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Christadelphian Aged Care A U T U M N N E W S L E T T E R

SOUTHHAVEN NURSING HOME

Address: 11 Queensbury Rd, Padstow Heights

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Phone: (02) 9782 6010

Email: admin@chomes.com.au

Managers Message

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Welcome to Southhaven Nursing Home

Look long and hard at people who live lovingly.

Notice how beautifully they age.

Notice how relevant their wealth or status is.

Notice how much other people want to be in their presence.

Notice how they smile. nnn

“When I smiled at them, they scarcely believed it; the light of my face was precious to them.

Job 29:24

Welcome to Southhaven Nursing Home’s Autumn Newsletter.

I hope you all had a nice Christmas and that your New Years resolutions are still doing well.

Thank you to all those families that were able to attend our Christmas Cocktail Party last year, we hope you enjoyed the evening. It is a good opportunity for us to get to know each other a little better. We hope to see you again this year. Another way for you to get to know us better and to share experiences is for you to attend our relatives meeting held every 3 months. Please watch out for upcoming dates posted on flyers around the Home.

We are excited about the renovations happening in the Hostel and are happy to inform you that the ground floor is now complete. We still have a way to go before they reach the Nursing Home. We apologies for any inconvenience caused as a result of these building works but thank you for all your patience and understanding. Any future changes affecting you will be communicated when needed.

The’ Fitting Together’ committee is planning a concert for our residents to be held on Harmony Day 21st March 2014. Performers from around the globe will be performing in the Nursing Home and Hostel.

We are heading into the colder months so now is the best time to get the flu injection. Southhaven has ordered the Flu vaccinations and they will be given to residents who have a complete consent form. If you have a cough or cold try to stay away until you have recovered, if you are unable to stay away please ask the RN on duty for a face mask. Hand washing on entry and when exiting the facility is also a great way to prevent illness.

If you have any concerns or issues please feel free to come and see me as my door is always open.

Regards, Peter Jessing

“Reach out. Share. Smile. Hug. Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting a few drops on yourself” - Og Mandino

Message from our Senior Manager

I’m very happy and excited to be part of Christadelphian Aged Care. I have a passion for aged care having come from a quality improvement background. I have worked as an aged care quality assessor with the Agency, a facility manager and as a registered nurse in cardiac, triage and aged care. I’m keen to share my industry knowledge and experience gained in having assessed a variety of systems and processes across a number of aged care facilities throughout NSW, ACT and Victoria. My main responsibility is for clinical governance across the homes under Christadelphian Aged Care. Fundamentally, this means achieving the best possible care for residents using a defined approach. This is done by focusing on what’s best for the resident and then building the service or environment around those needs. This will better enable us to approach challenges and continuous improvement activities proactively and confidently.

My wife Maria and I have three daughters, all of who play for the State League competition with Netball NSW. Two are currently at university studying physiotherapy and business respectively and the third currently undertaking her HSC exams this year. I coach representative netball for the Under 12s age group for the Hills District Netball Association NSW and I enjoy travel and culture, although I haven’t had much of an opportunity to do so in recent times. I have however travelled extensively throughout the USA with the highlight being at Elvis’ Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee. I’m friendly, approachable and I very much look forward to learning more about each home and meeting members of the Christadelphian care team.

- Jose Rigor Senior Manager, Operations

UPCOMING EVENTS MARCH 18th - Entertainment Centre Seniors Week 19th - Activity of the Month Movies & Ice Cream 21st - Greyhound Club Seniors Week 28th - Irish Dancers

APRIL 4th - Bagpipes with Dr Cameron 17th - Easter Celebrations

MAY 9th - Mother’s Day Celebrations 14th - Ron Ashton

MARCH

APRIL

MAY

3 Ivy O

6 Lillian T

14 Jean G

6 Charles L

19 Shirley R

20 Marie W

10 Violet M

26 Judith H

22 Elsa O

10 Eleni S

28 Sophia A

25 Mavis B

17 Vicki C

28 Barry H

29 Joan M

30 Felice D 31 Irene C

Activity Reviews DECEMBER

Resident’s Christmas Party

There is nothing in the world more worthwhile than the smile one receives when seeing our elderly having a blast celebrating Christmas at Southhaven Nursing Home.

