Life & Love Magazine Edition 23

Life&Love HALL & PRIOR H E A LT H & A G E D C A R E G R O U P

ON THE FRONTLINE Eva Ballai & Operation Bushfire Assist

ISSUE 23 | SUMMER EDITION

resident Lancy Collins Prior’s&adopted koala WA Thor.Jennifer Grieve.

CEOTuohy Graeme Prior having a laughwith withHall GM&Health Care Services

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IN THIS ISSUE 4

From the Chief Executive Officer

6

News in Brief

8

Thank you Eva Ballai

12

A visit to the seaside

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Honouring our residents

16

Save our koalas

18

Staff Celebration & Annual Awards

22

International Year of the Nurse & Midwife

26

Karingal Green marketing update

26

In our homes

34

Education

36

Farewell to Carmel

38

Georges Estate

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 over 1,500 people in Western Australia and New South Wales.

Our people are our greatest asset. Each one of our 25 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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From the

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Welcome to the very first edition of Life & Love for 2020.

I have a good feeling about this year - there are many exciting visions being realised - and already we’ve celebrated activities at our homes including Australia Day, Valentine’s Day and Chinese New Year.

Speaking of Chinese New Year, this year is the lunar ‘Year of the Rat’ and as such is focused on wealth, vitality and fertility… making 2020 the perfect year for visions to become reality.

It is an incredibly exciting time for Hall & Prior and I thank you all for your continued hard work, loyalty and dedication on the journey.

In the next few months a long-held vision of mine will be realised; Karingal Green in the Perth Hills region will open in May. This flagship project has been more than a decade in the making and as we put the final touches on this magnificent home I wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude to all involved.

Projects such as this do not get off the ground without the dedication of teams of people who are passionate about delivering world-class aged care and the support of important industry and community partners.

Karingal Green is a new era of aged care for Hall & Prior; this 160 bed home is state-of-the-art in its look and feel and the residents who live there will have access to a range of health and wellness amenities. It is part of our ongoing commitment to design and deliver leading, quality and relevant aged care options that ensure better health outcomes.

I can not wait to open Karingal Green in early May. It is an incredibly exciting time for Hall & Prior and I thank you all for your continued hard work, loyalty and dedication on the journey.

In this issue of Life & Love we take a look at the marketing campaign around Karingal Green (pg 26), we thank our courageous DON at Fairfield Aged Care Home Eva Ballai for her efforts in Operation Bushfire Assist (pg 8) and we celebrate the long career of Agmaroy Aged Care Home’s wonderful retiring DON Carmel Greenwood-Hone (pg 36).

This year is also the World Health Organisation’s Global Year of the Nurse & Midwife, so in each issue we will celebrate two nurses and their contribution to our organisation (pg 22).

I hope you enjoy this issue… and as always be of good to great cheer!

Yours truly,

GRAEME PRIOR Chief Executive Officer

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Agmaroy Aged Care Home’s retiring DON Carmel Greenwood-Hone with CEO Graeme Prior.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Burke wins Governance Scholarship

Decade of Healthy Ageing Launches An international movement has begun to bring together governments, professionals, academia, the media and civil society for 10 years of collaboration to improve the lives of older people.

Led by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the initiative aims to assist ageing populations around the world to live their lives with dignity.

According to WHO there are more than one billion people aged 60 or older in the world; with most living in low-to-middle income countries.

International Federation of Ageing (IFA) Secretary General Dr Jane Barratt said the IFA has endorsed the proposal.

“The four action areas reflect the most challenging and urgent needs of not only our time but for future generations of older people,” Dr Barratt said.

“We humbly urge all levels of government (alongside civil society) to socially and economically invest in this so the young of every nation can grow older in an inclusive and valued environment.”

For more information visit: www.who.int/ageing/decade-of-healthy-ageing

Mayfair Street’s Administration & Governance Officer Henry Burke has been named as a participant for the 2020 Emerging Leaders in Governance Program (ELGP), run by Southcare Inc. The ELGP is designed to inspire and support emerging leaders to actively volunteer in a governance and leadership capacity, as well as advocate for the not-for-profit aged care and community sector.

“I’m really excited for the opportunity,” Henry said.

“Good governance is key in aged care and I’m really looking forward to being part of this program and the life changing experience I know it will be. There’s only 20 participants that have been accepted for 2020 so I feel honoured to be selected.”

Hall & Prior has been a top tier sponsor of the program since its inception in 2013.

Smart Eating Week 2020 Smart Eating Week ran from February 10 to 16 and encouraged staff to think about what they consume every day as well as making small changes including drinking more water, practicing mindful eating and enjoying a rainbow of vegetables every week.

The initiative was run by Accredited Practising Dietitians (APDs), and supported by the Dietitians Association of Australia.

Photo by Chantal Garnier on Unsplash

Life&Love Who we are Content inspired by the wonderful residents and staff at Hall & Prior.

Collated, written and edited by Beverly Ligman, Brianna Johnson and Jacki Downs. Designed by Sean Baker and Jennifer Mattison If you have any story ideas please contact lifeandlove@hallprior.com.au or (08) 9321 1388.

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Office of the CEO Video Project Update Video filming and production continues for the Office of the CEO Video Project in 2020.

So far the project has released videos that showcase Remembrance Day, married couples living at Clarence Estate, our Rainbow Tick accreditation at Tuohy Aged Care Home, and have celebrated Christmas, Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day. The project aims to film at every home in NSW and WA by the end of 2020.

“Sharing our resident’s stories has been an absolute honour,” CEO Graeme Prior said.

“Our residents come from all walks of life and filming their stories is a powerful way to share the good in aged care.”

To see the videos please visit our website or Hall & Prior’s Facebook page

On the Frontline Fairfield’s Director of Nursing Eva Ballai tells us in her own words about her experience as part of Operation Bushfire Assist with the Australian Defence Force.

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6 JAN to 2 FEB 2020 ...

My job at Hall & Prior as DON of Fairfield Nursing home is a job I enjoy.

mounting system and procedures with a Medical Officer and a Private Combat Medic.

I work with a group of people that are dedicated, competent, and proud of what they do. The management team are supportive and genuine in their pursuit of excellence for the residents, staff, and all involved with our home.

