Life & Love Magazine Edition 21 by Hall & Prior

Life&Love HALL & PRIOR

ISSUE 21 | SPRING 2019

H E A LT H & A G E D C A R E G R O U P

THE NEW ERA OF AGED CARE We welcome our Regional Leaders

Windsor Park Aged Care Home residents Raymond ‘Lukey’ Laurel and Janice Tittums enjoying the spring sunshine recently in the gardens of Windsor Park. Lukey recently Returned to Country and has now gone back to live with his sister in the community.

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IN THIS ISSUE 4

From the Chief Executive Officer

6

News in Brief

8

Celebrating our staff

10,

Leading the charge

12

Celebrating three decades of care

13

Farewell Margaret Rayner

14

White Oak’s new alliance

15

R U OK ? Day

16

Snapshot of … Sirius Cove

18

Mertome Update

20

Spotlight On....Devi Subramanian

22

City to Surf (WA & NSW)

24

In our homes

31

Bernice’s Master Stroke

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 Safeguarding our business into the future is a large part of what we’ve been working so hard to achieve this year at Hall & Prior.

No matter what industry you are in, having the right people in place to grow the business is paramount.

With this in mind we employed two new Regional Leaders earlier this year in Daymon Joseph and Janelle McFarlane. They are working alongside Deb Sinclair-Lane oversee our homes care and business focusses into the future and offer our DONs extra support and guidance.

As the name suggests they are all responsible for ‘regions’ within the business and will work closely with our internal teams to further drive occupancy at the homes. You can read all about them on pages 10 and 11 of this issue.

Within our organisation we are incredibly blessed with an extraordinary amount of passionate people who genuinely love what they do. You can see this in every home we own and operate in WA and NSW. We pick these people for a reason; they live by our motto; ‘compassionate people, dedicated to care’.

When asked recently what that means to me I explained that it was at the heart of every single thing we do and every decision we make at Hall & Prior.

There are overarching themes of kindness, mercy and love in the care we provide to our consumers every day and I am incredibly proud of what we stand for in both the aged care industry and in the communities we serve.

We recently celebrated R U OK? Day at many of our homes and offices and I communicated that thanking our staff and checking in on one another’s mental health was very important.

As we continue to grow as a business I believe it is increasingly important to take time out of our busy days to check in with each other and make sure we all have the support we need.

You can read about our RU OK? Day celebrations on page 15.

In this issue of Life & Love you’ll also find all sorts of inspiring news from around our homes and updates on our Karingal Green and Georges Estate projects.

We are incredibly blessed with an extraordinary amount of passionate people who genuinely love what they do.

We also celebrate Margaret Rayner’s leaving do at Menaville Aged Care Home (pg 13), 74-yearold Clancy Aliphon retiring from Hamersley Aged Care Home (pg 12) and put the Spotlight on Devi Subramaniam (pg 20).

It’s an exciting time for us all to be part of the aged care industry and I hope you will continue to embrace this new era of aged care.

GRAEME PRIOR Chief Executive Officer

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CEO Graeme Prior with General Manager Health and Care Services Jennifer Grieve

NEWS IN BRIEF Diversity Action Committee Begins Their Work The new aged care quality standards requires all aged care providers to have a Diversity Action Plan to identify and commit to making the service become more inclusive.

Hall & Prior published a consultation draft of our first Diversity Action Plan in June 2019, then formed a Diversity Action Plan Committee. The committee; Deb Sinclair-Lane, Wendy Ashwin, Jayne Cummings,

Devi Subramaniam, Linda Jackson, Bernice Anokye and Daniel Hitchcock are currently consulting with colleagues and consumers to refine our plan ready for endorsement and publication in December 2019.

Please get in touch with the members of the Diversity Action Plan Committee if you would like to contribute to it.

Behind The Scenes: Southerly magazine visits Clarence Estate Editor and Publisher of Albany’s popular Southerly magazine Wayne Harrington is seen here interviewing resident Daphne House for a feature about the five married couples who live at Clarence Estate. The article has been published in the October issue of Southerly magazine and we can’t wait to share it with you in our December issue.

LASA Expo a Success for 2019 This year’s LASA Expo at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre was a big hit with almost 1,700 people walking through the door. The Hall & Prior stand was manned by staff from across the group who spoke to interested members of the public about the aged care industry, residential and home care and the many services we offer in our homes.

Hall & Prior’s homes from Midland to Albany were highlighted on a large map at the stall and Fresh Fields delicious pumpkin and zucchini soup was served with herb damper buns.

We look forward to another successful LASA Expo in 2020. A big thank you to all staff who took the time to help throughout the weekend.

Regional Leader Daymon Joseph with LASA’s Christine Allen.

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Office of the CEO video project begins...

You might have seen video crews at some of our NSW and WA homes recently as we embarked on a video project. Nicole Jameson from Dark Horse Agency and her videographer Andrew Murphy have been at Clover Lea, Shangri-La and Menaville in NSW interviewing DONs, staff and consumers.

They have also visited Clarence Estate, Windsor Park and Touhy Aged Care Homes in WA. We look forward to sharing this exciting video content with you soon. Follow our Facebook page to see the videos.

Pharmacist Kath Whisson appears in Pharmacy Journal Australia

MEMBER OPINION AGED CARE

A significant role for pharmacists is in aged care West Australian pharmacist Kath Whisson has worked solely in aged care for eight years and loves it.

BY KATH WHISSON MPS

‘The Royal Commission highlights that best practice aged care happens in a multidisciplinary team.’

KATH WHISSON BPharm, MPS is a staff pharmacist with Hall & Prior, Health & Aged Care Group.

