Seniors Health Taree

From 65 onwards, several checks earn a regular place in the calendar. Blood pressure should be reviewed at least yearly, along with cholesterol and blood glucose testing to monitor heart disease and diabetes risk. Annual checks worth keeping include a medication review (especially for anyone taking five or more medicines), skin checks given Australia's high skin cancer rates, and flu vaccination, with pneumococcal and shingles vaccines also recommended at specific ages.

Bone density testing matters particularly for women after menopause and for anyone who has had a fall or fracture, while hearing and vision should be checked every one to two years as both decline gradually and affect safety, driving and social connection. From 75, Medicare funds a comprehensive annual health assessment covering all of this plus mobility, memory, continence and how you're managing at home. Bowel cancer screening continues every two years until 74 through the national program.

There's no fixed age — the trigger is circumstances rather than a birthday. Guidelines generally recommend a falls risk assessment for anyone 65 or over who has fallen in the past year, feels unsteady on their feet, has started avoiding activities out of fear of falling or has been prescribed medications that affect balance, such as sleeping tablets or blood pressure medicines.

That said, around one in three Australians over 65 falls each year, so raising the topic proactively at an annual check-up is sensible even without warning signs. An assessment typically reviews your falls history, balance and gait, muscle strength, medications, vision, footwear and home hazards. The follow-up matters most: evidence shows falls can be substantially reduced through targeted exercise programs that build strength and balance, medication adjustments, vision correction and simple home modifications such as grab rails, better lighting and removing trip hazards.

The pathway runs through My Aged Care, the Australian Government's entry point for aged care services. Start by registering online at myagedcare.gov.au or calling 1800 200 422 — your parent will need to be involved and give consent, though family can support the process. My Aged Care arranges an assessment, usually conducted at home, which looks at how your parent is managing daily tasks and what supports would help them stay independent.

Depending on the outcome, they may be approved for entry-level help through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (things like cleaning, meals and transport) or a Home Care Package for more comprehensive needs, which is allocated by priority. A GP is a practical starting point before all this — they can assess whether extra support is genuinely needed, provide supporting information for the assessment and address any medical issues contributing to the difficulties, such as untreated pain, medication side effects or memory changes. Wait times exist for some services, so starting the process early is wise.