HALL & PRIOR H E A LT H & A G E D C A R E G R O U P
Love, mercy and care Anzac Day 2016: Honouring those who served
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Introducing our new homes in New South Wales
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OUR MISSION TO HELP THE
MOLLOY FAMILY Hall & Prior fundraise for a family in need
ABOUT HALL & PRIOR Started in 1992 by Michael Hall and Graeme Prior, Hall & Prior is a leading aged care provider with a passion for providing quality care to older people from all walks of life. Over the past 20 years, Hall & Prior has grown from one nursing home to an organisation that cares for almost 1,500 people in Western Australia and New South Wales. Our people are our greatest asset. Each one of our 24 aged care homes is led by an experienced director of nursing who works alongside a team of registered nurses, personal carers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, dieticians and chefs to ensure that we meet the individual needs of every resident. As a private, family-owned company, Hall & Prior is committed to bringing long-term benefits to our residents and their families. Our dedicated care teams provide round-the-clock care 24 hours a day, seven days a week to ensure that every resident feels well cared for and at home.
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IN THIS ISSUE From the Chief Executive Officer
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Welcome to our recent New South Wales acquisitions
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Anzac Day in our homes Veteran portrait project
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Fundraising for a family in need
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22 Harmony Day celebrations 23 16visit 24 Fairfield students make a special 25 Rockingham welcomes new furry friend
Hong Kong delegation visit NSW
Speech pathology students train with Hall & Prior News in brief
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General Manager Health and Care Services NSW Kris Healy and Lane Cove Mayor Deborah Hutchens lay wreaths at the Caroline Chisholm Aged Care Home Anzac commemoration service.
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FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
The past few months have been extremely busy for all of us at Hall & Prior, and it is important to stop and reflect on all that has been achieved. This year we were pleased to welcome four new homes in New South Wales to the Group. In March, the acquisition of Fairfield Aged Care Home and Clover Lea Aged Care Home were finalised. This move was made possible by a new partnership with real estate investor Vital Healthcare Property Trust. Then in April, Aubrey Downer Aged Care Home and ShangriLa Aged Care Home were also added, bringing our NSW state portfolio up to 10 aged care homes, further cementing our position as a valued provider of aged care services in the state. I would like this opportunity to welcome all of the staff, residents and their families that have joined us during this time. I would also like to thank General Manager Health and Care Services NSW Kris Healy and everyone involved in ensuring this process went smoothly. Each year, the Anzac Day commemoration services our homes hold allow our residents to pay their respects to those who made this country what it is
today. By replicating the services run out in the community, we can provide the opportunity to stop and reflect on the sacrifices made by the men and women that gave their lives during the World Wars and other conflicts and peacekeeping missions around the world. Through this edition you will also get the chance to learn more about some of the veterans in our care. Through our homes we care for many people who have been touched by war, either directly as veterans or by having loved ones serve.
Through our homes we care for many people who have been touched by war, either directly as veterans or by having loved ones serve. Through sharing their stories, we wish to honour their sacrifices and their actions. Earlier this year we embarked on a fundraising effort to help a Perth family who are facing an incredibly tough battle after two of their children were diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. As a father myself, I admire the way Vanessa and Scott Molloy have persevered despite the
challenges they have faced. I am extremely proud of the way our staff came together to support this family. You can read more about this on page 18. I am proud to share the stories of the extraordinary people within our organisation and I hope you enjoy reading about them in this edition of Life & Love.
GRAEME PRIOR Chief Executive Officer
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Anzac Day services throughout our homes gave our residents and their families the chance to pay their respects to those who have served.
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WELCOME CLOVER LEA AGED CARE HOME – BURWOOD HEIGHTS NSW Clover Lea Aged Care Home is located on a quiet and leafy suburban street in Burwood Heights, in Sydney’s inner west. The 64-bed home has bright and open activity areas and quiet rooms,. The grounds feature a sunny and peaceful garden for residents and their families to enjoy. Acting Director of Nursing Breda McMenamin said the home has a warm and kind atmosphere, which was a testament to the attitudes of the 56 staff members. “It’s been really wonderful to integrate the home with Hall & Prior,” Breda said. “Our residents and staff are enjoying the positive changes this has brought.”
