Life and Love Magazine Edition 6 by Hall & Prior

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

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Love, mercy and care SARAH RIACH

BETTER PRACTICE AWARD

Windsor Park’s Aboriginal Care Program honoured p6

Pressure wounds in focus for national study p16

on the commitment to relationshipcentred care

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ABOUT HALL & PRIOR Started in 1992 by Michael Hall and Graeme Prior, Hall & Prior is a leading aged care provider with a passion for providing quality care to older people from all walks of life. Over the past 20 years, Hall & Prior has grown from one nursing home to an organisation that cares for almost 1,500 people in Western Australia and New South Wales.

Our people are our greatest asset. Each one of our 24 aged care homes is led by an experienced director of nursing who works alongside a team of registered nurses, personal carers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, dieticians and chefs to ensure that we meet the individual needs of every resident.

As a private, family-owned company, Hall & Prior is committed to bringing long-term benefits to our residents and their families. Our dedicated care teams provide round-the-clock care 24 hours a day, seven days a week to ensure that every resident feels well cared for and at home.

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IN THIS ISSUE From the Chief Executive Officer

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6 Sarah Riach on relationship-centred care 10 Rockingham carer named Trainee of the Year 12

Better Practice Award win for Windsor Park

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Introducing our Staff Learning and Development Coordinator (WA) Pressure wounds in focus

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Focus on food quality in our homes Remembrance Day commemorations Fundraising efforts from our staff News in brief

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22 Fresh Fields Hospitality Services Operations Manager Kevin Fitzgerald at a recent chef’s table event. Family members of our residents were able to give feedback on the food we serve in our homes.

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FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

As we head towards 2017, it is a chance to reflect back on the year that was.

In October, the team at Windsor Park Aged Care Home were recognised for the exceptional care they provide for Aboriginal people in our community when they recieved a 2016 Commonwealth Better Practice Award.

The Australian Aged Care Quality Agency uses these prestigious annual awards to celebrate projects, programs or initiatives that encourage continuous improvement in aged care.

The findings and successes of our Aboriginal cultural care program are now able to be shared and incorporated into other aged care organisations across the country.

This is a huge achievement, and is extremely well deserved

by Windsor Park’s Executive Manager Sharyn McDavitt and her team, as well as our General Manager Health & Care Services WA Jennifer Grieve and Resource Team members.

This award demonstrates the commitment to the vision of our organisation to care for people from all walks of life.

The program means we are able to provide appropriate care to

Aboriginal elders while ensuring they are able to maintain their strong connections to culture, heritage and tradition. You can read the full story on page 6.

It has been a year filled with growth and change for the Group, with our New South Wales team growing by four homes and more than 200 staff.

NSW is quickly becoming a much larger organisation, and with this growth comes a great deal of excitement about our future.

“The love, mercy and care we show to each other and to those in our homes is at the core of what we do.”

With the cover of this edition of Life and Love, we have chosen to celebrate the work of Sarah Riach, who took over the role of Director of Nursing at Fairfield Aged Care Home in Sydney earlier this year.

Having spent nine years at Menaville Aged Care Home in the Sydney suburb of Rockdale, Sarah and the wider NSW team have ensured Fairfield’s transition into the Hall & Prior family has been a smooth and positive one. You can read more about Sarah on page 10.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for the hard work that has helped make 2016 a successful year for Hall & Prior.

The love, mercy and care we show to each other and to those in our homes is at the core of what we do.

Until next time, GRAEME PRIOR Chief Executive Officer

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Above: Chief Executive Officer Graeme Prior speaking at the New South Wales Directors Awards event.

Below: The New South Wales and Western Australia Acquisition Integration Team with their 2016 Team of the Year Award.

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Windsor Park Aged Care Home staff and residents during their NAIDOC Week celebrations earlier this year.

EXCELLENCE IN CARE RECOGNISED WITH BETTER PRACTICE AWARD The focus on culturally appropriate care at Windsor Park Aged Care Home was honoured with a 2016 Commonwealth Better Practice Award from the Australian Aged Care Quality Agency.