On Wednesday 9th December 2013, Southhaven Nursing Home celebrated the resident’s Christmas Party. The day started with our residents enjoying themselves listening to a variety of Christmas Carols.

They watched the staff prepare and decorate the tables for their special Christmas lunch that they shared together while socialising and enjoying the Christmas spirit. Not to forget the big smile on our resident’s faces when Santa entered the place and gave out gifts and chocolates.

Everyone, residents, families and staff had a wonderful Christmas at Southhaven Nursing Home.

JANUARY

Kindifarm - Southhaven Nursing Home had Kindifarm visit on Wednesday 22nd January, 2014.

This special day reminds our residents of their past experiences with farms and animals. These are fun and happy memories. It helps with reminiscing which is particularly good for our residents with dementia.

The Farmer was absolutely fantastic because he constantly interacted with our residents. The staff was fantastic with helping the residents interact with all the animals, from feeding the baby animals their bottles, to giving them lots of cuddles. It brought so much joy to their lives and for some, a reminder of their days growing up on a farm. We even had some of the resident’s families with their children joining in the fun.

Kindifarm was fantastic for our residents as it truly brought back many memories for them. All staff and residents had a very special day and were sad to see the animals depart.

On behalf of Southhaven Nursing Home, we would like to thank Kindifarm for their great work and we are all looking forward to see you more and more in the near future.

Activity Reviews contd FEBRUARY

Hawaiian Day

Aloha! from Southhaven Nursing Home. We celebrated Hawaiian Day with our residents on Wednesday 19th February, 2014.

With the nursing home decorated in a Hawaiian theme, residents and staff dressed in colorful shirts and skirts, it was not hard to imagine that we were all on one of the Hawaiian Islands sitting in the sun and eating coconuts!

This was followed by a beautiful platter of Hawaiian fruits. The residents enjoyed eating while watching the beautiful Hawaiian dance on TV. A big thank you for everyone who made this event a success!!

Staff Profile - Mary Baciu RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES OFFICER Social activities are an important part of adjusting to a nursing home for new residents. Every nursing home needs a good and creative person to carry on with activities, bring joy and lots of laughs to the hearts of our residents.

Mary Baciu is one of our activities officers who has worked for Southhaven Nursing Home for more than thirty years - Amazing!

Mary started her career nursing at Woodstock Nursing Home at Strathfield, the Christadelphian’s first Nursing Home, which started operating on 30th August, 1947. Mary nursed for about ten years there and then she was transferred to Southhaven to be an Activities Officer which she has been doing for over twenty years.

Mary has said it is very important to understand the role of an activities officer and more importantly to know what a big responsibility we have on our shoulders.

Mary works with people of all ages and abilities to design and facilitate leisure and recreation programs. These are designed to support, challenge and enhance the psychological, spiritual, social, emotional and physical well being of individuals.

Mary also provides opportunities by encouraging individuals to choose to participate in leisure and recreation activities which promote self esteem and personal fulfillment.

On behalf of the Activity Officers team, we would like to thank Mary for all her hard work in contributing to the sustainability of our Nursing Home. Thanks Mary!

Activity Assistant Program The Christmas period was extra special for the residents in the nursing home. We were blessed with two young people who worked as Activity Assistants during the holidays. Matt & Ellie made a world of difference by their enthusiasm and willingness to perform any duties asked by the staff to enhance the lives of our residents. Their professional manner was outstanding and their attitude towards the residents brought so much happiness to them everyday. The residents looked forward to seeing them and doing activities with them and many friendships were formed.

