C h ristadelph ian A ged Ca re
2017 AUTUMN NEWSLETTER
CASA MIA
Address: 28 Alma Road, Padstow NSW, 2211
Light breeze colourful leaves bare trees it must be Autumn nnn “God makes everything beautiful in its time” Ecclesiastes 3:11
Phone: (02) 8707 6010
Email: admin@chomes.com.au
Manager’s Message Welcome to Casa Mia
Dear Residents, Families and Carers, It has been a very long and hot summer, so it will be nice to have some cooler weather and welcome Autumn! I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our residents and their loved ones for their contribution to the Christmas festivities. It was such a pleasure to see how everyone pitched in and enjoyed all the celebrations. By now you should have received the flu vaccination consent forms. If you haven’t already returned it, can you please do so as soon as possible. Vaccinations will be administered as soon as they are available. Just a reminder that if you are unwell then we ask that you do not visit to help minimise the risk to our residents. 2017 is a very big year for Casa Mia. There are lots of exciting events planned for this year, including a family fun night barbecue to be held on Friday, March 24 2017. We’d love to see you all there. In May this year, we will be undergoing our site audit for our Accreditation. The dates for this are May 9, 10 and 11. Please remember my door is always open and if there is anything you would like to discuss, I am more than happy to see you. Kind Regards, Sharon Fletcher
News & Upcoming Events UPCOMING EVENTS MARCH
APRIL
MAY
5 Alan S
2 Gladys Y
9 Beryl Sh
13 Vincent F
6 Beryl Sc
10 Lesley H
14 Gloria H
11 George Krs
12 Robert W
22 Mervyn W
13 Thelma H
19 George Kra
22 Emily A
16 Margaret D
20 Marie M
23 Eugene K
21 Joe M
25 Gwen C
25 Iris H
26 Chrissi P
MARCH 6th - Sunshine Singers 8th - Entertainer: Lauren 14th - Entertainer: Kane 15th - Catholic Easter Mass 17th - St Patrick’s Day 21st - Harmony Day 22nd - Pet Therapy 24th - Family Fun Night
APRIL 1st - Entertainer: Heather Honey 14th-17th - Easter Weekend 19th - Entertainer: Stan Ellis 18th - Anzac Service 19th - Pet Therapy 27th - Sale Day
MAY
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10th - Entertainer: Patrick Brady 11th - Kris’s Feathered Friends 14th - Mother’s Day 17th - Pet Therapy 24th - Entertainer: Kane 25th - Australia's Biggest Morning Tea 31st - Entertainer: Tony Martin
Activity Reviews CASA SALE DAY Sue and Marilyn worked very hard collecting goods for the Sale Day – an opportunity for our residents and staff to do some Christmas shopping. Our families and local churches were extremely generous with donations, which Marilyn wrapped beautifully for sale. Despite the extremely low prices, we raised over $1300 towards a sensory garden for our residents.
CHRISTMAS LUNCH We tried a new idea for our Christmas lunch to ease the congestion in the dining rooms, with all the family and friends joining us. Half the residents began the day outside, enjoying the entertainment and having their starter, before moving indoors to have their main course and dessert. The other half of the party began inside and moved to the garden to enjoy dessert and more entertainment. We were blessed to have beautiful weather and a visit from Dr Cameron playing his bagpipes again! Wonderful Ed played Father Christmas as usual, and brought all the presents for the residents on his sleigh. A big thank you to our kitchen for the fabulous food. More photos over the page
Christmas Lunch - Photos
Activity Reviews AUSTRALIA DAY We had traditional thong throwing, lamingtons and lots of fun on Australia Day!
CHINESE NEW YEAR: 2017 Year of the Rooster This year we have decided to “Celebrate Culture at Casa”, so in January we celebrated an Italian theme for Giuseppe’s birthday and also Discovering China in celebration of Chinese New Year. The kitchen prepared delicious food for afternoon tea and Sue and Nicole dressed appropriately and shared insights into the Chinese culture and music.
