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What is reformer pilates? And is it worth the cost?

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/hunter-bennett-1053061">Hunter Bennett</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jacinta-brinsley-1419359">Jacinta Brinsley</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/lewis-ingram-1427671">Lewis Ingram</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a></em></p> <p>Reformer pilates is <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/10/18/2965312/0/en/Pilates-Reformer-Market-Set-to-Reach-USD-11-848-3-Million-by-2031-Driven-by-Growing-Health-Awareness-and-Advancements-in-Portable-Equipment-FMI.html#:%7E:text=Key%20Takeaways%3A,8.2%25%20over%20the%20forecast%20period.">steadily growing in popularity</a>, with new studios opening regularly in major cities all over the world.</p> <p>But what exactly is reformer pilates? And how does it compare with regular pilates and other types of exercise?</p> <p>Classes aren’t cheap so let’s look at the potential benefits and drawbacks to help you decide if it’s right for you.</p> <h2>Pilates with special equipment</h2> <p>Pilates is a <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1360859201902372">mode of exercise</a> that focuses on core stability and flexibility, while also addressing muscular strength and endurance, balance and general fitness. At first glance, it might look a bit like yoga, with some more traditional weight training components thrown in.</p> <p>Reformer pilates uses a piece of equipment called a “reformer”. This looks like a narrow bed that slides along a carriage, has straps to hold onto, and has adjustable springs that add resistance to movement. You perform pilates on the reformer to target specific muscle groups and movement patterns.</p> <p>The reformer was first designed to help <a href="https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003524625-19/pilates-rehabilitation-brent-anderson">people recover from injuries</a>. However, it has now become common for general fitness and even <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/epdf/10.1177/1089313X06010003-406">sports performance</a>.</p> <p>Unlike normal pilates, also known as “mat pilates”, which only uses your body weight, the reformer adds resistance, meaning you can change the difficulty according to your current level of fitness.</p> <p>This not only provides a way to overload your muscles, but can make the exercise session more aerobically demanding, which has been proposed to <a href="https://figshare.utas.edu.au/articles/journal_contribution/Equipment-based_pilates_induces_a_cardiovascular_response_in_older_adults_an_observational_clinical_trial/22943213?file=40678763">improve cardiovascular fitness</a>.</p> <h2>What are the benefits of reformer pilates?</h2> <p>Despite being around for decades, there is surprisingly little research looking at the benefits of reformer pilates. However, what we have seen so far suggests it has a similar effect to other modes of exercise.</p> <p>Reformer pilates has been shown to help with <a href="https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1250306.pdf">weight loss</a>, cause some <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03630242.2015.1118723?casa_token=weWacL5JmM8AAAAA%3AjlXtB-o29eDTHNegdvvfxa9FUT1iY18T0niXDdDpzgbn9AhMK4fgF1RQWLwyo3tVic49h9vhH4Ux">small increases in muscle mass</a>, and enhance <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1360859224004558?casa_token=rEKoc-x8WoMAAAAA:Zvgqtp7SPNbWoTtxRb8-x5HCy0XD2M74Ky-7bBU2yFgGMOnyw2aJQDKCdep40AqRobWgR0V3yA">cognitive function</a>. All of these benefits are commonly seen when combining weight training and cardio into the same routine.</p> <p>Similarly, among <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1360859217302280?casa_token=txnU400G7DQAAAAA:KQLBRYBWuZ0asqaOJ4agUKZj2nFljuxFvCQFZeZQh53h0ZIp07qJ_4TuyCQto4c-BB1kzMpWug">older adults</a>, it has been shown to improve strength, enhance flexibility and may even reduce the risk of falling.</p> <p>From a rehabilitation perspective, there is some evidence indicating reformer pilates can improve <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1360859216300857?casa_token=tQyxWGoPam8AAAAA:jlIpAr2ZuD3bjKKtT4qHbDz2dr_Tm2k4Cgb22qw_NQRb5gtLsJdYV7P0DuRlVWN04kI9p_dSOQ">shoulder health and function</a>, reduce <a href="http://www.jkspm.org/journal/view.html?uid=1105&amp;&amp;vmd=Full">lower back pain</a> and <a href="https://ksep-es.org/journal/view.php?number=1084">increase flexibility</a>.