Chamberlain Gardens Spring Newsletter 2016

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Christadelphian Aged Care S P R I N G N E W S L E T T E R

CHAMBERLAIN GARDENS Address: 53-67 Chamberlain Rd, Wyoming NSW 2250 Phone: (02) 4329 8000 Email: admin@chomes.com.au

For as the earth brings forth its

sprouts

and as

a garden causes

what is sown in it to

sprout up,

so the Lord God will cause

righteousness and

praise

to sprout up before all the nations.

z

Manager’s Message

z

Welcome to Chamberlain Gardens Hello to our residents, families and friends, As the weather warms up, our residents are enjoying the sunshine outdoors more and more with plenty of activities and social events.

We will be holding our ‘Welcome to Spring’ Celebration on Wednesday, August 31, and to coincide with this event we are also holding a raffle. All funds raised will go to Camp Breakaway, which is a local respite camp for families with children with disabilities.

Over the years we have raised and donated thousands of dollars to this worthy charity, which has been selected by staff choice for several years now.

We are pleased that after a number of recent cases of gastroenteritis, our Home is now all clear, and as a thank you to our staff we held a breakfast barbecue on August 10 and 12, which was very much enjoyed and appreciated by the staff. The PM and night staff were also shouted pizzas for dinner on August 12.

We recently held our annual Jeans for Genes Day and sold merchandise, cupcakes (cooked by the wonderful Leah Donohue) and had a staff mufti day, with over $400 raised for children’s medical research.

Daffodil Day is just around the corner and we are holding ours on Friday, September 2 (a week later than scheduled, to fit in with our spring celebration). We will have fresh daffodils on sale on the Thursday and Friday and we are also selling merchandise.

Isaiah 61:11

In October, we will participate in Pink Ribbon Day, selling merchandise and holding our very popular annual pink mufti day for staff.

Before we know it, the Christmas season will be upon us and we will be kept busy holding celebrations for our residents and their families.

Kind Regards, Sue Thacker

News & Upcoming Events UPCOMING EVENTS SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

SEPTEMBER 21st - Greg Dimmock Concert

Coastal

Coastal

Coastal

1 Neil Joplin

11 John Prassinas

24 Desmond Bain

2 Hugh Reeves

21 Ron Pudig

Horizon

8 Terry Atkins

21 Jill Charlton

8 Judith Tunnington

OCTOBER

15 Ken Singleton

22 Jennifer Bray

11 Joyce Robertson

16 Greg James

Horizon

14 Bev McCartney

5th - Black Sheep Karaoke

Horizon

1 Betty Murray

22 Doreen Smith

2 Joan Stafford

6 Joan Holdsworth

30 Elizabeth Bullen

6 Jean Bournes

26 Alan Palmer

Garden

24 Betty Dawson

26 Bob Larkin

1 Vera Melba

26 Marie Austin

28 Rita Hunter

10 Beryl Byrnes

Garden

Garden

11 Vera Harris

3 Ken Mortimer

1 Nellie Alliband

13 Tommy Edwards

16 Jack Barraclough

25 Lorna Wright

31st - Singing Hands Concert

8th - Suzy J Concert 18th, 19th & 20th Accreditation

NOVEMBER 2nd - Loss Bonkers Concert 9th - Animal visit from Taronga Zoo 21st - Kindi Farm visit

“A father is someone you look up to no matter how tall you grow” - Unknown

Activity Reviews JUNE The beginning of winter and another busy period of the year. The residents were entertained on Wednesday, June 1 by Keri Lewis. Kerry was a new entertainer and was very professional and popular with our residents.

Steve Black (“Elvis”) was here on Saturday, June 4.

He is also a new entertainer and the residents loved being crooned to by Elvis himself. Steve will be a regular, as the residents said they enjoyed his concert a lot.

The Minstrels entertained us on Wednesday, June 8 and their concert was based on the famous musical “The South Pacific”. There were many grins from residents at the costumes and a lot sang along to the old songs.

Wednesday, June 15, the RAOs took along two busloads of r e s i d e n t s t o Va l l ey Vi ew Primary School, as we had been invited to attend their midyear concerts and have morning tea.

The concert was amazing and then the students prepared a morning tea for our residents, which was a popular part of the outing as there were many homemade goodies to eat.

In the afternoon, we were entertained by a group called “Loss Bonkers”. This is a group of middle age men, all muso’s, who have decided to give something back to the community. There are five musicians that come along complete with drums, guitars and keyboard, so they have everyone’s feet tapping along and not one person asleep!!