The team at the 118-bed home in Carlisle, in Perth’s east, was recognised with the national award for their work to provide outstanding respectful care for Aboriginal people.

Led by the home’s Executive Manager Sharyn McDavitt, along with her Resource Team partners, staff at the home have worked to continually improve a care model for Aboriginal people that was developed over the course of a decade.

Hall & Prior first implemented

a specialised Aboriginal cultural care program in 2006 and it has continued to grow. It has been based on a strong foundation of partnerships, most notably with the Dementia Training Study Centre (DTSC), which is led by researchers at Curtin University, and trust between the academic, Aboriginal and aged care communities.

as well as the Hall & Prior philosophy, which believes that every care recipient is a unique individual deserving of respect, dignity and the opportunity to participate in decision-making.

Developing and sharing information between care recipients and staff in the context of Aboriginal values is a central part of the model, as well as recognising the impact that historic, political and social events have had on Australia’s Aboriginal communities.

Aboriginal residents and their families were invited to share stories and be involved with creating three murals that continue to be displayed in the home. Renowned Noongah artist Ron Gidgup and the DTSC’s Heather Freegard worked with residents to create the works, as well as create a documentary about the project.

The model has a focus on communication with residents

In 2013, an art project was implemented within the home to allow residents to express their cultural identity through the physical environment.

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Aboriginal Health Coordinator Wendy Ashwin and Sharyn McDavitt in front of one of the murals at Windsor Park.

The documentary is now used as an educational resource for people who care for Aboriginal people in other aged care homes.

Executive Director Sharyn McDavitt said the home’s Aboriginal Health Coordinator Wendy Ashwin is an integral part of the home’s mission to deliver culturally appropriate care to Aboriginal people.

Wendy joined Hall & Prior in 2014, and her role involves advocating for individual Aboriginal care recipients and helping maintain social and family connections.

Wendy also liaises with the State Administrative Tribunal and Members, along with the Office of the Public Trustee (Administration) and The Office of the Public Advocate (Guardianship), where appropriate to a person’s circumstances.

“Wendy is an incredibly caring

“The program has been very successful, we’ve moved so far forward from where we were 10 years ago.” person, she doesn’t stand for injustice and she’ll fight battles for the residents’ causes,” Sharyn said.

home, and how people can have different backgrounds, needs, illnesses and kinship relationships based on their culture.

“Many of our Aboriginal residents know they’ve got their own spokesperson in Wendy.

“One example of the changes we’ve made after learning more about Aboriginal cultures is getting rid of white uniforms at Windsor Park, because of the links to the nurses in the stolen generation.

Sharyn said the program had helped staff connect better with residents.

“It has been very successful, we’ve moved so far forward from where we were 10 years ago and staff have taken to the program really well,” she said.

“Through the education component of this program, staff are more aware of all the different cultures we have in our

“Since we started using blue uniforms instead, many of our residents are calmer.”

Another aspect of the program was creating a social profile for each resident, which includes information about their past and heritage.

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Windsor Park Aged Care Home Deputy Director of Nursing Julie Warhurst, Executive Manager Sharyn McDavitt and Deputy Director of Nursing Louise O’Hare.

Working with the DTSC, staff were able to have input into how the profile should be written, as well as contributing to an associated care plan for Aboriginal people.

The social profile allowed formal assessments within the organisation to be adapted in order to be inclusive of and sensitive to cultural needs and preferences.

“Part of the social profile is the timeline of the residents’ life, as well as maps where you can mark where they were born, as well as other significant locations for them,” Sharyn said.

“By using a yarning way of exchanging knowledge, you get to learn a lot more about a person’s life, and a timeline is a way of putting it all together.

“This is especially important in connection to the stolen generations, when you think about how babies were still

being taken away even up until the 70s.

“So when you look at the timeline, if someone was born in the 30s or 40s, you know they will have been subjected to a bad period in time, and you can get a better understanding of the things they have experienced.”

Using the information gathered in the profiles, Sharyn said staff were able to find additional information that connects with residents’ histories.

