Grey Power September 2018

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12 NZ GREYPOWER MAGAZINE » SEPTEMBER 2018 An inclusive digital world Digital skills seem to come more easily to young people who have never known a world without the internet. To them, the notion of having to withdraw money from the bank on a Friday to get you through the weekend or writing a cheque and posting it to pay a bill are foreign concepts. BY MINISTER FOR BROADCASTING, COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL MEDIA, CLARE CURRAN Older generations have seen the most incredible changes in their lifetimes. Time and time again they show extraordinary resilience and dexterity to adapt. Our world is becoming increasingly digitalised, and it’s having a profound effect on the way we live, work and connect with each other. But it’s not something to be feared, it’s something to embrace. Ninety four percent of Kiwis connect online at least once a day, but there are still many New Zealanders who do not, or cannot, access the internet. It’ll come as no surprise to Grey Power members that those who are ‘digitally excluded’ are often older people or people from low-income households. As Digital Minister, I’m looking at the overall national picture and working towards ensuring everyone is digitally capable. I’ve already established an advisory group tasked with creating a blueprint for digital inclusion and enablement. Their work includes investigating barriers to digital connectivity, such lack of digital skills and the price of connecting. Online safety Technology offers tremendous enjoyment and conveniences but there are also risks, that’s why a focus of mine is how to keep Kiwis safe online and how to get as many people as possible connected and build digital skills. If you are online, being safe is a huge priority. Last year, New Zealand’s Computer Emergency Response Team, CERT NZ, was launched to help people protect themselves when online, and get help to recover if something goes wrong. We hear stories all the time about people being scammed online, and all too often the people who are hit hard are older people. Latest reporting from CERT NZ shows that from their reports, more than 87 percent of financial loss from scams was suffered by people over 55. What we don’t hear enough about are what you can do to stay safe online. One of the most important things that people can do is to seek help, whether something has happened or it’s a near miss. The experts at CERT NZ are available online at www.cert.govt.nz and on the phone at 0800 CERT NZ (08002378 69) to help you out, whether something has gone wrong or if it just seems a bit suspicious. CERT NZ also has tips and advice to help keep Kiwis safe online available on their website. There are the Top 11 tips for cyber security – things like how to create good passwords and why backing up data is so important. So you don’t need to be afraid of new technology or worried that you won’t be able to understand how it works – organisations like CERT NZ, Netsafe and newly formed Digital Seniors are there to help. Digital Seniors and other initiatives Recently Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and I attended the launch of Digital Seniors – a trust to grow tech savvy seniors. It’s being piloted in Wairarapa ahead of the Trust’s national roll out. The pilot will trial many solutions starting with an 0800 373 646 phone line to help seniors with technology issues or connect them with businesses that can help. There’s also oneon-one digital learning for seniors, personalised to a senior’s specific situation and skill level. The address is www.digitalseniors. co.nz. Solutions for Maori and Pacific People will also be trialled and it’s likely Digital Seniors will come to other communities before the end of the Wairarapa pilot. There are a number of other community-based digital literacy and skills programmes already running throughout the country – some specifically for older people. These are a great resource and I encourage Grey Power members to seek out what is available in their area. This government has made a commitment to close the digital divides, including the gap between seniors who have access, motivation, trust and skills to use it, and those who do not. Closing the senior digital divide will increase seniors’ social connectivity and wellbeing. Seniors in the workforce are increasing in number and developing their digital skills is an important part of growing the digital economy. I don’t want seniors to be left behind. We can do this together by communities supporting seniors and seniors supporting each other with technology. Traditional services lost I know and understand why for many people the impact of being digitally excluded is keenly felt, especially with the loss of traditional