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WELCOME FAIRFIELD AGED CARE HOME – FAIRFIELD NSW Fairfield Aged Care Home is a bright and spacious home west of Sydney. The home is in a quiet cul-desac near the Fairfield Railway Station. The 93-bed home has activity areas, quiet rooms and peaceful outdoor courtyards. Sarah Riach, who was previously Director or Nursing at Menaville Aged Care Home is now the Acting Director of Nursing at Fairfield. “Being new to Fairfield, I am really proud to see such positive and loving attitudes within our staff. It helps make this a happy, friendly home for our residents,” she said. “As we integrate into the Hall & Prior systems and processes, I am pleased to see the direct benefits delivered to our residents on a daily basis.”
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WELCOME AUBREY DOWNER AGED CARE HOME – POINT CLARE NSW Aubrey Downer Aged Care Home is a friendly, familyorientated home located on a quiet suburban street in the West Gosford suburb of Point Clare. Set on over eight hectares of lush and tree-lined gardens and spacious lawns, the home has two sections, with 10 beds in Alcheringa Lodge. There
is
also
a
separate
dementia unit with 11 beds, called Jeffress Lodge. It is secure and offers a beautiful dementia specific garden. There are also 32 independent living units on the site.
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WELCOME SHANGRI-LA AGED CARE HOME – HURSTVILLE NSW Shangri-La Aged Care Home is a located on the corner of two suburban streets in Hurstville, in Sydney’s south. The 53-bed home has undergone an internal and external transformation since the new management agreement with Hall & Prior. The home includes activity areas, quiet rooms, and a shaded garden courtyard for residents to enjoy. Family members are always welcome to visit the home, and there is a varied activities schedule for residents. The home provides 24-hour care by registered nurses, dementia support and palliative care. We wish to welcome the 60 staff members who have joined Hall & Prior from Shangri-La.
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Hamersley and St Lukes, which are both based on Rokeby Road in Subiaco, Perth, held a combined commemoration service this year.
ANZAC DAY COMMEMORATIONS IN OUR HOMES Between 2014 and 2018, Australia will commemorate 100 years of ANZAC, since our nation’s involvement in the First World War. Anzac Day is an important event for our Hall & Prior homes each year.
“As Robin read the letter, it was so moving to witness her emotion that everyone at the service was wiping tears from their eyes.”
This is a day to stop and reflect on the sacrifices made by the men and women that gave their lives during the World Wars and other conflicts and peacekeeping missions around the world.
during this year’s services, here are just a few.
The services included hymns, readings from residents, local community members and clergy members, and the laying of wreaths. Many of our residents have been personally affected by war, making it important to them to have the opportunity to attend a commemoration service. There were so many special moments
The service held at Clarence Estate, located in Albany, Western Australia is always especially moving, as the town was the departure point for Australian and New Zealand troops bound for Europe in World War I. At Vaucluse Aged Care Home in Sydney, Robin Lynch, who is the daughter of resident Betty Clayton, read out a letter from her grandfather, whom she had never met as he did not return from World War I.
Robin had only recently found this letter that was sent home to her grandmother from the battlefields. This letter highlighted not only daily life and conditions during the war, but her grandfathers wonderful personality and his way of writing about the tragedy of war. As Robin read the letter, it was so moving to witness her emotion that everyone at the commemoration service was affected and wiping tears from their eyes. At
services
for
St
Lukes,
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At Glenwood Aged Care Home in Sydney, a bugler played The Last Post. At Clarence Estate (below) in Albany, WA, poppies were handed out to mark the occasion.
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The Anzac Day service held at Clarence Estate, in Albany WA, is especially significant as many troops departed from the town in World War I.
