Dr Jui Tham Managing health and wellbeing through changes in life 8 May 2013

Transcription

1 Dr Jui Tham Managing health and wellbeing through changes in life 8 May

2 A word from my sponsor rt health fund Established in 1889 Health fund for transport and electricity industries Over 45,000 members nationally 17,000 in QLD Mutual fund Not for profit 2

3 Self The inevitability of change E.g., career, retirement, changes to health, changes to finances Family E.g., parenting, grandparenting Social network E.g., work network to other networks (and back again) Society E.g., demography, technology, societal norms Planning for change will be challenging and will offer new opportunities 3

4 You can expect to live longer... Life expectancy at birth (current) Males 79.0 years Females 83.7 years Life expectancy at age 65 (current) Males a further 18.5 years, reaching the age of 83.5 Females a further 21.6 years, reaching the age of 86.6 A century ago, life expectancy at birth was a whole generation less than what it is today Males 55 years Females 59 years Source: Australia s Health 2012, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 4

5 ...but there is a cost to this Total Australian government health expenditure with and without non-demographic growth (in dollars) [Treasury projections] Source: Intergenerational Report 2010, Australia to 2050: future challenges 5

6 Something is likely to give... In FY11, total health expenditure in Australia was $130b (9.3% of GDP) 69.1% of this was funded by government(s) 7.6% from private health insurers 5.0% from other insurers 18.3% from individuals themselves (out-of-pockets) The projected rate of growth in health expenditure is likely not to be sustainable for government(s) Likely future caps on expenditure growth and absolute expenditure amounts impacts such as growing waiting lists for elective surgery More pressure on individuals to pay directly (or indirectly) i.e., more out-of-pocket expenses Have you sufficiently considered future health costs? Source: Health Expenditure Australia , Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 6

7 I hope I have not alarmed you too much... Change may be inevitable but future outcomes are not The opportunity to influence future outcomes is now Think about what you can do to improve your physical health and wellbeing and your mental and social health and wellbeing 7

8 Where to begin carry out an audit of your health risks Engage in dialogue with your GP (and other health professionals) Participate in health screening assessments (e.g., bowel cancer screening, screening mammograms, etc.) Improve your health literacy Use reputable sources of information - government and NGO sources are usually the most reliable Be honest with yourself and don t be afraid to ask yourself the hard questions Get to know your measurements Don t forget to ask yourself about mental health and social health 8

9 The major modifiable risk factors for physical health and wellbeing Smoking Am I a smoker? Nutrition Alcohol What is my current diet? What is a healthy diet for me? How much alcohol do I consume? Is this too much for me? Physical activity What physical activity do I usually undertake? How much and what kind of physical activity is right for me? 9

10 Smoking and alcohol For smokers, quitting is the single best thing that can be done for their health Quitting is difficult, relapse is common persistence and assistance makes a significant difference Additional useful information at National guidelines no more than 2 standard drinks per day with at least 2 alcohol free days per week Additional useful information at 10

11 Nutrition Know what is the right level of nutrition for you given factors such as your age, level of physical activity (your energy needs) and any underlying health problem (e.g., diabetes) Balance is key Enjoy a wide variety of nutritious foods from the five food groups every day Drink plenty of water Limit intake of foods containing saturated fat, added salt, added sugars and alcohol is a great information resource - or seek advice from a health professional 11

12 Physical activity At least 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity on most (preferably all) days The 30 minutes need not be continuous Good for mind as well as body (and helps with social wellbeing) Incorporate a range of physical activities which act to promote fitness, strength, flexibility and good balance If you are concerned, seek advice from your GP and/or other health professionals (e.g., physiotherapist, exercise physiologist) Other good sources of information include the National Heart Foundation and the Department of Health and Ageing website 12

13 Mental and social health and wellbeing are impacted by life changes... Mental (and social) health impacts physical health (and vice versa) they feed on each other For example, many find that adapting to retirement has negative impacts on mental and social health and wellbeing (after a honeymoon period for the first six months or so) Causes of the negative impact on mental and social wellbeing with the transition into retirement include: Loss of a sense of purpose, loss of self esteem Loss of structure Increased conflicts in relationships Loss of social network This problem tends to occur more in men than women. For some, it can lead to depression 13

14 ... and a plan of action is also advisable Be cognisant of risks to mental and social health and wellbeing from life changes and plan actions to mitigate these risks Build a strong social network in advance of foreseeable life changes such as retirement Engage with your local community Engage with your children and grandchildren For retirees, building a new structure to your day, finding a fresh purpose to your day (study, coach/mentor, discover a new hobby, etc.) is important Consider semi-retirement or volunteer work An active mind, exercised everyday does not rust 14

15 Summary Change is inevitable but outcomes are to be determined Create a plan for a healthier future it can help reduce financial risk too Know your own health, engage in dialogue with your GP Think about your modifiable lifestyle risk factors - SNAP Don t forget planning for good mental and social health Ask yourself are these challenges or new opportunities? 15

16 Questions? 16