BluePrint (Dec 2021)

BLUEPRINT THE

3 First aged care provider to launch GEMS

4 Just ask Annie

7 Residents’ stories go digital

from the CEO

With the year coming to a close, it is wonderful to see families and friends reunited as borders gradually re-open and restrictions ease. Across BlueCross homes, we are delighted to welcome families and visitors again albeit some restrictions still in place.

While we may be enjoying increased freedoms, we are also alert to the increased risk this poses to residents in our homes as the number of COVID-19 cases in the community remain high. Therefore, we strongly encourage all family members, carers and visitors to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as this will greatly reduce the risk of infection and transmission within the residence and keep our residents and staff safe.

Residents’ health and wellbeing continues to be a top priority and we are proud to be the first aged care provider in Australia to introduce GEMS, a new dementia care model, to support the needs of residents living with dementia. Across our home care services, we have also introduced the Ask Annie app to our home support and community care staff so they can access virtual learning and dementia training modules whilst on the go.

Although this has been another challenging year due to the pandemic, our team members continue to amaze us with their dedication and passion in caring for our residents and clients. This includes coming up with various lifestyle activities and extravaganza events to bring cheer to our residents during prolonged lockdowns.

We look forward to the upcoming Festive Season and a better year ahead and wish you all safe travels and all the best for the coming new year. Enjoy this issue.

First aged care provider to launch GEMS

BlueCross has launched a new dementia care model to meet the needs of residents living with dementia.

GEMS focuses on a person’s remaining abilities

Robert Putamorsi Chief Executive Officer

With 472,000 people living with dementia in Australia and more than 68 per cent of people living in residential aged care having significant to moderate dementia, the time is right to grow an evidence-based dementia model at BlueCross, according to Bridget Howes, General Manager Model of Care.

“We are pleased to introduce The GEMS Brain Change Model which provides an opportunity to connect with the person using positive physical approaches tailored to the current state of the individual’s dementia and this promotes communication and wellbeing,” said Bridget, who is responsible for introducing innovative dementia care approaches at BlueCross.

“The only constant with dementia or brains in general, is that they are ever-changing. All humans experience brain change every day,” she said.

“The GEMS Model is developed by Teepa Snow based on the Allen Cognitive Scale, which recognises the shifts in skills and abilities in any given moment. With dementia, while the progression, pattern and changes may look very different for each type of dementia, the movement through the GEMS is somewhat predictable. This model promotes an understanding of remaining abilities at each step of a person’s journey.”

BlueCross is the first aged care provider in Australia to partner with Teepa Snow to implement this model which has been launched at two BlueCross aged care residences – the Memory Support Environment at BlueCross Box Hill and across the whole of BlueCross Chelsea Manor.

Working closely with Teepa Snow, all staff undertake online awareness education and selected staff are also trained as Champions to lead implementation and work with other team members.

What the Living GEMS mean

SAPPHIRE (True Blue): Optimal Cognition, Healthy Brain

AMBER (Caught in a Moment of Time): Caution Required

DIAMOND (Clear and Sharp): Routines and Rituals Rule

RUBY (Deep and Strong in Colour): Others Stop Seeing What is Possible

EMERALD (Green and on the Go with a Purpose): Naturally Flawed

PEARL (Hidden Within a Shell): Beautiful Moments to Behold

For more details, go to: teepasnow.com/blog/6-gemsyou-need-to-know-for-a-positiveapproach-to-dementia-care/

Rather than focusing on a person’s loss where there is brain change, GEMS focuses on what abilities a person has to be at their best.”

Just ask Annie

Developed by Dementia Australia with funding from Gandel Philanthropy, Ask Annie provides short, self-paced learning modules based on real life scenarios to support those caring for people living with dementia. The platform also assists carers to refresh their skills and learn new tips and techniques at the same time.

With more than 130,000 people working in home and community care across Australia, Ask Annie may become a game changer in how community dementia carers provide support. The virtual training tool is available for purchase by provider organisations as a multi-licence package for their staff to access anywhere, anytime.