We miss them very much at the homes now, but wish both of them the very best in their careers and hopefully we can see them again.

Thanks so much Matt & Elli – The RAO Team

I loved working at South Haven this year. I found it just such a blessed opportunity to be able to learn and find out about the extraordinary, amazing lives of the residents, and their entertaining (or sad) stories, and be able to return some sort of joy to them during my time there. It also provided a great opportunity to practice the fruits of the spirit throughout my days towards people that really deserve respect and kindness. It was a pleasurable experience that I wouldn't have traded for anything else!

– Elly Pogson

Having had little experience with the elderly prior to starting work at

Southhaven, I really had no idea what to expect as an Activity Assistant.

Fortunately I really enjoyed the learning experience and the opportunity to meet so many great people. Over the 6 weeks of my employment I have come to appreciate the unique ways that people cope with aging and the various difficulties it presents, you really can’t categorise people, even when they’re old. For me the most remarkable thing was the way

dementia (which I learnt is not so much a disease as a set of symptoms) could be present such that I could hold a perfectly normal conversation with a person and the next day they wouldn’t remember me or what we said, while people with other difficulties would remember me and never communicate verbally. My highlight would have to be the one time I tried handing a “Greek-to-English” translation sheet to a lady who would never smile or speak to me (except occasionally in Greek), I watched her face light up as she read it then suddenly grabbed my hand and kissed it! I really appreciated the support of the friendly staff during my time at Southhaven, especially the RAO’s: Mary, Janet, Carmen and Lenny. - Matt Teal

Alzheimer’s Disesase Outside of a cure, the most vital need of people with Alzheimer’s disease and their loved ones is real emotional connection. How do we continue to communicate with someone with AD who doesn’t talk or remember me? How can we be with people with AD so they are not left feeling the pain of isolation, abandonment, and loneliness? How do we overcome our own feelings of selfconsciousness, awkwardness, and fear of AD to be fully present with someone with dementia?

Some pointers: try to remember how it is to feel safe while vulnerable, how to let go of judgment, to offer empathy, to see the humanity and vulnerability in every person, to remember that everyone matters, how to communicate joy, understanding, and love without words or memories - through body language, emotional connection, and the willingness to be fully present in front of another human being.

Poem

TWO MOTHER’S REMEMBERED I had two mothers – two mothers I claim Two different people, yet with the same name.

Two separate women, diverse by design, But you loved them both because they were mine.

The first was the mother who carried me here, Gave birth and nurtured and launched my career.

She was the one whose features I bear, Complete with the facial expressions I wear.

She gave her love, which follows me yet, Along with the examples in life she set.

As I got older, she somehow younger grew, And we’d laugh as just mothers and daughters do.

But then came the time that her mind clouded so, And I sensed that the mother I knew would soon go.

So quickly she changed and turned into the other, A stranger who dressed in the clothes of my mother.

Oh, she looked the same, at least at arm’s length, But now she was the child and I was her strength.

We’d come full circle, we women three, My mother the first, the second and me.

And if my own children should come to a day, youcomes smile at someone, is anaway, action of When“Every a new time mother and the olditgoes love,of athem gift tonothing that person, beautiful I’d ask that Iadidn’t do -thing” Love both of your mothers both loved you.

- MotherasTeresa - Anonymous

SIGNS OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE •

Difficulty remembering recent events

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Poor judgement and decision making

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Inability to manage a budget

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Losing track of the date or the season

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Difficulty having a conversation.

Repeating the same stories over and over again.

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Misplacing things and being unable to retrace steps to find them

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Changes in mood and personality, inappropriate social behaviour

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Withdrawal from work or social activities

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New problems with spoken and written words

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Trouble understanding visual images

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Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure

It’s What You Do...

I used to live in a small Idaho community. One day I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes. I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily looking at a basket of freshly picked green peas. I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes. Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between the store owner, Mr Miller and the ragged boy next to me. 'Hello Barry, how are you today?' 'Hello, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank you – just admiring the peas, they sure look good'.

