Taitoko Health

📅 HAVE YOU SEEN THE LATEST BOWEL SCREENING NEWS? 📬

You may have seen that free bowel screening is now starting from age 56 in some parts of New Zealand.

The change hasn’t reached Horowhenua yet, so the starting age here remains 58 for now. The lower starting age is expected to reach the rest of the country from April 2027.

If you’re already eligible for bowel screening, you’ll continue to receive a free test kit to complete at home.

One important reminder: bowel screening is for people who don’t have symptoms.

If you notice blood in your poo, an ongoing change in your bowel habits, unexplained weight loss or persistent abdominal discomfort, please talk to our team rather than waiting for a screening kit.

You can find out more about free bowel screening through Health New Zealand 👇

https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/health-topics/keeping-healthy/cancer-screening/bowel-screening

Want to check if you’re eligible? 👇

https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/health-topics/keeping-healthy/cancer-screening/bowel-screening/check-if-youre-eligible

www.taitokohealth.co.nz

💜 START OCTOBER WITH A LITTLE CONNECTION ☕

As we say hello to October, today (1 October) also marks International Day of Older Persons.

It’s a good opportunity to think about the older people in our whānau, neighbourhoods and communities, and whether someone might appreciate a little extra company.

Loneliness and social isolation can affect anyone, but older people can be at greater risk as they get older. Staying connected with the people around us can make a real difference to our mental and physical wellbeing.

And it doesn’t have to be a big gesture. You could:

☕ pop in for a cuppa
📞 make a phone call
🍽️ share a meal
🚶 go for a walk together
💬 or simply make time for a good kōrero

Is there someone you could reach out to today?

For more information and practical ideas around loneliness, social isolation and staying connected, visit Healthify:

👉 https://healthify.nz/health-a-z/l/loneliness

www.taitokohealth.co.nz

📷 Image credit: Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand

🫀 DON’T MISS A BEAT THIS WORLD HEART DAY 📅

World Heart Day (29 September) is a timely reminder to check in on something we don’t always think about until there’s a problem: our heart health.

Cardiovascular disease causes almost one in three deaths in New Zealand, and some important risk factors, like high blood pressure and high cholesterol, can be easy to miss because they often don’t cause noticeable symptoms.

That’s where a heart risk assessment can help.

It looks at things like your blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking history, family history and overall health to estimate your risk of having a heart attack or stroke over the next five years.

Not sure when you should start having heart checks?

Health New Zealand’s recommendations vary depending on your age, s*x, ethnicity and other risk factors. You can view them here 👇

https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/health-topics/conditions-treatments/heart-health/heart-risk-assessment

You can also ask our team. We’re always happy to help and can talk you through what may be right for you based on your health history and other risk factors.

If you’d like to get an initial picture of your heart health, the Heart Foundation’s free My Heart Check is another useful place to start.

👉 https://myheartcheck.org.nz/

Just remember, My Heart Check doesn’t replace a heart risk assessment with your healthcare provider.

www.taitokohealth.co.nz

⏰ THE CLOCKS SPRING FORWARD TONIGHT 🌙

A little reminder before you head to bed tonight: daylight saving begins overnight.

At 2 a.m. tomorrow, Sunday 27 September, the clocks move forward one hour to 3 a.m. And that means one less hour of sleep tonight. 😭

Thankfully, there are a few simple things you can do to make tomorrow a little easier:

🌙 If you can, have a slightly earlier night and keep the evening quiet
🛏️ Stick to your usual bedtime routine
☀️ Get outside into some natural light after waking
🍽️ Return to your usual sleep and meal times as soon as you can
⏰ Remember to change any clocks that don’t update automatically

Most of us will adjust pretty quickly. But if poor sleep continues, or you often feel very sleepy during the day, it’s worth chatting to someone from our team.

We’re always here to help.

www.taitokohealth.co.nz

🛡️ HAD YOUR TWO? 👀

Not sure whether you’ve had two MMR vaccinations? Now is a good time to check.

That’s because:

1️⃣ NZ remains at very high risk of a large measles outbreak.
2️⃣ Two doses of the MMR vaccine offer the best protection against measles.

WHAT SHOULD YOU LOOK FOR? 🔎

Check your immunisation records for two dated doses of a measles-containing vaccine given after you were 12 months old.

Depending on when and where you were vaccinated, these may be recorded as M, MR, MMR or MMRV.

CAN’T FIND TWO DOSES? 🤔

If you were born from 1969 onwards and can’t confirm that you’ve had two doses, talk to our team. We can help check your records and arrange any MMR vaccinations you may still need.

And if you remember being told you’ve already had two doses but can’t find them in your records, don’t worry. For most people, it’s safe to have an extra MMR dose if you’ve already been immunised.

🎥 Got tamariki at home? This short video explains how you can help protect them from measles 👉 https://youtu.be/IhJhzdcpq5A?si=BWEpHrKpzL4aXgHQ

Here’s to keeping ourselves, our families and our communities protected.

www.taitokohealth.co.nz

How to protect tamariki from measles Measles can be very dangerous. It spreads faster than almost any ot...