A

ged care is changing; not just in what consumers expect from the industry, but also in how they want to be cared for. For families, the decision that aged care services are needed is not to be taken lightly.

The New Aged Care Quality Standards and the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety have both shone a spotlight on the industry. With an increased focus on psychotropic medicines and antimicrobial stewardship under the new standards, regular reports are essential for both residential aged care facillities (RACFS) and general practitioners.

Pharmacists are now working more consistently in the aged care sector and it’s an exciting time to be one of them. I started at Hall & Prior eight years ago and have been privileged to participate in continuous improvement projects, some of which have won national recognition through better practice awards. As a staff pharmacist, working with a multidisciplinary team has enabled me to contribute to the ‘bigger picture’, help identify needs and support staff with policy, education and monitoring activities.

I believe deprescribing will gain momentum in future. It supports staff workload, provides financial savings and, most importantly, improves quality of life for consumers. It’s always satisfying to see medication changed to a safer alternative, to a more appropriate time, or ceased altogether.

Reporting is a big part of what I do. This includes, for the past two years, sending – in addition to audit medicine management across 14 RACFs – quarterly reports to GPs for antipsychotic classes of drugs use. GP feedback is positive, prompts review and has helped with dose reductions and cessations.

A focus on the quality use of medicines includes antimicrobials, psychotropic drugs and ensuring the review of medicines in an appropriate time frame (eg, proton pump inhibitors). These are areas that provide

support to Registered Nurses (RNs). There’s an increased expectation for staff to understand drugs and monitor consumers who are well, not just the unwell. This knowledge of the consumer and health observations are essential. RNs in aged care should be recognised for their skills and care.

Pharmacists in aged care are in a great position to support staff and GPs by recognising the role of staff and also supporting and developing medicine knowledge within the residential setting.

I work alongside them to share that responsibility. As pharmacists we must be cognisant that we don’t just get in, give information and get out. We need to work collaboratively; to audit, monitor, make recommendations and then review outcomes.

We also need to listen to staff and understand the realities they face on a day-to-day basis.

My role has highlighted the difference in pharmacists’ and nurses’ skills and how they are complementary. The current Residential Medication Management Review arrangement has a vital role to play but does not provide well for ongoing monitoring. Greater access to comprehensive reviews is essential. In future there will be a significant role for pharmacists in RACFs. A network of pharmacists in similar areas would further develop this speciality and could contribute to shaping future education needs and position descriptions.

The future is bright; but we must fight for it to demonstrate benefits in cost savings (avoidable hospital admissions, to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme) and consumer benefits (quality of life). There has been some work done in the area (particularly of pharmacist involvement in hospital discharge), but more is required.

The best outcomes are achieved with a team and care of an older vulnerable population is the responsibility of all of us.

Our wonderful in-house Pharmacist Kath Whisson was recently asked to talk about her experiences and learnings of being a pharmacist in the aged care industry and herHELPS thoughts RELIEVES PAIN. SLEEP.on the Royal Commission for WAKE FRESH. the Australian Pharmacist Journal. The opinion piece is in the October edition of the subscription only magazine which is out now.

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Occupational Therapy Week 2019

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October 21 to 27 is OT Week 2019. To celebrate we’ve been out an about at some of our WA homes getting some images of our OT’s in action.

This year’s OT Week theme is ‘What is Occupational Therapy’ and it aims to help highlight how occupational therapy supports people of all ages and abilities to engage in activities and live their best life.

It’s Allied Health Day on Friday, October 25 – so a morning tea will be held to help celebrate both events. Throughout the week you will see our OT staff in their bright green shirts to help raise awareness.

16/9/19 1:20 pm

We also currently have OT student placements at Concorde and Hamersley Aged Care Homes. As part of their placement project the students will be giving education to H&P staff on the OT role, re-enablement approach and how we can help consumers enjoy meaningful activities.

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.

If you have any story ideas please contact lifeandlove@hallprior.com.au or (08) 9321 1388.

CELEBRATING OUR WONDERFUL STAFF ON AGED CARE EMPLOYEE DAY On August 7 it was Aged Care Employee Day and to celebrate our ‘Compassionate People, Dedicated to Care’ we held morning teas at all of our homes in NSW and WA. The morning teas were a time to stop and thank one another as colleagues and a time for consumers and their families to say thank you for the wonderful care you provide every day.

Chief Executive Office Graeme Prior was at Caroline Chisolm Aged Care Home on the day and also made a video to say thank you to staff which was played at all of our homes.

“This is a rewarding, yet very challenging profession which often requires your complete devotion to others,” Graeme said.

“Your relationships with those you care for are vitally important, and the kindness you show them on a daily basis is greatly

appreciated by both the families and residents themselves.

“Across the world, the value of a community is reflected in how they care for their young, and their aged and frail. In my eyes it is one of the most important jobs in the world… to care for our elderly with both dignity and respect.

“You make a difference!

“From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your loyalty, your commitment and the tremendous work you do.”

We look forward to celebrating Aged Care Employee Day again in 2020.

FEATURE

LEADING THE CHARGE We’re entering a new era of aged care and leading the way at Hall & Prior are our Executive Director Regional Leaders. We sat down with them to talk about the future of the industry, and the opportunities for Hall & Prior as we continue to grow. By Beverly Ligman

Janelle, Deb and Daymon.

Planning for a long-term sustainable future is a large part of what we’ve been working towards at Hall & Prior in 2019.

Daymon said there were many opportunities on the horizon for Hall & Prior and he’s excited about what lies ahead.

As the business grows exponentially, so too does our pathway to prosperity and the need for reinforcing and promoting good governance throughout the group.