</p> <p>Finally, there is some evidence suggesting a single session of reformer pilates can improve two key markers of <a href="https://karger.com/ger/article-abstract/70/7/764/906990/Effect-of-60-Min-Single-Bout-of-Resistance">cardiovascular health</a>, being flow-mediated dilation and pulse wave velocity, while also <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9098105/">improving cholesterol and insulin levels</a>. This suggests reformer pilates could lead to long-term improvements in heart and metabolic health, although more research is needed to confirm this.</p> <p>However, there are some key things to consider when discussing these benefits. Most of this research is quite exploratory and comes from a very small number of studies. So we do not know whether these findings will apply to everyone.</p> <p>Very few studies compared reformer pilates to other types of exercise. Therefore, while it can improve most aspects of health and function, it’s unlikely reformer pilates provides the <em>optimal</em> mode of exercise for each individual component of physical fitness.</p> <p>Traditional weight training, for example, will likely cause larger improvements in strength than reformer pilates. Similarly, stretching will <a href="https://theconversation.com/new-research-shows-how-long-hard-and-often-you-need-to-stretch-to-improve-your-flexibility-242488">probably make you more flexible</a>. And running or cycling will make you fitter.</p> <p>However, if you want a type of exercise that gives you broad overall health benefits, it could be a good option.</p> <h2>What are the downsides of reformer pilates</h2> <p>Reformer pilates is not for everyone.</p> <p>First and foremost, classes can be expensive compared to other fitness options. You need to be doing at least two to three sessions per week of any type of exercise to <a href="https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240015128">maximise the benefits</a>. So even if you can find a class for A$20 or $30, paying for two or three classes a week (or buying a weekly or monthly subscription) is a significant outlay.</p> <p>Second, it’s not as accessible as other exercise. Even if you can afford it, not every town or suburb has a reformer pilates studio.</p> <p>Third, the effectiveness of your workout is likely to be impacted by how competent your instructor is. There are a host of different pilates qualifications you can get in Australia, and some take much less time than others. With this in mind, it might be best to look for <a href="https://www.pilates.org.au/about/">accredited pilates instructors</a>, although this will further reduce the number of options you have available.</p> <p>Finally, there is a learning curve. While you will get better over time, the exercise will likely be less effective during those first few weeks (or months) when you are getting used to the machine and the movements.</p> <h2>Is it right for you?</h2> <p>Reformer pilates can be a great addition to your fitness routine, especially if you’re looking for a low-impact way to build strength and flexibility.</p> <p>But if you have more specific goals, you might need a more specific mode of exercise. For example, if you need to get stronger to improve your ability to manage your daily life, then strength training is probably your best bet. Likewise, if your goal is to run a marathon, you will get more specific benefits from running.</p> <p>The cost and availability of reformer pilates make it less accessible for some people. With this in mind, if you are after similar benefits at a lower price point, mat pilates might be a better option. Not only does it have evidence suggesting it can improve <a href="https://journals.lww.com/ajpmr/FullText/2018/06000/Effects_of_Mat_Pilates_on_Physical_Functional.6.aspx?casa_token=7s6iayoW_s4AAAAA:ajVm-FSTsMeUsuUVH4fpv63bQb_eN0DgduCw7K83K4IlJ3OSQyNKCeoWb_tQZhEV3dRDa3dXwPYE7euORvMAwLM&amp;casa_token=zUcAB1qT0a4AAAAA:KpwLVGmBXbLo0es1xEBF7SAJPIBy6mKoVzCWOLiFFHAnn4LbGHA3febsR9jhygDyNsNnobmKM2ukMJNPGixdypY">strength and fitness</a>, but it is something you can do at home if you find a good resource (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44HquH6QyXc">YouTube</a> could be a good starting point here).</p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/hunter-bennett-1053061">Hunter Bennett</a>, Lecturer in Exercise Science, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jacinta-brinsley-1419359">Jacinta Brinsley</a>, Exercise Physiologist and Postdoctoral Researcher in the Alliance for Research in Nutrition, Exercise and Activity, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/lewis-ingram-1427671">Lewis Ingram</a>, Lecturer in Physiotherapy, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-is-reformer-pilates-and-is-it-worth-the-cost-244634">original article</a>.</em></p>

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Do tenancy reforms to protect renters cause landlords to exit the market?