Wednesday, June 22, we had the Electoral Commission come to the facility so that any resident that wished to vote were able. The Blue Lounge room in Horizon became a voting booth and for those that were unable to get upstairs, we did room visits. It all went rather smoothly; I think the extra-long voting paper may have had the odd person confused, as it did us. A big thanks to the staff who helped get the residents along.

Activity Reviews JUNE CONTINUED All areas attend Fish and Chip bus outings each month. This is a very popular activity; we have our favourite fish and chip shops we tend to visit frequently, as judged by the residents.

On Tuesday, June 28, resident Bill Lucas in Coastal was visited by the choir he was instrumental in helping set up after he had had a stroke; the choir is compiled of people who have all suffered strokes. Bill was one of the founding members. The choir put on a show, much to the delight of Bill and fellow residents. We hope to be able to get this inspirational choir back to entertain us later in the year.

Greg Dimmock was back on Wednesday, June 29. Greg plays many instruments and sings a lot of Australian ballads and has many Australian stories to tell. Greg travels around Australia, visiting schools and putting on his shows for the education department. Greg is also busy travelling overseas with his show, so we are very lucky to have him entertain here at Chamberlain Gardens.

JULY Wednesday, July 6, the residents were entertained by Julz, who is one of the residents’ favourites.

Julz manages to get residents up and dancing; she said this is one of her favourite places to come and entertain.

Wednesday, July 13, Jerry Wall was here and has been coming for many years now. He is a retired policeman and tells many a long story.

Earlier this month, the residents from Horizon took a bus trip to the RSPCA to deliver some small crocheted blankets for the cats and small dogs. While there, they were shown around the facility and were given some of the animals to cuddle. The staff at the RSPCA were very grateful for the blankets, so any time you are thinking of throwing out some old blankets or towels, the RSPCA will gratefully accept them.

Now the weather is cooler, we are no longer holding the Men’s BBQs as it’s too cold outside and we don’t have an area large enough to seat all the men we have here now.

We have replaced this activity with a Men’s Lunch at the Grange Hotel. The men usually order the $10 special and enjoy a beer and chat. It was decided by the ladies that they would like to also have a Ladies Lunch, so they have also attended lunch at the Grange and plan to go again.

Activity Reviews AUGUST The days are getting longer and are a little warmer, so hopefully it won’t be long before we can enjoy activities outside again. We started the month with a concert from the one and only Elvis. This is a popular concert, with many a female resident crooning over Elvis.

Wednesday, August 17 saw a regular, Mark Wheatley, visit and entertain the residents. Mark works with the Education Department travelling around Australia singing Australian ballads and plays about eight different instruments. Mark is very interesting; he used to sing and play at Old Sydney Town in his younger days and has many a story for our residents.

Wednesday, August 11, Manager Sue and Care Manager Olivia cooked the staff a thank you breakfast for the extra workload recently with the gastro bug. I would like to thank both residents and staff for being patient with us during that time, as we were unable to hold any activities and visits were discouraged where possible. All is well now and things are back to normal.

We now have a new pet visiting for Pet Therapy. Winston is a 14 week old Golden Retriever, who visits each Tuesday afternoon and is owned by RAO Sharon. Winston makes such a difference with his visits, putting smiles on both residents and staff faces, enjoys a million cuddles and so far is very well behaved. The one thing we find when our residents move to a facility is that they grieve for the loss of their pets.

Due to the gastric outbreak, we had to cancel our Christmas in July, so we will be holding in its place a Spring Celebration.

This will be held on Wednesday, August 31, starting at 5.30pm in the Horizon TV Lounge. We will be selling raffle tickets on the night for a hamper and all proceeds will be going to our chosen charity, Camp Breakaway. These nights have proved very popular and is a fantastic opportunity for residents and families to socialise, so would love to see lots of new faces on the night.

Photos from Activities

Resident Story - Marie Austin Marie was born in Parramatta and grew up there living at home until she turned 21.

Marie attended St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School, then went to Strathfield Girls High School. Marie said she hated high school, as she felt that some of the other girls would stare at her and made her feel unwelcome and that they thought she should have stayed in a private school.

After leaving school, Marie did a secretarial course at Stott’s Business College and became a secretary at a place called Howard’s Auto. It was at this place that she met and fell in love with her husband to be, Hilary. Not long after meeting, Marie and Hilary married and had eight children; four sons and four daughters. Marie became a stay at home mum while hubby went to work as an accountant. Marie said she had a happy marriage and is very close with all her children; they have been a wonderful support to her.

Marie enjoys doing embroidery as a hobby and also used to make porcelain dolls, both of which she proudly displays in her room.

Marie enjoys the company of others and attends most activities at Chamberlain Gardens and socialises well with everyone.

Farewell Johanna - RAO It was with sadness we farewelled a popular and vital member of our team; RAO Johanna Dangerfield. Johanna is moving to Adelaide to be closer to her boyfriend after a trip to Canada and Fiji.

