CARER CONNECTIONS Edition 23 - May 2020
CRESTMEAD GROUP HOME WELCOMES ITS FIRST RESIDENT We are excited to announce the opening of our Crestmead Group Home in Queensland and welcome our first client Thomas. He has been living in his family home and this will be his first time living independently with the support of our staff. His goal is to be more independent and confident in everyday living skills. Thomas has settled in well and loves to help where possible taking great pride in his home and keeping it clean. He loves helping to do chores around the house, such as vacuuming, washing dishes, gardening, washing the car and other house maintenance. When he is asked to help, Thomas is always willing to give it go! He has been described as quiet and shy when he first meets people, but someone who also likes to have a laugh. He has a passion for cooking and is encouraged to assist with making his favourite dinner spaghetti bolognaise! “Thomas is an exceptional person to be around and he has the best smile”, said Sandy Dale LSA, Crestmead Group Home. This has been a lot of ‘first’s for Thomas and he is adjusting well, with plans to attend one of our Afford Day programs. “I love my new home”, said Thomas Since moving into his new home in Crestmead, Thomas is radiating with self-confidence and overall enjoying ‘The Afford Lifestyle’. He is living the life he wants independently and comfortably. Thomas receives support if and when he needs it and can get involved in activities that he likes. In the next couple of weeks, Thomas will get to welcome two new housemates!
For more information please call 1300 233 673 or email info@afford.com.au
CARER CONNECTIONS Edition 23
Zlike us on facebookZ share your thoughts and ask other carers for advice Did you know Afford has a Facebook page dedicated to our carers? It’s your go to for connecting with other carers in the Afford community. Head over and give our page a like! www.facebook.com/AffordCarers
EVERYDAY EXERCISE YOU CAN DO AT HOME Stretching, walking and generally keeping active helps to maintain a strong body and a healthy mind. Clients and staff across our day programs, group homes and other services are getting creative with their exercise routines to stay happy and stimulated throughout the COVID-19 restrictions. Brett, Michael and Mark from Billabong Group Home love to cycle around their local community. Riding a bike helps them get some fresh air and enjoy the outdoors, while still abiding by social distancing rules. Belmore Day Program clients occupy their days with lots of yoga sessions, on-site circuit training and parachute games. The clients are lucky enough to have a range of fitness equipment on-site, including yoga mats, a treadmill, a rowing machine and even a boxing bag. With so much choice, there is plenty for everyone to do to stay fit! You can enjoy your own home exercise sessions with some easy to follow tips below: Easy stretches you can do every day. Our team at Windsor raised energy levels by having an outdoor Zumba class. Zumba presents so many opportunities for high energy movement, coordination development and laugh-out-loud fun that you can’t help but enjoy yourself. Watch: Zumba classes you can do at home. For Michael, going to the gym for his regular physio sessions isn’t an option at the moment due to COVID-19 restrictions. So, his exercise physiologist has created a training area for Michael to visit to receive one-to-one support. These regular sessions help support Michael’s flexibility and movement. Read: Household items that can help you exercise at home. Doing 30 minutes of cardio exercise daily contributes heavily to your overall health. There are many benefits for this type of workout include boosting your cardiovascular endurance, regulating your cholesterol, improving your heart health, lowering your blood pressure and burning calories which help you maintain a healthy weight.
For more information please call 1300 233 673 or email info@afford.com.au
CARER CONNECTIONS Edition 23
AFFORD TELECARE UPDATE Afford launched Afford TeleCare to give people living with disability across the country access to essential allied health supports. It’s a contact-free, virtual platform where clients connect with professionals for occupational therapy, psychology, speech pathology and other therapies for continued physical and mental health and wellbeing. To date we have provided much needed support via Afford TeleCare to 145 clients! Afford TeleCare is available for existing and new clients who wish to access this service. Afford is committed to developing new methods of delivering disability supports so that every person has the opportunity to achieve their goals and feel assisted during COVID-19 under the NDIS. Watch: Afford TeleCare Contact Afford TeleCare on: 1300 379 308
KEY WORD SIGN Key Word Sign is the use of hand signs to represent the key words of a sentence used along with speech to support language development and understanding. It is designed for both children and adults to use who have communication difficulties. At Afford we champion inclusivity and we have developed a ‘sign of the month’ resource which is displayed at our sites for clients to learn and try new communication techniques. We encourage everyone to learn key word sign, you never know when you might need it! The main principles of Key Word Sign are: • Always use speech together with the sign • Speak in normal, grammatical sentences • Sign only the key words in the sentence • Use facial expression and body language to help support your message Want to know more about key word sign? Contact our Allied Health Speech Pathology team on 1300 233 673 or email alliedhealth@afford.com.au This information is provided by KWS NSW. Find out more about KWS NSW by visiting their website: www.kwsnsw.com/home/about-key-word-sign
For more information please call 1300 233 673 or email info@afford.com.au
CARER CONNECTIONS Edition 23
upcoming online carers events Even in these times carers can still connect with each other and find support via online events!
ONLINE EVENTS Event Zumba Event is held every Wednesday 5:30pm 6:30pm Online via Zoom
DETAILS Cost - $7.00 per ticket IHF Fit4Life Virtual Strong By Zumba Everyone is welcome! Come and join in with IHF Fit4Life Virtual Strong By Zumba! Wednesday’s from 5:30pm 6:30pm. Register via - https://www. eventbrite.com.au/e/ ihf-fit4life-wednesdaystrong-by-zumba-tickets101010196216?utmmedium=discovery&utmcampaign=social&utm-con tent=attendeeshare&aff=e scb&utm-source=cp&utmterm=eventcard
ONLINE DETAILS EVENTS Cost - Free Event
ONLINE DETAILS EVENTS Cost - Free Event
Cook, Chill & Chat Live Cooking Sessions
Recyclable Online Jewellery Workshop For Adults
Event is held every Wednesday 10:30am 11:30am Online via Zoom
By Healthy Cities Illawarra Cook Chill Chat Live Cooking Workshops will be a weekly cook-a-long workshop. You will choose the recipes we cook each week from our Cook Chill Chat Cookbook. Access to a community group, resources, videos, recipes and much more! More details and tickets via https://www.eventbrite. com.au/e/cook-chill-chatlive-cooking-workshopstickets-102151237100?utmmedium=discovery&utmcampaign=social&utm-con tent=attendeeshare&aff=e scb&utm-source=cp&utmterm=eventcard
18th June 2020 6:30pm 8:30pm Online via Zoom
By Inner West Council Libraries Join Sydney based creative Jeff McCann and learn how to make fun wearable art pieces from recycling and old unused jewellery that you have laying around the house. It could be earrings, necklaces, brooches or rings. Register via - https://www. eventbrite.com.au/e/ fruit-jewellery-workshopfrom-recyclables-for-adultswith-jeff-mccann-tickets106599110810?utmmedium=discovery&utmcampaign=social&utmcontent=a
Riddle me employment
Looking for a job that will be right for you? With the support of our experienced team, you can find the job that’s right for you, a job where you will gain new skills, feel valued, a job that lets you earn money and be in control of your life. Afford is proud to offer the following employment services: - Disability Employment Service (DES) - Supported Employment (ADE) - School Leaver Employment Support (SLES)
People make me, keep me, change me, raise me, even though I can be very dirty. What am I?
Call our friendly Supported Employment team today on: 1300 233 673 or visit www.afford.com.au/services/work/ Answer: Money.
For more information please call 1300 233 673 or email info@afford.com.au