Life&Love HALL & PRIOR
ISSUE 22 | CHRISTMAS EDITION
H E A LT H & A G E D C A R E G R O U P
THE JOY OF CHRISTMAS Celebrating the festive season in our homes
CEO Graeme Prior having a laugh with GM Health & Care Services WA Jennifer Grieve.
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IN THIS ISSUE 4
From the Chief Executive Officer
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News in Brief
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We say goodbye to Di Simpson
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The Joy of Christmas
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White Oak Golf Day
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Intergenerational playgroups
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Celebrating love at Clarence Estate
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Pride celebrations
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Fresh Fields Christmas recipe
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NSW Referral High Teas
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In our homes
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Fire & Emergency Training
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Spotlight On... Mary Somerset
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Mertome’s Memory Support Unit
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 Christmas really is the most wonderful time of the year.
As we face the new decade our business is robust and ready – and for that I thank you all.
And as 2019 draws to a close there is much to be grateful for at Hall & Prior.
And for those of you working over the Christmas break, thank you for the love, mercy and care you show our residents who are some of the most vulnerable in our society.
We are blessed to have a dedicated and passionate team of people who all take great pride in what they do. And beyond that, a team who genuinely wants to make the everyday lives of our residents better. It has to be said that 2019 was a tough year in the aged care sector. We faced many changes, along with a Royal Commission; but let me reinforce to you that the work we do on a daily basis is vitally important to every person we care for. I would like to thank you all for the hard work that has been done around the New Aged Care Quality Standards this year. From our clinical teams to corporate services, project teams and the dedicated DONs, nurses and carers who work in our homes there isn’t one part of the business that hasn’t rallied together to put our best foot forward in an often challenging climate. This is no small feat and I thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your continued dedication and loyalty. In 2020 we will celebrate the World Health Organisation’s global ‘Year of the Nurse and Midwife’ – stay tuned for further details. And I am also very pleased to share with you a sneak peek of our new purpose built health and aged care community Karingal Green on the back page of this issue. I think you’ll agree, this is the new era of aged care, taking shape before our eyes.
Your kindness, over what can be a lonely time for those without family is greatly appreciated. Staff from many different religions work in our homes; but whether you celebrate Christmas or not faith, friendship and family is incredibly important at this time of year.
This is no small feat and I thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your continued dedication and loyalty.
I wish you all a peaceful, prosperous and safe festive season with your families and look forward to coming back refreshed in 2020.
GRAEME PRIOR Chief Executive Officer
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GM NSW Kris Healy with award winner Marianne Buyuccan and CEO Graeme Prior. CEO Graeme Prior with General Manager Health and Care Services Jennifer Grieve
NEWS IN BRIEF LGBTI Conference breaks down Barriers Windsor Park Executive Manager Jayne Cummings represented Hall & Prior recently in Melbourne at the fourth National LGBTI Ageing & Aged Care Conference. The conference allowed Jayne to be part of a panel discussion and showcase the important work Hall & Prior has done to achieve the nationally recognised Rainbow Tick at Tuohy Aged Care Home in Midland. It also aims to break down some of the fears and barriers of LGBTI in aged care.
Meaningful Ageing Board Appointment Our Director of Quality & Education NSW Jennifer O’Connell has recently been elected to the board of Meaningful Ageing. The three year appointment will see Jennifer join GM Health & Care Services Jennifer Grieve who is part of a board subcommittee for Meaningful Ageing. Hall & Prior has worked with Meaningful Ageing for many years; using their resources in our training and education programmes.
Video Project launches on Remembrance Day Caring for Veterans in our homes and in the community with our home care service White Oak is a large part of what we do at Hall & Prior. Giving back to the veterans who served our country is very close to our CEO Graeme Prior’s heart. It’s fitting then, that on Remembrance Day 2019 we launched our video project and told the story of Harold Martin, a 103 year old WWII veteran who was a POW on the infamous Thai Burma Railway. You can see Harold’s story on our website and Facebook page. Harold lives with us at Clarence Estate in Albany. We look forward to sharing more of our amazing stories with you in 2020.
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Implementing IDDSI Focus
Sydney team visits Perth
Our Speech Pathologist Mel Trinca went to Sydney recently to take part in an important Speech Pathology Australia conference which focussed on the implementation of IDDSI (International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative) in aged care. The conference was hosted by Dr Julie Chichero and highlighted how we can improve the lives of adults living with dysphagia.
Members of our NSW and WA Corporate and Resource Teams met in Perth recently to prepare their 2020 plans.
Melissa said the conference provided practical information on assessment, recommendations, treatment and rehabilitation using a person-centred approach which she will now be able to share with staff in our homes.
In the coming year, we will be working hard to harmonise both states, bridging the gap between our operations in Perth and Sydney with increased integration between teams. Sharing knowledge and resources across our organisation will help us learn from each other as we strive to deliver the best possible care in the new decade.
