Winter Wellness – how you can stay healthy this winter
Winter has arrived along with frost and chilly temperatures. Cold weather can be hard on your immune system, but there are many steps you can take to look after your health this winter.
Tamra MacLeod, Executive Manager Clinical and Health Services
We had a chat with Goodwin’s Executive Manager of Clinical and Health Services, Tamra MacLeod, to get some tips on how to stay healthy, and find out what Goodwin does to ensure the health of residents, clients, and staff.
First of all, when you are eligible, get your COVID-19 vaccine, the vaccine is free for everyone in Australia. ‘Goodwin strongly encourages staff, residents, clients, and members of the community to receive the COVID-19 vaccination’, says Tamra.
To find out when you can receive a COVID-19 vaccine, use the COVID-19 vaccine eligibility checker.
You can read more about our residential care residents receiving their vaccination.
Second, get your flu vaccination.
‘We strongly encourage staff, residents, clients, and members of the community to receive the current influenza vaccine. All staff working in residential aged care facilities should have an annual influenza vaccine and it’s freely available for our residents thanks to a partnership with ACT Health.’
What else can we do to stay healthy?
Tamra and the Goodwin team have a few great tips!
Stay active
Brayden Murphy, Goodwin’s Health and Wellness Exercise Physiologist, has prepared some fantastic videos with exercises you can do at home including stretch at home, strength at home and cardio. The home exercise video routines are available here: https://goodwin.org.au/wellness-centre/home-exercises
At Goodwin Residential Care, residents have a range of daily exercise activities such as walking around the neighbourhood, active group games, and indoor exercises led by Goodwin’s physiotherapists and occupational therapists.
Eat well and stay hydrated
Goodwin’s inhouse dietitian, Harriet, says a well-balanced diet is important especially during the winter months. ‘It’s important to eat enough fruit and vegetables as well as keeping hydrated. Citrus fruits are good as they contain a lot of vitamin C.’
Check in with your GP
The onset of winter is a good excuse to visit your GP for your regular health checkup. Tamra says that this is especially important for people with preexisting conditions, as some health conditions such as asthma and diabetes can flare up during winter.
Sleep well
‘Exactly how many hours is individual’ says Tamra. ‘But waking up well rested is a good sign that you had enough rest.’
Cover your mouth and wash your hands
We all learned a lot about sneezing and coughing into our elbows, and hopefully it has now become a reflex for us all. Keep it up!
And don’t forget to regularly wash your hands thoroughly. Health Direct have some good handwashing tips here, and 20 seconds is still a good length of time to aim for. Make the time fly by singing a song!
‘Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, I’m begging of you please go wash your hands. Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene. Don’t skip this step, take the time that it demands.’
Keep warm and stay safe!