Life & Love - Issue 32

Life&Love A HALL & PRIOR P U B L I CAT IO N H E A LT H & A G E D C A R E G R O U P

ISSUE 32 | NOVEMBER 2021

YOUR FREE COPY

Animal magic The joy of interacting with animals is a valuable type of therapy for the elderly

Georges Estate opens its doors in Penshurst, NSW

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Life & Love Issue 32 | November 2021

A HALL & PRIOR PU BL IC ATION H E A LT H & A G E D C A R E G R O U P

EDITORS Gabi Mills gmills@hallprior.com.au Beverly Ligman bligman@hallprior.com.au

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From the Chief Executive Officer

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Cover Story: Paws for thought

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Sister Act

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Georges Estate: Now Open

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Award winning Karingal Green

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Meet the DON: Patricia Chew

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In Our Homes

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In the Pipeline: Tuia Lodge

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Meet the Staff

PHOTOGRAPHY Ryan Ammon @ Ammon Creative

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My Favourite Things: Natasha Meredith

Fabrizio Lipari

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Teabreak: Puzzles

EDITOR'S LETTER As the end of the year approaches, events our aged care homes can mark together - like Halloween and Remembrance Day - come thick and fast. I’m sure you’ll enjoy seeing some of the photos from these events in this issue.

Another high point in recent days has been the opening of our latest home - our 30th in fact - in Penshurst, NSW. Georges Estate welcomed its first residents in October as the doors finally opened.

As usual, we’ve got plenty of stories which highlight how special our staff are. They often go above and beyond to give our residents the very best care and access to engaging activities, organised by our Allied Health team.

DESIGNER Jennifer Mattison jmattison@hallprior.com.au CONTRIBUTOR Jacki Downs jdowns@hallprior.com.au

COVER IMAGE Pauline Seaborne at McDougall Park enjoys a cuddle with a visiting guinea pig.

Printed by VANGUARD PRESS, WA HOGAN PRINT, NSW All rights reserved. No material published in this magazine may be reproduced in whole or part without prior written authority.

Every endeavour is made to ensure information contained is correct at time of going to print. ©2021 Life & Love is published by Hall & Prior Health & Aged Care Group.

Visit hallprior.com.au

We’re also proud of the fact some of our homes are able to cater for those residents who want to continue living together. Read about a pair of sisters who are as inseparable now at Hamersley in Subiaco as they were growing up in Kalgoorlie, WA. Happy reading.

Gabi

facebook.com/ HallandPriorAgedCare

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CEO Graeme Prior with Vietnam veteran Robert Crawford.

CEO Graeme Prior with veterans Ronnie and Nan Leigh and their daughter Nicky at Karingal Green.

A WORD FROM THE

Chief Executive Officer

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ver the past few months at Hall & Prior, there have been many exciting milestones.

We opened the doors to our newest home in NSW Georges Estate Health & Aged Care Community in Penshurst in early October and have been busy welcoming our first ever residents to the home and creating a wonderful new community there.

This is our 13th home in NSW and our 30th national home, another important milestone for the Group.

It is always an exciting time when a new home opens and there are many people to thank. I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the Georges Estate commissioning teams in both Sydney and Perth for everything they have done behind the scenes and during COVID-19 to help the home open safely.

I am very much looking forward to spending some time in Sydney with the Georges Estate team as soon as I am able to do so.

We also recently assumed the management and operations of our first ever home in the south west of Western Australia, Tuia Lodge in Donnybrook.

incredibly proud to be a part of the town and work alongside the Donnybrook-Balingup Shire to provide better health outcomes for the local community.

It is an exciting time to be expanding and we thank you for your ongoing support.

In this issue of Life & Love we also showcase many stories from our homes in WA and NSW, including commemorating Remembrance Day and some fantastic visiting Royal Show animal farms that have filled our WA homes with laughter and were a definite highlight for our residents.

As always I hope you enjoy this issue and learning about the life, love and stories that exist within all of our homes.

Yours truly,

GRAEME PRIOR Chief Executive Officer

Tuia Lodge is a lovely 30-bed home that has been part of the Donnybrook-Balingup community for the past 30 years; and we are

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PAWS The power of animal therapy has long been a popular option for occupational therapists to draw on in aged care. Hall & Prior are no stranger to the magical effects of introducing animals - whether the real thing or in toy form - and seeing the positive after effects of a cuddle or a pat.

By Gabi Mills.

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COVER STORY

for thought

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ust a cursory glance at some of the faces captured in the photographs which accompany this feature tell a happy story. At a recent recreation of Perth’s popular Royal Show at McDougall Park Aged Care Home, the residents were treated to a special chance to interact with all manner of furry friends, from guinea pigs to goats.

A travelling animal farm brought along some very friendly visitors who spent time with their new best friends - the residents. Meanwhile in NSW, a very obliging pony went from resident to resident at Glenwood Aged Care Home, bringing a special kind of joy to all those who scratched his nose and patted his head. Friendly puppies are made a fuss of and animatronic pets are a popular addition to the daily routine for those who crave emotional connection with a puppy or cat on their lap.

agitated and/or does not usually speak will immediately calm down when the animal is placed on their lap, and they will begin to pet it, cuddle it and talk to it.”

Even those suffering from dementia and other cognitive impairments, the effects of interacting with an animal - either real or stuffed - can have very real benefits, says Georgia.

“For those residents with more advanced dementia who often cannot differentiate between a live dog and a stuffed one, they will treat an animatronic or stuffed dog the same way that they would a “real” one.”

At McDougall Park’s recent Royal Show, many residents were encouraged by the home’s brilliant occupational therapists and other allied health staff to gently hold some of the smaller animals, to enjoy the feeling of a warm furry little body in their hands and also had the chance to pat some of the larger animals.

Georgia Strimaitis, one of Hall & Prior’s occupational therapists (OT) said the almost miraculous effect spending time with docile animals has on residents is no surprise.