“I’ve been able to go on the internet and search things for them, I’d find pictures, photos, cemetery records where their relatives might be buried, things like that,” Sharyn said.

“The main thing I noticed is how happy they are that we’re interested, that we’re sitting there doing something about their history.

“Since developing the timelines,

we’ve had quite a few residents who have been able to recall little snippets of memories that they previously hadn’t remembered.”

Chief Executive Officer Graeme Prior said he was extremely proud of the team’s accomplishments.

“Sharyn and her team, as well as our General Manager of Health and Care Services, Jennifer Grieve, and individuals in the Resource Team have worked incredibly hard to develop this program,” he said.

“This award is an incredible acknowledgment to this respectful cultural approach, as well as a shining example of our mission to deliver quality care to those in our community who need it most.”

Hall & Prior’s commitment to providing quality care to people from all walks of life has been recognised with eight Better Practice Awards for innovations in resident care since 2011.

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Hall & Prior Chief Executive Officer Graeme Prior, General Manager Health & Care Services Jennifer Grieve, Windsor Park Executive Manager Sharyn McDavitt, artist Ron Gidgup, Professor Barbara Horner and Heather Freegard.

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SARAH RIACH EXCEPTIONAL

It takes a special type of person to care for others, especially those who spend their lives caring for older people in our community.

Sarah Riach, Director of Nursing at Fairfield Aged Care Home and previous DON at Menaville Aged Care Home, is one of those people.

She recently took time to discuss her journey into the field of aged care, as well as her experiences working with a home as it transitions to becoming part of the Hall & Prior family.

Sarah’s aged care story began with undertaking a Bachelor of Nursing at the University of Sydney, followed by a grad program.

“I initially thought I wanted to go into paediatrics, but in the last year of my degree I decided that it was aged care I had a passion for,” she said.

“I think it was largely to do with the relationship I had with my grandparents. When I was in

high school, my grandfather had cancer and I was amazed at the care he received at Calvary Hospital in Kogarah.

“After my husband and I got married, we looked after his grandparents too.

“Then when my parents needed care, I brought them to Menaville too. It was because of the trust I had in the staff I was able to make that decision.

“The

support

and

love

I

received from the staff was just incredible.”

By the age of 24, Sarah was the Deputy Director of Nursing (DDON) at an 83-bed home.

“It was an interesting situation because I was technically too young to be their chief nurse, so when the DON was away, one of the registered nurses would have to take over,” she said.

Being able adjust her working life around her children was a major

ON HER COMMITMENT TO RELATIONSHIP-CENTRED CARE priority for Sarah, who said she wanted to ensure she took time to be a mum as well.

In 1999 she was working as the DDON at Menaville Aged Care Home, located in the Southern Sydney suburb of Rockdale, but left in 2003 to have another baby.

“When the DON at the time resigned, the staff who called me and asked me to come back and be the DON,” she said.

“Two weeks after I became the DON I was told that Hall & Prior had purchased the home.

“This is why I’m able to help the staff at Fairfield now, because I know it’s not scary and that Hall & Prior is a great company.”

Sarah said she was extremely proud of the reputation that Menaville’s staff had developed.

“The care that is given at Menaville is just exceptional,” she said. “It was great to see how empowered to love they all are, to form relationships with the people they’re caring for. There was always a lot of laughter and good energy.

While moving to Fairfield after almost a decade at Menaville was a difficult choice, Sarah said it was one that she was glad she made.

“Since Hall & Prior took on Fairfield, I’m happy to say there’s been a massive culture change within the home, to make it a kinder, more loving environment for both the residents and the staff.

“The demographic of Fairfield is also quite different to Menaville.

It’s double the size, twice the number of staff and in a totally different area.

“We are also caring for quite a few more younger residents, so I’ve had to adjust to that too.”

The home is centrally located in the suburb of Fairfield, and Sarah said that had made a big difference in how involved the residents could be in the community.

“We’re right in the middle of everything, so if I or another staff member have to go to the shops, we’ll bring one of the residents along with us and we’ll eat lunch together at the food court,” she said. “It’s a huge benefit of the location.”