<p>More Australians are <a href="https://theconversation.com/wealthy-landlords-and-more-sharehousing-how-the-rental-sector-is-changing-94394">renting their housing longer</a> than in the past. But they have relatively little legal security against rent increases and evictions compared to <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-australia-can-learn-from-overseas-about-the-future-of-rental-housing-90401">tenants in other countries</a>. When state governments suggest stronger protections for tenants, landlords and real estate agents <a href="https://www.reiq.com/articles/reiq-concerned-rental-reforms-unravel-rights-of-property-owners/">claim it will cause disinvestment</a> from the sector, increasing pressure on already tight rental markets.</p> <p>In <a href="https://www.ahuri.edu.au/research/final-reports/391">research</a> for the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (<a href="https://www.ahuri.edu.au/about">AHURI</a>), published today, we put the “disinvestment” claim to the test. We looked at the impacts of tenancy reforms in New South Wales and Victoria on rental property records over 20 years, as well as surveying hundreds of property investors. We found no evidence to support this claim.</p> <p>We did find a high rate of turnover as properties enter and leave the sector. This happened regardless of tenancy law reforms. It’s a major cause of the unsettled nature of private rental housing for tenants.</p> <p>We suggest that if substantial tenancy reforms did cause less committed landlords to exit the sector, that might not be a bad thing.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">A tenancy law expert says it could be illegal in several states, while tenants’ advocates say it preys on vulnerable renters during Australia’s housing crisis. <a href="https://t.co/hQEdS80a3h">https://t.co/hQEdS80a3h</a> (via <a href="https://twitter.com/abcnews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@abcnews</a>)</p> <p>— ABC Australia (@ABCaustralia) <a href="https://twitter.com/ABCaustralia/status/1587927668846399488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p><strong>How did we test the disinvestment claim?</strong></p> <p>We analysed records of all rental bond lodgements and refunds in Sydney and Melbourne from 2000 to 2020. From these records we can see properties entering the rental sector for the first time (investment) and exiting the sector (disinvestment).</p> <p>We looked for changes in trends in property entries and exits around two law reform episodes: when the 2010 NSW Residential Tenancies Act took effect, and the start of a tenancy law reform review in Victoria in 2015.</p> <p>We found no evidence the NSW reforms affected property entries (investment). And property exits (disinvestment) were slightly reduced – that is, fewer properties exited than expected.</p> <p>In Victoria, we found property entries reduced slightly when the law reform review started – perhaps a sign of investors pausing for “due diligence”. We saw no effect on property exits.</p> <p>So in neither state did we find evidence of a disinvestment effect.</p> <p>We also surveyed 970 current and previous property investors, and got a similar picture. When deciding to invest, investors said prospective rental income and capital gains were the most important considerations, but tenancy laws were important too.</p> <p>On the other hand, tenancy laws were the least-cited reason for disposing of properties. Many more investors said they did it because they judged it a good time to sell and realise gains, or they wanted money for other purposes, or because the investment was not paying as they had hoped.</p> <p><strong>A state of constant churn</strong></p> <p>Our research also gives new insights into the private rental sector, which <a href="https://www.housingdata.gov.au/">has been growing</a> relative to owner-occupied and social housing.</p> <p>Small-holding “mum and dad” landlords dominate the sector. Some 70% of landlords own a single property. Multiple-property owners own more properties in total, but still relatively small numbers (rarely more than ten) compared to corporate landlords in other countries who have tens of thousands of properties, or even more. Australia now has some large corporate landlords, but their properties are a tiny fraction of the total rental stock.</p> <p>Beneath its gradual growth and persistent small-holding pattern, the private rental sector is dynamic. Properties enter and exit the sector very frequently. In both Sydney and Melbourne, our analysis shows, most properties exit within five years of entering.</p> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/496048/original/file-20221118-13-8fazlx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/496048/original/file-20221118-13-8fazlx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/496048/original/file-20221118-13-8fazlx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=307&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/496048/original/file-20221118-13-8fazlx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=307&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/496048/original/file-20221118-13-8fazlx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=307&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/496048/original/file-20221118-13-8fazlx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=385&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/496048/original/file-20221118-13-8fazlx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=385&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/496048/original/file-20221118-13-8fazlx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=385&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w" alt="Chart showing private rental properties, Sydney and Melbourne, 2000–20, by year of first observation in rental bonds data and at five-year intervals" /></a><figcaption><span class="caption">Numbers of private rental properties in Sydney and Melbourne at five-year intervals from 2000 to 2020. Properties are categorised by year of first observation in rental bonds data.</span> <span class="attribution">The authors</span></figcaption></figure> <p>More than 30% of tenancies begin in a property that’s new to the rental sector. And more than 25% of tenancy terminations happen when the property exits the sector.