This Operation was the first in Australian history, when all reservists were called out for a military operation on domestic soil due to humanitarian disaster, so hence there was no system in place, especially not a medical one, to deal with the mounting procedure of soldiers and officers.

I have come to respect the people I work for and with and am honoured that I have been given an opportunity to share my experience in assisting with the recent fire crisis.

As an Army reservist, I hoped that my work in the army would not encroach on my civilian job, but in times of crisis it happens.

The support I received from senior management at Hall & Prior was so positive and encouraging, it made the whole experience incredibly humbling.

The devastation and loss for the people, communities and animals affected by the fire was unimaginable! I felt so privileged to help and so proud that my company was supporting me and the community at large.

The following is an account of my activities during Operation Bushfire Assist 2019-20.

I was lucky enough to have the best of both worlds – to do something genuinely creative that required brain work and also to go out field and help hands on with supporting the tasks of the troops.

My first week was spent at Holsworthy Barracks 5CSSB I was the RSO&I Nursing Officer of JTF1110 (Joint Task Force 1110) to set up the medical

This is where I had to step up with the MO to build a system for military mounting at a national level. And where I literally experienced the renowned saying, that “we were building the plane while we were flying”.

We had a visit from the Chief of Army LTGEN Burr and the Commanding Officer of 2 Division Major General Campbell – both of them were praising our team of three for a job well done.

My second week was spent out in the field I was initially stationed at the Bega High School and although we were stationed at Bodalla Racecourse, we had tasks in the fields of Batemans Bay, Milton, Cobargo, Mogo, Narooma, Moruya and Bodalla.

As a Nursing Officer, with three Combat Medics, we supported the tasks of approx. 150 soldiers of 5ER (5th Engineer Regiment) that was stationed at Bodalla.

They were clearing roads and helping locals to get rid of fire debris at their burned down houses.

Fortunately, we didn’t have to deal with dead animals during the field operation. However, it was very moving to work with the civilians, helping them physically, mentally and emotionally and an honour to support the tasks of our fine soldiers.

Our team of four and two Chaplains visited these civilians who needed so much encouragement and support.

We lived in tents and sports halls. Facilities were scarce, there were no creature comforts and little contact outside of the danger areas.

One of those days we had an intense fire scare when all of the roads were cut off and the daylight became orange smoky darkness.

We had to trust our instincts that day - had we evacuated in a different direction the situation may have been a disaster.

I spent Australia Day at the Bega Racecourse where LTCOL Kidson delivered her Address to Troops 5ER TG PH1. I found her speech very inspirational, even more so, because she was talking about exactly the same thing our CEO Graeme Prior has been talking about to his “troops” – your character.

“When you strip everything else away, your character is all that's left.

And all that counts. Out of the dust and the smoke and the ashes, character rises. Your character. The rising sun.” LTCOL Kidson.

Helping out in bushfire affected areas. Eva (second from left above) below with a furry friend and sleeping rough in swags and sport halls.

My final week was spent at Holsworthy Barracks 5CSSB. Where I was again involved in the building of the medical demounting system and processes.

During Operation Bushfire Assist we worked daily from 0730 till 2200 hours and seven days a week.

For me personally, the whole experience was gratifying, humbling and fulfilling. I could not have done this without the support of Hall & Prior, my family and friends and the community.

I am most grateful to my staff at Fairfield Aged Care Home who stepped up and did what needed to be done to keep the home running while I was deployed. Words fail me for the support and encouragement I received from my boss and senior management – thank you.

I’d love to tell you some colourful tales other than just witnessing courage, devotion, duty, pain and suffering and humanity at its best. It’s amazing how the worst brings out the best in humanity.

But instead, I’ll end with the motto of the Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps: Pro Humanitate (for Humanity)

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I do like to be beside the seaside!

Getting our residents out and about and engaged in the community is an important part of their wellbeing which is why our Allied Health teams organise day-trips regularly. By Beverly Ligman Recently a group from Hamersley Aged Care Home in Subiaco visited Hillarys Boat Harbour to dip their toes in the water and enjoy some delicious fish and chips by the seaside.

The City of Joondalup provided a Sandcruiser Beach Wheelchair for our less agile residents to enjoy the water and many of our residents strolled down to the water to splash their feet on a hot February day.

As part of the outing volunteers from Cycling without Age Sorrento also gave our residents a ride in their tri-shaw.

The group aims to connect elderly people and those less abled with their community and reduce isolation. It is piloted by volunteer cyclists.

Occupational Therapist Roisin Colgan said the beach visit was a big hit with residents.

“I loved seeing our resident’s faces light up and witnessing their smiles as we got close to the water,” Roisin said.

“They also enjoyed having the wind in their hair on tri-shaw rides along the coast. Many of our residents also reminisced and shared with us stories about their childhood days at

the beach and teaching their children how to swim.

“Getting our residents out into the community where they grew up or going to places they visited when they were younger is a great memory prompt which in turn helps them open up and share their stories.

“It’s great to see them engaged in the community; being outdoors, in contact with nature and smiling and saying hello to children. One of our residents interested in photography even brought his camera to take pictures which we plan to frame and put up around the home.

“It was lovely seeing them walking through the sand and dipping their feet in the water.

The beach wheelchair from the City of Joondalup allowed us to take some residents into the water who are no longer physically able to walk in to the water themselves.

“As Occupational Therapists we’re always looking for new ways to get our residents involved and engaged in the community,” Roisin added.

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Occupational Therapist Roisin Colgan enjoys a splash with a Hamersley resident. And below fun on the beach and tri-shaw rides.

Honouring the lives of our residents

Staff in our homes have the privilege of caring for people in the last years and months of their lives.

Hall & Prior’s palliative care program runs in all of our homes and provides residents with choice, comfort and compassion.

“We just want to help everyone as much as we can, so when someone is coming to the end of their life, it can be really hard.

While this is a topic most people would rather not discuss, we are proud of how our staff face this reality every day with professionalism, mercy and love.

“But we always want to be there with them until their final time and provide comfort and support wherever we can.”

