The average cost of accommodation in a private or voluntary nursing home is €896 a week, according to a Nursing Homes Ireland survey.

Costs were highest in Dublin (€1,100) and lowest in Donegal (€748).

There are 437 nursing homes in Ireland, a drop of 4% since 2010. Bed numbers increased to 22,342 (a rise of 1,752 beds) in the past five years. There is one private nursing home bed in Ireland for every 20 people aged 65 years or over and staff costs account for 61% of costs in nursing homes.

FREE GP CARE FOR EVERYONE OVER 70

Over 70 and don’t have a medical card? Now you can register for a GP visit card and get your doctor visits for free.

You will need to register online at www.gpvisitcard.ie, download a form from the website, or lo-call 1890-252-919 to receive a copy by post or in case you need help or guidance. The helpline is open weekdays at 8am-8pm.

Loves me.... loves me not....

Relationships can be difficult, but how do you know if yours has become an unhealthy one? Here is a list of signs from Women’s Aid and Soroptomist International Wexford:

  • Tries to control me.

  • Keeps me from seeing my friends and family.

  • Always blames me.

  • Makes all the decisions.

  • Teases, bullies and puts me down.

  • Makes me cry.

  • Embarrasses me in front of others.

  • Is always ‘checking up’ on me.

  • Makes me feel afraid.

  • Gets violent, loses temper quickly.

  • Takes my money and other things.

  • Threatens to leave if I don’t do what I’m told.

    • Contact Women’s Aid on 1800-341-900 between 10am and 10pm, seven days a week. For more information, visit www.womensaid.ie. Click on ‘get help locally’ for local refuge contact numbers. The Samaritans helpline is 116-123 in the Republic of Ireland or email jo@samaritans.org

    Would you recongise a stroke?

    Signs of stroke can be subtle or misunderstood, so it is important that we are able to recognise them, says the Irish Heart Foundation.

    Jim Bartley (Bela from Fair City) knows this.

    “I’ve had first-hand experience of stroke and I can tell you, I didn’t think it would ever happen to me. When it did, it came out of nowhere. A stroke happens so quickly. I am one of the lucky ones who got to hospital for treatment immediately. We need to call 999 as soon as we suspect a stroke. It could save the life of someone you know.”

    DRIVE-THRU PHARMACY NOW IN WATERFORD

    The country’s first drive-thru pharmacy has now opened in Ardkeen, Co Waterford.

    The drive-thru and lifestyle store, run by the Mulligan family pharmacy group, opened in April. Customers can call or text their prescription for pick up at a convenient time, thereby reducing waiting time.

    “We are delighted to open the country’s first drive-thru pharmacy,” says Ronan Mulligan. “This is a family run business operating since 1957 and we’ve always strived to innovate and be ahead of the trends, improving the service for the time-pressed customer.”

    Mulligan’s is also planning a smartphone app and e-commerce website.

    ASTHMA – HOW TO RELIEVE CHILDREN’S ALLERGY SYMPTOMS

    One in every 10 adults and one in every five children suffer from asthma.

    Here are some top tips to relieve children’s allergy symptoms:

  • • Get rid of stuffed animals, or wash them regularly in hot water. Stuffed animals can be a haven for dust mites and other allergens.
  • • Cover your child’s mattress with a dust mite-proof cover. Wash bedding every week in hot water with an extra rinse cycle.
  • • Professionally clean carpets and heavy drapes. They trap dust and allergens and need to be cleaned to stay effective. Reduce your use of chemical cleaners with strong scents.
  • • Don’t allow smoking in the house.
  • • Keep pets out of your child’s bedroom or playroom.
  • • Keep them hydrated. All that sneezing and blowing can leave a child parched. Keep a water bottle full and close to hand, and encourage your children to keep sipping.
  • • When itchy eyes are driving your kid crazy, try a cold compress, which may help reduce the itch and soreness.
  • • Spice it up. If your kids will eat spicy foods, a dish made with cayenne pepper, hot ginger, fenugreek, onions or garlic may help thin mucus and clear nasal passages.
  • • Use top tissues. When kids’ allergies are at their peak, tender noses can get sore pretty fast. Look for tissues with lotion or aloe vera.

    • Source www.chemdry.ie (it claims its cleaning process removes 98.1% of allergens from carpets and upholstery and 89% of airborne bacteria in the home).

    NEW EU LOGO TO HELP AVOID ONLINE FAKE MEDICINES

    Since 1 July, all online pharmacies or retailers of medicines legally operating in the EU should display a new logo. This has been introduced to protect patients. If you are considering buying medication online you should look out for the logo on the webpage, click on it and it will bring you to the national regulatory authority website which lists all legally operating pharmacies and retailers of medicines in a given EU member state.

    LIVING WITH ARTHRITIS

    Mayo native Ann Marie Healy has written a book about her experience of living with rheumatoid arthritis. In Be Yourself: My Diaries she tells the story of diagnosis at the age of 10, studying social science in Sligo IT, winning the Erris Person of the Year Award in 2008, through to her voluntary work lobbying politicians on behalf of those with disabilities.

    Her book provides a personal account of what it is like to live with a disability in Ireland today. It is available from www.choicepublishing.ie and costs €15.

    SCHOOL BAGS

    Children, like adults, can suffer from back pain. School bags and heavy books are a cause for concern for many parents and children, says the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists.

    While some secondary schools are now introducing iPads, most children are still carrying heavy bags.

    Inappropriate bags are often used, however, and children also often have bad posture. They also may not carry their bags correctly.

    Here are some tips for good back care for children:

    When choosing a schoolbag:

  • • Buy one with two wide, padded, adjustable shoulder straps and waist straps.
  • • Buy the right size for your child – bags should be no larger than the child’s back and should be worn evenly in the middle of the back.
  • • Pack the heaviest items closest to the child’s back and ensure your child carries only what’s necessary.
  • • Always wear it on two shoulders to spread the weight evenly over the body.

    • How to put on a schoolbag properly:

  • • Don’t just swing it over your shoulders.
  • • Place it on a surface, turn your back to it, then put your arms through the straps. Get help if needed.
  • • Don’t carry your bag when you don’t have to, eg waiting at the bus stop.

    • POSTURE IN SCHOOL

  • • In school, sit right into your chair with a straight back.
  • • Don’t perch on the edge of your seat.
  • • Be active at break time and stretch when possible.
  • • Take up hobbies that promote good posture like dance, yoga, pilates, martial arts or speech and drama.

    • POSTURE at the COMPUTER

  • • Only watch TV or play computer games for 20-30 minutes at a time as spending hours in static positions can lead to stiffness and discomfort.
  • • Screen should be at arms’ length.
  • • Eyes should be level with the top of the screen.
  • • If chair allows, adjust it so that your knees are lower than your hips. Keep back support straight.
  • • Sit back in the chair.
  • • Feet flat on the floor or on a footrest.
  • • Your trunk should be upright with your body, keep it straight, wrists straight, arms hanging down from the shoulders with elbows at ninety degrees.
  • • The keyboard should be angled away from your body and keep keyboards and mouse at the same level.