</p> <p>Our investor survey also shows the sector’s dynamism. Many investors made repeated investments, owning multiple properties and some interstate. They indicated strong interest in <a href="https://theconversation.com/ever-wondered-how-many-airbnbs-australia-has-and-where-they-all-are-we-have-the-answers-129003">short-term letting</a>, such as Airbnb, and significant minorities had used their properties for purposes other than rental housing.</p> <p>Australia’s rental housing interacts closely with other sectors, particularly owner-occupied housing, as houses and strata-titled apartments trade between the sectors. The tax-subsidised property prices paid by owner-occupiers heavily influence investors’ gains and decision-making. Rental is also increasingly integrated with tourism, through governments’ <a href="https://theconversation.com/who-wins-and-who-loses-when-platforms-like-airbnb-disrupt-housing-and-how-do-you-regulate-it-106234">permissive approach to short-term letting</a>.</p> <p>In short, the Australian rental sector is built for investing and disinvesting. As properties churn in and out of rental, renters are churned in and out of housing.</p> <p>This presents problems for tenants.</p> <p><strong>A new agenda for tenancy law reform</strong></p> <p>Australian residential tenancies law has accommodated the long-term growth of the rental sector and its dynamic character. With no licensing or training requirements, it’s easy for landlords to enter the sector. It’s also easy to exit by terminating tenancies, on grounds they want to use a property for other purposes, or even without grounds in many cases.</p> <p>Over the years tenancy law reform has fixed some problem areas, but with virtually no national co-ordination. Laws are increasingly inconsistent on important topics, such as tenants’ security (for example, some states have restricted, but not eliminated, no-grounds terminations), minimum standards and domestic violence. Reforms have overlooked significant problem areas, such as steep rent increases and landlords’ liability for defective premises.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Works for Australia too. Although don't even need to pretend to put it on the market in NSW, it's called a "no grounds eviction" or perhaps more accurately: "tenant expected a liveable home or repairs to broken stuff". <a href="https://t.co/GolGDqlyCu">https://t.co/GolGDqlyCu</a> <a href="https://t.co/wORI3K6Yap">pic.twitter.com/wORI3K6Yap</a></p> <p>— Nathan Lee (@NathanLee) <a href="https://twitter.com/NathanLee/status/1542298797039964160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 30, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p>It is time to pursue a national agenda that goes further than previous limited reforms. The focus should be on the rights of tenants to affordable housing, in decent condition, that supports autonomy and secure occupancy.</p> <p>Where landlords say it is too difficult and they will disinvest, this should not be taken as a threat. Indeed, it would be a good thing if the speculative, incapable and unwilling investors exited the sector. This would make properties available for new owner-occupiers and open up prospects for other, more committed landlords, especially non-profit providers of rental housing.</p> <p>Similarly, if we had higher standards and expectations to discourage private landlords from entering the sector, that would open up scope for new owner-occupiers and investors who are less inclined to churn properties and households.</p> <p>While past tenancy law reforms have not caused disinvestment, maybe the next reforms should.</p> <hr /> <p><em>The authors acknowledge the contributions of their research co-authors, Professor Kath Hulse, Professor Eileen O’Brien Webb, Dr Laura Crommelin and Liss Ralston.</em><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/194900/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em>Writen by Chris Martin, </em><em>Milad Ghasri, Sharon Parkinson and Zoe Goodall</em><em>. Republished with permission from <a href="https://theconversation.com/do-tenancy-reforms-to-protect-renters-cause-landlords-to-exit-the-market-no-but-maybe-they-should-194900" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

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“Change needs to happen”: Baldwin tragedy sparks reform

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The accidental shooting on the set of </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Rust</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> has </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://screenrant.com/rust-movie-shooting-petition-real-gun-set-details/" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">prompted a petition</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to ban the use of real guns on movie sets.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Production on the Western flick has come to an indefinite halt after </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Rust</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">’s star and producer </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/alec-baldwin-allegedly-shot-and-killed-cinematographer" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Alec Baldwin</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> accidentally discharged a firearm, resulting in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. The film’s writer/director, Joel Souza, was also injured in the incident.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The accident has sent shockwaves through the industry, with Baldwin sharing his “shock and sadness” later that day.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fellow cast member Jensen Ackles also took to social media after the incident, describing Hutchins as “an inspiration” and sharing that he donated to the Halyna Hutchins Memorial Scholarship Fund, started by the American Film Institute.</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CVbXNsDg-We/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CVbXNsDg-We/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Jensen Ackles (@jensenackles)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.change.org/p/hollywood-it-s-time-to-create-halyna-s-law-which-will-ban-the-use-of-real-firearms-on-film-production-sets-and-create-a-safe-working-environment-for-everyone-involved" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Change.org petition</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> with the intent of banning live firearms from movie and television sets was started by filmmaker Bandar Albuliwi, one of Hutchins’ friends and former classmates.