Casa Mia Summer Newsletter 2016

Christadelphian Aged Care 2 0 1 6 / 1 7 S U M M E R N E W S L E T T E R

CASA MIA

Address: 28 Alma Road, Padstow NSW, 2211

Phone: (02) 8707 6010

Email: admin@chomes.com.au

Manager’s Message Welcome to Casa Mia

Hello everyone!

We are looking forward to Christmas as it quickly approaches.

This year, our Christmas Party for residents and volunteers will be held on Thursday December 15. Please let the RAO team know which sitting you would like to attend. The first sitting is 12pm and the second is 1.15pm.

Our recent Outback BBQ was a huge success and we thank you all for attending. We hope to do another family evening in the New Year before it starts cooling down.

My staff and I wish all our residents, relatives and volunteers a safe and peaceful Christmas. We look forward to continuing to care for your loved ones in 2017.

Kind Regards, Sharon Fletcher

News & Upcoming Events UPCOMING EVENTS DECEMBER

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

DECEMBER 6th - Entertainer – Kane 8th - Pet Therapy

2 Audrey W

17 John B

5 Vernette M

2 Shirley R

18 Guiseppe T

6 Joan D

14th - Catholic Christmas Mass

8 Dana T

15th - Christmas Lunch for Residents and Families

7 Mavis B

21 Bill D

8 Guiseppe S

21st - Chris’s Feathered Friends

21 Robert K

11 Albino M

22nd - Casa Mia’s Carols by Candlelight

25 Rachel M

25 Helen Wilson

11 Brian M

31 Reg J

25th - Christmas Day

JANUARY

27 Wessal C

1st - New Year’s Day 29 Jack Brown

4th - Entertainer – Lauren 11th - Pet Therapy

29 Nancy H

Christadelphian Aged Care

2017 Calendar Residents at all our Homes and Villages recreated a favourite movie for photos that has been printed as a wall calendar.

All residents will receive a copy for Christmas.

If family or friends would like a free copy, please see Reception.

18th - Italian Day Music and food for Giuseppe’s 100th birthday 24th - Entertainer – Kane 26th - Australia Day

FEBRUARY 8th - Entertainer – Stan Ellis 14th - Valentine’s Day 14th - Entertainer – Heather Honey 15th - Pet Therapy

Activity Reviews OUTBACK BBQ In October, Casa Mia held an Outback BBQ in the late afternoon for the residents and their families. The garden was decorated with a farm-style theme, including hay bales and a resident-made scarecrow. Toorak Farm sent a sheep shearer to demonstrate his shearing and whip cracking skills, together with his two working sheep dogs.

This wonderful show was followed by fabulous live music with an Aussie flair. Even our Casa choir joined in with Waltzing Matilda and our national anthem.

Outback BBQ - Photos

Activity Reviews COFFEE IN THE COMMUNITY For the past few years, we have been taking residents once a month to the RSL club for lunch and a show. Because the club is doing renovations at the moment, the access is rather difficult, and so last month, we decided to do a shopping and coffee morning instead… and the residents loved the change! They felt that the lunch and show were rushed and there wasn’t much opportunity for chatting, whereas the coffee morning was more relaxed and friendly.

HALLOWEEN Halloween this year was fun – we decorated the Rose Garden lounge and darkened the room to show a scary movie and the witches served revolting looking “brain“ cake, which the residents loved.

MELBOURNE CUP We are so blessed to have Vicky, who organises our sweeps each year for the Melbourne Cup so efficiently.

The day included a quiz of Melbourne Cup trivia, a hat parade/competition (won by Margaret, who looked very stylish in a red feather creation) and of course, champagne and nibbles just before the big race.

Activity Reviews THANKSGIVING We had our own Aussie version of Thanksgiving at Casa Mia this year. We created a “tree trunk” out of gum bark and on gum-shaped paper leaves, each resident expressed what they were thankful in their lives. Some were: “new friends”, “supportive family”, “wife and life”, “my two sons”.

PETTING ZOO

Carols by Candlelight THURS 22nd DECEMBER 4pm-5pm Bring the family and sing carols with your loved ones, and a7erwards enjoy mince pies & Christmas cake!

Resident Story - Alexios Kindis Alexios was born in Agon, Greece, in 1932. He had two brothers and two sisters who all worked very hard on their family fruit farms. The small town where he grew up was surrounded by vineyards and olive groves, and on the other side of the hill was where his future wife, Dina, grew up.

Alexios came to Australia in 1954 by ship when he’d finished high school and did electrical work in a big factory until he retired at 60 years of age, following a work accident that left him in plaster for 3 months.

Dina came to Australia to visit her sister in 1956, and didn’t want to leave the country when she met Alexios. They had a son, Arthur and a daughter, Dora and the family have lived in Sydney for the last 35 years.

Just for Laughs

Feeling any older? Few people realise it but... our favourite cartoon characters are also now seniors!

Staff News The staff have had lots of fun with a photo booth and fancy dress recently and have loads of photos on the walls in the staff room.

Nida was the winner of this competition.

Winner

We also had a lucky draw at our monthly staff lunch where we also presented long service awards.

• Sabah has been with Christadelphian Aged Care for 15 years • Shou – 20 years • Julie – 10 years • Renuka – 15 years • Mariatu – 10 years • Vijay – 20 years

Congratulations to all Sabah

Renuka

Mariatu

Julie

Shou

Vijay

love

1 John 3:18

Pastoral Care

Let us not with word or speech but with actions and in truth

GRIEF: COPING WITH SPECIAL OCCASIONS Birthdays, Religious Celebrations, Anniversaries, Holidays You may experience an unexpected increase in your feelings of grief on special days that are important and meaningful to you and your family. For example - birthdays, anniversaries (especially the anniversary of the death), Christmas or Easter, or any other special family traditions. These feelings can also be triggered by other occasions such as hearing a meaningful song, smelling a particular perfume, or visiting places that bring back memories. It is normal to feel this heightened sense of loss with this type of reminder. It is common to wonder why you are experiencing increased feelings of loss and not understand the cause, only to realise that a significant date is approaching or has passed.