We spoke to Agmaroy Aged Care Home Director of Nursing Carmel GreenwoodHone and Carer Debbie Hall about their recent experience of supporting a beloved resident at the end of his life.

“Fred Goss was with us here at Agmaroy for about nine months, before he passed away in December,” Debbie said.

“When someone comes to live at Agmaroy, we get to know them really well. Fred had a bubbly personality and was always having a laugh.

And when that person passes away, Carmel said she and her team always attend their funeral, to support them and their family until the very end.

“We are a family here at Agmaroy, so it makes sense to be with them until they are laid to rest,” Carmel said.

“It’s wonderful to be there to celebrate the life of a person we have come to know and love.

“To us it’s a small gesture, but we know it means a lot.”

Carmel and her team say goodbye to Fred.

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Great Place to Work: Survey results

By Beverly Ligman

Last year Hall & Prior took part in a Great Place To Work® Survey to give us some insight into how engaged our employees are and what we can improve on. The results from the 2019 survey have now been published.

Overall 845 of our employees responded to the survey and 72% of those who took part said they had high levels of trust in Hall & Prior as an organisation.

To put our results into context - at the top 50 workplaces in Australia (which the survey reveals every year) - 85% of employees rated their companies as great places to work.

Within our organisation 77% of our staff believe Hall & Prior is a Great Place To Work®.

Trust, integrity, professionalism and respect are some of our key values at Hall & Prior and the survey showed that 79% of our staff take great pride in what they do; 72% trust management and 75% enjoy the people they work with.

And overall 80% of our employees feel fully engaged with their work and are passionate about delivering results.

“The survey and your feedback has given us insight into areas we can improve on; and together with your managers we are working through your feedback and taking on ideas and suggestions to strengthen us as a Great Place To Work,” CEO Graeme Prior said.

“Thank you all for your participation. Life, love, mercy and care are the cornerstones of our business and we will continue to build on them for the future of our company.

“People are our passion and our purpose - whether that’s caring for consumers across our 25 homes or caring for each other in workplace; these results are a positive start to 2020.”

SAVE our koalas

Australia has faced devastating and widespread national bushfires that began in 2019 and have continued into the summer of 2020. These fire conditions are unprecedented… and the challenges have been formidable.

By Jacki Downs

Our country’s heart is broken.

The human and wildlife cost of the fires that continue to burn in parts of NSW, as well as the damage to buildings, farm land and native habitats has tested our nation in ways we couldn’t have imagined.

The government’s response has been comprehensive and throughout the disaster, the strength of the Aussie spirit has shone through.

Staff at Hall & Prior’s NSW homes recounted personal stories of evacuations throughout the disaster; everyone seems to know someone who was affected.

Air quality is an ongoing issue – full of smoke and haze - it has affected the health of many millions of Australians including our residents.

Through the adversity, overwhelming support has come from both the international and local community. Many wildlife foundations have received substantial donations to help our struggling native fauna.

The koala communities of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland have all been affected by the fires, with actual numbers affected not to been known for months.

To do our part Hall & Prior has adopted two koalas - one in NSW and one in WA via the Australian Koala Foundation (www.savethekoala.com) Sponsoring koalas helps diminish threats to their survival and also raises worldwide awareness to help save endangered Australian animals.

Our WA koala is Thor Thor has just turned three. He lives at Perth’s Outback Splash theme park with his mother Euky. An adorable koala he has fluffy ears and looks just like a teddy bear.

Recently Lancy Collins a resident from Tuohy Aged Care Home in Midland, visited Thor at Outback Splash.

“I had a wonderful time meeting the koalas and patting them,” Lancy said.

“It was educational and it made me feel really happy!”

Our NSW Koala is Giget A beautiful koala who lives in Moree.

New South Wales has been badly affected by a devastating drought forcing koalas to search for water - a typically unusual behaviour. This makes them highly vulnerable crossing roads and travelling along the ground in their search.

By sponsoring Thor and Giget, Hall & Prior is helping protect the koala’s natural habitat to ensure their survival and support rehabilitation of devastated koala communities affected by the fires.

We are proud to be part of the bushfire recovery journey.

To find out more visit our website www.hallprior.com.au

Tuohy Aged Care Home resident Lancy Collins with DON Mina Pindolia and Aaron Woodcock from Outback Splash with Thor the koala.

Staff Celebration & Annual Awards The key to our success is our people - and at Hall & Prior we are blessed to have many wonderful members of the H&P family who go above and beyond in the line of duty.

So each year in NSW & WA we get together before Christmas to celebrate the achievements of our staff and congratulate those who have been with us for 10, 15, 20 and 30 year tenures.

In 2019 we shone the spotlight on these stars who made our organisation shine.

We congratulate these staff members for their dedicated service to Hall & Prior

10 Years of Service Carmel Greenwood-Hone - Agmaroy Jane Onek - Agmaroy

Regina Night - Agmaroy Liza Pereniki - Belmont Johanna Woonings - Clarence Estate Phillip Gough - Clarence Estate Zenaida Ubas - Clarence Estate Saraswoti Bhattarai - Clover Lea Lucinda Birjandi - Concorde Murali Mandali - Concorde Tafesse Gebru Kinfemichael - Concorde Cherie Onus - Grafton Terese Marker - Grafton Hosea Gan - Glenwood Sarita Sapkota Kandel - Glenwood Elena Jaric - Fairfield Sarah Agyeiwaa - Fairfield Alan Beard - Fresh Fields Michael Eve - Fresh Fields Sandy Yen - Fresh Fields Anju Reesaul - Freshwater Bay Gillian Stroud - Freshwater Bay Jay Tenefrancia - Freshwater Bay Lai Ying Jin - Hamersely Sumi Rijal - Hamersely Grace Martino - Leighton Jade Murray - Leighton Jo Silisilon – Leighton Jolly Thomas - Leigton Sophia Clark - Leighton Surya Acharya - Leighton Mithila Gnyawali - Mertome Lynley Burr - Rockingham Yvonne Wales - Rockingham Bimla Shankar - Shangri La Deepti Neupane - Shangri La Jo-Ann Easson - St Lukes Joselin Ramirez - St Lukes Kay Baxter - St Lukes Suzan Tombe - Tuohy Ky Ubaidul Dzarir - Vaucluse Ana S Fuller - Vaucluse David Iningilo - Windsor Park Josephine Marume - Windsor Park Pat Campbell - Windsor Park