'They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?' 'Fine - getting stronger all the time.' 'Good. Anything I can help you with?' 'No, Sir, just admiring those peas.' 'Would you like to take some home?' Mr Miller asked.

'No, Sir I don’t have anything to pay for them with.'

'Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?' 'All I’ve got is my prize marble here.' 'Is that right?” Mr Miller said, ‘Let me see it'.

'Here it is – she's a dandy.' 'I can see that. Hmm mmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?' the store owner asked. 'Not exactly but almost.'

Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble'. Mr Miller told the boy. 'Sure will. Thanks Mr Miller.'

Mrs Miller, who was standing nearby, came over to help me. With a smile she said, 'There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever.

When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store.' I left the store, smiling to myself, impressed with this man.

A short time later I moved to Colorado but never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles. Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one. But recently I was visiting some old friends in that Idaho community and while there I learned that Mr Miller had passed away. It was the evening of his visitation at the funeral home and I agreed to accompany my friends. We joined the line to offer words of comfort to the family.

I noticed 3 young men ahead of us in line. One was in army uniform and the other two looked very professional in dark suits and white shirts. They approached Mrs Miller at her husband's casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket. Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one; each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.

Our turn came. I told her who I was and reminded her of the story she shared with me many years ago about her husband bartering for marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket. 'Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about.

They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim 'traded' them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about marble colour or size, they came to pay their debt.'

'We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho.'

With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined, red marbles.

The moral of this story is that we will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds.

Life is not measured by the breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath.

- Edited from a story sent via email

Pastoral Care CAN GOD HEAL A BROKEN HEART? It was a comedian who said, "If broken hearts were commercials, we'd all be on TV." In some strange way he was saying we each have a broken heart, not physically I hope, but inside, where no-one else can see. One of the most popular groups of the 1970s was the Bee Gees. They sang a song that asked five questions and added one plea: "How can you mend a broken heart? How can you stop the rain from falling down? How can you stop the sun from shining? What makes the world go round? How can you mend this broken man? How can a loser ever win?

Please help me mend my broken heart and let me live again." You might recall the song. The Bee Gees never answered that question. But we know many people have broken hearts because of all sorts of reasons, death of a loved one, divorce, loss of a job, loss of status, loss of health, betrayal by a friend, loss of a child and, yes, loss of your childhood. All of these reasons can leave you a broken man or woman. What is a wound? If you have ever had an injury or a deep cut, you know how painful it is and how it hurts to be touched. Often, sorrow and loss are like deep wounds. They can be so painful that it seems no one or nothing can make the pain go away. Sometimes our heart is so broken that we can't even express the words and nothing seems to take the pain away. Is there hope for healing a broken heart? Something or someone has just broken your heart. You were caught off-guard by a betrayal, a shocking behaviour, or loss of a loved one. Suddenly you are feeling like you've lost all hope. You can feel a physical aching in your chest that leaves you wounded and scarred. How can you ever hope to recover or discover what steps will end this suffering?

We know that emotions are a vital part of the way we are made. Yet we can't understand why it takes so long to heal from emotional injuries and others try to help. Many times, our wounded heart is the result of someone else's actions toward us, and other times it's because of actions we took. Sometimes too, it's a combination of both.