Occupational Therapy Week 2019 Our busy team of Occupational Therapists spent OT Week 2019 out in our homes helping our residents engage in fun activities and encouraging meaningful connections. This year’s theme was ‘What is Occupational Therapy?’ and encouraged our OT team to highlight what they do in our homes every day. Senior Occupational Therapist Madelyne Glover said OTs play an important role in aged care. “From looking at seating needs to falls prevention, providing our staff with support and guidance to organising activities and enabling our consumers
to live their best life, no two days are the same for our busy OT team,” Maddy said. “It’s incredibly important to enable our consumers to have as much independence as possible, while also maintaining their safety and looking at dignity of risk factors. OT Week is organised by Occupational Therapy Australia.
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.
Lady Di We say goodbye to
Last month we bid a very fond farewell to Di Simpson, our wonderful, sharp witted Director of Nursing at St Luke’s Aged care Home in Subiaco. Di has devoted an incredible four decades of her life to caring for others; she has been part of Hall & Prior since its inception in 1992 and as such is central to the history of our organisation. We celebrated Di with an afternoon soirée in St Luke’s beautiful gardens to say thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all the years of love, mercy and care Di has shown both our residents and our staff. Thank you Di… you will forever be a part of the H&P family!
Di Simpson with CEO Graeme Prior and Di with her Mum Doreen who lives at St Luke’s Aged Care Home in Subiaco.
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1. Di with staff from St Lukes. 2. MLA Bill Marmion with Di and Subiaco Lord Mayor Penny Taylor. 3. Jennifer Grieve, Michael Hall, Di and Graeme Prior. 4. Sue Robinson with Michael Hall, Fiona Prior and Joan Hall. 5. Di with her family. 6 Di shares a moment with resident Gina.
FEATURE
THE JOY OF
CHRISTMAS
Bridging the gap between young and old makes for meaningful connections at our homes, especially at Christmas time... By Jacki Downs
There’s something beautiful about the innocence of children paired with the wisdom of age. And the smiles on our residents’ faces make it easy to see why intergenerational playgroups are such a joyous part of the festive season at Hall & Prior.
Although the playgroups are not new to Hall & Prior they have captured the media’s attention recently with the ABC Show ‘Old People’s Home for 4 Year Olds’. The show highlights the important connection between generations.
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These simple human connections provide a host of benefits to both parties; giving our residents a dose of fun and innocence and the children a generational connection when grandparents are geographically far away or have been lost. The kindergarten group that visits Clover Lea Residential Aged Care Home regularly is Seedling Kids; a privately owned child care centre in Croydon Park. Their motto is ‘planting seeds of knowledge in growing minds’ which fits perfectly with the passing on of knowledge from the elderly to the young. “Seedling Kid’s partnership with Clover Lea has supported children to build stronger communication skills, grow emotional awareness and develop caring respectful relationships with seniors,” Seedling Owner and Supervisor Angela Nucifora said. “The children are learning to be inclusive, and to value diversity; not everyone’s the same. Some of the residents can’t talk, some of them can’t move, some of them say funny things!” Our residents response to the children is all Clover Lea’s Director of Nursing Irene Whippy needs to keep the relationship thriving. “It really is wonderful to see,” she said. “It’s not just our residents that gain benefits from these visits, the kids have a great time, it’s a little field trip for them where they get to have a chat about what’s important to them to an audience that is more than happy to listen. “When I chat to the parents and staff from the kinder groups it’s evident that they also gain much from the experience; they have a wonderful feeling of connectedness and community spirit when they take the time out their days to chat with our residents.”
Grafton residents and children share a moment.
Staff members from Clover Lea also say that the sounds of children’s laughter, really brightens up the home. The playgroups are always structured with interesting activities for the children and residents to enjoy such as cooking, board and card games as well as craft, drawing and painting activities. Grafton Aged Care home in NSW has also created a specific connection with their local Indigenous pre-school. The children have been visiting regularly throughout 2019 and an official six-week program will start in 2020. Connecting with this particular group of children has had an incredibly positive effect on our Indigenous residents who enjoy passing on the knowledge of their local area tribes to younger generations. One thing is for sure; 2020 will continue to see a growing intergenerational connection between young and old at Hall & Prior’s homes.
Intergenerational playgroup research highlights the following benefits for aged care residents: • • • •
Greater community engagement. Social interaction and social well-being (reducing social isolation). Engaging previously disengaged residents – giving a sense of ‘something to look forward to and the ability to participate fully in society. Facilitating positive interactions between generationally different people.
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WHITE OAK
TEES OFF FOR RSL GOLF DAY As part of White Oak’s ongoing commitment to RSLWA and WA’s veteran community, Hall & Prior and White Oak staff spent Friday, November 1 at Royal Perth Golf Club.
