BluePrint (Nov 2020)

BLUEPRINT THE

A message from the CEO

2020 has been an extraordinary year, with COVID-19 affecting us all one way or another. While we are learning to live in a COVID environment, there is no doubt the pandemic has changed the way we live and interact, making technology an important medium in helping people to stay connected.

Read Jo Danahay’s heart-warming story on page 4 to find out how staff at Box Hill helped her stay connected with her family and friends at the height of the pandemic.

In this issue, we also offer some simple but helpful tips to help you communicate with people living with dementia when you visit them in an aged care home (page 6). And if you are looking for a new pair of shoes, we also have some advice on how to choose the most appropriate and comfortable footwear for older people (page 10).

As Victorians adapt to a new normal, we are starting to welcome more people back to our residences in a safe and controlled manner. If you or someone you know are considering aged care, now might be the right time to make a change with BlueCross. Explore our special offers for permanent care and respite stay (page 12).

Despite the many challenges this year has presented, our focus and priority remains on keeping our residents, clients and staff safe and well. For regular updates on our activities, follow us on Facebook or subscribe to our e-newsletter on the website.

Happy reading and stay safe!

What a little alfresco can do

Did you know that a well-designed outdoor space can do wonders for older people and those living with dementia? The sights and sounds of the outdoors can stimulate their senses and improve their overall wellbeing.

Nature has a way of calming the senses and in Lenka Kapitan’s case, it also helps to calm the nerves. Lenka has dementia and finds solace in the outdoors whenever she feels anxious.

Since her backyard had a mini makeover recently, Lenka has been spending more time outdoors –especially when she has her panic attacks. While the modifications

were not extensive, the revamped backyard has improved Lenka’s quality of life significantly, according to Leanne Reilly, BlueCross Care Advisor.

now seeing

great improvements in Lenka’s mood. Prior to the modifications, she didn’t have a safe outdoor space to use."

“The front of her house faces a busy main road and the backyard was unsafe for her to use due to cracked concrete and rubble, posing a huge risk for falls,” says Leanne.

While waiting for a home care package to be available, Lenka was referred to the Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) program by My Aged Care. Through the program managed by BlueCross, Lenka received allied health support to help her stay independent and safe at home. Part of the modifications to her backyard were funded by the program.

“The program covered the cost of the concreting to provide safe access and reduce falls risk for Lenka. Other modifications such as the new artificial grass lawn and fence were paid for by Lenka’s family. The aesthetic and functional transformation has been beneficial for Lenka who is now motivated to make full use

of her backyard with her walker,” says Leanne.

A government-funded program, STRC is designed to help eligible people regain their independence and optimise their wellbeing. Delivered for up to 56 days, therapy and support can include domestic assistance, personal care, allied health and also home modifications, as in Lenka’s case. BlueCross is currently supporting Lenka with her second STRC package.

Robert Putamorsi Chief Executive Officer

Before and after photos of Lenka Kapitan’s backyard

We’re

some

Keeping isolation blues away

Check in on your grandparents or elderly neighbours during the COVID-19 pandemic. With physical distancing in place, the impact of social isolation and loneliness may be more profound during this time.

Older people, especially those with underlying medical conditions, are at a greater risk of falling seriously ill if they are infected with COVID-19. While it is advisable to limit physical contact with older people during this time to help keep them safe, it is important to stay connected with them as some may become socially isolated if physical distancing continues. If left unchecked, this can be detrimental to their mental wellbeing.

Jo Danahay, 81, knows what it means to have a strong support network. Jo moved to BlueCross Box Hill in April 2019 soon after her husband Noel passed away.

More than a year on, Jo is still grieving for Noel and appreciates the emotional support she gets from her family and friends, as well as staff at the aged care residence. Staff also ensure Jo stays connected with her family and friends through regular phone and video calls.

Among Jo’s support group are five former work colleagues that she has known for more than 30 years.

“I got to know these wonderful women – Denise, Clare, Jenny, Liz and Maria – when we were all working together as nurses in an aged care home that has since been demolished,” says Jo. “They are great girls!”

While their nursing careers may have led them in different directions and paths along the way, “The Girls” as the six bosom friends called their group, have continued to stay in touch with each other over the years by phone calls, visits and

even short holidays together.

“Jo was the first one to retire out of our group,” says Denise Smith. “Before mobility became an issue for some of us, we organised trips to Tasmania, Wilsons Promontory and Beechworth, among other places.”

The Girls put together photos with birthday messages from the group, which staff at BlueCross Box Hill then printed and made into an album for Jo. It was a wonderful surprise for Jo, who was also pampered with lots of other goodies, cakes and messages from family, friends and staff on her birthday in July during the height of the pandemic in Victoria.

Although The Girls were unable to visit Jo due to the pandemic, they ensured their decades-long birthday tradition remained unbroken.

“Every year, we remember and celebrate each other’s birthday and this year is no exception,” says Denise. “Jo always remembers our birthdays and the special occasions too with her beautifully written cards. Although we can’t celebrate with her in person, we wanted to do something special for her on her birthday.” And they did.