GIUSEPPE’S 100TH We had a lively, Italian-themed day celebrating Giuseppe’s 100th birthday. Of course, there was cake, balloons, family and Italian music, but best of all was Giuseppe’s smile all day at having reached this major milestone. He celebrated by dancing with his two daughters and sharing the fun with his extended family and all his Casa Mia friends – both residents and staff. Even the local newspaper ran an article and photo of him.
Activity Reviews VALENTINE’S DAY The Kissing Bandit came to visit this year on Valentine’s Day and drew plenty of laughter from the residents. This was a good thing considering some residents were rather sad on this day, remembering those they love and have lost.
Staff News Our wonderful staff have been complimented a number of times by families and visitors for the care they show our residents. Recently, a new visitor to the Home said how lovely it was to walk into Casa Mia and everyone greeted her with a friendly smile. Her comment was that if visitors were treated so nicely, she thought the residents would be well cared for too. Over the holidays, two of our staff got married - Ramita and Maynard. We also have two ladies expecting babies - Kanchan, our physiotherapist and Yvonne, an AIN.
Congratulations to you all!
Ramita’s Wedding
Maynard’s Wedding
Resident Story - Giuseppe A born survivor celebrated his 100th birthday singing and dancing to songs from his homeland with his family and friends at Casa Mia in January.
Giuseppe narrowly escaped a bomb attack in Russian trenches during World War II and a severe bout of food poisoning on the ship that brought him to Australia from his native Italy, but he was still able to dance with his daughters on his birthday. The centenarian now lives at Casa Mia Aged Care in Padstow, and dozens of his family members came to celebrate his life with fellow residents and friends. Giuseppe arrived in Australia in November 1949, along with many Italians desperate for work and a safe country for their family. He worked for more than a year before saving up enough money to bring over his wife Carmela and daughter. His daughter, Maria Wood, said her father was an extremely hard worker his whole life and worked in factories, gardens and steel works before opening a fruit shop in Regents Park. He was incredibly lucky to be alive, after surviving a number of close calls in his early life, Mrs Wood said. “He was in the war in Russia, and in a dugout for months,” she said. “He got to the stage where he said ‘If I don’t move out of this hole, I’m going to lose my leg’. And he said to his friend, ‘I don’t know about you but I’m going to run across to the next one’. “When he got across to the next dugout his friend stayed and that was the one blown to bits.” Many people also died on the ship to Australia from food poisoning, and although Giuseppe became sick, he survived. He and his wife had another daughter Rita, who was also there to celebrate his birthday along with his four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. An Italian entertainer sang traditional songs, with Giuseppe often singing along with him, and even getting up to dance with his daughters and staff from his Home.
HARMONY DAY: Our diversity makes Australia a great place to live. Harmony Day is a celebration of our cultural diversity – a day of cultural respect for everyone who calls Australia home. It is held every year on March 21, and the day coincides with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The message of Harmony Day is ‘everyone belongs’, and the day aims to engage people to participate in their community, respect cultural and religious diversity and foster sense of belonging for everyone.
love
1 John 3:18
Pastoral Care
Let us not with word or speech but with actions and in truth
DEPRESSION AND DEMENTIA Depression and dementia are both very daunting terms. Each can seem overwhelming and leave us all at a loss as to how to help. There are difficulties to face, but thankfully there are also some things that we can do to bring some comfort. Depression can also be linked with dementia, with feelings of frustration and loss being a natural result of the effect of dementia on a person’s abilities. Studies indicate that in 30% of cases, those diagnosed with dementia will also suffer from depression. Group activities such as art, music, exercise and religious services can all help to lift a person’s mood by focusing on ability and memories while creating situations for social interaction. Tapping into activities enjoyed during childhood can bring a renewed sense of self, alleviating feelings of depression. Simple personalised things such as hand holding and singing can also be very effective. The happiness felt, or the relief of depression, may only last a short time. Carers should take comfort from knowing they were able to help for that period of time. Much of caring for a person with depression may be simply making the most of each moment, of being present with them. As Elijah had to learn – God is in the small voice, and this is often the most effective. A friend or family member visiting when they are able can lift the mood for a little while and obtain that small smile that accompanies relief. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” Reminders of God’s creation help to stimulate all our senses, and give us an opportunity to appreciate what is around us. If possible, walking in gardens or being taken outside to sit in the sunshine gives a great change of scene and can help lift depression. The different outdoor sounds also help to stimulate our minds and can lift people’s spirit – both those of the affected and those of their carers. If, in the later stages of dementia or at a time when depression is so great that they refuse to go outside, then a bunch of flowers can be a similar trigger to stimulate the senses. Finally, remember as a carer to take care of yourself also. Those looking after people with depression have an increased chance of developing it themselves, and all carers need to maintain an awareness of their own health as they meet the needs of others nearby. By Nerida O’Neill, Pastoral Care Coordinator, Ashburn House
Bereavements Our deepest sympathies have gone out to the families who have lost their loved ones over the Summer period.