The “Help our Heroes” Charity Golf day was a first for the RSLWA, and White Oak was very proud to be part of their inaugural event - working alongside the League to bring awareness and help raise much needed funds so they can continue to provide comradery and assistance to veterans and their families. The White Oak team was joined by two members of Lisle Villages board Greg Hill and Gary Mackintosh who also played on the day. While the weather gods were certainly against our teams on the day and many teams retired early, the White Oak and Hall & Prior teams continued on valiantly; successfully obtaining the prize for the last placed team. We will endeavour to move up the ranks next year!
The White Oak team get set to putt up a storm at Royal Perth Golf Club, making the most of the chance to interact with RSLWA.
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BIG SMILES with intergenerational playgroup
If you walk past Agmaroy Aged Care Home in Wilson on a Monday morning, you might just hear the magic sound of children’s laughter. By Brianna Johnson
It’s an exciting time at the home, with a weekly intergenerational playgroup bringing together kids and seniors. The group started in June, with parents and children from the local community visiting for several hours to play and interact with those living at the home. Agmaroy Aged Care Home’s Occupational Therapist Laura Wilkinson said it had quickly become many of the residents’ favourite activity. “There are so many benefits of intergenerational playgroups, particularly the increased social
interaction for consumers who don’t usually participate in group activities,” Laura said. “It’s good for kids to exposure to older people aged care, especially if aren’t able to spend time their own grandparents.
get and they with
“It’s the same for residents who may not get to see their grandkids often, just being around little ones is a lovely experience.” The group was organised by Playgroups WA, who advertised it to local families in the area.
Since the television show ‘Old People’s Home for 4 Year Olds’ launched in August 2019 on ABC TV, public awareness around the benefits of children interacting with our community’s elders has grown exponentially. “We’ve had a lot more interest in families wanting to join our group since the show started,” Laura added. “It’s really nice to have parents and children regularly visit our home and develop friendships.”
To find out more about the playgroup please contact Agmaroy Aged Care Home on 9458 1524.
Love
A Celebration of
at Clarence Estate
Having companion rooms for married couples to call home in their twilight years has always been a selling point of Clarence Estate, Wayne Harrington from Southerly Magazine finds out why it’s so important‌
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CLARENCE Estate is very proud to be playing an important role in the community by keeping couples together. Executive Manager Kristi Holloway said Clarence Estate was designed on a unique model which allows for great flexibility. “We have a combination of single rooms and companion rooms with en-suites, so it allows couples to share rooms like they would have at home,” she said.
rooms – something that is incredibly important to CEO Graeme Prior. “It’s about love and intimacy and staying together at this crucial time of life,” Graeme said. “Having double rooms isn’t a popular choice in aged care, but we think it’s very important.” There are five happy couples who call Clarence Estate home; and they come from all walks of life.
“This is quite a drawcard for Clarence Estate.
Naturally enough, because of the Albany location, there are several ex-farming couples among them.
“Couples can have a shared room with an ensuite; two single rooms with separate en-suites; or shared bedrooms with a second room as a living room.
Len and Rae King were farmers at Tambellup. Mrs King started her working life as a teacher in various schools around WA before the couple married in 1955.
“Other couples have separate, shared rooms with other people, but they come together throughout the day.”
They had four children, resulting in grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Clarence Estate was purpose built by Hall & Prior in 2002. The company is one of the only aged care providers which designs and builds companion
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They cherish their time together at Clarence Estate. “You certainly won’t hear anyone here complain about the lack of attention!” Mrs King said.
The gorgeous Clarence Couples come together for a group shot.
Fellow retired farmers Allan and Doris Brown – who had a property at Chorkerup between Albany and Mt Barker – echoed the Kings’ comments.
“We went to Perth first, but we didn’t like it. I found it very nerve-wracking having to go up there,” Mrs House said.
“Doris is 101 and we haven’t had to be separated, which is wonderful,” Mr Brown said.
“Then, having to drive in here each day to see Alec was hard, so when it all got too much I moved in here as well. It’s wonderful.
“Other than being at home, this is as good as you could get. The staff are terrific.” Jim and Margaret McCabe were married in 1952 and farmed in various places around WA, including Pingelly, Brookton, Boxwood Hill and Narrikup. They have three children, seven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. The McCabes have lived at Clarence Estate since early 2019 and have adapted quickly.
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“It’s about love and intimacy and staying together at this crucial time of life,” Graeme said.
“The staff are wonderful, the food is wonderful and the outings are wonderful. Everything is so good,” Mrs McCabe said. “It’s quite amazing that we’ve met up with so many people that we know – people who we haven’t seen for years.” Their grand-daughter Kristie Moore visited recently and expressed her joy at the homely feel of their new surrounds. Clarence’s other farming couple is Alec and Daphne House who had land at Green Range and Lower Kalgan. Mr House was the first to move into Clarence, and Mrs House followed later.