🧠 TODAY IS WORLD ALZHEIMER’S DAY 💜

When it comes to changes in memory or thinking, it can be hard to know what is part of normal ageing and what might be worth checking.

World Alzheimer’s Day is an opportunity to learn the signs, talk more openly about Alzheimer’s disease, which is the most common form of dementia, and encourage people to seek advice when something doesn't seem quite right.

Alzheimers New Zealand highlights 10 warning signs to be aware of:

💭 Memory loss that affects everyday life
🏠 Difficulty completing familiar tasks
💬 Problems with language or following a conversation
🕐 Becoming confused about time or place
🤔 Changes in judgement
🔢 Difficulty with numbers or abstract thinking
🔑 Misplacing things or putting them in unusual places
❤️ Changes in mood or behaviour
👤 Changes in personality
🌱 Losing interest or initiative in things once enjoyed

Having one or more of these signs does not necessarily mean someone has dementia. There can be other reasons for changes in memory, thinking or behaviour.

What matters is noticing when changes become more frequent, more noticeable, or start to affect everyday life.

If something doesn’t seem quite right, whether in yourself or someone close to you, please talk to our team. We’re here to help.

www.taitokohealth.nz

🤝 WORKING TOGETHER FOR SAFER CARE 🩺

Living with a long-term condition often means receiving care in several different places.

That is why, on World Patient Safety Day (17 September), we want to recognise that keeping care safe is a team effort.

For us, that means:

👂 Listening carefully and making time for your questions

🔗 Helping keep the different parts of your care connected

📋 Explaining what happens next, including whether any tests or follow-up appointments are needed and how results will be communicated

And for our patients, it can be as simple as:

💬 Asking questions if something is unclear or does not seem right. You are always welcome to ask for another explanation.

🔄 Letting us know if anything changes between visits, including your symptoms, medicines or advice you have received.

👥 Bringing a whānau member or support person if having someone with you would help you feel more comfortable or remember what was discussed.

Here’s to keeping care safe, together.

www.taitokohealth.nz

☀️ SEPTEMBER MEANS SUNSMART SEASON 🧴

Warmer days are making their return. And while that gives us plenty to look forward to, it also means we need to start thinking about sun protection again.

From September through to April, especially between 10am and 4pm, a Kiwi classic still explains it best:

👕 SLIP on clothes that cover your skin and find shade when you can

🧴 SLOP on plenty of SPF 30+ sunscreen at least 20 minutes before heading outside

👒 SLAP on a hat that shades your face, ears and neck

And

🕶️ WRAP on some close-fitting sunnies!

It’s also a great time to start getting more familiar with your skin. Look for anything new, different, or changing, and book an appointment with us if you notice something that concerns you.

Learn more about protecting your skin on the SunSmart website 👉 www.sunsmart.org.nz/be-sunsmart/

www.taitokohealth.nz

🗣️ CELEBRATING TE WIKI O TE REO MĀORI ✨

Today is the start of Māori Language Week | Te Wiki o te Reo Māori.

Running from 14 to 20 September, it gives us a chance to celebrate a language that helps define who we are as New Zealanders and connects us to the place we call home.

And the best thing is that you don’t need to be fluent to take part. Te Wiki is a chance to recognise the progress made over the years, celebrate the people who have carried te reo Māori forward and look towards a future where it is heard and used every day.

Even learning and using a few new kupu (words) helps bring that future a little closer. Here are four connected to healthcare 👇

🌿 Hauora: health and wellbeing
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Whānau: extended family or family group
🩺 Tākuta: doctor
🧑‍⚕️ Tapuhi: nurse

Learn more about Te Wiki and find free resources to help you take part here 👉 www.reomaori.co.nz

However you choose to take part, kia kaha te reo Māori!

www.taitokohealth.nz

🧹 SPRING CLEANING? DON’T SKIP THE MEDICINES 💊

Whether you love the annual spring clean or would happily leave it for another year, there’s one spot worth moving to the top of the list:

👉 Your medicine cabinet

There’s no judgement if expired tablets, half-used creams and medicines you no longer need have quietly piled up at the back. It happens to the best of us. What matters is clearing them out safely.

Just remember three words: READ, REMOVE, RETURN.

🔎 READ the labels on your medicines and check the expiry dates

📦 REMOVE anything that has expired or is no longer needed, and keep it somewhere secure until it can be returned

♻️ RETURN unwanted medicines to your local pharmacy for free, safe disposal

Please don’t put unwanted medicines in your household rubbish, where children or animals may find them, or flush them down the toilet or sink, where they can harm our waterways.

If you have needles or other sharps to dispose of, contact your pharmacy first for advice.

You can learn more here 👇

https://healthify.nz/medicines-a-z/m/medicines-returning-unused-or-expired

www.taitokohealth.nz