Hamersley and Concorde aged care homes in Perth, there were tributes to the 10th light horse brigade, with a soldier on horseback and a retelling of the story of the brigade. Peter Comino, husband of Caroline Chisholm resident Martina Comino, was in the Royal Australian Airforce, Spitfire Squadron as ground staff on the Island of Morotai. During the service the reading that Peter gave about his experiences saw him overwhelmed with emotion as he described his experiences in the field. As Peter read, he broke down in tears as the reality and memory of his time at war, with the thoughts of mateship and courage during action overcame him. Robyn Black, daughter of resident Anne Fairbrother told the story of how her parents got engaged at the end of World
War II. Her father David was called up into the 17th Company Royal Australian Engineers in December 1941 and spent four years during the War in Cairns. Although not a fighting unit, they did have to carry out repairs under horrific conditions and were at times under attack themselves. The times in Jacquinot Bay being the most dangerous as they were surrounded by 100,000 Japanese towards the end of the war. Cadets from 233 Army Cadets Unit. St. George were escorted by Captain Anne Hook to Menaville to conduct a catafalque party. The catafalque party is a guard of four service personnel mounted over a catafalque during the Anzac commemoration service. The catafalque party is posted at the four corners of the catafalque, heads lowered, facing outwards with their rifles
reversed as a mark of respect and to signify that the dead are now at peace. The cadets added a great deal to the Anzac atmosphere and were an outstanding addition to Menaville’s Commemoration Service. Volunteer Barbara O’Keefe, who was the Master of Ceremonies for this service also brought in her slide show from her tour in August 2015 based around the experiences of WW1 Anzac nursing sisters. The slide show played throughout the service onto the walls of Menaville and added a very real and connecting element to the proceedings. Thank you to all home staff for putting together such memorable days and commemoration services for our residents and their families.
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• Glenwood Aged Care Home in Sydney.
• The catafalque party at Menaville Aged Care Home.
• Sirius Cove Aged Care Home.
• Concorde Aged Care Home in South Perth.
• Wreath laying at the combined service for St Lukes and Hamersley.
• Clarence Estate in Albany, WA
• ST Lukes Director of Nursing Di Simpson and her mother.
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HALL & PRIOR’S
Veteran Portrait Project Hall & Prior care for many veterans across Western Australia and New South Wales. In 2015, formal ceremonies were held throughout every home, to recognise 100 years since the landing at Gallipoli. Through a series of photographs and interviews, we aim to capture their stories and preserve their history in a way that is respectful and recognises the bravery and commitment they showed. While their stories are all different, they all share the qualities we associate with the spirit of the Anzac: courage, sacrifice, mateship and endurance. In the previous issue of Life & Love, we shared Robert Gray’s story. With this edition, we are proud to bring you three more tales from our residents.
• Robert Gray
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HALL & PRIOR’S VETERANS
MILTON HESFORD In 1939, after Australia’s involvement in the Second World War was announced, thousands of Australians enlisted to contribute to the fight for freedom. Almost a million Australian men and women served during this time, in Europe, the Mediterranean, North Africa, Japan and other parts of the Pacific. Around 1943, enlistments were dwindling. Conscription was being extended so soldiers in the Citizen Military Force could be sent into New Guinea and adjacent islands for duty, rather than only defending Australian soil. Despite the terrors of war and the stories of lives lost, which were then far more well-known than they had been during World War I, Perth man Milton Hesford signed up for the Royal Australian Air Force. Milton, who is a now a resident at Belmont Aged Care Home in Perth’s east, spent two years training to be a navigator. His journey began shortly after he
“We were sorry to miss out on the real war, but at the same time quite happy not to go.” graduated from high school at Aquinas College. “It was exciting, we were all jazzed up about going over to take part in the war,” he said. “As part of our training we spent about six months of our training in Winnipeg, Canada with the knowledge that we would go to Europe after it was complete. “All of the training was up in the air, and our group was made up of Aussies and Americans. “We were all lined up to go, we had plenty of training.” He had just completed his training and was on leave when the war in Europe ended. “It was all over. There was nothing else to go over there to, so they got a ship to come back this way,” he said.
“We were sorry to miss out on the real war, but at the same time quite happy not to go.” After he returned to Australia, he left the RAAF and returned to Perth. For a time he worked with the Subiaco Council, but his connection to those who had served Australia led him to work involved with veteran repatriation. “I spent a good part of my life working for the Federal Government, gave 26 years with the Commonwealth then went back and did repatriation,” he said. “I worked in the medical side, with ex-servicemen.” While his journey into service was not as clear-cut as others, Milton said remembering those who did their bit was something that needed to continue in the years to come.