“In my unit I felt I was alone, but I’m definitely not alone here.” Mr and Mrs House also care for a very special member of the Clarence Estate Team – “Honey” the dog. “She’s 11. We got her a few years ago as a companion for Alec,” Mrs House said. “You couldn’t live without her. She follows me everywhere. When I need her to be quiet I sit her on Alec’s knee and she stays there. “She knows everything about the place. She knows she has to stay quietly in my room when the other residents are having their meals.” The fifth couple living at Clarence Estate is Roy and Beatrice Little whose story is vastly different from their neighbours. Mrs Little was born near Strawberry Hill at Mt Clarence, the daughter of pioneering Albany lawyer C.T. Watkins. She became a highly-credentialled librarian and worked overseas, where she met her soon-to-be husband, Roy. Mr Little was born in Canada and was the Director of the Canadian Film Institute in Ottawa. The couple moved to Australia to be married. The Littles enjoy having their own living room and shared bedroom at Clarence. “It’s nice to be able to reach out and hold her hand at night to reassure her that I’m there,” Mr Little said.
This article first appeared in Southerly Magazine October 2019 issue. Look out for Southerly stands in all Albany shopping centres, newsagents and cafes. For information on Clarence Estate visit www.clarenceestate.com.au
JOINING THE FIGHT AGAINST CHILDHOOD CANCER In 2019 Team Hall & Prior helped support the fight against childhood cancer by donating money raised from the Sydney City2Surf to the Children’s Cancer Institute. CEO Graeme Prior generously agreed to match staff and residents fundraising efforts and handed over a cheque to the Children’s Cancer Institute at Clover Lea Aged Care Home. Working together as an organisation, Hall & Prior staff and residents raised a fantastic $1,046 to help support research.
The Children’s Cancer Institute aims to cure all children of cancer.
“Hall & Prior is all about love, mercy and care; we are big supporters of giving back, and it’s great to see our staff and residents donating out of the kindness of their hearts,” Graeme said.
“Our vision is to save the lives of all children with cancer and improve their long term health, through research,” Executive Director Professor Michelle Haber AM said.
“This kind of donation says a lot about the staff we have caring for our residents. It’s an honour to match their goodwill.”
Fundraising at Hall & Prior NSW overall saw an incredible $51,675 raised for the cause.
The fundraising partnership between Hall & Prior and The Children’s Cancer Institute originated this year when our staff health and wellbeing event for the Sydney City2Surf connected the two organisations. The match of organisations created a synergy of great teamwork aiming for solid fundraising outcomes to help children with cancer as well as providing great ground support for the Hall & Prior staff that participated in the event. It is easy to see how our organisational values aligned when it comes to providing better outcomes of health and care to Australians across the age continuum.
Hello Hall & Prior! 1
P Tuohy Aged Care Home’s Urvashi Halai, Fiona Clarkson and Mina Pindolia celebrate PrideFEST.
Pride Colour and fun could be seen throughout Tuohy and Windsor Park Aged Care Homes during November, with our annual Pride celebrations in full swing.
Staff got involved by dressing up and decorating the home, as well as a special rainbow-themed morning tea. Based in Midland in Perth’s east, Tuohy has championed inclusive care for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) elders since 2014. The home was successfully accredited for the nationally recognised Rainbow Tick in 2018, which champions organisations which provide safe and inclusive services for LGBTI people. They are currently Western Australia’s only aged care facility to achieve this prestigious qualification.
As part of Perth’s month-long PrideFEST celebrations, the team from Tuohy also took part in Fairday, a family-friendly event held at Hyde Park in the CBD in October. Executive Manager Jayne Cummings, Director of Nursing Mina Pindolia, Clinical Nurse Manager Urvashi Halai and Administration Officer Fiona Clarkson were on hand to spread the word about Tuohy’s inclusive model of care. This year marks 30 years since more than 300 protestors took to Parliament House in West Perth in support of decriminalising homosexuality. The following year saw the start of Pride Month celebrations, which have continued to grow exponentially since. We Stand With Pride You Can Tuohy...
The team at Windsor Park celebrating Pride.
A Sweet Christmas Treat General Manager of Fresh Fields Eric Frahamer loves nothing better than a good Christmas bake off. He shares with us his favouritre Christmas Austrian family recipe.
In Germany and Austria there’s nothing sweeter at Christmas time than making Lebkucken together. Lebkuchen is a spicy sweet gingerbread treat for the whole family that’s hung on the tree to mark the start of the festive season. “These biscuits are part of my fondest memories growing up; making these with my Mum, brother and sister in Austria and Australia, was always a highlight of Christmas for me, so this year I wanted to share the joy of Lebkuchen with my Hall & Prior family,” Eric said. “To be honest the hardest part of this recipe is making sure the biscuits actually make it to the tree!”
Lebkuchen • 500g raw sugar • 560g plain flour • 100g honey (1/3 cup) • Four eggs • 1tsp bi-carb soda • 1 tsp each ground cloves and nutmeg • Rind of one lemon (finely grated) • Blanched almonds (one per biscuit) Mix eggs and honey briskly and add ground cloves and nutmeg, plus finely grated lemon rind. Combine dry ingredients in a bowl and add egg mixture. Mix well then roll out into ¼ inch thickness, cut into round shapes (or hearts, stars or trees) and glaze with extra beaten egg. Place blanched almond in centre, and cut small holes in the top of the biscuits to hang on the Christmas tree. Place on a greased and lined oven tray in medium oven (200 degrees Celsius) and bake for approx. 15 minutes. Let cool, thread ribbon through the holes and then get ready to hang on the tree. Then on Christmas Eve, eat and enjoy.