Volunteer Corner During the Christmas holidays there are usually less volunteers around the Home as many people go away with family. This year we were blessed by a couple of ladies who so enjoyed their nurse training with us that they volunteered many hours of their precious time to help care for our residents. We also have some wonderfully dedicated volunteers who come regularly week by week to sit and chat to those who are lonely or have no family visitors, or those who come to share communion with all our Catholic residents. And another quiet, behind the scenes kind of help which we greatly appreciate are those who help with raffles and sale days! We are looking forward to lots of cultural fun this Year of the Rooster with our residents, families and volunteers. NOTE: Volunteers mandatory training is scheduled for 
 Wednesday, April 19 2017 and Wednesday, October 18 2017.
If you are interested in joining the Volunteer program, please do not hesitate to contact me:
Cathy Strachan on 0435 814 411 or cstrachan@chomes.com.au Volunteer & Pastoral Care Coordinator
Family and Carers of residents are invited to a FAMILY MORNING TEA When:
2nd Wednesday of every month - 10:30am
Where: Casa Mia Garden Gazebo Looking forward to seeing you there for a social chat and/or support 
 if you need it.
Read, Rest & Relax! INTERESTING EASTER FACTS 1. Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ in the Christian religion. 2. Eggs have been seen as ancient symbol of fertility. Christians consider Easter eggs to symbolise joy and celebration, new life and resurrection.
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3. The traditional act of painting eggs is called Pysanka. 4. Egg dyes were once made out of natural items such as onion peels, tree bark, flower petals, and juices. 5. The name Easter owes its origin from Eastre, the Anglo-Saxon goddess who symbolises hare and egg. 6. The first story of a rabbit (later named the “Easter Bunny”) hiding eggs in a garden was published in 1680. 7. Easter is celebrated at different times by Eastern and Western Christians. That’s because the dates for Easter in Eastern Christianity are based on the Julian Calendar.
Hot Cross Bun Pudding • 1/4 cup white choc bits • 1 1/2 cups milk • 1 1/2 cups thin cream • 1/2 cup caster sugar • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract • 1/4 cup dark choc bits • 2 tablespoon slivered almonds • 6 hot-cross buns • 6 eggs Serves 8 1. Grease a 22cm cake tin and line base with non-stick baking paper. Cut each hot cross bun into four slices.
Line base of tin with half the slices, fitting snugly. Sprinkle with white choc bits. 2. Whisk milk, cream, eggs, sugar and vanilla together in a large jug. Pour half the mixture over buns. 3. Top with remaining slices, pour rest of mixture over. Stand 30 mins to soak up liquid. Preheat oven to 160C or 140C fan-forced. Top with dark choc bits and almonds. 4. Stand cake tin in a baking dish and pour in boiling water to come halfway up the side. Bake for 1 hr until set and browned (it will rise when cooked, but sink on cooling). 5. Remove tin from dish and cool completely Run a knife around edge of pudding, turn onto a plate. Remove paper and invert pudding onto a serving plate. Cut into wedges to serve.
Word Scramble The Easter Bunny decorated some of his eggs with words, but when he delivered them, they got a little scrambled. Can you unscramble the words and find the answer to his favourite riddle?
Disclaimer: All photos and stories have been published with consent of relatives and residents involved. Thank you for your submissions.