What should seniors living alone do in the event of a medical emergency? How can their families feel reassured from afar?
On 4 and 5 August, Chung Wah Community Care (CWCC) hosted two practical health talks titled "First Aid Basics for Older People" at the Balcatta and Willetton Community Hubs. The sessions delivered by CWCC's registered nurse, Hanna, provided seniors with essential first aid knowledge and home safety tips from a clinical perspective.
As a multidisciplinary service provider with registered nurses on staff, CWCC continues to offer holistic care and support to seniors and people with disability from diverse cultural backgrounds. CWCC's integrated model creates a strong safety net that bridges families, communities, and healthcare systems, from in-home care and social activities to clinical support.
The talk focused on three key areas:
– Wound care and bleeding
– Burn and scald treatment
– Safety tips for living alone
Nurse Hanna demonstrated the correct procedures for cleaning, stopping bleeding, and dressing wounds, while advising against outdated remedies that could lead to infection. When discussing burns, she highlighted the importance of timely cooling, how to recognise different degrees of burns, and when to seek immediate medical help.
The most popular part of the session was the "Living Alone Safety Tips," which sparked enthusiastic questions from attendees. Drawing on her years of experience, Hanna shared five practical and life-saving recommendations:
1. Know how to call 000 and clearly describe the emergency;
2. Keep a list of emergency contacts handy;
3. Store basic medical supplies at home;
4. Keep entrances clear for emergency responders;
5. Create and store an Advance Care Plan.
During the session, Hanna guided seniors in creating personalised emergency cards containing vital information such as their name, date of birth, contact numbers, address, and Advance Care Plan status. Many participants completed and kept their cards on hand with assistance from the nurse.
CWCC's health education sessions are always tailored to suit Australian clinical standards and the diverse community's language and cultural needs. This talk was delivered in Mandarin, Cantonese, and English, with real-time Vietnamese interpretation and illustrated handouts to ensure accessibility for all participants.
After the talk, the CWCC nursing station remained open for free blood pressure and oxygen checks, personalised health advice, and clinical referrals, demonstrating CWCC's commitment to proactive, preventative care.
CWCC's subsequent health education sessions will be held at the Balcatta Community Hub on 2 September and the Willetton Community Hub on 3 September, respectively. Each session will feature a new health topic and on-site clinical support. To register or find out more, please contact us on (08) 9328 3988.