Her vision for Fairfield is to grow the culture of warmth and caring between staff, residents and family members.

“Even after just a few months here, the energy in the home feels fantastic,” she said.

“People are laughing while they’re working and our residents are happier. You can change someone’s world with just a bit of kindness.

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“That’s what makes aged care so special – people who work in hospitals don’t get to form relationships like this.

“They don’t get to be a big part of someone’s journey, or get the honour of holding someone’s hand as they take their last breath.

“Even the act of making sure a resident’s room is perfect for when their family come to see them for the last time, you get to make sure the last memory they will have of their mum or dad is as perfect as it can be.

“Being there for other families is what drives me.”

While the move hasn’t been without some challenges, Sarah said she was grateful for the chance to extend herself.

“I’d like to thank our CEO, Graeme Prior for offering me this opportunity, and to General Manager – Health & Care Services NSW Kris Healy, Director of Quality and Education Jennifer O’Connell for their support,” she said.

“The connections you create with those you care for, and the ability to love so many people are crucial for when you work in aged care.

“Our Quality, Staff and Development Coordinators, Breda McMenamin and Nicole Smith have also been so helpful with the change.

“I adored my residents at Menaville, but moving to Fairfield meant I could bring that love to the people here.

“I’d also like to thank Emma Juretic, who took on the DON role at Menaville, I know the home is in very capable hands.”

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CAPTION

ROCKINGHAM CARER NAMED WA TRAINEE OF THE YEAR Hall & Prior’s Rockingham Aged Care Home carer Jacinta Lakin has been crowned Group Training Australia’s Trainee of the Year for Western Australia.

This is the first time in almost a decade that an aged care worker has taken out the prestigious award.

Jacinta began her Certificate III in Aged Care at the home in November 2015, through Health Training Australia (HTA). After completing her traineeship, she joined the team as an employee in August.

“It was a bit of a shock because

I was up against such strong competitors,” she said.

Before starting her course, Jacinta had to choose between studying childcare or aged care.

“I’ve always wanted to help people,” she said.

“I ended up choosing aged care because when you teach kids, they grow up and do things for themselves. Many of the people we care for here aren’t able to do things they used to, which can be frustrating for them.

“I give 100 percent effort and it’s nice to see them relax when they realise I really care. Seeing that reaction is the most rewarding part of what I do.”

Jacinta constantly strives to improve, and is currently studying to become an occupational therapy assistant (OTA) after receiving a scholarship from HTA. OTAs coordinate events and activities in the home, such as bus trips, craft days and exercise sessions.

She is also currently undertaking Hall & Prior’s Personal Carer Advanced Practice Course.

Carers who achieve this additional qualification are able to take on extra responsibilities, such as administering medication, taking vital signs and helping the home’s nurses monitor residents.

Residents, staff and guests laid poppies and wreaths at the ceremonies at Sirius Cove (pictured above) and Leighton.

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HTA Coordinator Employment Solutions Samantha Korzec, Jacinta Lakin, Director of Nursing Terri Woolhouse and HTA Business Development Consultant Laurena Beech.

Rockingham’s Director of Nursing Terri Woolhouse said she was extremely proud of Jacinta and described her as a dedicated worker who is passionate about aged care.

“She is very motivated, empathetic and committed to giving the best care possible to our residents,” Terri said.

“Jacinta picks things up quickly and is always willing to share her knowledge with others. She always goes above and beyond.

“It is also huge honour for her to win against such strong competitors.”

HTA Business Development

Consultant Laurena Beech said she was always impressed with the high quality of care Jacinta delivered.

“She’s got insight and maturity beyond her years, and she builds relationships with residents and their families quickly. You just can’t teach that,” she said.

Hall & Prior have a long-standing partnership with HTA, who support all trainees they send into the homes.

“As an employer, it’s reassuring to know the trainees we host have HTA behind them, and that we can work with HTA if we have any issues,” Terri said.

HTA Coordinator Employment Solutions Samantha Korzec said HTA’s strict selection process aims to ensure they only enrol students who truly want to provide care to others.

“We run a ‘what to expect course’, and usually have about 300-400 people sign up,” she said.