“We’ve entered an era now where the consumer is at the centre of all decision making,” he said.

“For too many years aged care has been about what providers think is best for the individual, not actually listening to the person, understanding and feeling what they want.

Earlier this year we had two new Regional Leaders join our Western Australian leadership team in Daymon Joseph and Janelle McFarlane; their job is to work alongside incumbent Regional Leader Deborah Sinclair-Lane with a renewed focus on promoting consumer care, compliance and commercially focused outcomes in our homes.

“The fact that we have the opportunity to be innovative in what has traditionally been a sector that has ‘done’ it this way for years is exciting. And I think the Hall & Prior family has a huge appetite to evolve into this space over the coming years.”

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Deb agreed saying that now was the time to embrace change in the industry.

“This is all about helping our consumers ‘live the life they choose’ and I feel honoured that I can play a small part in improving the lives of all residents who enter our homes; enriching them as much as possible during a time that can be challenging,” she said.

“I’m also very passionate about consumer dignity,” Janelle added “the focus of the new Aged Care Quality Standards is definitely heading in the right direction.”

Encouraging consistent demand for our services is a large part of the Regional Leader role, and is something they’re incredibly passionate about.

“Without a doubt our clinical teams are the best available in residential aged care,” Janelle said.

“I see my role as reminding our long-serving staff who perhaps have not had the opportunity to compare services that we are a premium service provider for elderly Australians who need exceptional care, but cannot afford high end accommodation.”

“Occupancy is a simple equation,” Daymon said.

“Create something the consumer wants and it will fix itself. I believe we have an amazing care model at Hall & Prior which simply needs to be marketed allowing us to tell our story to the community.

Understanding the market and presenting great first impressions is incredibly important. Supporting our DONs and relationship building is also critical. It’s also time to start leveraging some of the fantastic specialist services we offer.”

Working alongside General Manager Health & Care Services Jennifer Grieve has been a highlight for the Regional Leaders who say they will fiercely guard her legacy; Jen has been at the coalface of our Western Australian operations for more than a decade.

“There’s an obvious culture of care, thought and respect that is deeply ingrained into the business and Jen has led that by example. My intention is to continue to foster relationships internally and externally so the organisation continues to challenge itself in the commercial world but never loses that heart,” Daymon said.

“It’s been my absolute privilege to be mentored by Jen; she never ceases to amaze me with the grace, integrity and energy she puts into her role,” Deb added.

“Jen has steadfastly promoted the clinical integrity of health services at Hall & Prior and succeeded where many others have failed in our industry; ensuring consumers come first and clinical excellence is preserved despite financial pressure,” Janelle said.

Jen said with the Regional Leaders on board, the company is in safe hands.

“We are so much more than just aged care; we are peoples’ homes, a community; where they come to live and thrive and it’s our responsibility to provide the best possible care we can for them,” Jen said.

“Our Regional Leaders are a strong team who will lead us safely into the future and I have every confidence that Deb, Daymon and Janelle are exactly the right people for the job.”

CEO Graeme Prior said the Regional Leaders were carefully chosen because of their different skillsets.

“Having the Regional Leaders in place is a new approach for our business, but one that I knew we were ready for,” Graeme said.

“Deb, Daymon and Janelle combined bring a fantastic and much needed new skillset to the group that will allow us to work in a more strategic way.

“I believe with this team in place our vision for the future of the business is one step closer and I’m incredibly excited to see how the business continues to grow under their guidance.”

REGION 1

REGION 2

REGION 3

Janelle McFarlane

Daymon Joseph

Deborah Sinclair-Lane

RESPONSIBLE FOR:

RESPONSIBLE FOR:

RESPONSIBLE FOR:

Agmaroy

Freshwater Bay

Leighton

Concorde

Mosman Park

St Lukes

Kensignton

Hamersley

Capacity to participate

McDougall Park

Karingal Green

in strategic projects

Belmont

Clarence Estate

Mertome

Tuohy

Windsor Park

Rockingham

CELEBRATING THREE DECADES OF CARE What’s the longest you’ve stayed in one job? In September we were proud to celebrate Clancy Aliphon, who has worked at Hamersley Aged Care Home for a huge 32 years.

Starting his role as a carer on March 20, 1987, Clancy’s kind nature and dedication to his work quickly made him a favourite among those who live and work at Hamersley.

We are proud to support his transition to retirement by having an open discussion about retirement dates and work needs.

Hamersley’s Executive Manager Terri Woolhouse said working with staff to support them as they head towards retirement makes the process more pleasant for everyone.

“Retirement is meant to be a happy moment, not just the point when you’re too exhausted and sick of work to continue,” she said.

“By working with Clancy and assisting him to gradually reduce his hours, we know when he does eventually retire next year, it won’t be such a shock.”

After seeing his grandmother and uncle pass away when he was younger, Clancy decided to come to Australia to begin a career dedicated to care.

“For the first 10 years there was only a ramp, so it was hard work to assist residents in wheelchairs to get around the home,” he said.

“The key to providing good care is knowing the person,” he said.

“There has also been a lot of work done on the gardens, and it’s nice that everyone can sit out there and enjoy them.”

“When you take the time to get to know them well, you understand what motivates them and how you can relate to them best.

“I have had people in the past ask for me by name, they wanted me to care for them every day and they would be disappointed on the days I didn’t work.

“It’s really nice when they know your face because they become so happy.”

There have been a lot of changes in the three decades since Clancy started at the multistorey home, the first of which was the addition of a lift.

Clancy and the Hamersley team.

Congratulations Clancy on your incredible achievement!

