HALL & PRIOR H E A LT H & A G E D C A R E G R O U P
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PASSION FOR ACUTE CARE WINS
BETTER PRACTICE AWARD
FOR MOSMAN PARK AGED CARE HOME Healing through art: creative approaches to resident care p6 What do the Living Longer Living Better reforms mean for you? p19
Taking part in Albany’s Anzac centenary commemorations p8
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 1,200 people in Western Australia and New South Wales. Our people are our greatest asset. Each one of our 19 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, 7 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 Healing through art
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Better Practice win for Mosman Park Anzac Albany: a fitting tribute Culturally appropriate care
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Hall & Prior’s CEO puts fitness first The Kimberley experience
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Broadband for seniors a hit in our homes Living longer, living better Our new website is here!
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8 Hall & Prior’s General Manager Health and Care Services, Jennifer Grieve, and Clarence Estate’s Executive Manager, Ann Nolan, lay a wreath at the RSL Nurses Memorial Service in Albany as part of the town’s Anzac Centenary commemorations
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FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
It is my pleasure to welcome you to the first edition of Life & Love. The Hall & Prior Health & Aged Care Group employs over 1,400 staff and cares for more than 1,200 residents from increasingly diverse backgrounds. Life and love is what it’s all about, no matter who you are or where you come from. These stories showcase the passion, creativity and professionalism of our staff as they work to provide quality of life for every resident in our care. On 1 November 1914, the first convoy of Australian and New Zealand Troops set sail from King George Sound in the Town of Albany, Western Australia bound for Gallipoli. Exactly 100 years later, tens of thousands of people travelled to the town to attend commemorative events for the young men that fought and died in the First World War: a formative event in our nation’s history that affected countless lives. Our staff at Clarence Estate assisted residents to participate in Albany’s Anzac commemorations with a week of outings, events and time for reflection.
In August, our Mosman Park Aged Care Home was honoured to receive a Better Practice Award from the Federal Government’s Australian Aged Care Quality Agency for their commitment to caring for and rehabilitating older people with complex and challenging physical and mental health issues. You can read about this program and a number of other innovative care programs in this issue of Life & Love. This is a time of great change for the aged care industry, and the future is bright for Hall & Prior and Australian aged care.
Life and love is what it’s all about, no matter who you are or where you come from I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you—our staff, residents, family, friends and colleagues— for your support as we embark on new challenges in 2015. Until next time, GRAEME PRIOR Chief Executive Officer
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Minister Mike Nahan visited Hall & Prior’s Concorde Aged Care Home in October 2014 > read more on page 14
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Glenwood resident Elizabeth Childs with artist Stephen Dernocoure during an art therapy session
HEALING THROUGH ART by Jacki Downs Hall & Prior’s Glenwood Aged Care Home in Greenwich, New South Wales first introduced artist Stephen Dernocoure and his art therapy program in February 2012. Since then, Stephen’s art classes have grown in number and reputation, engaging residents with creative activities to improve their quality of life. Visual art, poetry and music offer a means of expression for people who struggle with verbal communication as the result of an illness or disability. Themes such as birth, death and life events are explored in Stephen’s classes and transformed into beautiful collections of art. Family members and care staff are encouraged to discuss the works and support the resident as they explain the motivations behind what they have created.
Visual art, poetry and music offer a means of expression for people who struggle with verbal communication Elizabeth Childs (pictured above), who recently celebrated her 99th birthday, has enjoyed making art throughout her life and is an enthusiastic participant in Stephen’s classes. “Stephen works very hard to take our minds off the things that happen as we age—it’s lovely to pretend for a moment that we can all draw well!” she says. “I’m always surprised at the work I can produce under Stephen’s direction. He helps us to understand the surrealism of the art and how it connects to our life experiences.” An important aspect of the program is open communication
between Stephen and the home’s care staff. Discussing each participant’s history, background, personality and care needs informs the approach for each individual, and the results of the program are evident in the wellbeing of its residents. The program’s participants thrive on feelings of pride and self-worth, while residents who were withdrawn or aggressive now actively participate in other activities around the home and interact well with staff and other residents. The program was nominated for a Better Practice Award in 2014.