But in trying to encourage us, they can't seem to say the right thing. Like a deep wound, a broken heart will not heal overnight. Like some medicines that burn when you apply them to a skin wound, so can a well-meaning friend who says the wrong thing at the wrong time. Who wants to pour rubbing alcohol on an open wound? We search the stores to find an ointment that we can apply to our skin wound that will not burn and then cover it gently with a Band-Aid. It's the same way with our broken heart. We need the right ointment to bring about healing. They say time heals all wounds. But what about the wounds that people can't see? We can't go to the doctors and say "I have a broken heart, can you fix it!" So who can we go to when we have a broken heart, is there anyone who cares? Who are those with the broken heart? They say time heals all wounds. But what about the wounds that people can't see? The pain of past hurts rules many lives. It simmers, it stifles, and sometimes it shuts a person completely down. However, God heals hurts. He is waiting and ready to touch our deepest pain if we will let Him. In a sense, His healing is another divine exchange, in which we offer to Him our hurt and He offers to us His healing. Psalm 147:3 states, "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds (or sorrows)" "Brokenhearted" refers to the wounds in the innermost portion of ourselves. Most of us do not know how to go about receiving Our deepest sympathies have this wonderful healing gift of God. Some of us have not been aware gone out to the families who that this level of deep healing was available. I like what Max Lucardo have lost their loved ones over says in his marvellous book "He still moves Stones". Why did God leave the Summer period. us one tale after another of wounded lives being restored? So we could be grateful for the past? So we could look back with amazement at what Jesus did? No. The purpose of these stories is not to tell us what Jesus did. Their purpose is to tell us what Jesus does. 'Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us.' Paul penned. 'The Scriptures give us patience and encouragement so that we can have hope.' (Romans 15:4) These are not just Sunday school stories. Not romantic fables. Not somewhere-over-the-rainbow illusions. They are historic moments in which a real God met real pain so we could answer nnn the question, 'Where is God when I hurt?' He's not just doing it just for them. He is doing it for me. He's doing it for you." - By Chris Witts

Bereavements

Physio Corner SHARING WITH OTHERS We are regularly reminded of the benefits from exercise and activity to improve our daily life especially as we age; it therefore becomes increasingly more important for us to keep our bodies moving. Our mobility levels may change suddenly, we may have feelings of uncertainty, or our desire to remain socially interactive may decrease. These changes are common to many people and finding the courage to overcome this may seem impossible at times.

Participating in a regular exercise group or activity enables us to adjust to changes of ourselves and others whilst receiving the rich rewards physically, socially and emotionally.

Tai Chi brings residents together and creates feelings of wellbeing, involvement, participation, acceptance and a sense of belonging to all those who attend. Tai Chi is an “all inclusive” seated program, where residents are positioned together in a circle joining all equally as one group. Each resident brings something unique to the group “themselves”. Judith Forst, a regular attendee from one of our facilities said she remembered her first time coming along to Tai Chi. She said, “I felt safe, warm and comfortable to be with a group of caring people who accepted each other and shared each others company, and the interaction between the group was so special”.

There are many physical benefits with Tai Chi, but the emotional and social acceptance builds you with strength. Other residents report to our Physio team daily of their own personal rewards by attending Tai Chi. There are many social and active groups available to all our residents and families looking for new friends. So come along and try Tai Chi if it is available at your facility and experience the wonderful enjoyment of sharing with others.

- Megan Higgins, Physio Assistant

Volunteer Corner After the hectic rush of Christmas, January was a much quieter month at Southhaven, with many volunteers and families away on holiday. It was wonderful to have some new, young faces helping out with our Residents during their holidays. We are always so grateful for the energy and enthusiasm they bring and the residents appreciate the time spent with them. What a blessing they are to our facility!

Our big annual event this year is to be a Spring Ball in October, instead of the Fair that we usually have. This is mainly because of the alterations being done to the facility affecting the space we have for the fair stalls, but the Ball will be a fabulous occasion for residents to get dressed up for an evening with their families around good food and music.

Our Pastoral Care volunteers have begun a program of ongoing education to help them with their care and support of our residents. We have been privileged to have a few more carers join our team this year so that more residents can have the benefit of their time and love. And on the subject of education: the mandatory training for volunteers is scheduled for 27 March, 17 June and 22 October 2014.

We look forward to a wonderful year together, serving the needs of our wonderful community at Southhaven.