While he has seen many staff come and go through the years, Clancy said the Hamersley team is more stable now, with far fewer agency staff. Having a consistent group of staff means consumers get to see the same friendly faces, and staff are able to understand their needs more.

Executive Manager Terri Woolhouse with Clancy.

CEO Graeme Prior with the Menaville team.

FARE THEE WELL MARGARET RAYNER Finding people who naturally have the disposition of compassion, dedication and kindness that reflects a residential aged care home’s true personality and character is rare; but Margaret Rayner has been that person at Menaville for more than 35 years.

Our wonderful Lifestyle & Wellbeing Officer is now retiring after dedicating more than three decades of her life to working at Menaville.

“It’s people like Marg that are woven into the fabric of our home and who add magic to not only our residents lives everyday—but to all the staff as well,” Director of Nursing, Emma Juretic said.

Marg’s last day was July 23, so we celebrated her new life by sending her out in style with a big lunch hosted by CEO, Graeme Prior, NSW General Manager, Kris Healy and all of the Menaville staff who are so fond of Marg.

Christine Rugless, Menaville’s administration angel, also put together a gorgeous and tear jerking PowerPoint slide show of Margaret at her best over the years; entertaining the residents and bringing love and light to our home.

Farewell Marg. Wishing you the best of times in your retirement.

You will always have a home here at Menaville!

DON Emma Juretic with Margaret and NSW GM Kris Healy.

WHITE OAK FORMS NEW ALLIANCE WITH LISLE VILLAGES White Oak Home Care Services have recently formed a new alliance with Lisle Villages, to become its preferred home care service provider.

Lisle Villages, based in Mount Claremont and Nedlands are a well-priced accommodation solution for retirees looking to downsize in Perth’s Western Suburbs.

The Villages have a distinct Mediterranean feel and provide a great lifestyle option for seniors who want to remain independent and engaged with their communities.

White Oak General Manager Treasa Lonergan said the new cooperation agreement gives residents a range of options and makes sense.

“This is about empowering Lisle Village’s residents to get the home care help they need, while also taking the stress out of the process,” Treasa said.

“It’s also a great opportunity for White Oak to become more well known in these communities and really help the residents enjoy their retirement by helping them navigate the often confusing home care system.”

Lisle Villages Mandy Green with White Oak’s Treasa Lonergan.

Lisle Villages General Manager Mandy Green said the agreement would also help clear up questions for her residents.

“Home care packages really are a minefield and to be able to have a trusted provider such as the White Oak team to refer our residents to will really help give them peace of mind,” Mandy said.

“White Oak and Hall & Prior are a family business and that resonates with us; this agreement will really help our residents navigate the system and get the help they need.

“I look forward to working with the White Oak team.”

As part of the agreement White Oak will host morning teas with residents to field any enquiries, run information sessions, provide free advice on home care and have a dedicated coordinator available at the Villages.

STRIKING UP CONVERSATIONS FOR MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT Each year on September 12, people around the country celebrate R U OK? Day, which aims to get people talking about mental health.

Started in 2009, the aim of the event is to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and provide people with the skills and knowledge to best support the people around them who are struggling.

This year’s theme was ‘Trust the Signs, Trust Your Gut & Ask R U OK?’ Regularly connecting with family, friends and colleagues and checking in when people don’t seem themselves is an important part of providing support. The

information and resources provided by organisations such as R U OK? can help people recognise the situations where someone needs support.

If you see changes in someone’s behaviour when stressful events are going on in their life, it’s time to ask R U OK? We held events at all of our homes on the day to spread the word, and remind staff of the support and resources they have access to, such as our Employee Assistance Provider.

This event at Tuohy Aged Care Home in Midland (in Perth’s east) was particularly poignant, as they remembered the loss of their beloved friend and colleague James several years ago.

By starting the conversation, you can make a difference.

If you or someone around you is struggling, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or go to www.lifeline. com.au or www.ruok.org.au/ findhelp

The following information was published by the Australian Medical Association in 2018 and 2019.

• Up to 7.3 million (45%) of Australians aged 16-85 • One in seven people will have suicidal thoughts will experience a mental health disorder in their at some point in their lives. lifetime. This includes depression, anxiety or a substance abuse disorder.

• The warning signs of deteriorating mental health can include feeling anxious or overwhelmed, • It is estimated that about one in seven children having difficulty in getting to or staying asleep, and adolescents aged between four and 17 or feeling disengaged from family, work, and life. years of age (13.9 per cent) experiences a mental illness each year. Attention deficit hyperactivity • GPs are often the first port of call for families and disorder is the most common mental illness. individuals with mental health concerns.

SNAPSHOT OF … SIRIUS COVE Sirius Cove is a joy to behold in the spring time… the gardens are abundant with flowers and tropicals as the home sits proudly atop a hill with a majestic view down to the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge. By Jacki Downs The Past Our home is tied deeply to the history of Sirius Cove and exists quietly on a residential street close to the greater Mosman shopping district.

Part of the Hall & Prior Group since 2007, Sirius Cove was named after HMS Sirius, flagship of the First Fleet, stationed in 1789 at what is now known as Mosman Bay or Great Sirius Cove. This site was chosen because it was a ‘convenient retired cove on the north shore’ - just six months later the ship Sirius was wrecked in the rough waters off Norfolk Island.

The Present Very positive changes are happening in the aged care industry in Australia. Increased publicity around the care of older Australians is promoting this industry to a larger base of talented and motivated medical

professionals that feel connected to the cause of caring for our nation’s vulnerable and frail.

Welcome Fraser Wunsch, Director of Nursing to Sirius Cove.

Having worked most recently at Mount Wilga Rehabilitation Hospital, Fraser has excellent experience of working with the elderly post falls and Orthopaedic or Neurological surgery.