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Devi Subramaniam (center front) with Janice Rooney (front right) and the staff of Mosman Park Aged Care Home
BETTER PRACTICE WIN FOR MOSMAN PARK By getting to know each resident as an individual and focussing on teamwork and education, Mosman Park Aged Care home has built a reputation for providing a supportive home environment and excellent clinical care for older members of the community who would otherwise have nowhere else to go. The home’s Director of Nursing, Devi Subramaniam, and her staff won a Better Practice Award in 2014 for their commitment to caring for people with complex physical and mental health issues. Devi attributes her team’s success to taking the time to develop individual approaches to care.
The home has built a reputation for providing a supportive home and excellent clinical care for older members of the community who would otherwise have nowhere else to go “To provide good care, it has to be person-centred,” she explains. “You have to understand the person as a person, and see that their needs are met. We always talk about our residents at handover. If there is a resident that any of the staff are experiencing trouble with, we use the time to brainstorm a solution. We have a strong network— Fremantle Adult Mental Health Services, Selby Older Adult Mental Health Service, Graylands
Hospital, the Dementia Behaviour Management Advisory Service— and have developed a good reputation with them so that if we ever need to reach out to those resources, they are more than willing to help.” The home’s greatest success to date is rehabilitating a woman with a life-long diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia who was admitted to the home in January 2013 at age 69. With the help of > Continues on following page
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the Selby Older Adult Mental Health Service and Fremantle Adult Mental Health Service, staff at the home were able to support her to safely integrate into the community for the first time of her life. She is now able to do her own shopping and catch public transport independently, and is looking forward to leaving Mosman Park in the near future to join a group home in the community. Devi and her team were nominated for the award by Hall & Prior’s Coordinator of Quality, Safety and Compliance, Janice Rooney, who has worked alongside Devi for two-anda-half years. “I really admire Devi,” she explains. “She has an excellent understanding of systems, processes and quality in aged care. She never asks anyone to do anything that she couldn’t or wouldn’t do herself which makes her a great leader, and she’s fully dedicated and committed to her home and her residents’ health. I nominated her for this award because she deserves recognition for her work. Devi has the innate ability—as a registered nurse and as a human being—to meet people’s needs. What she provides is more than personcentred care: she fights adversity and sees everything through to the end.” The award is one of six Better Practice Awards won by Hall & Prior homes since 2011. The awards are presented by the Australian Aged Care Quality Agency to recognise projects that contribute to the continuous improvement of quality care. Congratulations Devi and your team, from everyone at Hall & Prior.
ANZAC ALBANY: A FITTING TRIBUTE On 1 November 1914, 30,000 young men from Australia and New Zealand departed from King George Sound in the Town of Albany, Western Australia bound for Egypt. There, they would receive training before joining England on the battlefields of the Great War, first in Gallipoli, and later the Western Front. Many never returned home. A century later, Albany’s population doubled in size as tens of thousands of people travelled to the town to participate in the town’s commemorative events: a milestone event in four years of events that will be held to mark the centenary of the First World War from 2014-18.
Wreaths layed at Albany’s Anzac Peace Park by dignitaries and servicemen from Australia, New Zealand, France and Japan
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Visitors travelled from all over the world to honour the memory of thousands of troops who served their country. The first full day of events began with the Desert Mounted Corps Memorial Service, commemorating all Australian and New Zealand units that served in Egypt, Palestine and Syria. Thousands gathered on the bank of Princess Royal Harbour at sunset to attend the Royal Australian Navy Ceremonial Sunset and stayed to watch a spectacular sound, lighting and pyrotechnic interpretation of the first convoy’s departure. The following morning, thousands lined York Street in the heart of Albany to watch a troop march comprising Australian and New Zealand defence forces and cadets, the Royal Australian Navy Band and the ex-service community. Prime Ministers of Australia and New Zealand, The Hon Tony Abbott MP and The Rt Hon John Key, and GovernorGeneral Sir Peter Cosgrove were among the dignitaries who looked on, and later made heartfelt speeches at the official commemorative service at Albany’s Anzac Peace Park. People watched from hilltops and on screens throughout the town centre as naval ships sailed across King George Sound in a symbolic movement to represent the first convoy’s departure. The RSL Albany Sub-Branch held their Nurses Memorial Service on the final day of the commemorations in the RSL Nurses Memorial Garden, honouring the memory of all nurses who served their country in times of war and peace.