It can be useful to plan ahead for these days, realising they may be difficult.

Depending on the individual, you may like to spend the day alone or with friends and family, or keep yourself occupied in some other way. You cannot change the circumstances but you can change the way you approach these occasions.

Religious celebrations are supposed to be a joyous time and most people spend them with family. Again it will be normal to experience increased anxiety and heightened grief when anticipating the first occasion without your loved one. Be prepared for this to be a time of intense grief and sorrow, as family traditions at these times can bring painful reminders of your loss and loneliness. It is difficult to smile and pretend everything is okay when inside your heart is breaking.

It is your choice whether you wish to continue with your family traditions as they were or change things – for example: go somewhere different for your family holiday, or change the seating at the Christmas table, or open gifts at a different time. Perhaps you could start new traditions in memory of your loved one like sharing fond memories or donating to a special charity.

Difficult feelings may come and go or be mixed with happy feelings and memories too. Don’t feel you’re not coping as well as you should. It is very important to realise that you are unique and you will grieve in your own way and in your own time. There is no right or wrong way. The grief doesn’t end, but it does change and will become less intense as you adjust to a new world without your loved one.

You could: Plan what you want to do or do not want to do during the special occasion Accept that your distress is normal Do something to honour your loved one – plant a favourite tree, hang a special ornament on the Christmas tree…

Recognise that the absence of your loved one will cause pain no matter what you do. It is often a time of bittersweet memories. Sharing these reminiscences with friends and family can be helpful.

Give yourself permission to have fun and be happy in the same way as you allow yourself to mourn. Feeling happy is not a betrayal, and neither does it mean you have forgotten your loved one.

Tell people what you might find helpful. Sometimes others are unsure of how to help.

Take it slow and easy. Rest if you feel tired and don’t over commit yourself for that occasion.

By Cathy Strachan, Pastoral Care Coordinator, Casa Mia

Bereavements Our deepest sympathies have gone out to the families who have lost their loved ones over the Spring period.

Volunteer Corner Tell them that you love them Tell them that you care.

You’ll find that life gets better, When you give a hug and share We have had quite a few new volunteers offer their time to visit our residents at Casa Mia and we really appreciate all they contribute. Some of the students have been making up Sensory Boards for the residents so we can get to know them better. Other volunteers come to offer communion on behalf of their church and others come to read or chat to the residents. Whatever you do, it brightens their day and brings extra smiles and happiness.

Our regular, loyal and long-serving volunteers continue to bless us with their time and efforts. We have piano players, a gardener, visitors and raffle helpers and many more who help to enrich the lives of those who live here. Our Casa Mia community of residents, families, staff and volunteers make a wonderful team!

We have had three education sessions in the last quarter for the volunteers. They are held in the meeting room over at Southhaven and the idea is to remind us all of our responsibilities to our residents. We cover fire training and emergency procedures, manual handling, infection control, elder abuse and for the first time, have introduced a module on Dementia awareness. The new program has been very well received.

As we only have one volunteer pastoral carer who visits Casa, we would love to have more, so we are also creating a new program for training in this. If anyone is interested in this kind of care work, please contact me.

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].

2016 is almost over!! I’d like to thank all the volunteers very much for the love and care shown to our residents.

No matter how big or small – every effort is much appreciated and I wish you a wonderful and blessed Christmas and look forward to working with you all again in 2017.

Have a fabulous holiday season.

God Bless, Cathy Strachan 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

Read, Rest & Relax!

CHRISTMAS POEM Take a heap of child-like wonder That opens up our eyes To the unexpected gifts in life Each day a sweet surprise Mix in fond appreciation For the people whom we know; Like festive Christmas candles, Each one has a special glow.

Add some giggles and some laughter, A dash of Christmas food, (Amazing how a piece of pie Improves our attitude!)

Stir it all with human kindness; Wrap it up in love and peace, Decorate with optimism, and Our joy will never cease.

If we use this healthy recipe, We know we will remember To be in the Christmas spirit Even when it’s not December.

Written by Joanna Fuch

Chocolate Snowballs • 200g dark chocolate, chopped • 100g unsalted butter, chopped • 3/4 cup (165g) caster sugar • 3 eggs, lightly beaten • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract • 1 1/2 cups (225g) plain flour • 2 tablespoons cocoa powder • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder • 1 cup (150g) icing sugar 1. Preheat the oven to 175°C. Line two baking trays with baking paper.

2. Place the dark chocolate and chopped butter in a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water over low heat (make sure the bowl doesn't touch the water).

Stir mixture until melted and smooth, then remove the bowl from the heat and stand for five minutes to cool.

3. Using a wooden spoon, stir caster sugar into chocolate until dissolved. Gradually add eggs, stirring until well combined. Add vanilla, flour, cocoa and baking powder and mix until a smooth dough. Cover and chill for no more than 30 minutes to firm.

4. Use hands to roll two level tablespoons of the dough into a ball. Repeat until you have 14 balls. Sift the icing sugar into a dish, then dip each ball into the dish and dust heavily in icing sugar and place on the prepared trays about 2cm apart. Bake the snowballs for 10-12 mins until firm to the touch. Cool on the trays.

Makes 14

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