“Out of that, we only put a maximum of 25 people on each course, to make sure they are likely to be right for the role in future.”

Congratulations Jacinta on this outstanding achievement.

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General Manager Health and Care Services WA Jennifer Grieve and Staff Learning and Development Coordinator Felicia Lopez.

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INTRODUCING OUR STAFF LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA Hall & Prior recently welcomed Felicia Lopez in the role of Staff Learning and Development Coordinator for Western Australia.

In 2017, she will work closely with all Western Australian staff who participate in training, as well as develop workshops and resources with the homes and clinical teams.

She will also deliver the annual core training all employees undertake.

“I’m excited about working with Jennifer Grieve and the content experts that are in Hall & Prior, to see where we can expand learning opportunities,” she said.

“I want to take the best ways of doing things that each home has to offer, and work collaboratively to share knowledge across the organisation.”

Felicia’s professional background includes a variety of roles in industries such as pharmaceuticals and sales before she moved into the field of training and community service.

Her 15 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical industry began with answering medical enquiries and dealing with product complaints, which she said gave her a great grounding for dealing with people.

The role then transitioned into business development, focusing

on sales, marketing, customer service and strategy.

The desire for a more laid-back lifestyle by the water brought Felicia to Perth, where she worked with hospital wound care teams.

“The main focus was identifying patients who you would use particular wound products on, as well as which products were most appropriate for different kinds of wounds,” she said.

“The part I enjoyed the most was educating health practitioners on products.

“I loved the training aspect of that role, with the idea of putting everything you’ve learned into upskilling people who need it.

“This was what prompted my move into the area of training and community service in 2009.”

Felicia’s first training role involved working with disengaged and at-risk youth, delivering the year 10 schooling equivalency and helping young people plan their next steps.

“It was all about engaging them in the education process, motivating them and creating individual pathways for how they were going to get where they wanted to go,” she said.

“Helping people find different ways of thinking was a major part of this, as well as positive reinforcement to support the attitude changes they were experiencing.”

After that, Felicia moved into the area of training and development employment services, working with long-term unemployed clients.

“It was really rewarding getting people’s minds to shift from negativity to ‘wow, I can do this and I’m going to give it a go’,” she said.

“As a trainer, you’ve got to really connect with people because everyone needs something different.”

Before joining Hall & Prior, Felicia’s work with CommunityWest brought her into the world of aged care, health and disability services. Her role involved equipping workers with the skills they would require after the reforms in home and community care would come into effect.

“Consumer-directed care was a huge shift for staff, changing from the mind set of doing things for the client to enabling them and doing things with them,” she said.

“I’m looking forward to working with all of the care staff within Hall & Prior to help give those in our homes the best possible care, while helping staff achieve their goals.”

Welcome to the Hall & Prior family, Felicia.

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HOMES TAKE PART IN NATIONAL PRESSURE WOUND STUDY Pressure injury prevention has been in focus in Hall & Prior homes thanks to our involvement in a national wound care study.

Staff in Hall & Prior homes, led

by Nurse Practitioner (Wound Care) Alison Stockley, have been investigating the effectiveness of Mepilex Border wound dressings in preventing pressure injuries.

The study, run by Professor Nick Santamaria of the University of Melbourne, aims to replicate tests done in American intensive care environments several years

ago. There are participants from aged care organisations across Western Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.

Hall & Prior homes in both WA and NSW have enrolled to be part of the study.

Mepilex Border is a siliconebased foam dressing that can be used to prevent pressure injuries, which can be more common in older people. It is a breathable, dynamic surface that allows for movement or stretch.

Eligibility was determined by the residents’ Braden Scale score, which rates their risk of

developing pressure sores. A lower Braden score indicates the person has a lower level of function, and therefore a higher risk of developing a pressure sore. For the study, residents with a Braden score of 13 or less, with no pre-existing pressure sores on their heel or sacrum were included.

“The homes that are taking part were divided into two groups: control homes and intervention homes,” Alison said. “Residents in the control homes did not receive the dressings, but staff continue to check the residents’

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ALISON’S ROLE WITH HALL & PRIOR Alison Stockley began her role as a Nurse Practitioner specialising in wound care, ostomy and continence with Hall & Prior in May 2015.