15 Years of Service Debrah Smith - Clarence Estate Kerryn Cox - Clarence Estate Julie Summerfield - Clarence Estate Pauline Pickering - Clarence Estate

Yvonne Quinn - Clarence Estate Ling Wang - Clover Lea Jaibun Khan - Clover Lea Julie Thomas - Concorde Hoa Kim Thi Nguyen - Fairfield Thi Hong Anh Nguyen - Fairfield Dianne Sara - Fresh Fields Sandra Butler - Fresh Fields Mariatu Sesay - Glenwood Gwenda Betteridge - Grafton Louise Appleton - Mayfair Street Sita Newar - Shangri La Shashi Kollar - Vaucluse Joshua Christopher - Windsor Park Welela Mechessa - Windsor Park

20 Years of Service Daravatey Tee - Fairfield Sharon Hewitt - Grafton Brenda Anthony - Mayfair Street Ana Akauola - Menaville Tahmina Chowdhury - Shangri La Chandrika Perera - St Lukes Rosalia Tuinanunu - Vaucluse

25 Years of Service Tina Hayes - NSW State Office Magdalena Wrobel - Vaucluse Joy Bigelow - Vaucluse

30 Years of Service Mary Windeyer - Caroline Chisholm Jill Morrison - Freshwater Bay Elizabeth Lobregat - Glenwood Marianne Lawson - Shangri La Marianne Alzate - Shangri La

Outstanding Achievement in 2019 Betty Marie Walker - Freshwater Bay Amy Schultz - Grafton Julie Beaton - Resource Team

Outstanding Care & Services Award Winners Cecile Panido - Agmaroy Margareta Mitchell - Aubrey Downer Anastacia Capaco - Belmont Librato Maglaqui - Belmont Warren Lu - Caroline Chisholm Shirley Hawkins - Clarence Estate Erina Wolfe - Clarence Estate Jennifer Kett - Clarence Estate

Firegenet Tujma - Clover Lea Leatuolo Talaepa - Concorde Vera Souw - Concorde Laxmi Gurung - Fairfield Sanil Ram - Fairfield Marianne Buyuccan - Fairfield Wilfredo Santiago - Freshwater Bay Surada Riyakul - Glenwood Watchara Kingchaiyaphum - Glenwood Glenda Gilmore - Grafton Neha Patel - Hamersley Crystal Beninsig - Kensington Kelli Wiltshire - Kensington Jesusa Silverio - Kensington Derrick Mubifi - Leighton Jade Murray - Leighton Caroline Cairns - Mayfair Street Chris Fitzgerald - Mayfair Street Reina De Veyra - McDougall Park Felicidad Carbery - Menaville Tigist Habtou - Menaville Preetha Thamilaraser - Mertome Nicole Boladeras - MosmanPark Helen Simpson - Mosman Park Emma Christiansen - NSW State Office Marianne Naw - Shangri-La Nabina Shrestha - Shangri-La Subash Bhandari - Sirius Cove Shahin Tavassoli - Sirius Cove Lynnette Thompson - St Lukes Urvashi Halai - Tuohy Ratu Peni Niunitoga - Vaucluse Nancy Cullen - Windsor Park Joseph Mbira - Windsor Park Karl Reinmuth - Windsor Park Warda Aden - Windsor Park

Outstanding Leadership Carmel Greenwood-Hone - Agmaroy Kyrsten Grady - NSW State Office

Rising Star Reetu Bhujel - Caroline Chisholm Rachael White - Clarence Estate Susanti Bun - Clover Lea Kelsey Gibson - Concorde Sara Bhattarai - Fairfield Hayley Cannon - Fresh Fields Melissa Hueley - Grafton Zanna Hammond - Grafton Harpreet Kaur - Hamersley Ethan Goodall - Hamersley Pardeep Kaur - Kensington Park Ashlee Jackson - Menaville Amanpreet Negi - Menaville Melissa Trinca - Resource Team Manisha Paudel - Vaucluse

Care Experience of the Year Healing Hearts Program - Fairfield Intergenerational Program - Clover Lea Palliative Care Project - Caroline Chisholm

Team of the Year Karingal Green Build Team

Consumer Project of the Year Connecting Communities Project - Clarence Estate

Caroline Chisholm Medallion Joy Bigelow - Vaucluse

St Lukes Medallion Denise Scott - Mayfair Street

This year is the World Health Organisation’s Global Year of the Nurse & Midwife and to celebrate some of the wonderful nurses we have on staff, in every issue of Life & Love this year we will profile a nurse from WA and a nurse from NSW.

Myint Ni

Fairfield Aged Care Home Registered Nurse (RN).

Myint Ni has been the Registered Nurse at Fairfield Aged Care Home for the past three years. Originally from Burma she said nursing is her passion and a frontline profession she feels privileged to work in.

What made you want to become a nurse?

I was looking after my mother for three years who was suffering from a stroke in Burma before I came to Australia. I made a decision to study to become a registered nurse six months after I arrived in Sydney. I started studying a Certificate III, IV Aged care and working in aged care then I discovered my passion for being a nurse. After that I studied a Bachelor of Nursing at Parramatta University and became a Registered Nurse.

What does the World Health Organisation’s Global Year of the Nurse & Midwife mean to you?

Nursing is a frontline profession. A holistic and person centred approach to nursing care

is important because nurses do assessments, plans, interventions and evaluations for our residents’ needs. We create quality care by working together with Allied Health professionals. I feel privileged to take care of our residents from admission until their last breath with dignity and respect.

How long have you worked in aged care and what drew you to it?

I’ve been with Hall & Prior for three years. This is such a great company and my passion for the aged care industry has grown because of it. We care for our residents very holistically and there is a person centred delivery of care. I also really enjoy all of the different cultures I work with at Fairfield.

What does an average day look like for you?

My days are good as long as my residents are safe and happy living in their home.

Tell us one part of your job that makes you feel rewarded and connected to those you care for?

I feel rewarded and attached to the residents that I achieve care goals for in our home.