Annette Knight AM JP gave a touching address, telling stories of Australian nurses struggling to make do under adverse conditions, often putting their own health on the line to save the lives of our soldiers. Members of the community laid wreaths to commemorate their sacrifice, including Hall & Prior’s General Manager Health and Care Services, Jennifer Grieve, and Executive Manager of Clarence Estate, Ann Nolan. A number of nurses and care staff from the home attended the service in support. Hall & Prior’s Clarence Estate was opened in Albany in 2002, and has a special connection to the town’s history. The home is named after Mount Clarence
Hall & Prior’s Clarence Estate was opened in Albany in 2002, and has a special connection to the town’s history and its main lounge area, the Padre White Lounge, is named after Padre Arthur Ernest White: an important figure in Australia’s Anzac history. Padre White served as a chaplain with the Australian Imperial Forces from 1916 until he was wounded on the Western Front. He returned to Australia and was appointed Rector of Albany in September 1929. On 25 April the following year, Padre White held an early morning service, placed a wreath at a nearby war memorial and climbed Mount Clarence (where people had gathered years earlier to watch the first convoy leave Albany)
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Volunteers placed 30,000 hand-made poppies on Middleton Beach in Albany to represent the first convoy
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The Troop March on York Street in Albany during the Anzac centenary celebrations
with some of his parishioners. A wreath was laid in the water at the entrance of the harbour to drift out into King George Sound to conclude the unofficial first dawn service held in Australia. A week of activities held from 27-31 October gave Clarence Estate’s residents the opportunity to take part in the centenary. Bus outings to Anzac Peace Park, the Pier of Remembrance and the harbour to see the ships were a highlight, as the residents enjoyed making poppies, singing songs from the war years, watching Anzac films, listening to poetry and looking at displays of books, postcards and other memorabilia.
A week of activities gave Clarence Estate’s residents the opportunity to take part in the centenary Linda Christy, an Occupational Therapy Assistant at Clarence Estate, worked hard to put together displays for the home’s residents in the weeks leading up to the centenary celebrations. She created one display in particular to represent the Avenue of Honour on Apex Drive in Albany, honouring those who lost their lives in World War I, World War II and the Korean War. She is also working with residents and their family
members to gather information for a project to mark the Anzac Day centenary in 2015. Linda has always had a passion for paper craft and a personal interest in family histories, and her work to provide Clarence Estate’s residents and their family with the opportunity to reflect and tell their stories is greatly appreciated by all. Lest we forget.
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Nurses from Clarence Estate attending the RSL Nurses Service in Albany on Sunday 2 November
Clarence Estate’s Occupational Therapist, Megan Gobbett, and Occupational Therapy Assistant, Linda Christy, wtih Linda’s Avenue of Honour display
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Minister Nahan with staff at Hall & Prior’s Concorde Aged Care Home in October
PROVIDING CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE CARE The challenge of providing appropriate care for a growing number of people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds will become increasingly significant: it is estimated that one in four people aged 80 years and over will be from a CALD background by 2026 (Multicultural Aged Care Inc, 2005).
For over ten years, Concorde Aged Care Home in South Perth, Western Australia has been building partnerships and developing a care program to support the cultural, spiritual and language needs of a community of older people of Asian descent. More than 25% of the home’s residents are from Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines and China, while over 60% of the home’s staff are multilingual, providing valuable support for residents who prefer to speak their first language. Chinese
meals are available at the home, and an extensive activity program enables residents to celebrate significant dates including the Moon Cake Festival, Dragon Boat Festival and Chinese New Year. Lion dancers, cooking demonstrations and regular visits by the Baptist Chinese Group, dancers and community visitors are enjoyed by all of the home’s residents, encouraging cultural awareness in staff and residents from non-Asian backgrounds. Among others, a strong partnership with the Chung Wah Association—Western Australia’s largest and most established Chinese organisation—has supported the growth of the program. Discussions were held during 2014 to formalise the partnership with a memorandum of understanding, which will be signed by both parties in early 2015.