But it’s not just Fraser’s fresh energy, education and experience that lights up Sirius Cove, it’s the connection she feels to the elderly through her love and respect of her Grandparents that makes it easy for Fraser to connect to her residents.

“I just enjoy getting to know everyone’s stories, our residents are so wonderful like that, they have so many enlightening stories that help me understand the world before I was even I in it,” Fraser said,

“Some have been through wars, some are artists – but all have gorgeous and genuine stories worth knowing.”

General Manager New South Wales Kris Healy said Sirius Cove is lucky to have Fraser on board.

“Her energy and drive has had the most positive impact on Sirius Cove and our residents,” Kris said.

“It’s so wonderful to see talented younger nurses moving into management roles in care homes, they bring a fresh approach and new eyes to an industry that is moving forward in leaps and bounds.”

Feeling the love Sirius Cove is becoming a popular choice for married couples. Eileen and Billy moved into Sirius Cove a month ago and have now been joined by another couple, Barry and Noreen.

Both couples get to enjoy married life in the comfort of a double room, which houses their personal belongings to make their new space feel ‘just like home’. Recently Eileen and

Billy were delighted to meet CEO, Graeme Prior during a visit to the home.

“Our philosophy is that we tune into our consumers needs and wants every minute of every day to ensure they are not only cared for clinically, but that they are feeling comfortable and safe as well as emotionally well and socially connected.

Having married couples live together in the home is such a special thing and has so many benefits to health outcomes,” Fraser added.

Making a house a home The staff at Sirius Cove go above and beyond to make consumers comfortable.

Fraser said she feels privileged to be able to work alongside them, caring for our consumers.

“The staff at Sirius Cove are amazing; a diverse group who come together under the common themes of care, compassion and kindness in the community,” Fraser said.

“From Registered Nurse Rupa to Team Leader Subash the staff have really impressed me with the genuine love and care they give to our residents.

They all know the quirks of each resident and always make sure they get everything right.”

“My philosophy has always been about connecting to the people I care for.

“And I really cherish the genuine and honest moments that I share with the people who need my skills.”

SPRING HAS SPRUNG AT MERTOME When Mertome Aged Care & Retirement Village became part of the Hall & Prior group earlier this year, many sets of hands descended on the 50-year-old site to return it to its former glory.

By Brianna Johnson

A key part of this transformation was the sprawling gardens, which had become unkempt prior to our acquisition of the site.

Hall & Prior’s Landscape Supervisor Josh Petrusma and his gardening team have worked hard since March to drastically improve the look and feel of the site.

“One of our first tasks was to prune back any heavy branches which were in danger of falling,” Josh said.

“Our ultimate aim was to bring more colour, vibrancy and continuity to the site, so it was important to have a plan so we could create a cohesive theme.

“We identified several high profile areas and upgraded them by removing any dead or unattractive plants, then we brought in a range of native plants with lots of colour.”

By including Australian plants such as kangaroo paw, banksia, tea tree and bottle brush, the gardens not only look beautiful, they will also require less long-term maintenance because they are already naturally adapted to our environment.

The space in front of the home’s front entrance has been transformed with the addition of a sitting area, fountain and lots of greenery.

It’s not just people who love the changes – local birds moved in almost immediately and are enjoying the range of native plants.

“The fountain and the sitting area around it was created as a place for people to take in some fresh air,” he said.

“Our aim was not to limit people to just enjoying the inside of the facility, this is a nice spot to sit and enjoy with family and visitors.”

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Their work didn’t stop at the external gardens, with the aged care home’s five internal courtyards also getting some much-needed attention.

Josh said that while the team’s project load is quite structured, he enjoys the variety of work across different seasons.

Mertome’s newly opened Memory Support Unit surrounds a courtyard which focuses on stimulating each of the five senses: sight, sound, touch, taste and smell.

“We have a skilled group of people with good attitudes,” Josh said.

Research has shown that being in a garden and sharing a space with other people can have physical, cognitive and social benefits, and helps to reduce stress levels.

“We incorporated plants and flowers with lots of colour and texture, and included wind chimes and a misting kit to make a bit of extra noise,” Josh said.

“During the planning stage, we looked at the existing plants and how much sun the space gets, then I find plants to match the temperate location or the theme.”

There are eight multi-skilled and passionate individuals who make the Hall & Prior’s landscape team. Many of them also have building qualifications, so they can provide extra support to tradesmen onsite during renovations.

Their roles focus on maintaining each of our 14 sites in the Perth metropolitan area; with mowing, hedging, regular mulching and fixing hazards such as uneven paving or other trip hazards.

“Our team is always happy to put our hands up to help on other projects when we can.”

With a love of gardening that developed at a young age, Josh has previously studied horticulture and is particularly interested in medicinal herbs and exotic plants.

“I really enjoy my role because I get to brighten up the lives of the people who live in Hall & Prior’s homes,” he said.

“Gardening is a big part of a lot of people’s lives, so it’s nice to see people enjoying a space that you worked really hard on.

“The only downside is that because our team is always so busy, my garden at home gets a bit neglected sometimes!”

Along with continuing to work on all of Hall & Prior’s sites, Josh said in the future he hopes to implement a sustainable recycling program, by composting or chipping green waste and using it for mulch.

Landscape Leading Hand Josh Petrusma.

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SPOTLIGHT ON…

YOUNG PEOPLE IN AGED CARE with FRESHWATER BAY & MOSMAN PARK AGED CARE HOME Director Of Nursing DEVI SUBRAMANIAN By Brianna Johnson As the Australian Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety continues, the focus recently turned towards the experiences of young people in residential aged care.