Having no incidents, no hospitalisations and a good team that works hard to achieve the best for our residents lets them live quality lives. There is no better feeling than really helping people.

What’s the best piece of advice you ever got about caring?

My previous DON Sarah encouraged us during a staff meeting ‘not to

blame others and move forward, continuing the care we are here to do today’.

And a St Vincent palliative care RN told me that we are privileged to be the in a front line profession; “helping people from the beginning of admission until their last breath”.

What do you think aged care will look like in the future?

Aged care will evolve (as it is already) to involve extra management of high level medical conditions. Our service is needed due to limited public health services and hospitalisation. Residents who need high level

care, and cannot access it from home can be cared for and pass on with dignity and respect in our home. More high care need consumers will be in aged care homes due to NDIS and Home Care support workers not being able to meet their increasing needs adequately.

Nurses will be required to develop further management skills on top of their clinical care delivery skills to deliver better assessments and documentations as well as the training/ mentoring of other frontline staff.

What’s the best thing about working at Fairfield?

Working respectfully as a part of a professional team. And working with aged care staff, allied health professionals and external health workers to deliver best quality care for our residents.

What do you wish people understood more about aged care?

I wish all aged care residents and their families could understand that living in an aged care home is very beneficial in the aging process.

It also helps residents to die with dignity and respect.

Tell us...

Your favourite song?

One day at a Time - Lynda Randle Your favourite movie?

Anything medical - Grey’s Anatomy is a TV fave!

When I’m not at work you’ll often find me…

In my community doing volunteer work to help in any way I can.

This year is the World Health Organisation’s Global Year of the Nurse & Midwife and to celebrate some of the wonderful nurses we have on staff, in every issue of Life & Love this year we will profile a nurse from WA and a nurse from NSW.

Anthony (Tony) Mark

Hamersley Aged Care Home’s Clinical Nurse Manager (CNM).

What made you want to be a nurse?

I was running my own courier business in Aberdeen, Scotland when we were hit by a downturn in the oil and gas sector.

This had a huge effect on my business and I decided to close down before I was closed down. I had always had an interest in nursing and felt it was time to take a gamble and see if it was for me. Turned out to be a great move. No regrets.

What does the World Health Organisation’s Global Year of the Nurse & Midwife mean to you?

It’s great to see nurses from all over the world being recognised for all of the hard work they do.

Why did you decide to move to Australia from Scotland?

I felt that there were less opportunities in Scotland once I’d qualified and Australia had a lot more to offer.

How long have you worked at Hall & Prior?

I first started at Belmont in September 2018.

How long have you worked in aged care and what drew you to it?

I started in 2002; my grandad was in residential care with Parkinson’s disease which got me interested in working in the industry.

What does an average day look like for you?

In a word, busy! Every day is different and throws up a multitude of things to do. That’s the great thing though, every day is different and you don’t know what’s around the corner. Sometimes there are many balls to juggle, but that’s the challenge and the reward.

What’s the best thing about Hamersley Aged Care Home?

It would have to be the people. We have staff from a multitude of countries who on the whole provide excellent care 24/7, 365 days a year.

What do you wish people understood more about aged care?

That we do our very best with very little, by this I mean we are not funded adequately and this impacts on staff/resident ratios which are currently unfair.

Tell us...

Your favourite song?

I’m a huge 80s fan and have seen Depeche Mode Tell us one part of your job that makes you feel five times live. So it would have to be Enjoy the rewarded and connected to those you care for? Silence.

For me, this has got to be when a very unsettled resident at home is admitted to our facility and over a short period of time settles in to our home.

This is often a huge relief to families and they are very grateful for the care provided.

What’s the best piece of advice you ever got about caring for others?

“Treat people like you would your own parents never forgetting you’ll get old one day too.”

Words to live by… from a previous work colleague.

What do you think aged care will look like in the future?

I think aged care will be more cutting edge, perhaps using the latest technologies and equipment but hopefully the care will continue to be of a high or higher standard.

Nursing is a female dominated role, would you encourage more men to become nurses?

It’s always going to be a female dominated role but male nurses are essential, plus they’re better ;-) What do you think you bring to the role?

I hopefully show that men can be compassionate, sensible and caring, much like our female colleagues. We have the added advantage of being able to also talk sport to our male residents.

Tony with one of his favourite residents at Hamersley.

Your favourite movie?

I really enjoy Quentin Tarantino movies - Pulp

Fiction.

When I’m not at work you’ll often find me…

Playing badminton, golf, bush walking or watching Survivor All Stars.

Karingal Green launches advertising campaign A vision is being realised with Karingal Green Health & Aged Care Community set to open its doors in May. By Tamara Hitchcock

Shopping Panel

Karingal Green — Campaign In the lead-up to the opening the Karingal team is working hard to create excitement, build credibility and position Karingal Green as a unique aged care community. To help drive awareness and enquiry we have launched a consumer advertising campaign that will run for four months between February 8 and May 30.

Billboard

Roe Highway Roadside The campaign will run through various media Northchannels bound – positioned left located in our primary catchment areas; including the City of Kalamunda, Mundaring; QMW-006 Bellevue / 18.99m x 4.57m and the City of Swan. Along with the secondary catchment area, including the City of Victoria Park, Belmont, Canning, Gosnells and Armadale.

To create the strongest reach possible we are also using multiple media channels, this includes: a Billboard

OPENING SOON

World class aged care Book your tour today – karingalgreen.com.au

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Care that creates community Targeting people who are considering care for themselves or a loved one, the campaign will feature the project tagline: Care that creates community.

This positions Karingal Green as a community centred in care – meaning our care model blends world-class research and modern facilities with a nurturing approach that prioritises the needs of the individual, while also providing a connected community for them to thrive in.

We want to highlight that residential aged care at Karingal will be much more than what it has been historically known to be including providing luxury facilities for health and healing onsite.

half page press ad in the Echo News, ads on 6PR and mix 94.5 radio stations, a billboard on the Roe Hwy, an ad on the back of Transperth buses which depart from the Midvale depot, shopping centre panels in Waterhall and Midland Gate Shopping Centres, animated videos in 30 Doctor’s clinics and pharmacies, Google Adwords, Facebook and Instagram ads and a direct mail letterbox drop.

