Pedestrian Safety and Seniors

Seniors Card

Magazine 2015

In this issue:

Pedestrian safety and seniors

Food for thought – great recipes

Look out for Travelling Con Men

Victorian Seniors Festival

WIN an iPad!

See details page 06

Contents

03Make the most of your Victorian Seniors Card

04 Moving towards an 'age friendly' society

06Tech Savvy Seniors

07Five minutes with the Commissioner

08Seniors Card and public transport

09Car and bike share

10Discount energy plan

11Keep active – improve your health and wellbeing

12Gardening for health

13Get into the great outdoors with your Seniors Card

14Food for thought

18Low or no cost health andwellbeing services

20Protect your grandchildren by protecting yourself

21Assistive technologies

22Power outage – preparing for summer

23You'll love the Victorian Seniors Festival

25Nine News connects with seniors

26Let's celebrate carers

27Ageing in Victoria? You're in good company

30All new Seniors Online

31Be a safe pedestrian

32Older, culturally active and full of life

34Travelling Con Men

35More ways your Seniors Card canhelp

36Legal update: changes to Enduring Powers of Attorney

37Don't be a victim of financial abuse
38On with the games

39Contact details and useful contact numbers

To receive this publication in an accessible format phone 1300 797 210, using the National Relay Service 13 36 77 if required,
or email

Authorised and published by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne.

© State of Victoria, Department of Health & Human Services, August 2015.

Except where otherwise indicated, the images in this publication show models and illustrative settings only, and do not necessarily depict actual services, facilities or recipients of services.

Available at seniorsonline.vic.gov.au

Printed by Franklin Web, Sunshine. 1508012_2015 Seniors Card Magazine. Printed on sustainable paper.

Make the most of yourVictorian Seniors Card

1. Never miss a discount or a special offer – keep your Seniors Card in your wallet with your other cards so it’s always handy.
2. Don’t be shy to ask for Seniors Card discounts! Look for the ‘Seniors Card welcome here’ logo and remember that new businesses come on board all the time.
3. When you make a booking or before you make your transaction, confirm any discount with the provider up front. Businesses aren’t obliged to give the discountonce your transaction hasbeen completed.
4. Plan shopping trips by using theSeniors Card Discount Directory – check Seniors Online seniorsonline.vic.gov.au or the stories in this magazine, as a goodstart.
5. Take your card with you interstate or overseas. All Australian states and territories have a Seniors Card program and most participating businesses accept cards from interstate. Overseas, your Seniors Card is often accepted as a show ofgoodwill.
6. Travelling to New Zealand? You can use your Victorian Seniors Card with hundreds of participating New Zealand accommodation properties, tour and travel operators, retailers, leisure businesses and food outlets. See seniorsonline.vic.gov.au or supergold.govt.nz for more info anddirectories.

Seniors Card e-newsletter clicks over 150,000 subscribers

More than 150,000 Seniors Card holders have signed up to receive our regular email newsletters.

These seasonal communications are the best way for you to keep up to date with the wide range of Special Offers available through the program.

E-newsletters also feature important government information and tips on getting the most from your Seniors Card.

Sign up today at seniorsonline.vic.gov.au - search ‘Subscribe to e-News.’

What types of discounts can you get with your Seniors Card? Automotive, food and drink, shopping, professional services, house and home, leisure and recreation, health and beauty, travel and transport.

Moving towards an ‘age friendly’society

We speak with the Victorian Minister for Housing, Disability and Ageing, Martin Foley, about ageing well, and what it means for usboth as individuals and as a society.

Martin Foley says the Andrews Labor Government is committed to creating 'age friendly' communities that support people to age well.

“As we grow older we all want to maintain good health, stay living in our own homes, keep connected with family and friends, and to feel like we belong,” Mr Foley said.

“Good quality of life in our senior years depends on many things, but one element the experts agree is vital is an ‘age friendly’ community.”

An 'age friendly' community encourages active ageing by maximising opportunities for health, participation and security to enhance quality of life as people age.

“It is place where inclusion, respect and dignity are bedrocks – a place where all seniors, no matter what background, can participate fully in community life,” Mr Foley said.

“And this is now more important than ever as we face a rapidly ageing population and the baby boomers enter their retirement years.”

As of June 2013, Victoria had 839,000 residents aged 65 years and over, 15per cent of the state’s population.

The number of people in this age group rose to 18 per cent between 2008 and 2013 and is continuing togrow.

Mr Foley said in Victoria, there aremany ways in which your Seniors Card is supporting you to age well and maintain a healthy andactive lifestyle.

“We all know about the great discounts on offer to ease the rising cost of living for seniors,” Mr Foley said.

“However, on top of these savings are new Seniors Card initiatives that are making shopping precincts more welcoming, safer and easily accessible.”