“From an OT perspective, animal therapy has really big, positive impacts on the mood and well-being of our residents,” says Georgia.

“I’ve used real animals, animatronic animals and stuffed toys, and they all elicit a very real response. Quite often, a resident who was very

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COVER STORY

Visiting dogs - often the pets of staff members - are also a popular addition to the roster of visitors to Hall & Prior homes. In the case of St Lukes in Subiaco’s favourite pooch - Cookie - he actually lives at the home, and often spends time with his old owner, Mary.

“During an interaction with Mary, she hadn’t responded to me or the OTA, and in fact I hadn’t heard her talking at all during the day,” says Georgia.

“When Cookie was placed on her lap, she immediately said “That’s my Cookie!” and was kissing and cuddling her.

Such touching moments can trigger deep memories and unlock positive responses not seen otherwise from residents.

“Joy is another resident who loves Cookie,” says Georgia.

“She previously had a similar type of dog and has said in the past that Cookie helps her not miss her dog so much.

She says that having animals around makes St Lukes feel ‘more like home’.”

LOYAL FRIENDS Visiting puppies and dogs bring so much joy to residents who may have memories of their own pets from the past.

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COMFORT AND JOY Animals great and small give residents the chance to experience a special kind of happiness.

In many cases, Hall & Prior residents have had a pet in their lives, and even if their pet was different to the animal in front of them they will often recall it.

“Some residents who do not enjoy physical contact with staff love to cuddle the animals, which is a great way to support their emotional well-being,” says Georgia.

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. . . animal therapy has really big, positive impacts on the mood and wellbeing of our residents.

“Some homes also have staff, volunteers or family members who bring their dogs in either regularly or semi-regularly,” says Georgia.

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“In other Hall & Prior homes we have dogs that visit once a week through a company called Delta Dogs. When residents first come to us we ask about pets and pet therapy in their initial OT assessment, and ensure that those who want to be visited by the dog are.”

“Other animal interactions such as farm visits, chick hatching and so forth are planned out in the activity calendar each year to give residents extra interaction with animals. Where possible we plan them around relevant events such as Easter or the Royal Show, just like at McDougall Park.”

This attention to detail enables OT staff to plan interactions with animals with those residents who have indicated this is something they would enjoy.

To find out more about Hall & Prior’s occupational therapy program, visit hallprior.com.au 9

Sister Act Siblings Mary Barritt and Lena Lenderink live together at Hamersley and as the pair are just as inseparable now as they were in childhood, it’s the ideal way for them to spend their latter years together.

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t’s one of the many great things about moving into a Hall & Prior aged care home - the fact that if you want, you can choose to continue living together if you’re a couple or siblings. For sisters Mary Barritt and Lena Lenderink, residents of Hamersley Aged Care Home in Subiaco, WA, it’s meant that they can stay as close as ever, living side by side as they grow old together.

Lena, 91, was born in Subiaco, and married Jack in 1980. She would go on to own a small business in Halls Head, Mandurah but remained close to her sister Mary, 86, over the years. Her daughter Rita visits the pair regularly and keeps in touch with her mother and aunt.

“As children, we used to like sleeping near each other,” says Lena. “It made us feel safe.”

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There’s some dispute between the pair about who was the dominant one as they grew up.

Lena says Mary was bossy but Mary says that Lena was the sister who was in charge.

Mary was born five years later in 1936, and by now the family had moved from Subiaco to Kalgoorlie, a country town famous for having an enormous mine site called the Super Pit. Visible from space, this huge scar on the landscape is one of the largest open-cut mines on earth and the biggest gold mine in Australia. About 900,000 ounces of gold are harvested here each year, making a total of 50 million ounces since it started operating in 1989. The hole is approximately 3.7 kilometres long, 1.5 kilometres wide and around 480 metres deep - big enough to bury Uluru.

TOGETHER FOREVER Mary Barritt and Lena Lenderink, sisters who live together at Hamersley Aged Care Home in Subiaco, WA. Inset, The Super Pit in Kalgoorlie, near where the pair grew up.

DID YOU KNOW? Two Japanese sisters were confirmed as the world’s oldest living identical twins and the oldest ever identical twins at the age of 107, according to a 2020 news report.

Born on November 5, 1913, Umeno Sumiyama and Koume Kodama were 107 years, said the Guinness World Records in 2020. They were born on Shodo Island, Kagawa prefecture, into a family of 13.

The pair now live in separate care homes.

Guinness World Records sent the twins their certificates and care home staff said Sumiyama burst into tears when she saw it.

“Koume, whose memory is not what it once was, sadly couldn’t fully comprehend the significance of receiving the certificate,” continues the statement: Meanwhile, the oldest male identical twins ever verified by Guinness World Records were Dale and Glen Moyer, from the US, who both reached the age of 105. Born in 1895, they became the oldest living twins on January 23, 2000.

Japan is known for its supercentenarians - a person who is 110 years old or older - and many records have been achieved in the country, said Guinness World Records. Among their number is the oldest person living, Kane Tanaka, who is 118. Tanaka has twice survived cancer, lived through two global pandemics.

He’s said to love fizzy drinks.

It’s a dry, dusty kind of a place and perhaps because of this, both sisters still love sitting outside together in the sunshine.

“We are very close and worry if we can’t see each other or sit together,” says Mary.

Mary married Alan and has a son Gian, who lives in Melbourne. She worked as a bookkeeper until the 1990s and now is a firm fan of watermelon, party pies, jelly, soup and bread. Lena, meanwhile, loves curry, egg sandwiches, pizzas and satay wraps.

As they enjoy their golden years together back in Subiaco, the pair remain touchingly affectionate and close, just as they have for their whole lives.

“When we walk together, we hold hands and sleep on the chairs together,” says Lena.

“We will always look after each other.”

To find out more about shared accommodation options, visit hallprior.com.au 11

Georges Estate NOW OPEN The latest addition to the Hall & Prior NSW Group has opened its doors, making it the 30th industry-leading aged care home to join the family.