If you know anyone living near Karingal Green who would be interested to come for a tour of our home, please invite them along to our Community Open Day on Saturday May 2, 2020.

For further information please contact Tess Woodford on 1300 096 988.

Press Ad

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IN OUR HOMES

We

Australia Day

We love a good celebration of our great nation here at Hall & Prior and this year was no exception with Aussie theme day barbecues happening across all of our homes. Many residents got into the spirit of things by wearing Australiana costumes as seen here at Mertome Aged Care Home in Bayswater. Homes also hosted traditional Aussie BBQs. Given the current NSW bushfire crisis it was especially important to celebrate this year.

Our wonderful staff have also been working hard to help raise funds for bush fire relief. A cake sale at Agmaroy Aged Care Home in Wilson recently helped raise $600 for the cause.

Aussie, Aussie Aussie… Oi! Oi! Oi!

Gong Xi Fa Cai ... Chinese New Year This year is the ‘Year of the Rat’ in Chinese astrology and to celebrate Concorde Aged Care Home in South Perth was blessed with a ‘lion dance’ from Kong Hing Koon Perth. The lion dance signifies good luck and the driving away of evil spirits for a joyful year ahead.

The dancers entertained residents with their magnificent acrobatic displays and the lion took oranges and threw lettuce to help spread good fortune.

The Year of the Rat signifies good wealth, fertility and vitality making it a great year for dreams to come true. The numerology and synergy of the year 2020 is also good luck.

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smiles

The

say it all…

Our residents at Hamersley Aged Care Home in Subiaco loved having children visit recently as part of an intergenerational play program.

The children spent time reading stories with our residents, playing chess and showing them photos.

The residents also shared with the children stories about their lives and reminisced about the past.

“Their mother Kirsten wanted them to learn about different generations and explained to them that some people who live in aged care can be lonely, so it’s important to be kind and give back to build strong future generations that learn to think of others.

“This just shows the power of Intergenerational play… it helps mold our next generation and is a really positive experience for everyone.”

Hamersley DON Terri Woolhouse said the children warmed to the experience of spending time with older generations quickly.

“They were nervous at first, but it didn’t take long for them to warm up to our lovely residents,” she said.

Rockingham Lil’ Shop Across our aged care homes, we’re constantly impressed with the way our staff go above and beyond to provide residents with fun, enriching activities.

At Rockingham Aged Care Home, located south of Perth, the end of each month means an extra flurry of activity and excitement for the home’s Lil’ Shop.

Led by Occupational Therapy Assistant Brenda McKell, the Lil’ Shop enables residents to use tokens collected throughout the month to

purchase extra treats such as chocolate, beauty supplies and stationery.

Many people living in Hall & Prior’s homes require a high level of care; so an activity as simple as heading down to the shop may not always be possible.

But thanks to the Lil’ Shop, the experience comes to them.

“Our residents love coming down to go shopping, and making their own choices of what they might buy,” Brenda said.

“We’re grateful to the Rotary Club of Rockingham for providing pricing stickers and the signage for our shop,” she said.

Rockingham Rotary also recently presented the home with a $1000 cheque, which will go towards purchasing additional outdoor furniture for residents and their families to enjoy.

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Christmas 2019

Although it seems like Christmas was forever ago now, we couldn’t not share some of these gorgeous images of residents celebrating the festive season in our homes. Traditional Christmas lunches were enjoyed at all of our homes in NSW and WA and family and friends were invited to come and share the moment.

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Celebrating Centenarians Making it to 100 is no mean feat which is why we love to celebrate our centenarians.

We were thrilled to celebrate Connie Brunning’s 100th birthday in December at Hamersley Aged Care Home.

The team at Hamersley spoilt Connie as she so deserved; organising balloons, cake and music as part of the birthday celebration. Connie’s family also dropped in share the fun on the day.

And over at Mosman Park Aged Care Home, there was a big celebration on January 2 for Marjorie Molinari.

Family, friends and the Mosman Park team got together to share a meal, have some cake and congratulate Marjorie on her milestone.

Grafton Residents Bridge the Gap The new Grafton Bridge opened in December last year, but before it was opened to traffic, the general public and special guests had the opportunity to ‘walk the bridge’.

Among the special guests were residents of Grafton Aged Care home who had watched the construction from not more than a kilometre away and were excited to join the crowds and take in the view from the new bridge.

The bridge aims to improve traffic flow from North to South Grafton and support local businesses in and around the riverside city.

Golf buggy tours across the bridge were certainly a big hit with our residents!

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Paws for Effect We recently welcomed a Cat Haven WA Companion Cat to Windsor Park Aged Care Home - meet our newest furry friend Charcoal.

Cat Haven know how much joy animals bring to older people, so their Companion Cat Program for aged care homes covers all of the cat's health needs at no cost to the home.

In return, mature cats are able to enjoy a loving home with no shortage of laps to sleep on! Thank you Cat Haven for this incredible program.

Photo by Jonas Vincent on Unsplash

Valentine’s Day Mr and Mrs McBride

Love was in the air on Valentine’s Day, making it the perfect time to celebrate some of the long-term lovebirds who live in our homes.

Living at Mertome Aged Care Home in Bayswater, in Perth’s east, William and Gladys McBride have been happily married for an incredible 66 years.

Both hailing from Scotland, they share a love of dancing and first met at a local dance.

After marrying in 1954 and having their first daughter; the McBrides set their sights on Australia.

William secured a nine-month contract to work at the Kwinana Refinery, south of Perth and headed abroad, with Gladys and their daughter following six months later.

The oil refinery had sought migrant workers because of State Government fears that such a big project would cause a shortage of local skilled workers in other areas.

The McBrides fell in love with Perth and the warm weather, so they decided to stay and later had another daughter together. They have now lived in WA for five decades.

When asked about the secret to their long and happy marriage, the McBrides said remembering to be patient with one another was key.

Six decades of bliss: Mertome Aged Care residents Gladys and William McBride have been married for 66 years.

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DECK THE HALLS There’s nothing more wonderful at Christmas time than a community coming together to celebrate the festive season. By Beverly Ligman Christmas is a special time at Clarence Estate in Albany.

