to these areas related to the annual registration fees for dogs in each government area compared, with surprising differences noted across greater Melbourne. We noted fees varied between A$37 and $84, and these didn’t relate to how many off-lead areas you could access. For dog-loving nations, such as Australia, helping our canine friends live their best life feels good. <a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/2018957756/our-changing-world-the-science-behind-dog-welfare">Science that comes from a four-paw perspective</a> can help us reconsider our everyday interactions with dogs and influence positive changes so we can live well, together.<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/236952/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/mia-cobb-15211">Mia Cobb</a>, Research Fellow, Animal Welfare Science Centre, <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/the-science-of-happier-dogs-5-tips-to-help-your-canine-friends-live-their-best-life-236952">original article</a>. </div>

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"The time has come": Ray Hadley announces retirement

Readers response: What’s one thing you wish you had known before retiring?

Woman cured of Type 1 diabetes in life-changing clinical trial

Readers response: Have you picked up any new skills or learned something unexpected since retiring?

Readers response: What’s your favourite destination you’ve visited later in life and why?

Man decides to end his own life after waiting for at-home care

MedicAlert: The life-saving service that just got even better

Real estate agent flees the country after stealing from clients

New report reveals huge amount of super needed to retire

Radio legend calls it quits

The science of happier dogs: 5 tips to help your canine friends live their best life

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