In this instance, young people refers to people under the age of 65.

The first round of hearings in Melbourne were held on September 9-11 and reconvened on September 13.

These sessions explored the profile of young people in aged care and the special challenges they face in seeking appropriate accommodation.

The Commissioners also heard case studies of eight people who were either currently living in residential aged care or had exited residential aged care. The testimonies highlighted a lack of options for young people who need 24-hour care, with many looking at aged care homes as a last resort.

It’s clear that the care of our nation’s young people has significant room for improvement. From restrictive policies and insufficient funding options, to the mistreatment and neglect from specific facilities that has come to light as part of the Royal Commission, this issue cannot be ignored.

To further explore this, we spoke to Hall & Prior Director of Nursing Devi Subramanian about the experiences of young

people living under her care.

Then and now When Devi first began working in the industry more than a decade ago, most people living in aged care homes were in their 70s and 80s. It wasn’t uncommon for people to live in the home for 15-20 years in some cases, but trends have changed dramatically since then.

“Residents used to be frail and elderly, along with another component of people with dementia. But people coming into my home now are younger and younger, often with mental health disorders or histories of substance abuse,” she said.

“We had a very grand 50th birthday celebration for a resident recently. It’s a huge difference from people celebrating their 80th birthday in an aged care home.”

Our approach To provide the best possible care knowing the person is key.

Their history, what they like and dislike, as well as what they need

to feel fulfilled is different for every individual.

Devi and her team combine planning, training and flexibility to provide choice, independence and dignity for consumers.

In one example, a younger resident was feeling disheartened because of the lack of freedom in her life.

“She wanted to go and do her own shopping every week, so we assisted her to create a schedule and worked out what busses she would catch,” Devi said.

“The first day she went out on her own, my staff and I were nervous that something would go wrong, but we knew we had to allow her the dignity of risk.”

Helping residents find a sense of purpose and connection is also an essential part of preventing isolation, and often involves being flexible with activities, because not everyone enjoys the same pastimes.

“We also run a men’s shed where our residents go out into the community and get to catch

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up and do woodworking or have a barbecue,” she said.

“It’s important to ensure the types of music, movies or events we put on, are inclusive of people from younger generations.”

Industry-wide challenges Even before the Royal Commission began, there were repeated calls to improve the way residential

aged care funding is calculated and distributed.

The Australian Government has been working since 2016 to strengthen this funding, which could include possibly replacing the existing funding assessment tool, the Aged Care Funding Instrument (ACFI).

The Government aims to make funding fairer and more stable, and improve assessment processes for funding so it is more accurate.

Devi said she believes the current funding model could better take into account the care requirements of people who are physically strong, but still need constant care.

“The young people I see coming through need a high level of care, but their ACFI score doesn’t reflect this,” she said.

Moving forward While Hall & Prior is able to provide appropriate and fulfilling care for young people, not every facility across Australia can do the same.

The Royal Commission has shown that along with changes to models of care to make them more inclusive for young people, the funding model also needs to be more sensitive to the costs associated with providing world-class care.

We look forward to the conclusion of the Royal Commission in March 2020, and welcome the positive changes to the industry which will improve care outcomes for all.

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PERTH Keeping fit is important and this year 83 of our Perth staff members committed to the cause by taking part in the 2019 Chevron City to Surf for Activ fun run.

For the first time this year we had a Finish Line Marquee to provide food and refreshments to walkers and runners and it was a big hit with everyone who took part.

Injury Management Co-ordinator and event organiser Ben Carrick said he was pleased the event is attracting more participants every year.

“It’s been great to see some new participants come forward and take part this year instead of just those who do it every year,” Ben said.

“A big thank you to Graeme for sponsoring the event and all of the support staff who make the day run smoothly.

“I encourage everyone to take part in the 2020 Chevron City to Surf next August; it’s a lot of fun, for a great cause.”

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CITY2SURF SYDNEY

Team Hall & Prior were easily spotted at the NSW City2Surf with their brightly coloured team shirts. Runners and walkers enjoyed pre-race excitement together (and photos) before the start horn sounded!

This year Hall & Prior partnered with the Children’s Cancer Institute for fundraising. The institute visited some of our homes to explain in detail where the funds raised go and how they help children with cancer.

Exercise and Mobility Coordinator, Laura Marsh said: “The morale throughout the morning was inspiring, uplifting and overall amazing to see. Positive energy flowing around from staff which carried on into the following week at work.”

Well done team Hall & Prior.

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IN OUR HOMES

SPEECH PATHOLOGY WEEK In August we held Mad Hatters morning teas at all of our homes to celebrate Speech Pathology Week 2019.

Our residents enjoyed sweet treats and decorated party hats as modelled here by Agmaroy Aged Care Home’s Hovea with Speech Pathologist Ash and Occupational Therapist Laura.

They also got together to make hats for the occasion and helped decorate the homes.

Speech Pathology Week’s theme this year was ‘Communicating with Confidence’.

WHAT A HONEY! Please allow us to introduce you to Clarence Estate’s cutest new staff member… Honey the Chihuahua.

Honey has been living at Clarence Estate for the past few months and can often be found lying on people’s laps in the William Eade Lounge, or exploring the gardens with consumers and their friends and families on sunny Albany afternoons.

A big hit at the home, Honey now has a huge extended family for pats and playtime as everyone at Clarence Estate adores her.

But her favourite time of the day is undoubtedly sitting on her Dad Alec’s lap as he watches a movie or enjoys a mid-afternoon nap.

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MR SPOONS DISHES UP AN AWESOME PERFORMANCE Living at Mertome Aged Care Home in WA, Michael (AKA Mr Spoons) has been impressing everyone with his incredible talent.