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he said. “This proved to be the lead-up to my later joining the Army Reserve in 1950.” After a brief time at university, Merv entered the workforce, and later the Army Reserve. He stayed in the finance sector for most of his career, and his work in banks took him to Albany and Wagin, accompanied by his wife Beryl and their three daughters. In the Army Reserve, one of his roles was as the second-incharge of the battalion, as well as working in the catering office.
HALL & PRIOR’S VETERANS
MERVYN ROBERTS Behind every person who serves our country, there are dedicated people who ensured they received the proper training to get there. Mervyn Roberts is one of those remarkable people.
police there. As he grew up, his family also spent some time in Melbourne and then Perth, where his parents arranged for him to be enrolled at Guildford Grammar School before they sailed back to Singapore.
His 31 years in the Army Reserve saw him rise through the ranks from a private to a Lieutenant Colonel. Now a resident at Agmaroy Aged Care Home, near the Canning River in Perth, Merv recounted recollections of his life and his involvement with the armed services.
In 1942, Guildford Grammar was requisitioned by American troops and used as a military hospital, and the students were relocated to Fairbridge Farm in Pinjarra, south of Perth. Due to the strain this would put on his family, Merv was enrolled at Hale School in Perth, where he stayed until graduation.
He was born in Penang, Malaysia and spent his childhood there and in Singapore, due to his father’s work with the
“I joined the Cadet Corps in 1945 and continued through my last four years at school, attaining the rank of sergeant,”
This involved running 10 kitchens with a total of 38 staff, and overseeing top catering staff. He was also responsible for managing health inspectors and a medical team, as well as the transport area that housed 38 vehicles. He was also a senior instructor for the Reserve staff team, and created the syllabus they used during that time. “I would train people all along the way, including all sorts of specialist services,” he said. “During my time as an instructor I specialised in logistics and tactics, in both our army and foreign ones,” he said. “I was responsible for training many officers of the Army Reserve and some regular officers who chose to attend these courses.” He also served time in Vietnam in 1970. Merv makes sure he is involved with an Anzac Day service every year, and often recites The Ode. “The spirit of the Anzac is part of the foundation of our nation, on an emotional level,” he said. Merv describes himself as fortunate, as he never sustained and injuries in the line of duty.
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HALL & PRIOR’S VETERANS
DOUGLAS CHITTY From his service in the Navy to his move to the Air Force, Douglas Chitty always just wanted to do his bit. Now a resident at Belmont Aged Care Home in Perth’s east, Douglas shared memories of his service years. “I joined the Navy when the war broke out and served for three years, but then I got ill,” he said. “After I got better, they decided I couldn’t go back and I was discharged for medical reasons. So I thought I’d try the Air Force.” Douglas was sent to the Pacific Islands during the height of the conflict in the region, tasked with driving tankers on air strips to refuel the planes. “We were based in New Guinea, but there were many islands we landed on and captured, like Borneo and smaller islands,” he said. We went all over the Pacific Islands, we’d move to an island, make air strips and move in.” They often worked under threat of gunfire from rival aircrafts. “We were giving the Japs a hard time, they wanted to cause accidents when we were taking off and landing,” he said. “We had great big guns to shoot up into the sky at their planes. They would fly over with their landing lights on but the motors switched off so we wouldn’t be able to hear the difference in the engines. “In the jungle, the Army boys also had a hard time and we helped out as best we could.”
“We all helped each other because we all wanted to do our bit for our country” But amid the fighting, there were brief times for leisure. “We had to be on the ball most of the time but we’d stop and play the odd game of cricket or football if we got the chance,” he said. “We all got along, we had to. We all helped each other because we all wanted to do our bit for our country.” In his younger days, Douglas was an avid sportsman and took every chance he could to get involved. “I was also a newsboy, and I had to sprint after school to get the early run and sell them as quick as I could.” He left school at the age of 13, determined to help his family financially. When the war was over, Douglas switched from driving refuelling tankers in the Pacific Islands to driving trucks in Perth to earn a living. “I was also involved in the
building trade when I returned, since I had been an apprentice in wall plastering before the war,” he said. Though his days of service are long past, Douglas said it is still important to remember the past and those who played their part in securing our freedom. “I feel proud about serving my country,” he said. “I always make sure turn up to a service and wear my medals.” One of Douglas’s fondest memories was during his time at the Flinders Naval Academy in Victoria (now called HMAS Cerberus), where he was a gunner. “I used to love marching at Flinders,” he said. “We marched all day long to a beautiful band.” “It was a wonderful place, and to march in a band like that, that was a good feeling.”