She is trained to diagnose issues that fall under those areas, as well as implement, monitor and evaluate care plans. Her role also involves educating and assisting staff, liaising with general practitioners and making referrals to other health specialists such as plastic surgeons, when needed.

heels and sacrum every three days and collect data on their findings.

“The intervention homes were given Mepilex dressings to use, and the heel or sacrum of residents in the study were checked on a daily basis, to see whether or not a pressure injury had developed.”

There have been several hundred staff involved in the study, and they were all given special training on how to apply the dressing, as well as how to accurately record the data.

Training began in May 2015 and the study will continue through June 2017.

“The study has been beneficial even for the control homes, as residents that are susceptible

to pressure injuries are flagged more frequently, and their skin is checked more often and more intensely,” Alison said.

“There has also been an increased amount of documentation as a result of the study.

“Staff at all different levels, such as carers, PCAPs or nurses, attended the training sessions and were shown what to look for and how to identify the stages of a pressure injury. The staff have really enjoyed it and it has increased the awareness of pressure injury development within the homes.

“There is a big education component behind the study and both our staff and residents benefit in the long run.”

“I’m not just looking at the wound, I’m looking at the whole person and other presentations of symptoms or problems they may be having,” Alison said.

Alongside wound care, Alison also conducts mattress audits to ensure they are appropriate for residents to use, examines pressure-relieving equipment used in the homes and reviews guidelines for use throughout the organisation.

Alison’s previous experience includes working as a nurse practitioner in the areas of acute care and aged care for Barwon Health, Victoria’s largest regional health care provider.

She has also worked as a clinical nurse educator, ran a private practice and worked with a research group reviewing international documents on the prevention of pressure injuries.

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Fresh Fields Hospitality Services Operations Manager Kevin Fitzgerald serving up meals for family members and staff from Mosman Park Aged Care Home at the recent Chef’s Table event.

FOCUS ON FOOD QUALITY IN OUR HOMES Family members of residents got a behind-the-scenes look into the food we serve in our homes this month, with tastings sessions organised by our catering division, Fresh Fields Hospitality Services.

Based in Carlisle, in Perth’s east, Fresh Fields also provides laundry services for the 13 homes in the metropolita n area.

Fresh Fields Operations Manager Kevin Fitzgerald said he wanted to give family members a chance to try the types of meals served in our homes.

“Holding the Chef’s Table events in the home, or at our facility in Carlisle means family members can give us feedback on the food we provide in our Perth homes,” he said.

“Whether it’s roast beef, chicken, fish or one of our vegetarian meals, we make sure we use quality ingredients to make it both healthy and tasty.”

The team at Fresh Fields work hard to make meals for almost 800 residents every day.

“The day kicks off at 3am at Fresh Fields, where we start cooking things like soup so they’re ready to be batched out at 5am when the rest of the kitchen team arrives,” he said.

“When you’re cooking 200 litres of soup at a time, you have to be organised so everything runs according to schedule. After it’s cooked, the chef will puree it and put it into a blast chiller set to -20 degrees, so it’s ready to be packed up and sent to our homes.”

Fresh Fields provide a selection of meal options that vary every week, as well as offering alternative options and catering for dietary requirements such as vegetarian or culturally specific meals. There are also special theme days, with things like turkey and pudding making it onto the menu for Christmas.

Staff in our homes work with Hall & Prior’s speech pathologists and dietitians to ensure the meals we provide each day fill residents’ nutritional needs.

Together these teams regularly visit each home and assess how residents are eating and drinking. They then make recommendations on whether a modified diet, such as a softer textured food, is required.

Fresh Fields has provided laundry and catering services to our Perth homes since 2002.

It is a key part of Hall & Prior’s operations and a major factor in maintaining the health and lifestyles of those we care for in our homes.

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REMEMBERING THOSE WHO SERVED On November 11, we stop to reflect on the sacrifices made by those who have served in wars and conflicts and peacekeeping operations around the world.