Residents, families and friends all gather together for the annual Carols by Candlelight service to rejoice in the festive season and recognise staff members who have contributed to the Clarence community throughout the year.

St John’s Anglican Church Reverend Helen Barnard hosted the service, along with the City of Albany band and residents also got involved as part of the Clarence Estate Choir.

Clarence Estate Executive Director Kristi Holloway said it’s a special time at the home.

“We love Christmas at Clarence and it really does get bigger and better every year,” Kristi said.

“Christmas is a time when families and friends gather to reflect on the year that’s been; sharing memories, joys and troubles.

“It’s also a time to celebrate all of the wonderful achievements of the year and there were many at Clarence Estate in 2019.

“Clarence Estate is a wonderful place to live, visit and work - our community is very special.

“We’re very lucky to host this event every year. It couldn’t go ahead without the support of our CEO Graeme Prior as well as many volunteers from the Albany community.”

The Carols by Candlelight event is based on ‘Seven Lessons & Seven Carols’ including favourites such as O Come All Ye Faithful, Away in a Manger and The First Noel.

The service of ‘Seven Lessons & Seven Carols’ is an adaptation of the ‘Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols’ which was first held on Christmas Eve 1918 at King’s College in England.

EDUCATION CALENDAR

EDUCATION

We are proud to share our education and training offerings for 2020, with a wide range of courses provided by Hall & Prior’s Staff Learning and Development Team. Here are some highlights of upcoming courses in WA:

CPR and Choking First Aid

MAR

3

Central Training Room, Fresh Fields - 8am to 11am March 3, 10, 13, 17, 20, 24, 27, 30 This session is run by Surf Life Saving WA and is an annual requirement for all Registered Nurses. There will be 17 sessions held between February and April, to ensure all RNs are able to attend. As many of our residents have high-level care needs and swallowing difficulties, this course is a key part of reducing risk in our homes. There is a limit of 14 attendees per session, so speak to your relevant DON to book in.

Core Training Refresher

MAR

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Core Training - Kitchen Refresher

MAR

16

Central Training Room, Fresh Fields - 8am to 4pm After the Induction Core Training session has been completed, kitchen staff are required to complete a refresher course annually to strengthen their skills and knowledge. It covers topics such as hygiene, temperature control, food safety processes and safe work procedures.

Medication Link Day

MAR

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TENA Room Mayfair Street - 8am to 2pm

TENA Room Mayfair Street - 8am to 4pm

All staff are required to complete a Core Training Refresher session annually, and these six-hour sessions are delivered throughout 2020. Topics include clinical documentation (ACFI); quality, safety and compliance; infection control; person-centred care; the consumer experience; diversity and inclusivity; manual handling; and safe handling of hazardous substances.

This session is a key element of our learning and development program at Hall & Prior.

This session is hosted by Medication and Lifestyle Coordinator Kath Whisson, and is for members of the Medication Link Team in each of our WA homes.

Held annually, the day focuses on changes in legislation, processes and documentation relating to medication.

The team discuss ongoing monitoring of issues as well as ways to improve medication management in the homes to ensure safe and appropriate use.

It is an opportunity for staff to network and get a greater insight into the background processes of medication management in our homes.

Being a Better Buddy

APR

2

Influenza and Immunisation Training

APR

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TENA Room Mayfair Street - 9am to 1pm

Resource Hub IT Training Room - 8am to 12pm

This full-day session is aimed at PCAPs. Held regularly throughout the year, it focusses on topics such as: positive leadership, coaching, professionalism, communication, learning styles and building rapport. The course will also examine ways to measure competency and how customer satisfaction affects our everyday work life.

All new staff are assigned a buddy for their first two days in the workplace, so this course is an important part of ensuring they receive a warm welcome.

This training is for Registered Nurses in the lead-up to Hall & Prior’s annual Influenza Immunisation Program.

Attendees will revise information about influenza, the vaccine and the required processes and procedures for administering the vaccine to staff. Attendees will also be required to complete an online module through the WA Department of Health.

For more information on any of these courses please speak directly to your relevant DON. Education

CONGRATULATIONS

CONCORDE OTA TAKES ON NURSING DEGREE At Hall & Prior we believe our staff are ourgreatest asset, and no education is ever wasted.

As such, we are always supportive of staff who follow their passion for care and take on extra studies outside of the workplace.

Based at Concorde Aged Care Home in South Perth, Alison Carpenter has worked as an Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) for the past five years. Her role focuses on improving the wellbeing and quality of life for residents through activities and engagement.

But last year she chose to take her dedication to care into a career in nursing.

as part of caring for older people, many of who live with dementia.

“One challenging part of my placement was a day Zoe and I were assisting a resident who wasn’t very responsive - it appeared he was showing signs of having a stroke,” she said.

“I watched her perform a neurological assessment on him, and was able to assist the resident to get ready to go to hospital while Zoe called the ambulance.

“Working at Concorde and being around the residents, I became more interested in the work the Registered Nurses perform,” she said.

Studying at Curtin University, Alison aims to complete her bachelor degree and take on a hospital-based role, before eventually heading back to study to undertake a Master of Midwifery.

This was Alison’s first workplace placement for her degree, which will see her complete a further six placements in a range of specialised areas across the next two years.

“I’m grateful I was able to complete this placement at a Hall & Prior home, because I was already familiar with the way the home runs,” she said.

“The staff at Kensington were very supportive, and I was fortunate to spend an awful lot of time working directly with the RNs, which my classmates said was rare in other organisations.

“I was supervised mostly by Zoe Waite; she explained everything and showed me how to do things.

By shadowing the home’s nursing staff, Alison was able to see the wide range of tasks they complete

“It turned out that he had actually had a seizure; and because of his dementia the aftermath symptoms look like a stroke.

“It was quite confronting, but being able to see how Zoe handled the situation was very valuable.”

Alison is now back at Concorde in her role as an OTA, working part-time to allow her to manage her study load.

“I’m really grateful for the support that Zoe, Kensington’s Director of Nursing Jesusa and Concorde Executive Manager Suzy have given me,” she said.