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The Molloy family (centre) with Hall & Prior staff at the cook-off event held at Tuohy Aged Care Home.
HALL & PRIOR STAFF FUNDRAISE FOR A GREAT CAUSE In 2016, Hall & Prior launched an endeavour to make a meaningful contribution to the lives of one very special Perth family, and to help to ease some of the burden they will face in the years ahead. Through an incredible effort from staff throughout our homes and a generous contribution from Hall & Prior’s Directors, we raised $25,000. Vanessa and Scott Molloy have three children, twins Olivia and Joshua, aged 12, and Tom, who is eight. In 2008, both Joshua and Tom were diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a muscle disease that mainly affects young boys. Children with Duchenne gradually have more trouble being physically active and most children lose the ability to walk around the age of 12. During their teen years, boys with Duchenne also develop heart and respiratory conditions, and previously were not expected to live past their late 20s. However, with recent
improvements in care, it is not uncommon for men with the condition to live into their 30s and 40s. Joshua is no longer able to walk and toilet himself, and his condition will continue to progress. Tom will likely be in the same situation in a few years. Due to their current car being unable to fit Joshua’s special electronic wheelchair, there are difficulties when the family all want to go out together. Currently Joshua uses a manual wheelchair for family outings but loses the independence he has with his electronic wheelchair.
The Molloy family were recently given funds with which they have purchased a large van, thanks to a fundraising effort organised by families at the children’s school. However, the van still needs more than $20,000 worth of modifications to fit not only the large wheelchair Joshua has now, but the second wheelchair that Tom will need in a few years’ time. Hall & Prior’s Directors Chief Executive Officer Graeme Prior and Executive Director Michael Hall pledged to match every dollar donated in the homes. Beginning in January 2016,
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Above: The Molloy family’s children; Tom, Joshua and Olivia. Below: Dancers at the Tuohy cook-off event.
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Staff at Concorde Aged Care Home in South Perth on ‘wear blue for the cause’ day. Blue is the colour for the Duchenne Foundation Australia.
staff, family members and residents all took part in an incredible effort to fundraise for this cause. Tuohy staff held a cook-off competition event, called the Tuohy Masterchef International in May. There were more than 100 guests and staff prepared a range of dishes representing their home nation, and guests enjoyed a buffet-style meal before voting for the best dish. The event also featured live music and dance performances. There was a large raffle featuring a large number of prizes, thanks to donations from several businesses in the Midland area. Scott, Vanessa, Joshua, Tom attended the event, and said they thoroughly enjoyed the wide range of dishes as well as the entertainment. There were chocolates galore as our WA homes, head office and our linen and catering division Fresh Fields Hospitality Services took part in a chocolate drive using Cadbury fundraiser
“Your fundraising efforts have taught our children that in a world that can be cruel there are kind and generous people who care for them.” – Vanessa Molloy chocolates. Almost 100 boxes were sold. The staff in the homes also pulled out all the stops and put on a huge range of events, like themed dress-up days, bake sales, and group meals. Concorde’s administration officer Siobhan O’Dea gathered pledges for the HBF Run for a Reason, raising an incredible $1000 for the Molloy family. The final event for the fundraiser was a movie night at Hoyts Garden City in June. Staff and their families enjoyed a screening of X-Men: Apocalypse, where Graeme Prior and Michael Hall presented Vanessa Molloy with a cheque for $25,000. “This is such an incredible thing and I can’t thank you all
enough,” Vanessa said. “This is going to make such a big difference in our lives at a really crucial time. It’s not easy to accept help but Scott and I have realised we can’t do everything alone.” “Your fundraising efforts have taught our children that in a world that can be cruel, there are kind and generous people who care for them.” At the event, Graeme Prior thanked everyone who contributed to the fundraiser. “There is nothing more important than family. What the Molloy family are facing is almost unimaginable, so we are glad to be able to help,” he said.