over-the-counter services that are moving online. It’s a difficult situation. Because while it doesn’t make good business sense to retain face-to-face services that are losing money there is still a section of the population who still wants or needs them. The closure of post offices is an example that I know is a concern. The deed outlining New Zealand Post’s minimum services – including the number of customer service points – is currently being reviewed and I’m working closely with officials and New Zealand Post to plan the best way forward. NZ Post has to maintain a network of at least 880 service points where consumers can purchase basic postal services and personal assistance so people can post parcels must be available at 240 of those outlets. How those service points are spread around New Zealand not something I have any control over – the Deed specifies the number of service points not their locations. NZ Post and Kiwibank decisions to close branches are outside my control as long as NZ Post sticks to the numbers in the Deed of Understanding. I urge you to take advantage of the help on offer so you can feel safe and comfortable online so you can access critical goods and services and take advantage of the benefits of things like online banking and being able to skype your grandkids. You should be able to enjoying the convenience of emailing family and friends, joining online community groups, paying bills, shopping online, and accessing the wealth of information at your fingertips. Contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau and Grey Power for information. Reaping the benefits of a digital world There are three large-scale government initiatives underway – the Ultra-fast Broadband network, the Rural Broadband initiative and the Mobile Black Spot Fund, laying the infrastructure necessary for expanding coverage around the country. The projects represent a more than $2 billion government investment and when complete, only a fraction of a percent of the population – less than one percent - will not have access to improved terrestrial broadband. The Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI) alone is bringing faster internet to at least 300,000 households and businesses. Under my watch, the completion date of RBI’s second phase has been brought forward a year, now scheduled for the end of 2021. The digital era really is upon us. It brings with it complex challenges that can’t be solved overnight, nor by the government alone. But I’m committed to helping create an even playing field; to removing the barriers so all Kiwis, including seniors, can participate in an inclusive digital world.
GIVEAWAY TIME! Enter to win one of the three bottles of NZ Complete GREYPOWER C MAGAZINE Tablets » SEPTEMBER 2018 13 and discover the benefits of vitamin C for yourself. To enter, email your name, address and phone number to: enquiries@healthhouse.co.nz with Complete C Tablets Competition in the subject line, or post your details to Complete C Tablets Competition, Private Bag 12029, Tauranga 3143. Entries close November 30, 2018. All entries will receive a small gift and a catalogue with more interesting health articles like the one below. Congratulations to the winners of the Turmeric competition: Paul, Christchurch / Patricia, Napier / Brian, Auckland 200 TABLETS How can we keep our brain and memory sharp as we age? As I age my thoughts turn more and more to preserving my brain power, especially my memory and clarity of reasoning. I don’t think I’m alone in this. I recently tried an experiment of not taking any supplements and I was rattled after two weeks when I found my brain and memory weren’t working as well as before. I thought at the time, “My mind feels like an old, slow computer”. I thought this might be due to me not taking my daily DHEA 7-Keto capsule, so after just one month I recommenced taking DHEA and began to come right. I believe that CoQ10-Omega 3 also made a further improvement to my brain and memory, when after two months I began taking all my regular supplements again. Because of this alarming experience, I’ve been studying the research of Dr Eric Braverman MD who has been doing advanced research and experimenting on retaining brain speed and memory in old age for the last 39 years. Four key hormones for brain health Dr Braverman says there are four key nutrients for brain health – dopamine (for alertness), acetylcholine (for memory retention and thinking speed), GABA (for memory recall and calmness) and serotonin (for sound sleep and restoration). All four need to be kept in balance if we are to retain a sharp, clear brain in old age. These hormone like nutrients are manufactured by enzymes and bacterial (probiotic) action in our body. My memory can be slow to recall names and I would love to do so