Concorde was honoured to receive a visit from the Hon Dr Mike Nahan MLA (Treasurer and Minister for Energy, Citizenship and Multicultural Interests) and Chief Executive Officer of the Chung Wah Association, Theresa Kwok, on 28 October 2014. Dr Nahan took a short tour of Concorde before meeting some of the home’s residents and discussing the home’s established care program with staff from Concorde and Hall & Prior’s executive. The group enjoyed a Tai-Chi demonstration and a fantastic performance by the Mongolian Buddhist Dancing Troup. Concorde is committed to continuing to provide the highest quality care for its Asian residents, and we look forward to sharing more of their stories.
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Hall & Prior staff at a corporate fitness session in West Perth. Below: Chief Executive Officer Graeme Prior running in the New York City Marathon in November.
CEO PUTS FITNESS FIRST Graeme Prior’s passion for supporting the mental and physical health of his staff saw him travel to America in November 2014 to complete the gruelling New York City Marathon. As the Chief Executive Officer of the Hall & Prior Health & Aged Care Group, Graeme is responsible for the health of over 1,200 residents and 1,400 staff every day. One of the best ways to improve health and wellbeing is through
exercise, and Graeme is leading by example; he ran alongside his son Andrew and finished the 42.2 kilometre race in just under five-and-a-half hours. Hall & Prior’s corporate staff and directors of nursing (pictured above) have been attending fitness sessions on a Thursday afternoon, so it looks as though there might be a few more marathon finishers next year! Congratulations Graeme on a fantastic achievement.
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The study tour group outside Numbala Nunga Aged Care Facility in Derby
THE KIMBERLEY EXPERIENCE by Clayton Lewis Representatives from Hall & Prior, the Windsor Park Consultative Committee and architects from Scott Penn Hall embarked on a tour of purposebuilt aged care facilities and services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Western Australia’s Pilbara and Kimberley regions in June 2014.
layout of the home, enabling residents to enjoy space and freedom. Culturally-informed features of Bran Nue Dae Aged Care in Broome included outdoor fire pits and separate rooms set aside for couples, while Karlarra House in South Hedland had developed a Community Elders Group to formalise the home’s engagement with the community.
We met with many dedicated professionals and were impressed by their practical approaches to every-day care. We also gained a valuable insight into the lifestyle and cultural protocols of Aboriginal people from major towns and remote communities in the Pilbara and Kimberley regions.
A visit to the Aboriginal Hostel in Derby reinforced the need for care staff to be tolerant and adopt a common sense approach to working with Aboriginal people from remote areas, and a conversation with the Kimberley Aboriginal Care Service identified a need for care staff to go beyond their normal duties—participating in bush tucker trips, transporting community members and interpreting Gover nment services—to be accepted by the wider community.
The openness of Numbala Nunga Nursing Home in Derby was a highlight: the home’s architecture incorporates outdoor living spaces into the
We gained a valuable insight into the lifestyle and culture of Aboriginal people from major towns and remote communities Hall & Prior’s Windsor Park Aged Care Home in Carlisle, Western Australia has been providing culturally-appropriate care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people since 1996. Work is underway to develop a purpose-built wing for the home’s Aboriginal residents in consultation with the traditional owners of the Perth region and Aboriginal health professionals: a process guided by Hall & Prior’s Indigenous Advisor, Clayton Lewis.