This year marked 98 years since the guns fell silent on the Western Front in 1918, after more than four years of continuous warfare.

From 2014-18, nations around the world will commemorate a number of events to mark the centenary of the First World War. This unprecedented global event mobilised 70 million people and left between nine and 13 million dead.

The tradition of the red poppy comes from the fields of northern France and Belgium, where poppies were among the first plants to grow following the devastation of battle.

We care for many people whose lives have been touched by

• Rockingham Aged Care Home staff and residents shared Anzac biscuits to mark the occasion.

war, with veterans, spouses of veterans and those who lost friends and loved ones. Each year, we hold Remembrance Day services in our homes to ensure our residents are able to

pay their respects to those who served, as well as to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

Lest we forget.

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Hall & Prior staff members Faye Keyte, Kasey Ashworth, Sue Armstrong, Siobhan O’Dea and Kaye Cross at the Perth leg of the Alzheimer’s Australia WA Memory Walk and Jog. • Below: Clarence Estate staff members Kristi Holloway, Shirley Hawkins and Cheryl Clark in Albany.

HALL & PRIOR TEAMS JOG FOR ALZHEIMER’S FUNDRAISER Staff from homes in Albany and Perth put on their sneakers for a good cause in October, taking part in the Alzheimer’s Australia WA Memory Walk and Jog. The annual event sees thousands of people across the country jog, run or stroll to raise funds for national charity Alzheimer’s Australia.

The organisation provides support for those with the condition and their loved ones, funds research and provides education for community members and those who work in aged care.

The Albany event, in WA’s south west, had more than 300 people took part this year.

Hall & Prior was proud to once again sponsor this event.

Clarence Estate Executive Director of Care Kristi Holloway organised staff to take part said there was a good turn-out in Albany.

“It was great to see the

community recognise such an important cause,” she said.

“Working in aged care, we see the effects of Alzheimer’s and dementia every day.

“It was lovely to see how many people got involved with the Memory Walk, and were keen to get behind the charity.”

The Perth event held at Perry Lakes Reserve had more than 600 participants, including staff from McDougall Park and Concorde Aged Care Homes.

McDougall Park administration officer Kasey Ashworth said she was glad she took part.

“We all did it for our own reasons, whether it was to support those we care for at work or because of connections to our own loved ones,” she said.

“As well as being a personal milestone for me to walk six kilometres it gave our team the chance to raise more than $400 for Alzheimer’s Australia.”

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Menaville Aged Care Home staff donned their bandannas as part of CanTeen’s annual fundraiser in October.

BREAKING OUT THE BANDANNAS FOR YOUTH CANCER CHARITY Hall & Prior staff were proud to support youth cancer charity CanTeen and the annual Bandanna Day campaign in October.

The team at Windsor Park Aged Care Home broke out the scissors and raised a huge $3,500 for CanTeen when two staff members shaved their heads. Carer Kung Byrne and Senior Administration Officer Dawn Sherratt were thrilled to pass their initial goal of $2000.

•Kung Byrne

At Menaville Aged Care Home in Sydney, staff, residents and visitors all got on board with their fundraiser, wearing CanTeen bandannas and bright colours for the occasion.

CanTeen also contribute research to show health professionals, educators, families and other non-profit organisations how to help young people living with cancer.

CanTeen helps young people across Australia who are dealing with a cancer diagnosis for themselves or for a family member.

Kung said she had always wanted to shave her head for charity but had never taken the plunge.

“Thank you to everyone who donated. I even had friends and family who live over in Thailand have sponsored us,” Kung said

The charity provides counselling, peer support programs and specialised youth cancer services within major hospitals.

Dawn said she was glad to support such an important cause.

• Dawn Sherratt

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Top left: Concorde Aged Care Home staff during their Pink October celebrations.

Left: Agmaroy staff, representatives from the Australian Aboriginal Corporation and Communicare and residents.

Above: Dino the dachshund and his owner visiting residents at Vaucluse Aged Care Home.