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The petition also references a similar incident almost 30 years ago on the set of </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Crow</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">, which caused the death of actor Brandon Lee. His fiancee, Eliza Hutton, has since </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://celebrity.nine.com.au/latest/brandon-lee-fiancee-breaks-silence-28-years-after-actor-killed-the-crow-movie-set-rust-shooting/dd3ffc27-674d-44a1-aa71-e0e27558d6ab" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">spoken out</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> following the </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Rust</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> tragedy.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Twenty eight years ago, I was shattered by the shock and grief of losing the love of my life, Brandon Lee, so senselessly,” she told </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">People</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> magazine. “My heart aches now for Halyna Hutchins’ husband and son, and for all those left in the wake of this avoidable tragedy.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hutton also shared a snap of her and Lee on Twitter, with the pointed message, “There’s no such thing as a prop gun.”</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">There’s no such thing as a prop gun <a href="https://t.co/u8NeVoRVYJ">pic.twitter.com/u8NeVoRVYJ</a></p> — Eliza Hutton (@ElizaHutton1) <a href="https://twitter.com/ElizaHutton1/status/1451941455866445824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 23, 2021</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The petition, which has since received 60,000 signatures, calls on Baldwin to “use his power and influence in the Hollywood industry to make change and ban real guns on film sets”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We need to make sure that this avoidable tragedy never happens again,” Albuliwi writes.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“There is no excuse for something like this to happen in the 21st century.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Change needs to happen before additional talented lives are lost.”</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: @jensenackles / Instagram</span></em></p>

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Call for law reform to help families step in when seniors get scammed online

<p>Increasing internet use by older people has made them such an appetising target for online scammers a law change is needed, a lawyer believes.</p> <p>It is too costly and difficult to legally intervene in an older relative's finances when they are getting scammed, especially when they have mental problems such as Alzheimer's disease, Auckland lawyer Henry Chellew said.</p> <p>"A heap more older people using the internet and some very sophisticated internet fraud means a lot of older people are at risk, especially those ... who are deeply delusional but still functional," Chellew, of firm Stainton Chellew, said.</p> <p>As people lived longer and increasingly dealt with conditions such as Alzheimer's, more of his clients were struggling to persuade older relatives what they were convinced was an online windfall or chance to help someone was really a scam.</p> <p>Legislation on personal property rights and mental competency was drafted nearly 30 years ago, pre-internet, and needed overhauling.</p> <p>While enduring powers of attorney let families act on elder relatives' behalf, it did not stop them giving their bank account numbers to scammers.</p> <p>In such cases, the family could obtain a doctor's certificate declaring the person mentally incapable, and then, via the Family Court, take over their bank accounts.</p> <p>However the process was slow and expensive, providing a window of opportunity for scammers, he said.</p> <p>"Perhaps a half-way house is needed – a targeted approach to deal with someone's financial problem area, without stripping them entirely of control," he said.</p> <p>A Wellington-based  spokesman for over-65s charity Age Concern said scams targeting the elderly had increased.</p> <p>But caution was needed since three-quarters of elder abuse, including financial abuse, was committed by family members, Age Concern Wellington's Ken Daniels said.</p> <p>"It's important to protect the free will of a mentally competent older person ... but the line becomes blurred as they approach dementia and it's incredibly difficult sometimes to intervene."</p> <p>Powers of attorney and Family Court-ordered intervention should be easier and cheaper, as long as protections were in place.</p> <p>Chris Hails, a representative of Internet safety group NetSafe said because older people are online more and tend to be more trusting, they are getting scammed more often.</p> <p>"For people who grew up in an era where you could leave your door unlocked, now they're basically stepping into the Wild West."</p> <p>Five years ago the agency had 1700 scam reports a year, and now there were 700 a month.</p> <p>Scammers took $40,000 on average per day, for a total this year of $12.5 million, he said.</p> <p>Online scamming had increased in 2015 and was constantly evolving.</p> <p>The government's Office for Senior Citizens director Sarah Clark said older people were being targeted by scammers, and should not be ashamed to report it.</p> <p>"It can be embarrassing to admit that you have been the victim of a scam, but... speaking out may prevent scammers from targeting others."</p> <p>Family members should also not hesitate to report a loved one getting scammed, as it could prevent them from losing even more.  </p> <p>Written by Caleb Harris. First appeared on <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.Stuff.co.nz" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz</a></strong></span>.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2015/11/auckland-santa-parade/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Santa parade fills streets with Christmas cheer</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2015/11/secret-hotel-maid-cleaning-tips/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>11 secret cleaning tips from hotel maids</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2015/11/the-lovers-photo-series/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>This is what 50 years of love looks like</strong></em></span></a></p>

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