The Seniors Card Age Friendly Partners Program is creating shopping precincts where communities are making simple improvements such as upgrading pathways, providing seating for seniors, and printing menus in largerletters.

An 'age friendly' community also means that seniors can connect with their loved ones and easily access services and information online.

The Government is working with Telstra to roll out the Victorian Tech Savvy Seniors Program that offers free training and DVDs to seniors who want to learn more about computers, smartphones and tablets.

“Tech Savvy Seniors is one way we are bridging the gap for seniors who are yet to embrace technology,”
MrFoley said.

The Commissioner for Senior Victorians, Gerard Mansour, is also working to encourage greater participation of seniors in the community and promoting an ‘age friendly’ Victoria.

“A truly age friendly Victoria is something we should all be able tolook forward to,” Mr Foley said.

What’s new in 2015?

Your Seniors Card grows and improves all the time.

This year we are pleased to offer these extra benefits:

•A new car share program which allows seniors to grab a car when they need it, for low-cost and convenient mobility in inner Melbourne. Seniors Card members qualify for generous discounts. Read all about it on
page 9.

•Discount Energy Plans have been taken up by more than 20,000 Victorians. As part of the Age Friendly Partners Program, the Seniors Card Program has partnered with AGL to provide competitive energy plans and assessment/management tools for seniors to manage energy usage efficiently. See a story on page 10.

•Better ways to communicate with you. The new Seniors Online website is easier to use, more accessible, with a heap of great info and practical tips, discounts and Special Offers available for you to make the most of your Seniors Card. See how seniorsonline.vic.gov.au has been revamped on page 30.

•Our Age Friendly Partners Program has been extended to three shopping precincts around Victoria. Greythorn shops in the City of Boroondara, the Docklands area in the City of Melbourne and Reservoir Village in the City of Darebin are all working with us to make their precincts more accessible, better designed and more comfortable for senior shoppers and visitors. More information is on page 34.

•A 5 per cent discount on eGift cards purchased from Spendless! These include David Jones, Priceline and JB Hi-Fi Gift Cards. Visit Seniors Online for details. Search ‘discount eGift cards’.

Since the last issue of the SeniorsCard magazine, the number of businesses offering discounts to Seniors Card holders has increased to 4,200 businesses. Visit Seniors Online, seniorsonline.vic.gov.au, for discount offers

Visit seniorsonline.vic.gov.au tosearch for discounts, information and festival events!

This magazine is free to all Victorian Seniors Card holders as one of your program benefits.

You’ll notice that a lot of the stories tie back to the Seniors Card and show you ways to make the most of great discounts and services.

This magazine is a great way of keeping you updated on the Seniors Card Program. You can also find more great specials and offers at seniorsonline.vic.gov.au

Don't miss out! If you move, visit Seniors Online and search for ‘change my address'.

And the winner was...

Last year's winner of the Seniors Card survey competition was Tony from Mentone. Tony won a trip for two to Paris, which he loved. You can read about his terrific trip online at seniorsonline.vic.gov.au Search for ‘Paris in springtime!’

Tech Savvy Seniors

Did you know Victorian Tech Savvy Seniors is a Seniors Card Age Friendly Partners Program with Telstra?

The program has delivered free technology training opportunities to thousands of seniors in rural and regional areas of Victoria.

For those looking to build up or refresh their technology skills, Seniors Online features links to the wide range of Tech Savvy Seniors self-teach videos.

If you are just starting out, borrowing a Tech Savvy Seniors DVD from your local library can be a great way to learn new skills at your own pace athome.

Topics cover everything from how to use a smart phone, to social networking and safe practices for online shopping and banking.

If the idea of learning with others appeals to you, Tech Savvy Seniors training materials have been made available to U3As and Life Activities Clubs. Many Neighbourhood Houses and Men’s Sheds offer free or low cost training and have access to the Tech Savvy Seniors tools. These organisations provide training in friendly, supportive environments.

Broadband for Seniors is another program supporting seniors to get online. There are over 400 kiosks in Victoria which are free for seniors to use. Seniors Online features a link so you can search for a kiosk near you. Alternatively call the Broadband for Seniors Helpline on 1300 795 897 to find out more.

WINan iPad!

With Tech Savvy Seniors

All Victorian Seniors Card holders have a chance to win an iPad in a competition with Tech Savvy Seniors.

Visit to enter. Simply fill out the form to go in the draw.

Entries for the competition close 20 December 2015. Good luck!

Five minutes with theCommissioner forSenior Victorians

Gerard Mansour is Australia’s first Commissioner for Senior Victorians.

A highly respected and passionate advocate for the needs of older people, he has more than 25 years’ leadership experience within the aged and wider community servicessectors.

In 2015, the Victorian Government asked Gerard to investigate the issue of isolation and loneliness, and keeping Victorian seniors linked with their communities so that they are able to age in healthy, dignified and positive ways. Gerard kicked off his project through a listening tour where he met
with groups of seniors around the state.