“The fact that it’s accessible on a mobile phone and on the tablets for our home carers to use at work, makes it really convenient,” said Bridget Howes, BlueCross General Manager Model of Care.

“It means that, for example, if one of our home carers has questions about how to care for a client living with dementia, like mealtimes or showering, they could take a few minutes before they arrive at their home to brush up on some tips that could help alleviate any challenges that may arise in the situation,” said Bridget.

Jacqui Simao, BlueCross Workforce Manager, couldn’t agree more. “Because it’s so portable, carers can access it in a place and at a time that’s convenient for them. They don’t have to fit in with other people’s schedules. They can refer to it as many times as they need to,” Jacqui explained.

“I think Ask Annie will appeal to all of our workforce, whether they are highly experienced carers who've been in the field for a long, long time or whether they're brand-new carers who are just starting out.”

Ask Annie was rolled out to the BlueCross home care team in early November and the feedback has been very positive. Carers are finding the app easy to use, enjoyable and very useful in helping them to strengthen their skills in delivering support to clients.

Ask Annie training app for home and community care workers

After a quick refresher, they should feel more equipped and empowered to better support the person in their care.”

A new smartphone app is now available to provide ‘on the go’ training and support for home support and community care workers.

Culinary excellence at BlueCross

At BlueCross, we take great pride in the food we serve to our thousands of residents across Victoria. Serving in excess of 15,000 meals and snacks a day, we regularly seek residents' feedback and suggestions so we can continue to create meals that not only whet the palate but also meet individual dietary requirements.

We are proud of our team of dedicated and talented Chefs who prepare fresh and nutritious meals on site daily, including morning and afternoon tea. Craig Botterill, Chef Manager at BlueCross Gardenia is a shining example.

In August, Craig received the OSCARS Recognition of Excellence award by the OSCAR Care Group. A prestigious industry accolade, the award celebrates the amazing work of staff in the aged care, retirement living, childcare and hospitality industries throughout Australia.

Craig, who has over 40 years of culinary experience, was humbled by the recognition for his excellence as a highly skilled, experienced and dedicated Chef. The award also recognises Craig’s leadership skills, leading and inspiring his team in providing superior quality, delicious and nutritious meals with great experiences for residents.

Being Head Chef at BlueCross has given him the opportunity to create new menu designs and provide quality, nutritious and tasty meals for residents –something that Craig is extremely proud of.

With his vast experience, he has also brought added professionalism to the kitchen team at Gardenia, with a focus on procedures, cleaning and compliance. Craig believes in creating a collaborative work environment for this team and can be seen sharing a chat or laugh with them throughout the day while getting their work done to the highest standards.

“It’s important to work hard and maintain the best standards but also keep the kitchen environment light-hearted,” he quipped.

Craig’s interest in cooking started in his early teens, helping his mum prepare meals for the family. He went on to

complete a cooking apprenticeship in 1980 and perfected his culinary skills working in hotels in South Melbourne.

The accomplished Chef is also proud to continue the great family tradition of cooking for the family, including his wife, two sons and his new grandson.

Chef Manager at BlueCross Gardenia, Craig Botterill

It’s exciting to get an award for something I’m very passionate about. Working with a fantastic team in BlueCross has continued to bring out the best in me.”

IT’S OK TO TAKE A BREAK

Caring for another person can be a highly rewarding experience, but it can also be physically and emotionally draining. If you are a carer, it is important that you take occasional breaks from your caregiving role to focus on your own needs.

Respite services are designed to support a carer to take a well-earned break from caring for their loved one or friend. Whether it be for an hour, several hours or even overnight, a little break can do wonders for your overall wellbeing.

In-Home Respite

BlueCross HomeCare can provide this service as an in-home respite option. This is where a BlueCross carer supports and provides companionship and care for the person you care for within their home. This can be invaluable for people suffering from dementia where the familiarity of being in their own home is both comforting and preferred.