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The Australian Government’s Broadband for Seniors program has enabled Hall & Prior’s residents in New South Wales to benefit from the internet
BROADBAND FOR SENIORS A HIT IN OUR HOMES by Jacki Downs At Hall & Prior, we believe it’s never too late to make new friends or discover a new hobby. Our homes in New South Wales employ dedicated lifestyle officers to manage activities at the homes and plan special events and celebrations to fill our residents’ lives with laughter, entertainment, exercise and opportunities to socialise and make new friends. It’s a fulfilling job, and our lifestyle officers excel at ensuring that our residents stay connected and continue to enjoy meaningful lives. More and more of our residents are eager to engage with technology, and the Australian Government’s Broadband for Seniors program has enabled Hall & Prior’s residents in New South Wales to use the internet to connect with family members,
More and more of our residents are eager to engage with technology, using the internet to connect with family members, see the world, find information, shop and play games see the world, find information, shop and play games. The initiative provides access to computers, the internet and basic training to help build confidence with using technology for people over the age of 50. Since being established in 2008, Broadband for Seniors has assisted over 400,000 older Australians access the internet from around 1,600 kiosks in organisations across the country. Funding from the scheme has also enabled our lifestyle officers to develop their computer skills and enable them to facilitate
sessions with our residents. Lifestyle officers from all six Hall & Prior homes in New South Wales have now completed their training and are utilising technology to give a new dimension to homes’ activity calendars. Residents at Sirius Cove Aged Care Home have been using Skype to connect with family members who live overseas, providing comfort and significant emotional benefits. Our homes will continue to embrace technology to support care and provide our residents with opportunities to learn, engage and discover.
WHAT DOES LIVING LONGER LIVING BETTER MEAN FOR ME? Aged care has become a popular topic of conversation since the Aged Care Bill (also known as the Living Longer Living Better Bill) was passed by the Senate on 26 June 2013.
your needs and goals. If you are financially able, you may be asked to contribute to the cost of your care package (depending on the outcome of your income and assets assessment).
A number of changes were introduced on 1 July 2014 to make Australia’s aged care system sustainable and affordable, and to give older Australians more choice and control over the services they receive. At Hall & Prior, we understand that aged care can seem confusing at first, but you’ll be glad to know that the changes aren’t as complicated as you might think.
Finding a residential aged care home There is no longer a distinction between high care and low care. Once you have been assessed as eligible for residential care by an Aged Care Assessement Team (ACAT), you can begin looking at any residential aged care home to find one that suits your needs.
Staying in your own home To assist older Australians to stay living independently in their own home if they choose, the Australian Government will increase the number of home care packages available to 100,000 by 2017. Home care packages are individually-planned packages of care that are flexible and can be individually tailored to suit
Knowing the cost of aged care All residential aged care providers must now publish their maximum accommodation prices, payment options and a description of each type of room and the services they offer so you know exactly what you’ll get for your money. Information for all aged care homes is listed on the Australian Government’s My Aged Care website www.myagedcare.com.au or
you can contact the service provider of your choice directly. Information for all Hall & Prior homes is listed on our website www.hallprior.com.au and you can ask for a printed copy by contacting the home of your choice. Moving into a residential aged care home You now have greater choice in how you pay for your accommodation in an aged care home. You can choose to pay a refundable accommodation deposit, a daily accommodation payment or a combination of both. If you need time to complete the paperwork or think about how you would like to pay, you now have 28 days from the date you begin living in the aged care home to decide. Finding out more If you have any questions about aged care, the director of nursing at the Hall & Prior home of your choice will be more than happy to help.
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ACCESSIBILITY A MUST FOR OUR NEW WEBSITE It is well known that people often look for aged care at a time of crisis. Hall & Prior’s new website, designed by Clarity Communications, makes understanding aged care and finding the right home easy. The design of the site is the culmination of years of research into accessibility principles for older people and the way they use the internet. It features large, clickable buttons, a friendly and approachable tone, and the ability to enlarge the font size. The site reduces the need to scroll to find information is also responsive, so it can be viewed using a smartphone or tablet.
One of our aims was to make the site a go-to place for people looking for aged care, even if our homes aren’t the right fit for them “We’ve not only seen our website visits increase by over 55% in the last 12 months, but we’ve noticed a sharp increase in people visiting our site from a range of devices,” says Hall & Prior’s Marketing Manager, Ellen Thurley. “One of our aims was to make the site a go-to place for people looking for aged care. Even if our home’s aren’t the right fit for them, we wanted it to be a place where people could easily
find the information they need to understand the application process and make an informed decision.” Our favourite features are a story section at the bottom of the homepage that will be regularly updated with stories and photographs from our home, and a mini website for each of our homes, complete with a photo gallery. Visit www.hallprior.com.au and let us know what you think!
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 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 info@hallprior.com.au
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