instantly. This common problem can indicate a lack of acetylcholine or GABA, or just poor sleep. Our brain need not age Dr Braverman maintains that our brain is the one organ in the body not programmed to age. As long as our brain is nourished properly, especially with the four key hormones above, and exercised, it can renew its neurons and cells indefinitely. He writes “Today 50% of all Americans between the ages of 80 and 85 are demented” but claims most of this could be reversed and maintains “You can keep your brain as young as a 30-year-olds’ for the rest of your life.” Brain nutrients recommended by Dr Braverman He is a believer in natural remedies and recommends DHEA to increase dopamine production in the body, 5-HTP to increase serotonin, and omega 3, carnitine, magnesium, zinc, boron, selenium, chromium, folic acid and vitamin D to increase acetylcholine and GABA. Eventually I would like to develop a supplement that can ensure the balance of all four key brain nutrients and enhance memory ability. So I’ve begun trials (on myself at this early stage) using some of his many recommendations which include compounds, spices and herbs, some of which are in our Relax product formula. You can create new brain cells as you age Dr Braverman writes “Physical exercise and mental sharpening are linked” and encourages regular exercise, especially active competitive sports such as table tennis, which trains our brain to think faster. He recommends CoQ10 for increased energy. He also encourages a daily brain workout such as learning a new language, playing Sudoku, or computer games that involve mental skill. These create new brain cells and neurons as we get older. ABOUT THE AUTHOR David Coory is the founder of Health House and author of Stay Healthy by supplying what’s lacking in your diet, New Zealand’s top selling health book. Joint, digestion and general health Turmeric is a yellow spice often used in Indian cooking. It also has a long history of use in both Chinese and Hindu medicine. The key active in turmeric is curcumin and is one of the most intensely studied bio-actives. Curcumin has been found to be supportive of a wide range of health conditions. Careful research was undertaken prior to sourcing our Turmeric supplement. While you can buy this spice at the supermarket, you would require over a tablespoon of spice every day to get any benefit and even then, the low level of curcumin (less than 5% of the spice) is not easily absorbed. We have sourced a specially formulated, easily absorbed 95% curcumin ingredient and blended it with piper nigrum (black pepper extract) to further enhance absorption. Optimum health begins in your bowel Probiotic Multi 9 contains the nine most important live bacteria that tend to be missing in our intestines. Our unique capsule in a capsule technology ensures the probiotics are protected from your stomach acid and get to your small intestine before they open. $41ea 60 capsules 1-2 per day $41ea 60 capsules $41ea The nutrient superstar 60 capsules Without sufficient amounts of magnesium, your body simply cannot function properly. Unfortunately, this essential nutrient is lacking in most New Zealand diets. Magnesium helps relax your mind, supports healthy blood pressure and contributes to a sound sleep. $31ea $41ea 60 capsules $31ea 60 capsules $52ea 180 capsules Specially 60 capsules formulated 60 capsules by $52ea New Zealanders, $52ea for New 180 capsules Zealanders 180 capsules It contains all the minerals known to be lacking in our soil as well as important vitamins and antioxidants that are missing from our food and diet. We believe that this is the most complete mineral-vitamin supplement on the market. $47ea $99ea 180 capsules 60 capsules $31ea $47ea Anytime 60 capsules With food Anytime Empty stomach 1-2 per day 1-3 per day Anytime $47ea 60 capsules 1 per day Do not use for two weeks prior to or following surgery. Do not use if you have gallbladder problems. Seek advice if on blood thinning medication or if pregnant or breastfeeding. $41ea 60 capsules $99ea 180 capsules $41ea 60 capsules $99ea 180 capsules With or without food 1-3 per day Anytime 1-3 per day With food 1 per day An 1-3 per day Anytime Do not use for two weeks prior to or follo use if you have gallbladder problems. Se thinning medication or if pregnant or br PP2762 Always read the label and use as directed. If symptoms persist see your healthcare professional. Health House, Private Bag 12029, Tauranga 3143 | Retail Store, 1 Whakakake St, Tauriko, Tauranga 0800 140 141 www.healthhouse.co.nz FREE DELIVERY IN NZ 60 DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE QUALITY, NATURAL HEALTH PRODUCTS SINCE 1986
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Grey Power September 2018

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