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n October Hall & Prior opened Georges Estate Health & Aged Care Community in Penshurst, a world-class luxury aged care home in the fast-growing Georges River area in NSW. The $70-million home is a state-of-the art facility with stringent COVID-19 infection controls in place, as well as specialist care units. It is the group’s 13th home in NSW. The 111-bed facility, located at 1 Centre St in Penshurst, is aimed at the ageing population in this popular part of Sydney, as well as the general public who can use some of its amenities.

“Georges Estate represents the culmination of our experience in designing innovative residences with all of the features of a luxury hotel,” Hall & Prior Chief Executive Officer Graeme Prior said.

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“We have created a Wellness Centre, specialist health clinic and hydrotherapy pool for our residents. This is a new era of aged care, with cutting edge amenities, including BBQ areas, a gymnasium, private dining room and cinema.”

The Wellness Centre provides physiotherapy, restorative care, exercise rehabilitation and is available for use by the general public.

A key element at Georges Estate throughout COVID-19 is the requirement for all staff to be fully vaccinated.

Residents and visitors are also encouraged to get the jab with Rapid Testing in place and a nurse onsite 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“Keeping our residents and staff safe is our number one priority at Hall & Prior,” Graeme added.

“With the ongoing support of the Georges River Council, Georges Estate will provide better outcomes for local residents and the wider community in a safe, comfortable and convenient location, as well as home care for those who wish to remain in their residences.”

The facility also features spacious single or double bedrooms and suites, as well as a private guest room and dining room for family stays and functions.

Georges Estate has an in-house chef and culinary team who prepare fresh meals, snacks and beverages on a daily basis, catering for all cultures, tastes and dietary requirements.

Visit georgesestate.com.au for more information.

NEW BEGINNINGS The first residents have been welcomed to Georges Estate, Hall & Prior’s 30 th aged care home nationally.

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Meet Maureen and John - first residents at Georges Estate As Georges Estate finally opens its doors, first residents John and Maureen Kneipp are determined to enjoy their lives together in their new home, after 63 years of marriage and a lifetime of wonderful memories.

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aureen and John met while they were living in the suburb of Marrickville almost 67 years ago. After getting married in 1958, they bought their first house in nearby Earlwood, where they lived until their first child was born. Their next move was to a house in Narwee where they had three more children (including twin girls); with four children in tow, they quickly realised they had outgrown their home. So they bought a newly built larger home in Peakhurst Heights in 1970. In 1971 they had another child and then again in 1973; a grand total of six children, three girls and three boys.

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Having six children obviously had an influence on their lifestyle. They were dedicated to family life with John at one time holding down three jobs. Working by day in the city as an accountant, he was a barman at Massey Golf Course by night and pencilled at the horse races on weekends. Maureen kept the wheels turning at home with military precision, and thrived on organisation. One of her favourite sayings is: ‘a place for everything and everything in its place’, and it stood the couple in very good stead. It’s a mantra she truly believes in to this day - just ask John or her children about the consequences of leaving shoes, clothes, tools, newspapers or empty plates and glasses lying around.

Once their youngest child was in high school Maureen re-joined the workforce to ensure the children didn’t want for anything.

Maureen was incredibly house proud, so she was always coming up with new ways of enhancing their home and when the children were young, John spent many hours building rockeries, painting, wall papering, moving furniture and climbing up and down ladders to ensure all his wife’s plans came to fruition. Most importantly, he made sure she had enough space to store her numerous pairs of shoes, which she was very fond of.

Once the children grew up and left home it was time to downsize with a move back to a single storey home in Mortdale. Maureen continued to come up with new ways to express her passion for home design, but John now had the luxury of paying someone else to do the work while he pursued his love of golf in an effort reduce his handicap.

HAPPILY EVER AFTER John and Maureen Kneipp are continuing their 63-years of marriage in Georges Estate.

Above, the couple with Hall & Prior’s Emma Juretic, Executive Director of Care at the new home.

Story continued overleaf.

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FAMILY FRIENDLY John and Maureen are looking forward to many happy days at Georges Estate with visiting family and friends.

However, like the majority of golfers, he mostly enjoyed lingering on the 19th hole.

John also has a great love of sport - he will watch any sport if Australia is involved. He also likes horse racing and can negotiate his way around a form guide better than Gai Waterhouse.

Maureen kept the wheels turning at home with military precision . . .

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Maureen and John have been blessed with eight grandchildren and during their retirement, it was evident that family came

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first, as they spent many hours babysitting and helping out when needed to enjoy their role as Grandma and Grandpa.

This wonderful couple have just celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary, and wish to continue their journey together. They believe that Georges Estate Health & Aged Care Community will provide them with the perfect environment to remain together.

r e w o l F r e w o p H

all & Prior has a legion of unsung heroes who perform daily acts of kindness and generosity across all the Group’s many homes. These volunteers, who largely give their time for free to enrich the lives of residents, may attend homes to read books aloud, talk to residents or even just help around the home where they can.

fresh flowers to residents at Leighton Aged Care Home, a selfless act inspired by the fact a local flower store was throwing away otherwise perfectly good flowers.

One such very special member of the WA Hall & Prior community is Natascha Gacia - otherwise known as ‘the flower lady’.

“My own grandparents have passed away and I thought that this would be a good way of interacting with aged care residents in their absence.”

Natascha’s day job as a special education teacher for children with disabilities perhaps gives a hint of her caring nature. She’s also a volunteer for Feed It Forward Perth, a network of people dedicated to supporting their communities and helping those in need. Natascha and others in this group collect perfectly edible food which would otherwise be discarded from supermarkets and other outlets, distributing food to families in need each week.

It’s a lovely way too for her own daughter to be able to get to know the older generation; her little girl often accompanies Natascha on a flower delivery run to Leighton.