SHOWCASING THE POTENTIAL TO CHANGE LIVES By Jacki Downs
Learning on the job is an important life skill that student dietitians and speech pathologists are getting at Hall & Prior thanks to the University of Sydney. Every day our Dietitians and Speech Pathologists work with residents to enhance their quality of life.
practical experience students.
The work placements organised by the University of Sydney’s Dietetic and Speech Pathology departments allow university students to learn clinical skills in real life situations.
“We offer an observation/introduction to aged care one day placement for second year undergraduate students,” Emma said.
This helps students transition from a study life into responsible daily practice equipping them for careers as effective and confident clinicians. NSW’s Director of Nutrition & Hydration Fiona McHugh and Speech Pathologist Emma Christiansen said the program is mutually beneficial. The students gain valuable insight into working in the residential aged care environment and Hall & Prior has the opportunity to showcase our business and industry through integrated learning. “The work they do with us exposes them to clinical assessments, which is a great way for them to understand the clinical documentation process of a resident’s journey,” Fiona said. Emma agreed saying the program was great
for
speech
pathology
“We do this once a year and take two to four students into our Fairfield Aged Care Home. There are also opportunities for students to experience speech pathology in residential aged care with a block placement for final year Masters students. The placement involves a higher amount of clinical work, health promotion activities and assisting with nursing and kitchen staff education.” The University of Sydney also approached Fiona and Emma to be guest lecturers to talk to students about speech pathology and dietetics within the aged care industry. They illustrated to students a ‘day in the life of a clinician’ and also focussed on person centred care and how to work with allied health teams. “We were able to showcase roles within aged care organisations and show what we can offer in regards to future work opportunities.”
A JOLLY GOOD HIGH TEA TIME Sumptuous high teas were the order of the day when Hall & Prior’s referral network came to visit our NSWs homes recently allowing us to highlight our services...
Throughout October various staff from local health districts including placement officers, social workers and Allied Health visited our homes to enjoy tea, cakes and home tours. Our Allied Health teams also invited their public health colleagues to partake in home tours which gave them an insight into our continuum of care and the services Hall & Prior can provide following a discharge from the public health system. The messages our staff delivered to the visiting community were;
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Our teams aim to strengthen relationships with public health teams to ensure information sharing in regards to amenities, knowledge and accessibility for our residents.
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Hall & Prior’s structure and processes allow our specialist resource teams to deliver rapid and appropriate action and referrals to deliver best practice care to our residents.
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Our locations are in prime areas of NSW.
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Our care philosophy is that quality care is for everyone. We live our motto; ‘Compassionate People, Dedicated to Care’.
The high tea initiative was part of an overall occupancy drive to ensure we continually communicate with our referral network; and encourage these relationships and education to thrive in our homes.
There’s always time for tea!
We celebrate the Festival of Lights Across our 25 aged care homes, we proudly celebrate the cultural diversity of our staff and residents. In October, several homes held events for Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. Originating in India, Diwali marks the end of the summer harvest season and symbolises the victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance. Celebrations include dressing in colourful saris, decorating with candles and gathering with friends and family to share meals and sweets. Our homes in Perth and Sydney pulled out all the stops with vibrant events featuring music, dancing and traditional Indian food.
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IN OUR HOMES
Disco
Nights Mosman Park staff and residents had a fantastic night together recently when they held a 70s and 80s themed disco. With many young residents in her care Director of Nursing Devi Subramanian decided to bridge the age gap between everyone by using the power of music. Staff donned their best disco costumes and enjoyed disco classics with residents old and young including; The Village People, ABBA and Donna Summers. The night was rounded off with some cool new tunes; the biggest hit was Flo Rida’s ‘Low’ which saw a fabulous 92-year-old resident competing with staff to get as low as he could on the dance floor.
Cheers to 72 years of love Two of our residents from Concorde and Kensington Park Aged Care Homes celebrated a big marriage milestone recently when they celebrated 72 years of wedded bliss. Allan and Audrey celebrated their wedding anniversary at Kensington Park Aged Care Home in October and said the secret to their long union was being in love always giving each other enough space. Our heartfelt congratulations to a wonderful couple.
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Halloween Residents and staff got right into ‘the spirit’ of things at the end of October when many of our homes celebrated Halloween. Staff and residents at Tuohy Aged Care Home in WA and Fairfield Aged Care Home in NSW enjoyed the day by spending time together, watching Halloween themed movies and generally having a spooky time. Woolworths Midland Gate in WA even donated Halloween treats to Tuohy for our residents to enjoy on the day, making sure they considered all of our dietary requirements.
Happy Trick or Treat!