Denise is looking forward to visiting Jo again as visitor restrictions to aged care residences are eased across Victoria. “I promised Jo I’ll come over to see her as soon as they stop the lockdown,” she says.

Although missing her friends, Jo has also formed some lovely friendships with other residents at the home, some of who have become her close friends.

“I have learnt more from being a patient than I ever did from being a nurse,” says Jo, when asked about her experience living in an aged care home. She also misses doing the house chores. “I miss cooking and being able to do my own clothes!”

Top Left: Jo Danahay stays connected with family and friends, with the help of staff

Above:

Collection of photos and birthday wishes to Jo from The Girls

Jo is a beautiful person with a kind heart. She is very generous and always willing to help other people."

Simple tips for meaningful aged care home visits

By Dr Loretta Quinn | General Manager Model of Care (Dementia)

Do you have a loved one living with dementia? It can be very challenging to visit them in an aged care home and not knowing what to say or what to do. By following some simple tips below, you can help create meaningful and positive visits, both for you and your loved one.

1. Understanding dementia

– Climb into their world, they can’t climb into yours

As Vivian Green Korner, a certified dementia care specialist said, “You need to live in their world and not expect them to come into yours. Get rid of the idea of ‘normal.’ You won’t have the same kind of conversation you once had with someone. Conversations may become less intellect-to-intellect and more emotion-to-emotion.”

If your loved one is talking about wanting to 'go home', instead of replying “Mum, your home is now here”, engage her in a positive memory of her home by saying, “Mum, remember when…" and recall a positive memory of you and her in the house she wanted to go home to. By recalling a positive memory with your loved one (e.g. your Mother), you are assisting her to experience happy feelings instead of anxious ones of wanting to go home. Talk about familiar objects in her room, gently shifting her thoughts from the 'home' topic. You may have to use this approach more than once before her ‘wanting to go home’ feeling subsides.

2. Setting the mood of the visit with your loved one

Reflect on your mood before you are in their presence. Are you feeling stressed? Rushed? Anxious? Non-verbal communication is important for people living with dementia. Being calm and communicating this calmness to them will help them to be more relaxed, which in turn will improve your communication. When you walk into the room, give them a big smile and you will probably receive a beautiful smile in return. Compliment them on what they are wearing, e.g. the colour of their clothes.

Don’t forget the power of making eye contact and physical touch. When talking to them, make sure you are sitting in front of them, at eye level, and not too far away as people with dementia lose the ability to judge distances, even if their eyesight is perfect.

3. Don’t argue with dementia – Redirect challenging conversations in creative ways

As the dementia progresses, your loved one will lose awareness that they have dementia. So don’t argue with someone who has dementia –you will never win.

Try to sense their feelings/ emotions connected to what they are saying. For example, “I want to go home, I don’t want to stay here, take me home now!” The feelings behind this could be anxiety, fear, not recognising anything in their current environment and confusion. Try validating the emotion you can sense that they are feeling: “You sound frightened, am I right?” Then gently, try to talk to them about something they can relate to, for example, share a familiar photo or a song they know really well.

4. Engage in the moment and use objects

To really connect with your loved one, try and 'live in the moment' with them. Bring in objects that are familiar to them: photos, trinkets, blankets, chairs, bedspreads, soft toys, etc. Engage them in a song that they know very well, and even sing with them. They won’t care if you are not a good singer. They will engage better with your real live voice, instead of the recorded voice in a YouTube clip. Be perceptive about what their living environment is like and what they are like at the time you visit. If you are able to go for a walk outside in the courtyard, comment on objects in the surroundings, for example, the sun, the leaves on the trees or the flowers that they and you can see, feel, smell and touch.

5. Be gentle with yourself and your loved one

Dementia can be a long, physically and emotionally challenging journey. Allow yourself room to make mistakes. Don’t judge yourself or your loved one harshly. Be prepared for your loved one to say things that could be potentially hurtful, confronting and very frustrating. Please remember that it is the dementia that is driving these challenging words and responses, not the person that you love.

6. Remember you are a valued part of the team caring for your loved one

Within the home where your loved one is living, is a team of people who want the very best quality of life and care for them, which includes the Care staff, Lifestyle and Leisure staff,

Hospitality staff and you. The staff see you as a very important part of the care team for your loved one. Talk to them. Ask them for ideas on how your visits with them can be the most enjoyable and engaging for yourself and your loved one. Please share with the Lifestyle team or the nurses any valuable information you have about your loved one’s interests and positive memories from their childhood and earlier years. This will guide the Lifestyle staff in ensuring the lifestyle program for your loved one is perfect and effective for them.

About the author: Dr Loretta Quinn is a registered nurse (Div1) and registered music therapist (PhD), with extensive experience in dementia clinical practice and research.

Help them experience positive emotions that are connected to memories and in their current reality. "

Adding colours to cleaning

Did you know that colour coding your cleaning equipment and tools can create a cleaner, safer and more hygienic environment for you and those around you? To avoid cross-contamination, don’t use the same cloth to wipe your bathroom… and your kitchen top.

Although not legislated, the international colour coded system is mostly used in the healthcare industry and reflects the industry standard for best practice. Today, it is also used in food processing or manufacturing, food service and supermarkets, as well as in aged care homes.