In addition to all this, for the past three months, Natascha has also been delivering

Natascha Gacia delivers beautiful blooms to the residents of Leighton Aged Care Home - an act of kindness that’s not lost on staff or residents.

“I thought that it would be nice to use them and to bring a smile to the residents at Leighton, especially as I live nearby,” said Natascha.

“She loves getting involved and handing bouquets to the residents.”

Natascha would like to extend a thank you to several organisations which help her distribute otherwise wasted produce and flowers.

“I’d like to thank Feed It Forward, Second Bite, Sealanes, Woolworths and Oasis Fresh.”

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CORPORATE NEWS

Award-winning Karingal Green

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aringal Green Health and Aged Care Community in High Wycombe has received a highly coveted award at this year’s Property Council of Australia WA annual awards.

Hall & Prior CEO Graeme Prior was delighted to accept the award for ‘Best Mixed Use Development’ for the project.

“This is a huge honour, thank you to the Property Council and congratulations to the Karingal Green team for all of their hard work on this wonderful project which represents a new era of aged care in Western Australia,” CEO Graeme Prior said.

This is what the judges had to say about the home’s state-of-the-art design: “Much more than a traditional nursing home, this health precinct applies the continuous care community model to help people age in place.

The 160-residential bed development features a range of impressive amenities, including a

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WINNERS CEO Graeme Prior (right) with Senior Manager Corporate Development David Stroud (left) and Chairman of Western Australian Planning Commission David Caddy.

multifunction space for 300 people, a luxurious in-house cinema, fully-equipped beauty salon, 150-seat auditorium and wellness centre.”

Congratulations to the Karingal Green team and all involved in bringing Karingal Green to life for our residents and their families.

To find out more about Karingal Green or to book a tour please visit karingalgreen.com.au

LIVE and WORK in SYDNEY

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all & Prior was delighted to be part of the Health Care Job Fair in Dublin, Ireland in early October to entice talented health professionals to move to Sydney.

The Healthcare Job Fair is the UK and Ireland’s largest recruitment event for all health and social care staff including Doctors, Nurses, Allied Health and social care professionals with employers from all over the globe taking part.

Jobs available in Sydney currently include Registered Nurses, Clinical Nurse Managers and Infection Control Nurses.

COME TO SYDNEY There are opportunities for health and social care professionals from Ireland to join the Hall & Prior team in NSW.

To find out more about working for Hall & Prior please contact careers@hallprior.com.au

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MEET THE DON

Patricia Chew Caroline Chisholm Aged Care Home, NSW 20

MEET THE DON

As the new Director of Nursing at Caroline Chisholm Aged Care Home, Patricia Chew is looking forward to fresh challenges and the opportunity to get to know the residents of this Sydney home.

By Gabi Mills.

L&L: How long have you worked in aged care and what drew you to the profession?

PC: I have worked in aged care for nearly 40 years. I have always loved working with older people and in aged care, we are able to develop long term relationships with the person and their families.

L&L: When did you join Hall & Prior and in what capacity?

PC: I joined the Hall & Prior team on September 13, 2021, as Caroline Chisholm’s new Director of Nursing.

L&L: What do you particularly enjoy about your role - and what are some of the challenges you face?

PC: I love everything about the role. I love getting to know the residents, families and staff. The challenges all of us working in aged care are facing is to ensure that we understand the changes occurring and embrace them with a new way of thinking.

L&L: What kind of leader/DON are you how do you think your colleagues would describe you?

PC: I hope that I am a leader who encourages staff to fulfill their potential.

L&L: What makes for a good day in aged care in your chosen career path - and how do you keep smiling in the face of everyday life and death situations encountered in aged care?

PC: A good day is when I go home feeling that I have made a positive impact on someone’s day, whether that’s residents or staff.

L&L: What plans do you have for your home - and how do you relax when you have finished work for the day?

PC: I hope to work with the lifestyle team to enhance the program. I relax by walking on my property and playing with my doggies.

L&L: Tell us something we don’t know about you (could be a hobby, passion, special ability).

PC: I really don’t have any hobbies but I think I’m a pretty good cook.

To find out more about Caroline Chisholm Aged Care Home, visit hallprior.com.au.

L&L: On a day-to-day basis, what makes your role special and how do you plan on inspiring staff at your home?

PC: Every role in aged care is special; after all, we are entrusted to care for our older citizens.

I hope to inspire the staff by acknowledging what a great job they are doing and letting them know that I am willing to do anything they need me to do if I can.

L&L: If somebody was contemplating a career in aged care, what advice would you give them?

PC: I would advise them to discuss this with their manager and work out a career pathway.

This may include further study, mentoring and coaching.

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R U OK? Day 2021

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n the busy world we live in, R U OK Day? encourages us all to stop and check-in with one another to make sure that we are indeed, OK. At Hall & Prior the day is celebrated with morning and afternoon teas at our homes and offices in WA and NSW. This year’s theme was “Are They Really OK?” . . . ask them today!

A small question that could make a very big difference.

CEO Graeme Prior said of the day: “Help is always here if you need it and at Hall & Prior you will never walk alone.”

We love

love

St Lukes Aged Care Home

AT HALL & PRIOR, we love celebrating our couples living together in care.

This is Howard and Betty who live with us at St Luke’s Aged Care Home in Subiaco, WA celebrating their 62nd wedding anniversary recently.

Congratulations Howard and Betty on a lifetime of love.

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IN OUR HOMES

Through the looking glass Aubrey Downer Aged Care Home

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ur Mad Hatter’s Tea Party was a blast of Alice In Wonderland fun. We embraced the weird and wonderful at our tea parties as we proudly displayed our slightly crazy hats.

Both lodges enjoyed a special ‘Wonderland’ tea party, with Alcheringa enjoying a spot of wacky fun in the morning and our Jeffress residents slipping into slight silliness in the afternoon.