Animal Farm visits Mosman A mobile animal farm visited Mosman Park Aged Care Home recently delighting our residents with all manner of furry friends. Chicken, sheep, rabbits and even an adorable miniature pony all visited the home, interacting with residents and making them smile. Many of our residents had farms and pets so the animals from A Farmyard on Wheels made for a very pleasant day indeed.
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IN OUR HOMES
Knitting for a cuddly cause Residents at Leighton Aged Care Home have broken out their knitting needles and wool to help koalas affected by the recent bushfires in New South Wales and Queensland. Long-time knitters Ida Veness and Antica Melvan are using their decades of experience to create mittens for injured adult koalas and pouches and blankets for babies displaced by the natural disaster. The items will be given to local group Rescue Craft Collective, who will donate them to wildlife rescues in affected areas.
Everyone at the West Perth home also got to enjoy a visit from a local koala and a couple of other native friends recently. Perth group West Oz Wildlife brought 12-year-old koala Kiera to check out the knitting project, as well as a dingo and a bobtail lizard for everyone to pat and learn about. Leighton Occupational Therapist Kelsey Gibson said there was a really positive response from all of the home’s residents during the visit. “Many of the people who live at Leighton have had pets or grew up on their farms, so being able to engage with animal is a meaningful activity for them,” Kelsey said.
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Tuohy gets Out and About Residents at Tuohy have been enjoying the gorgeous weather lately, getting out and about enjoying activities. Mini golf has been a big hit with residents, even those in wheel chairs who love to have a putt!
live and then they enjoyed a lovely picnic in the gardens. Residents then exchanged stories, spoke about nature, identified flowers and plant types and generally had a wonderful day spent in nature.
The team at Tuohy aim to run mini golf twice a month and residents love it. Golf has a wide range of benefits for their cognitive, social and motor skills and gets our residents outside in the fresh air. Tuohy residents also took a bus trip to Araluen Botanic Park in November to enjoy the stunning gardens. The bus took a scenic route through the vineyards where many of our residents used to
Leighton Garden Fete
On a sunny weekend in October Leighton Aged Care Home in West Perth celebrated its bi-annual garden fete with cake stalls, raffles, a chocolate wheel and plenty of good old fashioned fete fun. Plenty of visitors from the community along with staff, family and friends came along to the fete to buy cakes, take home gorgeous plants and try their luck on the chocolate wheel. There were plenty of winners on the day so a big thank you to everyone who came along and made the event such a success. And to the staff who manned the stalls.
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STAFF TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT STATISTICS Education remains vital to the future of our business and we continue to invest heavily in the ongoing growth of our staff. People are at the very core of our business; they remain our passion and our purpose… whether they are our consumers or our staff. As we take steps to further realise the vision of the company for the next decade; education is at the forefront of having an engaged, dedicated and compassionate workforce. The new Aged Care Quality Standards launched in 2019, and education will remain a strong focus for the business in 2020 and beyond. Between January and June of 2019 we delivered a total of 9,600 hours of education and training to our staff. That’s 60 sessions of learning that took place; in addition to ongoing training at our homes and central Hall & Prior teams.
60 LEARNING
SESSIONS OF
ON AVERAGE
20
PEOPLE
ATTEND EACH
SESSION
Up to 20 people on average attend each session. In the second half of the year from July to December we delivered an outstanding 13,528 hours of education across the organisation – which does not include the ongoing education that’s happening almost daily in our homes. The total education hours across Hall & Prior in 2019 was 23,128. “We cannot underestimate the importance of training in an industry that is changing rapidly,” Hall & Prior Manager of People and Risk Linda Jackson said. “Giving our staff the training and resources they need helps them to stay agile and informed while also helping them provide the best possible care and services they can to our consumers and their families.”
23,128 HOURS OF
EDUCATION & TRAINING ACROSS 2019
Education
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TRAINING HEATS UP AT MAYFAIR ST Mayfair Street staff were put through their paces recently when annual Fire and Emergency Training took place. The training taught staff how to put out fires in the work place or home with a fire blanket and also how to use types of fire extinguishers safely. Led by Gareth Deeg from Fire WA this important training is integral to the safety of those who live in our homes and also creates an awareness of any fire dangers as we approach another sweltering hot summer in WA. In 2020 each of our homes will also receive a new Emergency Plan. The plan will ensure our policies and procedures are in-line with national standards for residential aged care homes.
Each year, all of our facilities complete a series of drills and group training sessions to prepare for emergencies. “Our extensive training program is in place to make emergency responses second-nature for staff,” Occupational Health & Safety (OSH) Coordinator Jenni Davidson said. “When the alarm goes off, our residents are relying on us to know exactly what to do.” Hall & Prior works closely with Fire WA over the course of the year to conduct all training including procedures and operation of equipment. The program also includes extensive training for home management staff such as Directors of Nursing, Clinical Nurse Managers and other senior team members. “Because we care for people with limited mobility, our staff need additional training to assist them,” Jenni said. “We have very good emergency procedures and our staff are exceedingly well-trained.”
