CARER CONNECTIONS
AFFORD ALLIED HEALTH MAKES COMMUNICATING EASY The Afford Specialist Services was recently launched, which includes our professional Allied Health Team, who are introducing amazing programs across our sites. Recently the team rolled out a new initiative for our clients called PODD. A PODD (Pragmatic Organisation Dynamic Display) is a book to support communication between people with complex communication needs and their family, friends, carers or support workers. The PODD is custom made for each client and contains a range of symbols and words. Carla McKinnon, a Therapy Intervention Assistant in the Allied Health Team at Afford, recently completed a two day introductory PODD workshop along with our Queensland Speech Pathologist, Tayla Campbell at The Royal Rehab in Ryde. The training helps our therapists to be able to customise these books on their client’s behalf, as well as put together the books. Queensland Speech Pathologist, Lauren Macintosh is another Allied Health Team member who also has extensive experience with PODD and the training. When people cannot speak, we often speak less to them as well. This brings about a cycle of limited language “input”. These communication aids offer personalised vocabulary and photos and there are a variety of templates to suit the language level of the client with an emphasis on extending their current level. PODDS can promote and grow with the client’s language development. Aided Language Stimulation can be helpful by: 1. Reduce the need to ask “yes/no” questions and telling a person what to do. 2. Encourages you to make comments, so the person has more turns in the conversation. 3. Show the meaning of language, rather than saying the words alone. 4. Vary your pitch and volume to get the person’s attention. 5. Pause your communication, to allow the person to respond. 6. Be sensitive to the different ways a person may try to tell you something. 7. Give more opportunities for communication. PODDs can be paid either out of pocket or out of a client’s NDIS plan. The funding for PODDS can come out of therapist hours, or the assistive technology budget. It is just one element of the wide variety of services our clinicians offer. If you think your loved one may benefit from their own PODD book, first speak to one of our Speech and Language Pathologists, who will advise if a PODD is right for them! Carla and our therapists can then support you to create a custom made PODD to help your loved one communicate effectively with others. Contact our Allied Health team on: 1300 233 673 or email alliedhealth@afford.com.au
For more information please call 1300 233 673 or email info@afford.com.au
CARER CONNECTIONS Edition 16
Carer PROFILE KATHERINE PARNELL Who are you caring for? My son and my partner. How long have you been a part of the Afford Community? 7 months. How has Afford helped you as a carer? Afford has a wonderful network that not only connects with major industry bodies like the NDIA but also with grassroots organisations that assist people in real time every day. These connections have been invaluable. If you had a whole day all to yourself, what would you do? Visit a zoo with my Mum and Daughter. What is one tip you can give others transitioning to the NDIS? Remember it is a life-long scheme. Think about what you want to get from the NDIS.
CHANGING PLACES. TRANSFORMING LIVES Toilets are important, let’s face it, we all need them and use them daily. When we go out in the community, we rely on public facilities, which can be a challenge for people with a disability. Have you ever noticed that accessible toilets are few and far between? Accessible toilets in public spaces can be helpful, but they are often not accessible to EVERYONE? When you think about accessibility in toilets, how many have you seen with a hoist? Some people need to be hoisted from their chair to the toilet and if this is not available, this can be a real challenge on a day out. Changing Places, Transforming Lives is a project to advocate for toilets with full-sized change tables and hoists in major public spaces across Australia. This life-changing website and organisation is the key to making a day out easy and smooth. Before heading out for the day, you can visit the website and search for a facility near you. The organisation is building more and more facilities every day, and to date, they have 117 toilets Australia wide. On the website, you can virtually tour the toilets available, and even read testimonies on just how much these toilets have had a positive impact on families and individuals. Check it out here - https://changingplaces.org.au/
For more information please call 1300 233 673 or email info@afford.com.au
CARER CONNECTIONS Edition 16
OUR CARERS GOT CONNECTED! In the last edition of Carers Connection, we wrote to you about opportunities to get connected online with Afford. Thanks to the work of our Grants and Fundraising Coordinator, Toni Preston, Afford was given an Australian Government grant from ‘Be Connected’, that allowed opportunities for our carers to update their tech skills. All sites have started receiving their iPads and have begun holding events offering online training. We have seen a huge interest in the Be Connected events that were held throughout our sites, with several events held to encourage our carers to get connected online. Events will now continue to run, with accommodation holding the program in the resident’s homes with the staff assisting them in learning how to use the computer, laptop and iPads. This will assist the clients in being able to use social media to communicate with family and friends. Also helping them to look up things they enjoy like cooking etc. Mount Druitt Afford Day Program held an outstanding high tea event at its centre thanks to the grant funding from Be Connected. “It was great to see parents and carers interacting with each other, the staff, their children and the other clients we had onsite. The high tea was absolutely amazing and I want to thank everyone that was on shift. We look forward to our next event” Kylie Deushain Team Leader - Mount Druitt. We hope you enjoyed getting connected and look forward to holding more events like these in the future!
For more information please call 1300 233 673 or email info@afford.com.au
CARER CONNECTIONS Edition 16
upcoming carers events and activities Keep up to date with info sessions, events and seminars at www.facebook.com/pg/Afford/events/
Cost - free event
QLD DETAILS EVENTS Cost - free event Event
VIC DETAILS EVENTS Cost - free event Event
Let’s Talk Legal: Legal issues for Carers
The Let’s Talk Legal program is a series of free legal talks presented by qualified legal professionals.
Caboolture Carers Support Group
Hosted by Carers Queensland Sunshine Coast.
Power on for Carers
3rd December 2019
Focusing on carers, guardianship and decision making when managing finances and planning ahead.
12th November 2019
This group meets on the second Tuesday of each month to provide a space for informal support, connecting with each other, sharing experiences and information. New carers are welcome!
6th November 2019
NSW EVENTS Event
6:00PM 7:30PM 1 Hurley Street Campbelltown
DETAILS
More details and to register via Eventbrite - https://www. eventbrite.com.au/e/lets-talklegal-legal-issues-for-carerstickets-55888365606?aff=ebd ssbdestsearch
10:00AM 12:00PM Lagoon Creek Cafe 1-11 Toovey Road Caboolture
More details and to register via Facebook - https:// www.facebook.com/ events/2305635432838989/
10:30AM 12:30PM Carers Victoria Footscray
A seven-week wellbeing program for women who are carers. Do you identify as a woman who is a carer and are you ready to: • commit to a seven-week program for two hours per week? • work on enhancing your wellbeing? • work with a group of likeminded women who are carers too? • learn from the experiences of others? More details and to register via Facebook - https:// www.facebook.com/ events/2717100068334393//
SOCIAL MEDIA SAVVY
WORD FINDER!
Did you know Afford has some fantastic social media pages where we post, events, giveaways, stories, videos and all the fun things we do?! Ways to stay connected with Afford: • Like us on Facebook – www.facebook.com/afford • Follow us on Instagram - @AffordGram • Follow us on Twitter - @AffordTweets • Follow our YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3PfcqVQNSqtjsoswBxYtfA
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OPT IN to our weekly electronic newsletter – email ‘OPT IN’ to marketing@afford.com.au
Let’s get social media savvy!
For more information please call 1300 233 673 or email info@afford.com.au