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Top: Tuohy Aged Care Home staff held a week of themed dress-up days, including ‘Funky Friday’. Middle left: Concorde administration officer Siobhan O’Dea (pictured right) raised $1000 through sponsors for the HBF Run for a Reason. Middle right: Guests enjoy the food at Tuohy’s cook-off night. Bottom: Dancers at the Tuohy event.
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The delegation group with Hall & Prior staff in New South Wales.
HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICES DELEGATION TOUR During April, Hall & Prior New South Wales was delighted to host nine delegates from Hong Kong for a week for an Australian aged care marketplace visit. The group consisted of participants from Hong Kong Public Authority, Private Elderly Service sector and nongovernment organisations (NGO). The group was led by Grace Chan the Chief Officer (Elderly Service), Hong Kong Council Social Services (HKCSS) and supported by Jane Barratt, Secretary General of the International Federation on Ageing. The visit centred around education, as the delegates endeavoured to understand the Australian aged care market, the government reforms as well as quality indicators and case management. Witnessing the delivery of service and care as well as capturing the physical
The delegation enjoying lunch in the gardens of Caroline Chisholm Aged Care Home.
environment and layout of aged care homes was also a priority. The delegates enjoyed briefing sessions from senior Hall & Prior NSW staff as well as an education session with the Australian Aged Care Quality Agency’s NSW/ ACT State Director, Tracey Clerke.
the delegates first-hand look
The delegates said they felt honoured to attend the Anzac commemoration services at both Caroline Chisholm Aged Care Home and Glenwood Aged Care Home.
Summit Care St. Mary’s Aged
Attending these services gave
as to the service delivery of our resident care and the emphasis placed on community, activity and inclusiveness we deliver to our residents and their families. The delegates also visited Care Home and Montefiore Randwick which gave them a
well-rounded
view
of
providers and aged care home environments in Sydney.
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Kensington Park Aged Care Home staff dressed up for Harmony Day celebrations.
HARMONY DAY CELEBRATIONS IN OUR HOMES There were dresses galore at across Hall & Prior homes when staff put on a multicultural fashion parade for residents. In the spirit of Harmony Day, which takes place in March and celebrates Australia’s cultural diversity, staff members dressed in clothes they would wear to a wedding in their home country. Kensington Park Director of Nursing Catherine Barlow said she was pleased the residents enjoyed the show, as well as the range of countries her staff members represented.
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Fairfield High’s Opal Mikaere, 14, presents Fairfield resident Frances Taylor with a Mother’s Day gift. Photo: Simon Bennett.
FAIRFIELD STUDENTS STAY CONNECTED TO RESIDENTS Fairfield Aged Care Home residents were given a treat in May thanks to the kindness of local students.. Year 9 and 10 Fairfield High School students visited the home, located west of Sydney, on Friday, May 6 with a cake they made themselves to celebrate Mother’s Day. It was the first time the students had made a cake, said Fairfield High food tech teacher Lilian Molina. She said the students were “over the moon to make something for the local community”.
“It’s just wonderful, the residents love to have the students visit.” The students also gave out small gifts to residents who were mothers and grandmothers. The school regularly visits the nursing home. Student Vanessa Albornoz Bailey, 14, said “We talk to them about when they were young. “They ask us, do we like school, what we want to be, and tell us what it was like for them.”
Fairfield Aged Care Home’s Vickey Abrahams said the home had a strong relationship with the school, and students and residents benefitted from the visits. “It’s just wonderful, the residents love to have them visiting,” she said. Story thanks to Fairfield City Champion.
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Malibu Veterinary Hospital vet nurse Bianca Sibbald, Rockingham Aged Care Home Director of Nursing Terri Woolhouse, PCAP Karen Mitchell, resident Annie Barnwell and Kirsty Powell.