Johanna has been working in Garden for nearly three years; she came to the facility as a Christadelphian Assistant during the Christmas holidays, loved working with the elderly and the following year completed her Cert 4 in Leisure and Health at TAFE, and last year completed her Diploma in Leisure and Health.

Johanna showed a lot of empathy, compassion and wisdom for someone her age. She always had a smile on her face, nothing was ever a problem and she was popular with our residents here in Garden. We miss Johanna but wish her nothing but the very best of wishes and good luck for her future.

Nicole (Nicky) Prior has filled the position.

She comes with a wealth of knowledge and experience, and will be a valuable member of the activities team.

Poem - ABC’s of Aging A is for arthritis, B is for bad back, C is for the chest pains. Corned Beef? Cardiac?

D is for dental decay and decline, E is for eyesight - can’t read that top line.

F is for fissures and fluid retention G is for gas (which I'd rather not mention - and not to forget other gastrointestinal glitches) H is high blood pressure I is for itches, and lots of incisions J is for joints, that now fail to flex L is for libido - what happened to sex? Wait! I forgot about K! K is for my knees that crack all the time (But forgive me, I get a few lapses in my Memory from time to time) N is for nerve (pinched) and neck (stiff) and neurosis O is for osteo - for all the bones that crack P is for prescriptions, that cost a small fortune Q is for queasiness. Fatal or just the flu? Give me another pill and I'll be good as new!

R is for reflux - one meal turns into two S is for sleepless nights, counting fears on how to pay my medical bills!

T is for tinnitus - I hear bells in my ears and the word 'terminal' also rings too near U is for urinary and the difficulties that flow (or not) V is for vertigo, as life spins by W is worry, for pains yet unfound X is for X ray--and what one might find Y is for year (another one, I'm still alive).

Z is for zest For surviving the symptoms my body's deployed,
 And keeping twenty-six doctors gainfully employed

Staff Profile - Sarah Wortley

RN

Sarah was born at Bishops Palace, Danbury Palace, Essex UK. Bishops Palace was turned into a maternity hospital at the end of the war.

Sarah attended St Mary’s Convent School at Lowestoft Suffolk, then started her nursing training in 1962 at Cambridge. In 1966, Sarah emigrated to Australia, where she married and had three children one son and two daughters.

Sarah continued nursing as a single mother at Concord Hospital and worked there from 1972-1984. While working at Concord Hospital, Sarah studied and obtained Unit Manager and Gerontology qualifications.

From 1984-1996, Sarah worked at Lady Davidson Hospital as a Nurse Unit Manager in Palliative Care for two years and in Neuro Rehab for eight years. DVA then sold the hospital and Sarah was given a farewell, which she turned up to on a camel, as she had taken a position in Saudi Arabia. Sarah rode the camel around the hospital to say goodbye; there was a huge barbecue and everyone came including doctors from the SAN. All of these festivities were recorded on DVD. Sarah worked in Saudi Arabia for six months in a surgical ward then returned to England to work at a BUPA Hospital in Norwich, Norfolk. While staying there, Sarah minded a Manor house where she had to mind the horses and dogs, plus work full-time.

Manor House in Hingham was near Sarah’s mother’s care home, so Sarah was able to see her mother often for the next two years before she moved back to Australia.

Sarah worked at the Sydney Adventist Hospital at Wahroonga in orthopaedics for five years, then worked full-time as a Community Nurse in the Hornsby area for 5 years.

Sarah had always wanted a farm, so decided on a change of career and moved to Gloucester, where she bought a farm with 40 hens, four horses, two cats and was given a dog called Max, who is now 15. Sarah worked four days a week at the local General Hospital, while also setting up and running an Adult Riding Club. Sarah did exams on her horse in Armidale to get qualifications to enable her to take the public out for rides.

Sarah bought another two farms, renovated them and then moved to Gosford six years ago to be closer to family. Sarah applied for a position at Chamberlain Gardens and has been here ever since. Sarah enjoys working at Chamberlain Gardens and enjoys the company of the elderly and listening to their stories.

Sarah is the proud grandmother of four grown-up boys, all over six foot, and one little girl who has just turned five. Sarah loves her garden; she has built a Koi Pond, has adopted a beautiful white rescue cat called Minty, has two rescue Lovebirds called Lovi and Lily and, of course, still has Max. Thank you for sharing your story with us.

Volunteer Corner As the morning fog clears to reveal the sunshine on the freshly misted plants and the residents pull up a chair in the pockets of sunshine streaming through the windows, it is hard to believe we are already heading into spring…

The volunteer program continues to thrive, as we gain some new volunteers and some of our long term volunteers cut back or retire.