BlueCross staff are trained in caring for people with complex care needs. They can support people living with dementia, including those with co-morbidities making general daily activities difficult.

Our experienced carers can offer support, care and kindness. In-home respite services at BlueCross can be funded privately or potentially through the Commonwealth Home Support Program, a Home Care Package fund or Veteran Home Care services. Services can be set up as a regular weekly occurrence or on an ad hoc basis.

Day Respite Centres

BlueCross has two day respite centres. These are based in our beautiful BlueCross aged care residences in Ivanhoe and Vermont. The day respite centre gives a person the opportunity to leave their home, socialise with

other like-minded people and take part in activities such as quizzes, crafts or gentle exercise. The centre is run by our lovely Day Centre Coordinator who designs different activities from week to week to ensure variety. Lunch is provided along with afternoon tea.

The program can be accessed via the Commonwealth Home Support Program or privately funded. An assessment for eligibility to the program would need to be completed by the Day Centre Coordinator.

It is important for carers to recognise the importance of taking time for themselves, so they can provide the best care for their loved ones or friends.

To find out more about respite options available at BlueCross, please call 1300 133 414.

Respite care provides opportunities for carers to take a break and recharge

Caroline Dunnet, BlueCross Nursing Services Manager shares two respite options available.

Residents’ stories go digital

Digital storytelling uses multimedia to bring personal stories to life

BlueCross is proud to partner with Swinburne University of Technology in the Digital Story Program to capture residents’ stories and share them with others. Organised by the Wellbeing Clinic for Older Adults at Swinburne University, the program aims to improve the quality of life and psychological health of residents living in aged care.

The resident is encouraged to reminisce and talk about their life events or experiences during social visits from a matched volunteer, who will visit them weekly at their aged care residence for up to 12 months. Together, the volunteer and the resident produce a short digital narrative that portrays the resident’s identity and tells a story about them.

This process of supported and ongoing companionship helps the resident to feel valued and have their life experiences validated.

“We are pleased to be able to collaborate on this project. Working together with Swinburne, we are recruiting volunteers from diverse backgrounds, including psychology

students and interested community members. Swinburne will provide coaching for volunteers and BlueCross will support selected volunteers through placements with our residents,” said Catherine Gerhardt, Lifestyle and Volunteer Manager at BlueCross.

Rebecca Collins, Digital Story Coordinator at the Wellbeing Clinic for Older Adults, said there are many documented benefits from the program for aged care residents.

“We have found that residents significantly enjoy the process of creating these stories as well as the

companionship provided by the weekly visits,” said Rebecca. “Residents feel valued and validated by having the opportunity to reminisce and reflect on important and formative life experiences. The stories are shared with staff to help them develop greater appreciation of the resident’s identity, which this can lead to more personalised support and care that is consistent to the resident’s individuality, values and preferences.”

The Digital Story Program will be rolled out across several BlueCross residences from February 2022 with ongoing coaching and support by Swinburne University.

If you are interested in volunteering with this project, please contact volunteercoordinator@bluecross.com.au

Everyone has a story to tell and soon residents at BlueCross will be able to share their life experiences through a volunteer-based digital storytelling program.

This is a wonderful opportunity for people to get some experience working with older people in aged care.”

Christmas brings Santa visits, Christmas carols, a real love of tinsel and who doesn’t love a gingerbread house! This year, our kitchen teams across BlueCross were asked to get into the holiday spirit and participate in our first ever Annual Gingerbread House Competition.

From gum drops to icing icicles, candy canes, jaffa’s (hundreds and thousands of them!), double tier houses, small toys and even an army of gingerbread cookie men, there has been no right or wrong way in how the teams have decorated their creations.

With only ONE winner to be picked, our teams went all out with their confectionery creations where they were judged on the following criteria:

1

Title of gingerbread house / name

2 Overall appearance

3 Originality, imagination

4 Difficulty of design, design execution

5

“Christmas Spirit” incorporated in the design

Below are some of the houses on display at BlueCross residences for all to enjoy and admire. We know the planning and execution has been mammoth and we look forward to announcing the winner soon. So don’t forget to keep an eye out on our social media pages!