We put together some very funny games, but our favourite was definitely ‘Pin the Smile on the Cheshire Cat’. A tea party is simply not complete without some blends to tantalise our taste buds, so we enjoyed some different teas like peppermint, green tea and jasmine, all the while as we showed off our crazy hats.

What a day down the rabbit hole!

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IN OUR HOMES

Celebrating OUR DADS Mertome Aged Care and Retirement Village Tuohy Aged Care Home Fairfield Aged Care Home

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here were plenty of photo opportunities on Sunday September 5, as we celebrated Father’s Day in our homes.

Here are a small selection of happy snaps from Mertome Aged Care and Retirement Village in Bayswater, where they held a pool competition (complete with medals for the winners), and Tuohy in Midland, where resident Dads enjoyed an afternoon tea to celebrate.

There were also celebrations at Fairfield in NSW where Dads were given lots of treats.

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TO

F iji

AND

be y o n d

Sirius Cove Aged Care Home

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n celebration of our Fiji and islander cultural day, residents and staff got into the spirit by dressing up in their best beach and tropical-themed outfits.

Leis, grass skirts, coconuts and the odd palm leaf were on show as the residents and staff watched traditional Fijian Meke dancing, which involves a combination of dancing and story-telling.

Led by assistant in nursing, Shahin, the residents were encouraged to join in some dancing of their own, with some moves that were by no means traditional, but high energy and good fun all the same. Just imagine Madagascar’s ‘I like to Move I, Move it’, to get an idea of what was going on. We also enjoyed trying some freshly-made piña coladas, mojitos and fruity mocktails.

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It’s only rock n’ roll . . .

but we like it!

Kensington Park Aged Care Home

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t Kensington Park Aged Care Home, staff and residents put on their blue suede shoes and danced the afternoon away to some live rock n’ roll music recently.

It was wonderful to see so many people getting into the spirit of things, proving that music is such a great way for folk of all ages to enjoy fun activities together. Check out some of the top moves our rock and rollers made - complete with fancy footwork and swing moves.

Rock on, Kensington Park - you’re legends and we salute you.

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Sculpting by the sea McDougall Park Aged Care Home Kensington Park Aged Care Home

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ome of our homes have got crafty recently, emulating the popular Sculpture By The Sea annual exhibition of works created by local artists in WA and NSW. As you can see, the creativity of our residents is pretty impressive - and all were very pleased with the finished results.

COFFEE and CAKE

for Tuia

Tuia Lodge Aged Care Home SOME OF OUR GORGEOUS Tuia Lodge residents in Donnybrook, WA enjoyed morning tea recently at Donnybrook’s new Heritage Goods Shed Cafe and the spring sunshine that came with it. Residents at Tuia Lodge often take outings to enjoy all that the gorgeous south west region they live in has to offer.

Disco Divas Agmaroy Aged Care Home Our Agmaroy Aged Care Home’s staff and residents in Wilson, WA had a great time dressing up recently for a Friday Funday disco a few weeks ago. With great music, sequins, sparkles and lots of laughs everyone had the best time getting their disco on!

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IN OUR HOMES

OT WEEK 2021 Karingal Green Health and Aged Care Community

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rom October 21, our talented team of OTs celebrated Occupational Therapy Week 2021, designed to thank our occupational therapists for the amazing work they do every day.

Our OTs held an education day on Monday at Karingal Green Health and Aged Care Community in High Wycombe with presentations on NDIS, palliative and end-oflife care, bariatric equipment, sleep solutions, pressure injuries and mealtime positioning.

Throughout the week, engaging activities were set up at our homes by our OT team and a fun quiz took place for residents and staff to enjoy. #OTWeek21

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BEST FOOT FORWARD Hall & Prior’s Occupational Therapy team got into the spirit of OT Week in October.

GAME ON Menaville Aged Care Home THERE IS NOTHING like a brand new game that everyone can enjoy at the same time.

The noodle and ball game had the activity room in uproar as we poked, pushed, bashed and prodded the ball in different directions with our pool noodles.

Watching such a large group join in a single game is perfect for encouraging social connectedness as well as strength and hand/

eye coordination. We played this game together while listening to music played through our WiFi, connecting us to YouTube, where we can listen to any artist we want to enjoy.

There were many times where game players were caught out chatting and let the ball roll past them, but it was all in the spirit of the game. This type of game encourages many types of conversations, mostly based around the past sporting prowess of our residents!

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Ariba, ariba!

Fairfield Aged Care Home

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t was International Mexican Day on September 16, so never one to say no to a good fiesta, the staff at Fairfield threw a big celebration in honour of Mexico.

There was Mexican food served throughout the day for lunch, including chilli con carne, cheesy nachos, guacamole and a drop or two of Mexican beer!

Then it was time to take turns hitting the piñata, an activity which turned into something really fun as some people missed the thing altogether with the bat . The ‘Hat Dance’ was also a good excuse to get everybody up and moving. When it was time to say ‘adios’ to International Mexican Day, we decided that we loved Mexican culture and can’t wait to arm-chair travel there again soon.

Pyjama Day FUN-draising Windsor Park Aged Care Home THIS IS Windsor Park Aged Care Home’s Executive Manager Jayne Cummings delivering $3,620 to Fostering Hope in Wangara, WA. Our teams from Windsor Park, Mosman Park, Freshwater Bay, McDougall Park, Rockingham, Hamersley and Leighton Aged Care Homes in WA all raised money from their annual Pyjama Days recently for this wonderful cause.

Congratulations to the Hall & Prior WA family for such a great effort!

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IN OUR HOMES

FARM YARD

fun

St Lukes Aged Care Home ALL THE FUN of the Perth Royal Show came to our St Lukes Aged Care Home in Subiaco, WA recently, when visiting farm yard animals (complete with their friendly farmer!) spent the morning with our residents. Goats, chickens, piglets, guinea pigs, a miniature horse and ducks all lapped up the attention as residents took turns feeding and patting the animals and enjoyed some springtime farmyard fun.