Keeping it clean in aged care

Aged care cleaning is not simple and comes with various challenges as elderly residents are more vulnerable to disease and bacteria, hence maintaining a clean environment is a top priority.

Use green for food and drink preparation areas

Colour codes for cleaning have been used by many commercial businesses since they were first developed in the 1990s by The British Institute of Cleaning (BICSc).

There are predominantly four colours in the BICSc colour scheme and each colour corresponds with a specific janitorial area:

BlueCross began using the colour coded system in 2008. BlueCross General Manager Hospitality, Liz Goldsmith, says all departments and staff across BlueCross residences – from cleaners to staff in catering, lifestyle, care, laundry and café –are trained to use the system.

“Staff are trained as part of their onboarding orientation. We also offer ongoing annual training as a refresher,” says Liz. "We have policies, procedures and detailed step-by-step cleaning instructions for all items in our residences, from call bells to ovens.”

Instructional posters are displayed in kitchens, laundries, cleaners’ rooms and pan rooms as reminders. With the pandemic, online training modules and mini instructional DVDs are now also available for staff training and perusal.

“To create a healthy and more sanitary environment for staff, residents and visitors, we take our cleaning very seriously. For example, all cleaning cloths are colour-coded and a new cloth

is used for each cleaning task," says Liz.

“Cleaning chemicals are sprayed or squeezed directly onto the cloth to eliminate the risk of inhalation for both residents and staff. Microfibre mops are also colour-coded, with a clean mop used for each new mopping task.”

How to reduce cross-contamination

Cross-contamination poses one of the highest risks in the spread of disease and bacteria. Distinct colour-coding makes it easier to separate equipment into their correct areas of use or cleaning tasks, thus reducing bacteria cross-contamination between high and low risk areas.

The BICSc colour guidelines are relatively simple to understand. With cleaning equipment like mops, brooms, brushes, cloths and buckets available in various colours these days, you too can adopt this hygienic cleaning system. So, have fun adding some colours to your own cleaning at home!

With COVID-19, it is even more important than ever to employ additional cleaning and sanitising measures. "

H ow to choose shoes for elderly feet

Looking for a new pair of shoes? With the many options available, it can be overwhelming to choose the pair that best suits your feet.

The types of shoes you wear play a vital role in not only providing comfort but also stability and preventing falls. Unfortunately, the risk of falling gets higher as we age and wearing appropriate footwear can be one of many ways to reduce that risk.

When choosing new shoes, these are some important things to look for:

x Sizing: A well-fitting shoe provides comfort and stability. Avoid shoes that are too big to stop your foot from moving within the shoe. Also avoid shoes that are too small to prevent pain that can impact your walking. When buying shoes, it is always best to try both shoes on and walk around the store for a few minutes and take note of the feel and comfort around your entire foot and ankle.

x Heel height: A low heel provides more support and stability while walking and also allows appropriate pressure through your feet, thereby creating more comfort. A high heel reduces stability and can cause pain due to poor weight distribution, and this can increase the risk of falls.

x Wide heel size: Provides more surface area to the ground, providing further stability.

By Sam Simson | BlueCross Physiotherapist

x Wide front of shoe (toe box): Provides comfort for your foot and toes as well as increasing the surface area, giving you more stability. Shoes that compress your toes can cause pain and also impact the way you walk.

x Firm and high collar: Supports and stabilises your ankle joint while walking.

x Fastening: Laces, velcro or adjustable buckles allow the shoe to be tightened or loosened to an appropriate fit to support the foot. Velcro may be more suitable if you are beginning to struggle with fine motor tasks such as doing up laces.

Other considerations:

x Avoid slip-on slippers or inhome footwear that do not have heel and ankle support. If you enjoy wearing slippers in the home, consider slippers that close around the entire

foot and have a fastening mechanism such as velcro or adjustable buckles.

x Avoid wearing just socks around the home. If you enjoy wearing socks, consider nonslip socks to prevent slipping on surfaces such as tiles.

x Shoes that are wearing thin or are losing support need to be replaced.

To discuss appropriate shoes and specific brands, you can talk to:

x Your pharmacist or visit any pharmacy that sells shoes.

x A podiatrist or physiotherapist will be able to help and provide advice on appropriate footwear.

x Your GP can also refer you to the appropriate allied health professional if you have any specific foot conditions.

Nurturing a culture of culinary creativity

Make a change with BlueCross

How does one continue to keep the chefs in a BlueCross kitchen motivated?

With tailored aged care solutions from BlueCross, there’s no better time to make a change to keep living your best you.

Speak to us now about how you can benefit from one of our special offers. Pay no Basic Daily Fee* for the first 30 days if you move into a BlueCross home for permanent care before 31 January 2021. That’s a saving of $1,567!

Receive one free week* if you book for respite with BlueCross before 31 January 2021, when staying for three or more weeks.

*Conditions apply, for more information visit bluecross.com.au

For further information

Phone: 1300 133 414

Email: clientrelations@bluecross.com.au

HOW WE DO THINGS

Be there

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