Gingerbread Recipe

(makes one house)

300 gm Butter

1 cup Brown sugar

1 cup Golden syrup

2 tsp Bicarbonate soda

2 tbsp Ground ginger

Method

2 tsp Mixed spice

1 tsp Baking powder

7 cups Plain flour

2 Eggs

Origin of Gingerbread Houses

Gingerbread comes in all forms and sizes and is typically flavoured with sugar and spices. Around Christmas, if you are not making gingerbread men or ginger snaps, you might be building gingerbread houses.

1 Place the butter, brown sugar and golden syrup in a saucepan and stir over a gentle heat until the sugar has dissolved. Bring to boil. Turn off heat and stir in the bicarb. Pour into a large bowl and allow to cool for at least 30 minutes.

2 Sift the ginger, mixed spice, baking powder and flour into a separate bowl. When the sugar mix has cooled, add half the flour mix and stir in well. Add the eggs and mix in well. Stir in the remaining flour to form a sticky dough. Divide the dough into 4 even discs and wrap each disc in a cling wrap. Place in the fridge for 30 minutes.

3 Roll the discs to 4mm thick. Use your template to cut out the pieces for the house.

4 Lay on flat baking trays and bake at 160 degrees Celsius for about 12 to 15 minutes. You will need two sides, two ends and two roof pieces. Use the excess dough to make chimney, trees, fences, etc.

5 To assemble, you will need royal icing.

Recipe for Icing

Beat 4 egg whites until frothy. Stir in 6 cups of sifted pure icing sugar until smooth. Add 2 teaspoons of lemon juice and stir well. Cover bowl with a damp cloth until ready to use.

Decorations

Use assorted lollies such as smarties, freckles, musk sticks, jelly tots, liquorice straps, snakes, raspberry jelly’s, to decorate.

Gingerbread is believed to have first appeared in central Europe in the Middle Ages, made from spices and sugars brought back from the Middle East by soldiers returning from the Crusades. In Medieval England, gingerbread simply meant ‘preserved ginger’ and it was not until the 15th century that gingerbread specifically referred to the sweet cake made with ginger and treacle.

Over time, gingerbread took on different forms from region to region, from spiced cake to thin cookies to dark brown bread served with cream. Gingerbread houses originated in Germany during the 16th century and surged in popularity, thanks to the Hansel and Gretel folk story in 1812 which claimed the two main characters stumbled upon a house made entirely of treats.

This Christmas, try your hands at making your own version of a Hansel and Gretel gingerbread house!

8

9

1: Broughtonlea | Remembrance Day

2: Cresthaven | Mexican Independence Day

3: Gardenia | Footy Teddies

4: Hansworth | Christmas Craft

5: Monterey | Spring Is Here

6: Oakleigh | Daffodil Day

7: Willowmeade | Father's Day

8: Sheridan Hall Caulfield | My Journey Survey

9: Tarralla | Charity Knits for KOGO

10: Scotchmans Creek | Gardening

Extravaganza Parties

HOW WE DO THINGS

LOVING LIFE NEVER GETS OLD

As one of Victoria’s largest aged care providers, we care for more than 2,500 residents across 32 aged care residences and over 1,000 clients living in their own homes.

RESIDENCE LOCATIONS

North/West

East Box Hill

Camberwell

Caulfield

South Brighton

Chelsea

Cheltenham

Mt Waverley

Mordialloc Mulgrave Oakleigh

Regional Cowes Kilmore

HOME CARE SERVICES

Surrey Hills

Templestowe

Toorak

Vermont South

Sandringham

Have fun Choose your attitude

For all enquiries, call 1300 133 414 Stay Connected www.bluecross.com.au

Government-funded and private home care services to keep you living your best you. For more details, visit www.bluecross.com.au/home-care

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