Hailing from the east end of London, Michael has been playing the spoons for almost 38 years.

“I’ve been using this same set of spoons the whole time,” he said.

“People think you can’t tune them but you can, because the way they’re shaped and what they’re made of changes the sound.”

His experience playing percussion has allowed him to be a substitute in a lot of bands, playing the shakers, the tambourine, and big Congo drums.

“You don’t see many people playing the spoons these days, so I think people like it because it’s a novelty,” he said.

“Most people use older songs or country music when they perform, but I prefer modern songs with a good tempo. It’s a lot of fun.”

Michael has showed off his skills for X Factor UK, and recently auditioned for Perth fundraiser Telethon.

Check out our Facebook page to see the video!

WINNERS ARE GRINNERS! Congratulations to our residents at Hamersley Aged Care Home; aka the ‘Hamersley Hurricanes’ who won the Live Lighter Aged Care Games in August.

Here’s a picture of the winning team in all their ‘Gangsters for the Games’ glory just before they were about to take part.

The Games are held every year by the Seniors Recreation Council of WA.

OVER THE MOON FOR MOON FESTIVAL It was exciting times at Clover Lea Aged Care Home recently, with celebrations for the annual Moon Festival in full swing. The home in Burwood Heights, NSW was decked out in red and yellow decorations and lanterns for the traditional Chinese celebration.

Also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival, it is a time to gather for a meal with loved ones and celebrate the year’s harvest by giving offerings to the moon.

At the centre of the event is the mooncake – a round pastry with a rich filling of red bean or lotus seed cake and the yolk from a salted duck’s egg. There are many different styles and fillings available, but the act of giving a mooncake as a gift and sharing it with relatives is a key part of the celebrations.

POP ON YOUR SOCKS! New South Wales homes recently received branded anti-slip socks as a gift for residents.

Our gorgeous Hall & Prior purple socks have special anti-slip moulding to help residents stay steady while moving around.

Physiotherapist, Jordan Lee highlighted clinical use and instructions for the socks to assist with slipping and mobility issues, these included:

• Non slip socks are provided to all consumers who have an increased falls risk and inability or wish not to wear shoes.

• Ensure the socks are the correct size.

• Make sure the socks are part of a safety care plan and handed over appropriately.

We all like to kick our shoes off when we’re at home, so a comfy pair of socks is perfect for those residents who don’t like to wear shoes.

The socks will also be gifted to new admissions.

When I felt my feet slipping, you came with your love and kept me steady. Psalm 94:18

EDUCATION CALENDAR

EDUCATION

There’s still time to learn this year with plenty of education offerings in WA for the second part of 2019. Don’t miss your chance!

Refresher Core Training

OCT

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Allied Health Study Day

OCT

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TENA Room Mayfair Street - 8am to 4pm

TENA Room Mayfair Street - 8am to 4pm

This is a full day session delivered throughout 2019. The target audience is Personal Carers, PCAPs, OTs, PTs, OTAs and Mayfair St staff. Topics will cover: H&P values + lifeworks, diversity and inclusion: ATSI + LGBTI + Meaningful Ageing, Person Centred Care: the consumer experience, quality, safety & compliance, infection control, OSH + manual tasks + fire and evac + hazardous substances, Dementia: the view from here, Dementia Training Australia, ACFI and clinical documentation, nutrition and hydration.

This full-day session is for Occupational Therapy Assistants to focus on their roles and responsibilities.

The new Aged Care Quality Standards will be explored, as well as seating, how to prevent pressure injuries, falls prevention and risk assessments. The session will also cover how to develop meaningful activities for consumers, including being inclusive of consumers with different cultural and spiritual needs. A guest speaker from Speech Australia will also present.

Advancing Practice of Care

OCT

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TENA Room Mayfair Street - 8am to 4pm Developed by Dementia Training Australia, this course is presented to care leadership teams. It will cover the different types of dementia, the diagnostic process and options for treatments and interventions. The course will also describe the social and lifestyle issues which may arise for a person with dementia, or their family or carers.

PCAP Study Day

NOV

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TENA Room Mayfair Street - 8am to 4pm This full-day session is for staff enrolled in Hall & Prior’s Personal Carer Advanced Practice program. Topics include quality and compliance; infection control, wound management; delirium and dementia; palliative care and clinical documentation. High risk situations such as assisting consumers who display pain or responsive behaviours will be covered, as well as mandatory reporting processes and procedures. Staff who complete the PCAP course can take on extra responsibilities such as completing documentation, assisting with checking vitals and supporting home clinical staff.

Manual Handling Leader Training

NOV

7

Location TBC: Contact Jen Davidson, OSH Coordinator - 8am to 4pm Facilitated by Clinical Documentation Coordinators this is for Manual Handling Leaders. Topics will cover: components of the H&P MH program, duty of care, risk assessment processes and leading work colleagues in best practice. It will also look at H&P training resources, manual handling competencies, the H&P checklist and maintenance training records.

ICT Computer Skills

NOV

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Resource Hub IT Training Room - 8am to 12pm This is a half-day session delivered on six days throughout 2019. The target audience is all new Hall & Prior employees who access IT resources. Topics will cover: Microsoft Office – Excel, Word, Outlook, keyboard shortcuts and basic troubleshooting. Intermediate and advanced training sessions include data analysis and reporting tools.

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

BERNICE’S MASTER ACHIEVEMENT It takes commitment and dedication to be a Director of Nursing in residential aged care.

And Bernice Anokye, DON at Shangri-La Aged Care Home in Hurstville, Sydney has both.