We asked Gerard some questions about his work...

Seniors Mag:How should we treat seniors in our society?

Gerard:We need a community that respects the contribution of older people. Not only financially or economically,
but in important societal ways. Seniors give a lot as volunteers, carers, as grandparents and parents. The focus on respect forour seniors is vital.

Seniors Mag:How can older people help themselves to stay connected?

Gerard:To avoid social isolation or loneliness, we need to encourage individual seniors themselves, where they can, to be as active and connected to their community as possible. And, as a community, we need to pay attention and reach out.

Seniors Mag:What can we do as asociety to be more mindful of theissues around older people andisolation, and to help them stayconnected?

Gerard:Start at home. Most of us know someone in this space – a parent, a relative, an older friend or aneighbour. On hot days, we’re askedto keep an eye on seniors – why can’t we do this all year long?

Seniors Mag:What did you learn through your listening tour?

Gerard:We all have a story, and I heard many. My job is now to consider how we can develop a stronger service system and community supports so that all seniors can have access to fulfilling lives. I’ll be reporting my findings to government by the end of 2015.

Gerard Mansour’s door is always open. If you would like to contact him, his details are:

Commissioner for Senior Victorians
Mail: GPO Box 4541 Melbourne Vic 3001
Email:

The Commissioner’s regular blogs can be found at seniorsonline.vic.gov.au

Your Seniors Card

Since it started in 1991, the Victorian Seniors Card program has offered concessions on public transport, and great discounts on a wide range of goods and services.

As a Seniors Card holder, you have access to discounts and Special Offers via a dedicated, searchable website helpful and practical e-newsletters, and this
annual magazine.

What benefits do I receive?

•A wide range of retail and service discounts at over 4,000 businesses.

•Free entry to the Melbourne Museum, Immigration Museum and Scienceworks.

•Exemption from a Fishing Licence to fish in Victorian waters.

•A free Seniors myki for concession fares on public transport in Victoria at all times; and free travel on
metro trains, trams and buses, regional town buses and V/Line rail services in two consecutive zones
on Saturdays and Sundays.

•Free off-peak travel vouchers each year for travel within Victoria.

•Free public transport during the Victorian Seniors Festival week. See page 32 for more details.

•If you subscribe, a seasonal e-newsletter full of information about one-off offers, Special Offers, news
and happenings.

•Seniors Online website – the new and updated one-stop-shop for all your Seniors Card program information. Update your details, browse the Discount Directory and Special Offers or replace your card all on this one convenient site.

Seniors Card and public transport

Victorian Seniors Card holders receive a free Seniors myki which provides concession fares on trains, trams and buses during the week, and free travelon Saturdays and Sundays in two consecutive zones (including within Zones 1and 2) and on regional town bus services.

Since 1 January 2015 there have been changes to public transport fares in metropolitan Melbourne. Did you know that Zone 1 + 2 is now priced as a Zone 1 fare? If you have a Seniors myki you will now only pay a maximum of $3.76, Monday to Friday for all metropolitan travel.

There is also a new Free Tram Zone in the CBD (see opposite). This zone includes the area from the iconic Queen Victoria Market, across to Victoria Harbour in Docklands, up to Spring Street and over to Flinders Street Station and Federation Square. Travel on trams within this zone is free, which means you don’t need to use your myki. However, if your journey starts or finishes outside the Free Tram Zone boundary, you must touch on in the normal way to make sure you have a valid ticket.

V/Line concessions forVictorianseniors

Victorian Seniors Card holders can travel on concession fares on V/Line trains and coaches.

Victorian free off-peak travelvouchers

Victorian Seniors Card holders also receive two Victorian free off-peak travel vouchers in the mail each year. These can be used anywhere inVictoria and can be exchanged for V/Line tickets or a Day Pass. Seniors from regional Victoria receive two additional Victorian free off-peak travel vouchers.

How do I get a Seniors myki or pre-book V/Line tickets?

If you do not have a Seniors myki, call 1800 800 007 or go to ptv.vic.gov.au
To pre-book V/Line tickets, you should also phone 1800 800 007 or visit vline.com.au

Car and bike share

The RACV estimates that it costs around $160 a week to own and operate a typical small family car – covering things like registration, insurance, services, repairs and petrol. For some people, car share programs present a way to avoid these costs but still access a vehicle when they need it.

Car share offers low-cost mobility convenience, allowing you to travel when you need to, by booking a vehicle by the hour or by the day. Costs such as petrol and insurance are all included.

Three car share companies have offers for Seniors Card holders and they are all free to join.

goget.com.au

GoGet is Victoria’s largest car share scheme with cars conveniently located in streets and car parks, so members can use GoGet like it’s their own car. GoGet’s fleet includes hatchbacks, wagons, vans, utes, people movers and even premium brand cars.