NEWS IN BRIEF – WHAT’S HAPPENING IN HALL & PRIOR HOMES Fundraising for breast cancer research in Pink October Concorde Aged Care Home in South Perth was a sea of pink during their Pink October event, which raises money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Staff put on their brightest pink shirts and held a morning tea in the home raising more than $300 in the process.

Pet therapy at Vaucluse Residents at Vaucluse got to spend some quality time with a welldressed canine in September, with visits from Dino the dachshund as part of a pet therapy initiative.

Pets not only offer companionship and unconditional love, but also can help give a person’s general health and wellbeing a booth,

especially in older people.

According to research, time with an animal can have benefits for social, emotional and cognitive functioning.

All kinds of animals can be used for pet therapy, from domesticated ones like cats, dogs and rabbits to farm animals like goats, pigs, horses and chickens.

Fiddle blankets donated to Agmaroy Residents at Agmaroy Aged Care Home can enjoy a range of sensory blankets thanks to a donation from Ashburton Aboriginal Corporation (AAC) and Communicare.

AAC business development and sales coordinator Gary Chesson and Communicare community initiatives coordinator Victoria Robinson visited to present them

to staff. Sensory blankets, also known as fiddle blankets, are decorated with pockets, different sorts of fabrics and have buttons, beads or bits of rope sewn onto them.

They are designed to stimulate visual, auditory and tactile experiences as residents play with the different textures, and can have a calming effect.

The materials for the blankets come from sheets, pillowcases and doona covers recycled from mine site housing.

“Rather than have it end up in landfill, we collect the material and the reusable items go to Communicare,” Gary said.

“The people involved in the Work for the Dole program they run created these blankets.”

Life & Love 23

Fundraising for homeless youth with Stepping Stone House Sleep Out Sleeping rough is something no one wants to experience, so the team at Menaville Aged Care Home got behind a local charity to fundraise for youth homelessness.

In October, staff at the home in the southern Sydney suburb of Rockdale took part in the Stepping Stone House Sleep Out event.

They spent a night under the stars in a structure built from cardboard boxes and wearing their pyjamas to work in return for a donation.

The event also aims to raise awareness of the 42,000 young people across Australia who don’t have permanent accommodation or a safe place to sleep each night.

Hall & Prior also got behind the cause by making a donation to each member of the team who participated in the sleep-out, helping them raise more than $3,200.

The funds will go to helping atrisk young people and those who are currently homeless.

Multicultural day festivities at Freshwater Bay

Kensington Park celebrate reaccreditation

The team at Freshwater Bay Aged Care Home, in Perth’s west celebrated their many different heritages in a multicultural day event in August.

There were smiles all around at Kensington Park Aged Care Home in October when staff celebrated their reaccreditation.

The event also recognised the home’s recent reaccreditation by the Aged Care Quality Agency.

“A big part of our home is the different places that we all come from,” she said.

“We have staff and residents from places like India, Indonesia, Nepal, China and African nations.

“It was lovely to see everyone dressed up in their traditional clothing and to have a fun party with our residents to celebrate.”

Staff, led by Director of Nursing Catherine Barlow, held a morning tea at the home with residents, family and community members.

The Australian Aged Care Quality Agency’s Western Australian State Director Paul Richards was on-hand to present the certificate of accreditation to the team.

The New South Wales Directors of Nursing with General Manager Health and Care Services NSW Kris Healy and Chief Exective Officer Graeme Prior.

HEAD OFFICE 16-18 Mayfair Street West Perth WA 6005 PO Box 1593 West Perth WA 6872 T 08 9321 1388 F 08 9321 1490 E info@hallprior.com.au

OUR HOMES

FAIRFIELD Director of Nursing Sarah Riach and her team run the 93-bed home in the NSW suburb of Fairfield, located west of Sydney.

Both staff and residents enjoy interacting with Fairfield’s vibrant community through a range of activities.

NEW SOUTH WALES STATE OFFICE 274 Burns Bay Road Lane Cove NSW 2066 PO Box 84 Lane Cove NSW 1595 T 02 9427 8978 F 02 9427 3218 E infonsw@hallprior.com.au

hallprior.com.au