Never one to rest on her laurels, Bernice is now also celebrating completing her Master of Health Science specialising in Aged Care Management.

Completing her studies in July this year, Bernice chose to study units that are relevant to her role at Hall & Prior.

“I’m always looking to gain more knowledge to transfer into my daily working environment,” Bernice said.

“I feel I have extended my skills in managing resourcing around staff levels and expectation.

I’ve also enjoyed gaining a deeper understanding of the health care system in Australia and a richer understanding of my leadership role in our organisation.”

Bernice completed units such as; health and socio political issues in aged care, leadership for quality and safety in health care, public health policy and society, organisational governance and performance management and health workforce planning.

She said studying those units helped drive thought around care outcomes for the elderly and frail and ties in perfectly with her role in managing clinical outcomes, consumers, staff and overall business administration at Shangri-La. Another passion for Bernice is to work inclusively with both staff and residents to promote diversity.

“Australia is a multicultural country, especially some parts of Sydney, including Hurstville, so I feel it’s very important to make everybody feel welcome and safe – and to understand our cultural differences and rise above them to ensure we are communicating in ways that everyone feels

Education

respected and dignified,” she said.

Bernice grew up in Ghana where she was raised by her grandmother and large extended family.

“Life in Ghana was good and definitely interesting as we lived in a large family community where the interaction with other families always made life full of fun,” she added.

Bernice is now planning her next steps in personal development; investigating a post-graduate course in counselling which is an integral part of her daily role as a manager of staff and people with challenging clinical issues.

Congratulations Bernice, you are an inspiration.

MEALTIME SATISFACTION: LEADING THE WAY WITH CONSUMER FEEDBACK Food is an incredibly important part of the service we provide to our residents; so twice a year, our New South Wales the Nutrition & Hydration team run their Consumer Food and Mealtime Satisfaction Survey.

The purpose of the survey (offered to all current consumers at Hall & Prior homes to complete), is to research quality and satisfaction of meal delivery and ensure we continually improve and deliver on consumer-directed meal preferences.

Ahead of the last survey, the Lifestyle & Wellbeing teams at each home were introduced to the new survey format and guidance was provided on how to support residents when completing it.

“Involving family members to work with consumers who prefer family support or require translation to understand the questions has been very beneficial in receiving a true reflection of the wants and needs of all the cultural groups in our resident base,” Fiona McHugh, Director of Nutrition & Hydration said.

“We really aim to please and cover all international tastes and preferences with our menu selections.”

Results for the survey are due at the end of October, so stay tuned for new menu updates.

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PROJECT UPDATE

GEORGES ESTATE PROJECT UPDATE Works are progressing steadily at Georges Estate which is quietly taking shape in the Southern Sydney suburb of Penshurst in NSW. In September pads were poured on-site, landscape retaining walls and footings have been installed in the Southern dementia courtyard, rainwater tank walls and lids were poured, there’s been a pool excavation and in ground drainage has taken place to ready the ground for the facility.

Georges Estate is a world-class, 111 bed aged care home that is being purpose built by Hall & Prior with the future firmly in mind.

It will offer specialist dementia and wellness services and facilitate all levels of care needs.

The project is due for completion in late 2020.

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

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ROYAL COMMISSION UPDATE SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019 On Friday, September 13, the Australian Government announced that the Royal Commission into Aged Care has been extended for another six months.

The Commission, which began in October 2018, will now finish in March 2020.

Along with this news, the Government also announced the appointment of an additional Commissioner in the Honourable Tony Pagone QC. Mr Pagone will join Commissioners Richard Tracey and Lynelle Briggs; he is a former Federal Court Judge who retired last year and has a strong interest in social justice.

The six month Royal Commission extension will allow Commissioners to continue to hear evidence from Australians working and living in aged care.

Hearings have now taken place all over Australia and this extension will allow the Commission to hear evidence on new issues as they arise.

The interim report from the Commission will still be released in October 2019.

The most recent Royal Commission hearings were held in Melbourne and focussed on younger people in aged care.

The hearings deliberated on whether aged care was an appropriate place for younger people to live; especially those with disabilities and heard case studies of young people who are living in aged care or have previously lived in aged care.

The Commission also heard about the special challenges that younger people face in getting appropriate care and accommodation in the community.

October hearings will take place in Melbourne and focus on the Aged Care workforce. Then in November they move to Mudgee, NSW to talk about the provision of aged care in regional areas, before starting in Hobart in mid-November to highlight the aged care operations of selected aged care providers.

Hall & Prior welcomes the Royal Commission and believes it will lead to long-term sustainable improvements for the aged care sector.

If you would like any information regarding the Royal Commission or Hall & Prior’s submission, please email royalcommissionenquiries@hallprior.com.au

Our heartfelt sympathy to the loved ones of Commissioner Richard Tracy QC, the chair of the Royal Commission into Aged care Quality & Safety who passed away suddenly in early October. Our thoughts are with his family at this sad time.

Edging closer…

It’s all coming together in the Perth Hills region, as construction of our world-class aged care precinct Karingal Green continues to progress.

Located on Hawkevale Road in High Wycombe, the site is set for practical completion in January 2020.

And on October 7, Karingal Green’s commissioning team began working out on-site to plan the operational phase of the project.

Karingal Green will provide West Australians with a wide range of living options and specialist services.

The precinct will also offer health and wellbeing facilities including a wellness centre, cinema, hair and beauty salon and a heated swimming pool.

Seen here is our Karingal Green prototype suite, now in its final stages.

To register your interest visit www.karingalgreen.com.au

Designed by award-winning international architects Hassel Studio and built by Broad Construction,

www.karingalgreen.com.au

hallprior.com.au