ROCKINGHAM AGED CARE HOME WELCOMES NEW FURRY FRIEND Rockingham Aged Care Home staff have thanked Malibu Veterinary Hospital after they came on board to help care for the home’s new rescue cat. Both the home’s residents and staff were delighted when Lucy the cat came to the home, south of Perth, late last year. Director of Nursing Terri Woolhouse said the Malibu Vet Hospital had agreed to sponsor Lucy and provide her with general check-ups and worming. “About December last year there were residents and members of staff asking if we could have a cat for the home,” she said. “We have a dog that visits regularly but we knew it would be great to have a pet here full time.” Terri’s search took her to Gumtree, where Lucy was being cared for by a lady who had taken her in off the streets but
was unable to keep her. “Lucy has settled in so well, she loves the residents and often sits on their beds or in my in-tray,” she said. “One of our Personal Carer Advanced Practice staff members Karen Mitchell then contacted Malibu Vet recently and they said they’d sponsor Lucy. We’re so grateful to have their support.” Studies say having pets in aged care homes is beneficial for the residents, many of whom may have had pets when they were younger or before they moved to the home. Rockingham resident Annie Barnwell said she loves having Lucy around. “She’s such a lovely cat and you see everyone’s faces light up when she’s around,” Annie said. Terri said other residents had said having a pet makes
the home feel like more of a community, as staff and residents all pitch in to care for her. “Lucy’s part of the home now,” Terri said. “The residents are always letting me know what she’s been up to or where she is sleeping.”
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Curtin University speech pathology student Genevieve Wilmot and Hamersley resident Trevor.
SPEECH PATHOLOGY STUDENTS TRAIN IN HALL & PRIOR HOMES Being able to communicate effectively can make all the difference in creating a strong relationship with someone in care. At Hall & Prior, we employ qualified speech pathologists, who assist our residents to communicate better. Their work also addresses issues with swallowing when eating or drinking, which can be common in older people. Recently Hall & Prior’s head office in Western Australia hosted a speech pathology student in her final year of study. As all students need to complete practical training and be rated by a practising clinician before they can graduate, this is a crucial time for students. Curtin University student Genevieve Wilmot has visited
some of our homes under the supervision of speech pathologist Lilian Moorcroft. She has been able to deliver one-toone communication intervention to our residents. “It has an enlightening experience, you get a really interesting perspective of what it’s like to work in aged care,” Genevieve said. “I also got to see how the allied health team, made up of occupational therapists (OTs), physiotherapists and speech pathologists, work closely together to give the best care possible. “An example of this is working with the OTs to develop regular activities that will help improve a resident’s language skills. I’ve been working on alternative communication methods with
several residents to help them with interacting, like using a picture board and giving them choices. They can point to a board that shows what they want and it gives them more of a voice.” Genevieve has also helped Coordinator of Speech Pathology Pamela Windram with a program aiming to gather residents’ stories so care staff are able to communicate better with them. Through the My Life, My Story program, Pamela and Genevieve have been gathering social profiles and backstories from residents and their family members, to give staff more to talk to them about. “When they talk about a good memory it can really light them up,” Genevieve said.
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Staff at Menaville Aged Care Home embraced the Easter spirit.
NEWS IN BRIEF – WHAT’S HAPPENING AT HALL & PRIOR Easter fun in our homes: The Easter bunny made an appearance at all of our homes in March! Residents took part in egg hunts, special meals and lots of other “eggcellent” activities. International Nurses Day: Each year on International Nurses Day, nurses across the world are celebrated for the tireless work they do to improve the lives of others. May 12 was selected as it is the birthday of the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale. During the Crimean War, she worked with a team of nurses at a British base hospital and improved the unsanitary conditions. This significantly reduced the number of deaths and her writings sparked health care reform across the world. At Hall & Prior, the dedicated,
compassionate care we provide to our residents and clients, some of whom are among the most vulnerable members of our community, is at the core of what we do. Thank you to all of our staff for the love, mercy and care they show each day.
Royal Show heads to Glenwood: The Royal Glenwood Show was on again this year on a bright and sunny March day. The residents enjoyed fairy floss, a mobile café, the baby animal farm and plenty of magic and fun at. Resident Pauline Pengilley (pictured top right) enjoyed her 102nd birthday at the Glenwood show and was surrounded by family, friends and bunnies.
“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old; Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them.”
Lest we forget
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