Good luck with your studies, Alison!

Education

Farewell Carmel!

With a nursing career spanning an incredible 46 years, Agmaroy Aged Care Home’s Director of Nursing Carmel GreenwoodHome will retire at the end of February. By Brianna Johnson.

Growing up in Kildare in Southern Ireland, Carmel knew she wanted to be a nurse from an early age.

“I had cousins who were nurses, and even as a small child I remember knowing I wanted to be a nurse,” she said.

She began her hospitalbased nursing studies in 1974 working under the supervision of nuns at St Vincent’s Hospital in Dublin.

After three years of study she achieved her qualification, and headed to Scotland to study midwifery.

“Scotland was known as the home of midwifery, so a lot of people would travel there to study,”’ Carmel said.

“After I qualified as a midwife I stayed in Scotland for about six months, before returning home to Ireland, where I worked for the next six years.”

In the 1980s, Carmel traded in the cool weather and rain of

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Ireland for the scorching temperatures and arid climate of the Middle East.

“There was a recession in Ireland at the time and they needed trained nurses to go the Middle East,” Carmel said.

“It sounded attractive, so off I went, and I worked as a midwife in Doha and Qatar for nine years.

“The climate and the culture were totally different, but I enjoyed my time there.”

During her time in the Middle East Carmel also met her future husband.

In 1996 Carmel and her husband moved to London, where she returned to general nursing, taking on a role as a Staff Nurse at London Bridge Hospital.

But before long her husband got a new job offer in the Middle East and they returned.

While they enjoyed their time there, the Middle East wasn’t a long term plan and with a sister living in Perth the couple soon turned their attention to Western Australia.

On arriving in Perth Carmel started working for the previous owners of Agmaroy as a Registered Nurse, then became the Clinical Nurse Manager and has never left!

Hall & Prior acquired Agmaroy in 2015 and Carmel describes the transition from being a standalone aged care home to becoming part of the Hall & Prior group as a challenging but rewarding time.

While Hall & Prior have invested in Agmaroy’s décor, gardens and furniture to improve the home Carmel said she believes the additional clinical and corporate support have made the most difference.

“The resources Hall & Prior has are just fantastic,” she said.

“The support we’ve had since day one is overwhelming. I’ve never felt that there wasn’t somebody I could turn to if I had questions or needed assistance.

“Being able to rely on the systems and processes Hall & Prior have in place have been a big help in making the day-to-day operations of the home run smoothly.

“And having access to an internal team of clinical and Allied Health specialists such as Speech Pathologists, Dietitians and documentation experts has meant we are able to provide the best possible care.”

Carmel said the thing she is proudest of at Agmaroy is the incredible staff culture.

“We don’t have titles here, everyone just works together to support one another,” she said.

“It’s a happy home; there’s a lot of laughter here. And I think in this environment, which can be so hard and challenging at times, laughter is important.

“If you have happy staff, you have a happy home; I’ve worked hard to be there for them, so they can support the residents in turn.”

As for what’s next, Carmel said she’s looking forward to taking time out for herself.

“We’ll go back to Europe at some point for a holiday, but apart from that I don’t have any plans,” she said.

“Agmaroy has been a big part of my life, and I want to thank Graeme Prior, Michael Hall, Jennifer Grieve and everyone at Hall & Prior who has supported me.”

Congratulations Carmel, and good luck!

PROJECT UPDATE

GEORGES ESTATE PROJECT UPDATE

Work has recommenced at Georges Estate in Penshurst after the festive season, with concrete slabs now cured and ready for the next phase of construction.

On-site excavation and scaffold erection is ongoing with in-ground drainage taking place and new concrete slabs being poured.

Driveway material waterproofing and underway.

is being distributed acoustic detailing are

and also

Instillation of furniture, fittings and equipment will commence later in the year with practical completion of the project slated for late 2020.

With 111 beds Georges Estate is much more than an aged care home; it will be a thriving community that focusses on residents’ healing and wellbeing.

Georges Estate will open in early 2021.

To find out more visit www.georgesestate.com.au

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ROYAL COMMISSION FEBRUARY / MARCH

This month the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety held hearings in Adelaide to focus on the future of the aged care workforce.

Royal Commissioners at the hearing heard evidence from Professor Charlene Harrington and Dr Katherine Ravenswood on workforce issues. Senior Counsel Assisting the Royal Commissioners, Peter Rozen QC also outlined some of his workforce recommendations.

Mr Rozen’s recommendations focussed on addressing staffing numbers and mix, terms and conditions of employment, workforce planning and the role of the Commonwealth, education and training of the workforce and registration of personal care workers.

The Royal Commission will release its final report in November this year.

For further information please email: royalcommissionenquiries@hallprior.com.au

CORONA VIRUS UPDATE In response to the recent spread of Coronavirus through China and around the world, Hall & Prior has updated strict measures to limit the possibility of our residents being exposed to the virus.

We care for a vulnerable group of people at our 25 homes across WA and NSW and as such we are cognisant of protecting them from this highly contagious virus.

If you have visited or transited through mainland China on or after 1 February 2020 (not just the Hubei Province or the City of Wuhan) and returned

to Australia in the past 14 days we request that you do not visit any of our homes. The same advice applies to our staff.

Hall & Prior will continue to monitor the advice of the WA & NSW Department of Health and will respond accordingly.

Until such time protecting the safety of our residents remains paramount.

We will continue to review the situation closely and provide regular updates.

Information correct at time of printing.

Hall & Prior HEALTH & AGED CARE GROUP Aged care is evolving – and Hall & Prior is leading the way. We are more than a provider; people are our passion and our purpose.

Our team has spent the last 25 years having illuminating conversations with Australia’s senior community to understand how to create aged care experiences that truly meet their needs. These are lives to celebrate – a generation of doers – and how they experience their twilight years matters to all of us. What we’ve learned has inspired us to invest our heart and soul into designing and operating world-class centres for healing and wellbeing across Australia.

In Western Australia and New South Wales, we provide much-needed quality residential aged care services to 1,600 residents across 25 homes and 1,100 home care clients. Our programs and ‘centres for healing’ offer world-class care, amenities and cuttingedge aged care programs.