Read more about the power of animal therapy in our cover story, on page 6.

Friday Church reaches milestone RECENTLY, KARINGAL GREEN’S Friday Church group celebrated its first anniversary.

Meeting in the cinema room at 11am every Friday, the group comes together in worship with sacred songs, scripture readings and prayer.

All are welcome to come along and find hope and encouragement within our community.

For more information, please ask the Karingal Green staff or call Karen Smith on 0423 690 406. Friends and family are welcome to join.

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T’S E L

twist

AGAIN

Hamersley Aged Care Home

R

ecently our wonderful team at Hall & Prior’s Hamersley Aged Care Home in Subiaco, WA got together to “Spring into the 60s” and celebrate some of the music that our residents love, while also giving a nod to spring and a brand new season of life and love.

A beautiful afternoon of musical nostalgia and fun was had by everyone.

Viva Espana!

Karingal Green Health and Aged Care Community KARINGAL GREEN Health and Aged Care Community in High Wycombe embraced everything Spanish recently with a delicious paella for both residents and staff to enjoy, made by our talented chef and hospitality team. It was a popular choice enjoyed by all and staff even dressed up for the day in Spain’s national colours.

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IN OUR HOMES

Celebrating our elders Clover Lea Aged Care Home

T

he first day of October annually signifies the International Day of Older Persons and in 2021, the theme is Digital Equity for All Ages, which affirms the need for access and meaningful participation in the digital world by older persons. Back in 14 December 1990, the United Nations General Assembly designated October 1 as a day to make sure attention was brought to the older generation, ensuring recognition, health provisions, social care and awareness is given to those that have gone before us to help shape our world to the one we enjoy today.

Clover Lea lifestyle officers enjoyed taking this special occasion as an opportunity to highlight this day to our residents and encourage discussions and awareness of the issues and challenges of ageing in today’s world. Taking this personal perspective from our residents helps us to ensure our residents are feeling a sense of value in our home society and they have a daily social and emotional connection as well as an outlet for verbalising how they are feeling and help break any negative thoughts about ageing.

A

stitch in time Mertome Aged Care and Retirement Village THE TALENTED LADIES at Mertome Aged Care and Retirement Village in Bayswater, WA have been putting their sewing skills to good use recently, using colourful fabrics to welcome in spring.

“Our residents love getting involved and lending a helping hand and recently some of our lovely ladies assisted in making heat pack covers with the help of our therapy assistant, Jette,” said occupational therapist, Laura Wilkinson.

“Many of these ladies worked as dressmakers and seamstresses or made the clothes for their children in the past, so this is a great opportunity for them to continue to engage in their previous roles and keep their hands and minds active.”

We agree and think it’s SEW great.

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IN OUR HOMES

Friday night done right Halloween was celebrated in all its ghoulish glory at the end of October with some Hall & Prior homes going all in on the spookiest day of the year.

Belmont in WA saw some spectacular costumes on show as witches and wizards enjoyed a special Halloween party organised by staff for their residents.

Meanwhile at Agmaroy in Wilson, WA, colourful masks were the order of the day as sweet treats were enjoyed by some of the residents.

In NSW, pumpkins, witches and face painting transformed residents at Vaucluse, Fairfield and Shangri-La aged care homes in Sydney making this Halloween a colourful one after so many days of lockdown.

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LEST WE FORGET

R

emembrance Day (November 11) is an incredibly important day for the Hall & Prior Group.

It is a day for us to pause and commemorate our veterans and the great sacrifices they made so that we can all enjoy the freedoms we cherish today.

“I believe we can all learn from our veterans; in the modern age they still have much to teach us about sacrifice, selflessness and resilience.”

Please visit our website - hallprior.com.au or Facebook page - facebook.com/ HallandPriorAgedCare to see the stories on November 11.

Hall & Prior cares for almost 100 veterans at its 30 homes in WA and NSW. Every year, CEO Graeme Prior spends time with our veterans in care to discover their amazing tales of bravery and sacrifice to be made into videos that record these stories for posterity.

“We are honoured to be caring for some of Australia’s brave veterans at our homes,” Graeme said.

“Recording these stories is very important for both the history of our nation and also for their families and loved-ones to share and keep forever.

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IN THE PIPELINE

Strong start for new relationships at Tuia Lodge A successful transition of operators at aged care home Tuia Lodge in Donnybrook almost four months ago has resulted in a strong working relationship between the Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup and National aged care provider Hall & Prior.

The Shire remains the landlord of the home; Hall & Prior has a 21-year lease as manager of Tuia Lodge.

Working together for the good of the residents and the community has been a resounding success for both the Shire and Hall & Prior since new management took the helm in July this year.

“It was very important to Hall & Prior that we took our time to get to know the residents, their families and the community of Donnybrook,” Hall & Prior CEO Graeme Prior said.

“We are enjoying working alongside the Shire and the local community to provide quality health outcomes for our residents and their families.

“Our goal is to improve the quality of aged care in the South West and earn the respect and trust of the community, by working in partnership with the Shire, the hospital, local doctors, and other care providers.”

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Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup President Cr Brian Piesse agreed, adding that the Shire was impressed with Hall & Prior’s commitment to care.

“

It was very important that we . . . get to know the residents, their families and the community of Donnybrook.

“

H

all & Prior took over management and operations of Tuia Lodge from the Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup in July.

- Graeme Prior, CEO Hall & Prior

“When we chose an aged care provider for the town, it was very important for us to choose an organisation that not only had an excellent reputation in the industry, but would also deliver premium aged care to the communities of Donnybrook, Balingup and surrounds.

THE SWEET LIFE Tuia Lodge in Donnybrook, south west WA, is a particularly lovely place to live.

“It was also important to us that the provider we chose would not just operate Tuia Lodge, but also become part of the community. As Hall & Prior is a family owned organisation with 30 years’ of experience, we knew we were making the right decision.