Education
SPOTLIGHT ON…
MAYFAIR STREET RECEPTIONIST, MARY SOMERSET By Beverly Ligman
As the friendly face of our organisation, Mary welcomes visitors to Hall & Prior, takes care of our reception and admin needs and answers the phone and our myriad questions daily. For Mary Somerset, being the first face people see when they walk into Hall & Prior is an important and rewarding job. She’s been part of the H&P family for 11 years now and says every day is a good day when you’re surrounded by such a helpful team. “The company has grown and prospered so much since I first started, we have seen a lot of new staff join Mayfair Street recently and it’s a really lovely mix of people,” Mary said. “I know it’s a cliché, but it really is a joy to come to work every day when you work with so many kind hearted and caring people. “Our industry has been under the spotlight recently with the Royal Commission and everyone has been working really hard; but we always find the time to help each other out and give each other a smile; I think that says a lot about the company.” An average day for Mary could involve taking care of the mail bags that go to our 15 WA homes, preparing lunch for core training staff, submitting ACFI submissions to Medicare and checking on their progress, meeting and greeting visitors,
ordering stationary and generally helping the management team with any ad hoc administration needs. The constant demands of the role tie in nicely to Mary’s personal work motto; ‘always do your absolute best and be efficient’. But she said without a doubt the best thing about Hall & Prior is our people. “The highlight of this role for me is the people I work with and for every single day. And that starts from the very top,” Mary said.
“I’ve always done reception roles, and I think in this busy digital age, there’s really something to be said for still having a receptionist to greet visitors,” she said. “The old adage is true – you never get a second chance to make a first impression. “Aged care has come a long way in the last 10 years and I believe there will be more choices for consumers in how they live from this point onwards.
“I know it’s a cliché, but it really is a
When she’s joy to come to work every day when not at work Mary enjoys you work with so many kind hearted watching movies (and and caring people.” especially loves the old black and white classics) “It’s an exciting time to be part shopping and eating out. of a constantly evolving industry and I’m very proud to say that Originally growing up on a farm I’ve been part of the journey down south in Balingup, Mary with Hall & Prior.” realised early on in her career that a front facing role in an organisation would work well with her warm and cheerful personality.
REMEMBRANCE DAY 2019 Each year on November 11 Australians across the nation observe a two minute silence to remember those who have suffered or lost their lives as a result of war or conflict.
Remembrance Day 2019 marks 101 years since the guns fell silent on the Western Front at 11am on 11 November, 1918. War has touched the lives of many of our staff, the residents we care for and their families, and it’s important that as a nation we continue to remember, so we can learn from the past. Lifestyle Officers in New South Wales run a program every year to create artwork with our residents in the lead up to Remembrance Day. Then our homes transform into ‘art galleries’ as the artwork is proudly displayed for visitors to enjoy. Fairfield Residential Aged Care Home also has a special connection to the armed services through Director of Nursing, Eva Ballai who served in the Royal Australian Army Nursing Corp eight years ago.
On November 11 Eva wore her full army uniform to work in honour of those fallen. “I feel a close affiliation with Remembrance Day and all those who served for their country. And I understand the emotions that our Veteran’s might experience on Remembrance Day,” she said. “Wearing my uniform made the day very authentic. I shared my story about a study trip called ‘In the Footsteps of the WWI Nurses’ and many of the residents wanted to take a picture with me – I’m honoured and humbled by that.” To commemorate the occasion Fairfield staff also set up a special table of Remembrance Day for the ‘Missing Solider’ to represent a space for all those who did not made it home after war. In Western Australia WWII POW Survivor Harold Martin told his story to our CEO Graeme Prior. Mr Martin is now 103 years old and was held captive at the infamous Thai Burma Railway by Japanese soldiers. He lives with us at Clarence Estate in Albany.
Lest We Forget.
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MENAVILLE SUPPORTS HOMELESS YOUTH The reality of being homeless is not one to be taken lightly, so when Menaville staff had the opportunity to take part in a sleep-out to raise funds for homeless youth they didn’t hesitate. By Jacki Downs.
On the first Friday in November Menaville’s Emma Juretic, Christine Rugless, Navi Kaur, Amber Heywood and retired Lifestyle Officer, Margaret Rayner faced a stark reality. They would be homeless for the night. The group ‘slept rough’ in a shelter made of cardboard boxes to support Stepping Stone House and homeless youth. Held in Hickson Road Reserve in The Rocks in Sydney, the Menaville ladies were lucky that Sydney put on a sparkling, starry night for them to sleep outdoors The reality for Sydney’s homeless night after night is a very different story. Stepping Stone House is a not-for-profit organisation that provides medium to long term accommodation for young people who are homeless, at risk of homelessness or are living away from their families aged 12 to 24 years old. Established in 1989, they aim to develop their residents through motivational learning including outdoor education and adventure. Stepping Stone’s ultimate outcome is to help their residents be the best they can be. The house plays an important role in assisting young people to meet their primary needs for food, water, shelter and safety.