God Bless, Cathy Cathy Strachan, Volunteer & Pastoral Care Coordinator 0435 814 411

“Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves�

- James Barrie

Read, Rest & Relax!

WHAT’S YOUR NAME AGAIN?

Two elderly ladies had been friends for many decades. Over the years they had shared all kinds of activities and adventures. Lately, their activities had been limited to playing cards a few times a week.

One day when playing cards, one looked at the other and said, "Now don't get mad at me. I know we've been friends a long time, but I just can't think of your name. I've thought and thought, but I can't remember it. Please tell me what your name is."

Her friend glared at her. For at least three minutes she just stared and glared. Finally she said, "How soon do you need to know?

QUIZ: HOW OLD ARE YOU REALLY? From the following list of 25 items, count all the ones that you remember -- not the ones you were told about! How to score yourself is at the end.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Blackjack chewing gum Wax Coke-shaped bottles with colored sugar-water Candy cigarettes Soda-pop machines that dispensed bottles Coffee shops with tableside jukeboxes Home milk delivery in glass bottles with cardboard stoppers 7. Party lines 8. Newsreels before the movie 9. P. F. Flyers 10. Butch wax 11. Telephone numbers with a word prefix

Super-simple Peach & Raspberry Tart

• 1/2 cup almond meal (ground almonds) • 1 tablespoon caster sugar

• 1 egg separated

• 2sheets frozen butter puff pas try, partially thawed • 2 medium peaches, halved, stones removed, cut into thick wedges • 1/4 cup frozen raspberries

• 1 tablespoon apricot jam, warmed, strained

• Vanilla ice-cream, to serve Serves 4

(e.g., Olive - 6933) 12. Peashooters 13. Howdy Doody 14. 45-RPM records ... and 78-RPM records 15. S&H Green Stamps 16. Hi-fi systems 17. Metal ice trays with lever 18. Mimeograph paper 19. Blue flashbulb If you remembered: 20. Packards 21. Rollerskate keys 0-5 = You're still young 6-10 = You are getting older 22. Cork popguns 23. Drive-in theaters 11-15 = Don't tell your age 24. Studebakers 16-25 = You're older than 25. Washtub wringers you think!

1. Preheat oven to 220°C/ 200°C fan-forced. Grease a large baking tray. Line with baking paper.

2. Combine almond meal, sugar and egg white.

3. Place pastry sheets on top of each other.

Gently press to secure. Cut a 22c m round from pastry. Place round on prepared baking tray.

Score a 19cm round in centre of larger round.

Prick 19cm round all over with a fork.

4. Spread almond meal mixture over 19cm round.

Top with peaches and raspberries . Brush pastry border with egg yolk. Bak e for 20 to 25 minutes or until pastry is golden and puffed and peaches are tender. Brush pea ches and raspberries with jam. Serve with ice-cream.

Word Search Find and circle all of the old TV shows that are hidden in the grid.

The remaining letters spell the name of an additional old TV show.

ALICE BEN CASEY BEVERLY HILLBILLIES CHIPS CANNON CAPTAIN KANGAROO DOBIE GILLIS DONNA REED DR. KILDARE EMERGENCY FLIPPER

FLYING NUN FUGITIVE GOMER PYLE GOOD TIMES GREEN ACRES GREEN HORNET HOWDY DOODY I SPY IRONSIDE JETSONS KOJAK

L.A. LAW LASSIE LOVE BOAT MAD ABOUT YOU MAUDE MEDICAL CENTER MIAMI VICE MOD SQUAD MOONLIGHTING MURPHY BROWN

ODD COUPLE PEYTON PLACE RAWHIDE RIFLEMAN RIN TIN TIN SOAP ST. ELSEWHERE TAXI THREE'S COMPANY WALTONS

Summer Newsletter Puzzle Answer Scrambled Christmas Carol: Merry Christmas

Disclaimer: All photos and stories have been published with consent of relatives and residents involved. Thank you for your submissions.