We bid a sad farewell to one of our longest serving volunteers, Alison Druitt. Alison has been faithfully helping with craft in our Garden unit every fortnight on a Monday for over five years. Alison, who is in her ‘80s, only recently gave away her part time job delivering newspapers and has decided that as she is downsizing from a house to a unit and all that comes with that, it is time to give away the volunteering. Ken Druitt, Alison’s husband, has also helped behind the scenes over the years, making us wooden paint pot holders and other useful items. Thank you for your tireless effort Alison, for your reliability and your patience… thank you for your creativity and flexibility and thank you for your friendship. The residents and staff will miss you very much.

Heather, who was working two full days in Garden, has also cut back now she has retired to one morning a week. Thank you Heather for your energetic and self-motivated volunteering. You have carved out your own niche in the Garden section and I know even though we still see you one morning a week, your special presence here is missed by staff and the residents alike.

We have also said goodbye to our beautiful Pastoral Carer Paula, who has had to find more paid work. However on a positive note, we have been blessed with three new pastoral carers and we welcome Mariki, Penny and Lyn to the team.

Pastoral Care is available for residents and their families at Chamberlain Gardens. If you or a loved one would like to discuss something of concern confidentially or you are feeling overwhelmed with changes taking place or are lonely, sad or just feel at a loss, please ask myself or one of the staff for more information.

We had our first session of Mandatory Volunteer Education for 2016 on June 7 and had 12 attendees. If you missed this session, the next two sessions this year will be held on the September 13 and November 22.

Volunteer Corner We currently have some vacancies for volunteers in our Dementia Specific unit. We need helpers for the Monday afternoon coffee shop activity, Wednesday morning Bingo and afternoon coffee shop and on a Thursday afternoon for varied activities. If you or anyone you know would like volunteer in these time slots and you have a patient temperament and a great sense of humour then please contact me.

As always I am blessed with my awesome team of willing and talented volunteers. I take this opportunity to thank each of you for your immeasurable contributions. I do thank God for such willing hearts and minds. You make a difference in this world….one smile at a time.

Until next time, I’ll be praying for God’s richest blessings to be on you and your families.

If you are interested in joining the Volunteer program, please do not hesitate to contact me: Liz McKay on 0435 785 244 or lmckay@chomes.com.au Volunteer & Pastoral Care Coordinator

SPOTLIGHT ON A VOLUNTEER - Bruce Hutchinson Bruce has been at Chamberlain for two years in June. He was referred to us through Volunteering Central Coast. He comes in every Tuesday and works in our Coastal section. Bruce has formed friendships with many of the high care residents and they look forward to him taking the time to sit and chat with them. He is often heard calling the Bingo of a Tuesday morning and loves accompanying the residents on their Tuesday afternoon bus trip and the occasional fish and chip lunch bus and our men’s luncheons.

Bruce also volunteers each week for meals on wheels and through this experience, he realised how the oldies love and appreciate company and a chat. Bruce said he always feels welcomed and appreciated by the residents at Chamberlain and it is very fulfilling.

Bruce spent most of his working life in Human Resources and is married with two adult children, a daughter and a son and four grandchildren under 10 years of age. He loves being called Grandad.

I take this opportunity to publicly thank Bruce for his continuing contribution at Chamberlain. His consistency and reliability is very much appreciated. Our resident’s lives and our activity programs are greatly enriched by him and the other dedicated volunteers we are blessed to have at Chamberlain Gardens.

Read, Rest & Relax!

MEANING OF THE OLYMPIC FLAG The five Olympic rings represent the five major regions of the world - Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania.

Every national flag in the world includes one of the five colours, which are blue, yellow, black, green, and red.

Apricot Tarts with Honey Cream

• 1 1/2 x 200g packets shortbread biscuits • 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon • 100g butter, melted • 1 1/2 cups thickened cream • 2 tablespoons honey • 4 large (400g) fresh apricots, each cut into 6 wedges • Icing sugar mixture, to dust

1. Grease eight 2cm-deep, 10cm (base) round loose-based fluted flan tins. Process biscuits and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon until mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add butter. Process to combine. Divide mixture evenly between prepared tins. Using the back of a spoon, press mixture over base and sides of tins. Cover with plastic wrap.

Refrigerate for 30 minutes or until firm.

2. Using an electric mixer, beat cream, honey and remaining cinnamon until soft peaks form.

3. Carefully remove biscuit cases from tins.

Divide cream mixture between cases. Top with apricot wedges. Dust with icing sugar.

Serve.

Makes 8 tarts

Olympic Alphabet Challenge

Can you come up with an Olympic themed word for each le5er of the alphabet?

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