“As a team we raised almost $4,000 to donate to Stepping Stone, which was well above our nominated target,” Menaville DON Emma Juretic said. “And we were delighted to come third place in the shelter design competition on the night. “In the lead up to the sleep out we ran some fun events at Menaville to raise funds; our favourite was the staff Pyjama Day when we all had a very ‘comfy’ day working in pyjamas. We are proud to be supporting such a worthy cause.” The Menaville team also worked hard to create a sleeping shelter that would make any disco diva proud. A grand castle decked out with records and disco paraphernalia was the perfect sleeping space. “To lighten the mood we got right into the disco theme by dressing up in crazy disco glasses, fluorescent hats and leg warmers,” Emma added. Congratulations to Emma and the Menaville team for a wonderful achievement.
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MERTOME’S NEW MEMORY SUPPORT UNIT Mertome Aged Care Home & Retirement Village has been undergoing extensive renovations since we acquired the home from the City of Bayswater in April 2019.
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A Memory Support Unit has recently opened in a refurbished section of the home featuring 12 large single rooms, bright airy sitting areas, a shared dining room and a new sensory walk-through courtyard garden that will provide specialised care for those living with dementia.
but inviting to stimulate cognitive and social benefits for our residents living with dementia.
“Mertome is looking fantastic; our renovations and improvements are now almost complete and the grounds and rooms are warm and welcoming for residents old and new,” Executive Manager Laura Currie said.
Mertome has an engaged mix of residents who enjoy living at the home and taking part in its many activities, as well as working together with staff to constantly strengthen Mertome’s sense of community.
“Extensive renovations throughout the home have created some beautifully bright and homely spaces in both our personal and communal areas.
The Memory Support Unit has been designed to stimulate each of the five senses; sight, sound, touch, taste and smell.
“The Memory Support Unit is a wonderful addition to Mertome; the spaces are intentionally simple
“The courtyard also features raised garden beds to make them accessible for residents in wheelchairs or with limited mobility.”
PROJECT UPDATE
GEORGES ESTATE PROJECT UPDATE
It’s all systems go in the Southern Sydney suburb of Penshurst as Georges Estate continues to progress. Concrete for the pool has just been poured and other major concrete works will take place before Christmas 2019, with slabs curing over the festive break. The instillation of furniture, fittings and equipment will commence on site in early 2020 and practical completion is slated for the project in late 2020. Georges Estate Health & Aged Care Residence is the aged care of the future. Its aim is to deliver better health outcomes for local residents and the wider community in a safe, comfortable and connected location. Georges Estate will open in late 2020. To find out more visit www.georgesestate.com.au
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ROYAL COMMISSION RELEASES INTERIM REPORT The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality & Safety released its interim report – titled ‘Neglect’ in October – the report was unfortunately not pleasant reading. The past year has unfortunately highlighted that there are many aged care providers working in the industry who have not had the best intentions or welfare of their consumers at heart. The Commissioners noted in the report that the level and extent of sub-standard care is both widespread and extensive. Many terrible stories about aged care have come to light during the Royal Commission and it has been a difficult time for the industry as regulations and standards have changed rapidly to support the Commission’s findings. At Hall & Prior we have always welcomed the Royal Commission as we believe that it will lead to long-term sustainable improvements for the aged care sector. As suspected the interim report focused on some key areas of health and care in the industry and will recommend a substantial overhaul for the sector. The Commissioners singled out wound management, continence management, use of
chemical restraint, dementia care and palliative care as particular areas of concern. We are confident in the care we provide in all of these areas to our consumers; but over the coming months our management teams will continue to reflect on the words of the Commissioners and strive towards best practice. The commissioners will now shift their focus to considering structural changes to the industry that will ensure a consumer centric and economically viable industry for the years to come. As a leading aged care provider, Hall & Prior is committed to providing our voice to the conversation. In November and early December our CEO Graeme Prior facilitated sessions with senior staff in both NSW and WA to gain their thoughts on what our group’s contribution to the national conversation should be. We look forward to finalising that report in the New Year. The Royal Commission will release its final report in November 2020. For further information regarding the Commission, please email: royalcommissionenquiries@hallprior.com.au
Royal
Care is everything…
Our brand new health and aged care community Karingal Green is on track for completion in early 2020. We’re very pleased to give you a sneak peek of the prototype suite that is now open for viewing by appointment with our Executive Director Regional Leader Daymon Joseph. In early 2020 potential consumers will be able to see much more than just the prototype suite with Broad Construction providing access to a selection of
www.karingalgreen.com.au
Karingal’s stylish residences in late December. Names for the wings at Karingal have recently been chosen and our corporate development and marketing teams are working hard towards the launch in March 2020. To make an appointment to view the Karingal Green suite contact enquiries@karingalgreen.com.au or (08) 9321 1388. To register your interest visit www.karingalgreen.com.au
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