A Unique Sydney Experience

The Ghost Bus, a spooky new nightly tourist attraction has started in Sydney. The Ghost Bus is operated by Destiny Tours, who established the bizarrely popular "Weird Sydney Ghost and History Tours" in converted Cadillac hearses in 2001.

The unique new Ghost Bus takes passengers on a spine-tingling Spooky Sydney Tour, into a side of Sydney that raises more questions than it answers. The Ghost Bus also includes an entertaining audio-visual presentation that tells strange tales of:

• Ghostly apparitions and supernatural occurrences,
• Strange phenomena, unexplainable and unusual happenings,
• Freaky facts you've always wanted to kno w but didn't know who to ask, about death, embalming, burials and cremations, and culminates in a visit to the cellars of a haunted hotel.

"We are very excited to launch another new, distinctly different, Sydney tourist experience", said Allan the Hearse Whisperer of Destiny Tours. "Our research indicates that this will appeal to adventurous or sceptical locals and visitors alike. This is the only themed Ghost Bus in Australia, and the Spooky Sydney by Night Tour is excellent value for money."

• $36 per head includes a complimentary drink.
• Spooky Sydney by Night Tours operate nightly at 8pm.
• Departures from opposite the Fortune of War Hotel, 137 George St, The Rocks.
• Tour duration approx 1.5 hours.
• Maximum number of passengers is 18.

You'll know you're on the right bus when you see the coffin on top.

Exercise counters dementia

CHICAGO, (Reuters) - Routine exercise, even as simple as a 15- minute walk three times a week, can help ward off dementia and related conditions among those 65 and older, according to a recently published study.

Exercise may help by improving brain function since it boosts blood flow to areas of the brain used for memory, according to the chief author of the study, Eric Larson, director of the Group Health Cooperative Centre for Health Studies in Seattle.

"Earlier research has shown that poor blood flow can damage these parts of the brain. So one theory is that exercise may prevent damage and might even help repair these areas by increasing blood flow," he said.

His study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, was described as the most definitive investigation to date on exercise and dementia.

"Even those elderly people who did modest amounts of gentle exercise, such as walking for 15 minutes three times a week, appeared to benefit," Larson said. "Based on these findings, we can advise older people to 'use it even after you start to lose it,' because exercise may slow the progression of age-related problems in thinking."

The six-year study involved 1,740 people age 65 and older. It found that those who exercised three or more times a week had up to a 40 percent lower risk for developing dementia compared with those who exercised fewer than three times per week.

"As our population ages, strategies are needed to reduce the risks and delay the onset of dementing disorders such as Alzheimer's disease," Larson said. "These findings indicate that programs that encourage elderly people to exercise should be part of those strategies."

Funeral Industry Inquiry

An inquiry into the funeral industry in NSW by the Social Issues Committee released its findings recently. After extensive submissions from both the industry and the public in general there was vindication for the outstanding job performed by the industry.

While the cost of funerals was a primary driver for establishing the inquiry, the inflated prices suggested by some groups were proven off the mark. The cost of funerals in the past 5 years in particular has risen slightly above the level of inflation, but all rises were fully accounted for, many outside the control of the industry.

The Committee did identify some key issues including the need for the Government to maintain a close watch on the amount of burial space available to plan for any potential shortages in the years to come. The Committee also suggested there is a need for increased community awareness of the various issues involved in the funeral process, with a focus on educating the community on costs involved in funerals, what to expect from funeral directors and alternative options.

Overall, the Committee report said they believe that the current legislative framework is adequate for the protection of public health and employees. It noted that there may be some need to further consider the framework for its role in consumer protection including a clear compliant mechanism, as currently being undertaken by the Office of Fair Trading, and community needs in terms of raising community awareness of choices and options available. They also suggested the establishment of an industry code of practice to ensure better protection of consumers.

Seniors dying from drinking-related deaths: reports

Alcohol has killed more than 10,000 Australians aged 65 and over in the past 10 years, according to figures released by the National Drug Research Institute (NDRI).

Contained in three National Alcohol Indicators Project bulletins, the figures show an estimated 10,592 Australians aged over 65 died from causes directly attribute to alcohol between 1994 and 2003. Between 1994 and 2002, more than 110,000 Australian seniors were hospitalised due to alcohol-attributable causes, an average of 30 a day.

NDRI Senior Research Fellow Tanya Chikritzhs said the main causes of deaths in males aged over 65 were alcoholic liver cirrhosis and stroke, with stroke the main alcohol-attributable cause of death among older females. Falls were the number one cause of alcohol-attributable hospitalisations for all over-65s.

Dr Chikrtizhs says many older people are locked in to a drinking habit and may not realise it is doing them harm. "They carry their drinking patterns with them over a lifetime, although we find that people tend to drink a little bit less as they get older - people who always drank heavily and who haven't changed their patterns during their middle years probably will continue to do so," she said.

She says the institute's findings should serve as a strong warning to seniors to curb their drinking. "We do have to, particularly for this age group, be careful about how much you're drinking. If you're on medication, check whether alcohol consumption is contraindicated and for a lot of older people that will be the case," she said.

Dr Chikritzhs said alcohol-attributable hospitalisation rates were increasing in most states and death rates were increasing in a number of states - worrying trends given the ageing of the population. "While we tend to focus on the alcohol harm experienced by young people, significant numbers of older Australians are drinking at levels risky to their health," she said.

"These figures indicate alcohol-related harm among older Australians will have growing implications for the health system, and Australian society, and show the need for evidence-based policy developed specifically for this older age group," said Dr Chikrtizhs.

NDRI is based at Curtin University of Technology in Perth, Western Australia and is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.

Travel Rewards for Seniors

Mature travellers are to benefit with the launch of “On the Move” - Best Western Rewards for over 55s, promoting the benefits the Best Western hotel chain provides to the seniors market, while including additional special offers from Best Western partners. The new initiative will be promoted via all Best Western hotels, motels, apartments and resorts across the country.

“The seniors market is the fastest growing population segment in Australia”, commented Michael Kerr, Best Western Australia's Deputy CEO. “Last year 42% of Best Western Australia's guests were aged ‘over 50 years’ and with thousands of baby boomers turning 60 over the next few years, we expect this figure to keep increasing.”

Mr Kerr also stated that, “On the Move reflects the new seniors generation (the baby boomer generation) which is still very active. On the Move promotes travel and a sense of adventure and freedom; it also reflects the movement which is taking place in their lives, such as moving from work or family commitments to increased spare time.”

“Best Western Australia is a hotel brand that offers good value for money, mid-market accommodation, yet also offers consistent, global standards of excellence at all our properties worldwide. This combination is especially appealing to the senior traveller,” said Mr Kerr.

A new brochure has been released that includes special offers and discounts provided by Best Western Australia's partners. ‘On the Move’ is the latest addition to Best Western Australia's ‘Discovery’ series, which already includes the Golf Discovery, the Wine Discovery and the Kids Discovery Club.

Best Western Australia offers 250 hotels, motels, resorts & apartments throughout Australia and is an affiliate of Best Western International - the World's Largest Hotel Chain with over 4100 properties in over 80 countries.