“We’re very pleased with the relationship so far and the care that is being provided.”

Hall & Prior has plans to refurbish and expand Tuia Lodge and add an in-home community based care program that will provide further jobs to the region as well as increased care options for the local community.

Planning for future renovations to the home are also currently in progress.

Residents have also settled well into the new relationship, working with Hall & Prior’s Allied Health team (which includes speech pathologists, occupational therapists, dietitians and clinical specialists) and enjoying outings to Donnybrook’s newest attractions such as the Apple Fun Park and Heritage Goods Shed.

Hall & Prior owns and operates 30 aged care homes across WA and NSW. To find out more about Tuia Lodge Aged Care Home, visit hallprior.com.au.

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5

things to consider when planning your

legacy

W

Melisa Sloan, lawyer and author of new book, Legacy, has useful advice for those of us keen to put in place plans for our family after we pass away.

e often don’t like to think of our mortality, but it’s a fact of life. The best way to take care of your family and loved ones in the event that you are no longer here is by putting in place a solid plan. So while it can be a confronting thought, by taking the time to put a plan in place you can ensure that you leave the legacy that you intended. Here are my top five things to consider: 1. Set up a Will Your Will is an important part of the estate planning process and allows you to appoint an executor who will administer and distribute your estate in accordance with the instructions contained in your Will. Additionally, it allows you to appoint a guardian, who you wish to care for and raise your minor children. These are both important roles and the people you appoint to these roles should be people that you trust implicitly.

Your Will is deemed particularly significant in that it stipulates how the assets of your estate are to be distributed upon your death. It is therefore extremely

38

important that you provide clear instructions in respect to the distribution. If you are leaving specific items to certain beneficiaries, it is prudent to definitively identify each item.

It is also important to consider how each beneficiary is to receive their inheritance, whether personally in their own name, or in a protected structure, such as a Testamentary Trust.

2. Memorandum of Wishes There may be additional wishes that you would like to stipulate in your estate plan that are not included in your Will. A memorandum of wishes allows you to leave definitive instructions in respect to how you would like your minor children raised or how their inheritance should be invested.

Such wishes can provide your executor or your children’s guardian with invaluable guidance and deserve to be considered carefully.

3. Superannuation People are often surprised to hear that superannuation is separate to your Will. Your superannuation is held on trust for you by the trustee of your superannuation fund.

It is therefore imperative that you provide the trustee of your superannuation fund with a death nomination providing a direction stipulating where you would like your superannuation to be paid at the time of your death. The most common nominations are Binding Death Nominations and Non-Lapsing Binding Death Nominations.

4. Life Insurance Life insurance can be a very powerful tool in taking care of families and loved ones left behind, and as such, insurance is an aspect that is increasingly becoming of value when putting an estate plan in place.

Life insurance put in place in the event of your death can be useful in providing for your family when you are no longer here. One motivating factor for many people putting life insurance in place is to cover their children’s future education costs, mortgages, debts and living costs. When looking at these liabilities and expenses, it is a good idea to look at them

from a perspective that if you were not here tomorrow, how much insurance would you need to cover these debts and other costs?

Insurance is an integral consideration when putting your Estate Plan in place. At the very least, a review of your current insurance will reinforce what you currently have in place, and such a review could be the catalyst for determining whether the level of insurance that you have is sufficient or whether additional insurance is required.

5. Power of Attorney Putting in place Power of Attorney documents allows you to appoint someone to make financial, legal, guardianship and medical decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated and can no longer make your own decisions.

If you do not have Power of Attorney documents in place, someone would need to make an application to

PEAK PRACTICE A stunning new photographic book explores the rich history of Australia’s most wellknown mountains.

A

ustralia’s mountains may not stand as tall as mightier peaks stretched across other continents, but they are spectacular in their own right and have their own rich history that many of us don’t know. In a new book, Mountains: Over Australia’s Blue Horizon (NLA Publishing, $49.99) author Alasdair McGregor provides a stunning visual and photographic history of our most well-known mountains.

McGregor traces the rise and fall of the Australian continent, from mountains of ice and fire to those of iron and those with their heads in the clouds.

the relevant state authority to be appointed your guardian and administrator.

The person appointed may not be the person who you would have chosen to make these important decisions on your behalf. It is therefore imperative that Power of Attorneys are an integral part of your estate plan.

By putting your estate plan in place you will be leaving a beautiful legacy for your family and loved ones. It will also give you comforting peace of mind to know that all is in place.

Melisa Sloan, author of Legacy, is an estate planning lawyer with extensive experience in assisting people with putting in place their Estate Plan.

Find out more at melisasloanlawyers.com.au

“These mountains can be measured by the yardstick of time rather than height - the sagas of the earth from its earliest days are inscribed for those who care to look closely,” he says.

“On the top of Mount Everest you can touch the edge of outer space but in the Australian mountains you can feel the beginning of time.”

True to the diversity of the Australian continent, our mountains are home to natural habitats of both exquisite beauty and astonishing variety as well as, sadly, rapidly increasing rarity. Our First Nations People have an enduring spiritual connection to many of these sites, and they have been a rich source of inspiration for many painters, poets, photographers and writers. An expansive contemplation of natural, geological and social history, Mountains: Over Australia’s Blue Horizon defies our reputation as the flattest continent on earth, illuminating the landscape in all its breathtaking height and glory.

Author Alasdair McGregor is a mountaineer, writer, painter and lecturer based in Sydney.

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A VISION for the future

W

e’re all living longer and enjoying a better quality of health. It’s estimated that more than half the babies born in wealthier countries since 2000 will reach their 100th birthdays.

That’s a pretty amazing statistic.

However, as we age, our vision can begin to deteriorate affecting our ability to continue to enjoy doing all the things we’ve done over the years. In Australia, eye diseases such as cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy can lead to sight loss. Unfortunately, there may come a time when the impact of these conditions can no longer be corrected with glasses, contact lenses or with medical interventions.

That’s where VisAbility can help. VisAbility offers specialist support services to people with vision impairment and a range of

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VisAbility helps people with vision issues manage their condition in their own home in conjunction with White Oak.

therapies, and can work with individuals in the comfort of their own surroundings, including seniors in the White Oak community.

The not-for-profit and registered My Aged Care provider has been supporting people with low or no vision in Western Australia for more than 100 years. Its origins date back to 1913 when the Ladies’ Braille Society was formed. Seventy years ago in 1951, Australia’s first Guide Dog training school was established which had a nationwide impact. In 2013, the Association for the Blind of WA and Guide Dogs WA became known as VisAbility.

Last year VisAbility received a commendation for providing an outstanding level of care and service delivery to older clients by Leading Aged Services Australia. It was also a finalist in the organisation category in the annual Excellence in Age Services Awards.

like a desktop magnifier. Screen reading software and talking devices are also making life far easier.

Qualified therapists provide demonstrations, training and assessments so people can read, tell the time, cook and eat and learn how to easily use a computer, tablet or mobile phone with limited sight. There’s also the option to join VisAbility’s online digital library which has more than 70,000 talking book titles.

“This recognition highlights our commitment to elderly clients,” says Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Barnes. “In 12 months, 3,000 people with a disability have received our services, and nearly two-thirds of these are aged 65 and over.”

Kate Brill is manager of VisAbility’s Therapy Services. A qualified physiotherapist, Kate has vision impairment herself, so can relate to the challenges faced by people with low vision.

“I understand frustrations felt by people whose sight is not perfect, whether that be blurred vision, focusing issues or limited peripheral vision and depth perception. But there is help to support you so you can enjoy life, day-to-day,’’ Kate says.

“Our qualified team of therapists can offer low vision assessments. We can visit you in your home and establish whether you need improved lighting or kitchen modifications to help you cook and find your way around.”

VisAbility has offices in Perth, Bunbury and Albany and can offer support with mobility, along with assistive technology guidance.

There is plenty of equipment to help people with vision impairment to lead an independent life. This includes something as basic as a plastic signature guide to something bigger,

VisAbility offers a wide selection of vision aids, equipment and supports for people living with vision impairment which can be bought from our specialist shop.

FAST FACTS

VisAbility Services include:

Occupational Therapy Orientation and Mobility Exercise Physiology Social Work Orthoptics Assistive Technology If you are interested in accessing support from VisAbility, contact 1800 847 466 or visit visability.com.au/oak. It would be helpful to provide a copy of a recent eye check report from an optometrist or ophthalmologist.

You can also speak to your White Oak case service co-ordinator, so that it can be incorporated into your home care package or Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) funded services.

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CAREERS IN AGED CARE

Laura’s lifelong love of exercise As a member of Hall & Prior’s NSW allied health team - and with a newly completed Masters in clinical exercise under her belt - Laura Marsh is a passionate advocate of the power of exercise to promote wellbeing and longer life.

I

f there’s one thing that Hall & Prior NSW’s exercise and mobility coordinator, Laura Marsh knows, it’s that being active throughout your life is the best way to maintain health, wellbeing and quality of life.

A self-confessed career movement specialist, Laura has recently completed her Masters in clinical exercise physiology to ensure her skills and educational background deliver improvements and rehabilitation to residents in residential aged care environments.

“Working in health care, the environment changes so rapidly,” says Laura. “You have to stay on top of ever-evolving exercise guidelines, equipment and innovative therapy.

I’ve always enjoyed learning and being able to learn more gives me personal joy and also allows me to grow professionally.”

Having “fallen into aged care” as a new graduate, Laura completed three hours of volunteer work at Vaucluse Aged Care Home in Sydney before being approached by the then Director of Nursing, Joy Bigelow, to take on an ongoing role.

Prior to committing to her Master’s degree, Laura completed a Bachelor degree in exercise and sport science with a background in exercise physiology. It was while pregnant with her first child that Laura made the decision to embark on her Masters journey although at the time it felt anything but a bright idea.

“It kind of fell in my lap. I’ve always admired how much an older population can give to us as clinicians and I am always learning from them,” said Laura.

“At least it kept my brain ticking over,” she laughs.

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“Aged care offers a population of people who want to get better and move without pain. The motivation is different to other populations I’ve worked with and the outcome can be incredibly rewarding.”

A typical day will see Laura juggling a combination of clinical work (face-to-face referrals), education with staff (manual handling, falls) and chairing meetings (falls prevention and management meetings). Laura also believes that working as part of a multidisciplinary team makes all the difference to the outcome of the residents; there is no shortage of new challenges that require experience, consultation and thought to provide the best course of action for the individual, best solved by input from the team.

Laura is full of praise for her work colleagues and the Group as a whole.

“The environment at Hall & Prior is really supportive and positive,” she says. “The allied health team work holistically to support the ongoing health

of each consumer in our care - we really do put genuine ‘care’ into each resident.

“I also love that Hall & Prior is evolving as a health-based business, which is perfectly suited to my dreams of working more directly with educating home staff, and also to progress a staff wellbeing program. After all, healthy staff make a healthy workplace with less risk of injuries and a happier environment.”

Laura works closely with the Hall & Prior physical therapies manager Jordan Lee, to treat residential aged care residents who on entering the residential care setting often have restricted movement or little or no independent mobility. Together they are looking to create balancebased programs with flair, incorporating things like

music and additional equipment to provide a point of difference and interest for our residents in regards to movement.

For someone so young, Laura offers wise words when it comes to a healthy existence.

“Exercise is medicine and has the capacity to improve overall health and wellbeing,” she says. “There is a huge misconception that exercise has to be hard but in fact it does not have to be strenuous to be effective. Any movement is good movement and when you make it fun, it makes it more appealing to pursue it in the long-term.”

EXERCISE ADVOCATE Opposite, Laura Marsh enjoys sharing her knowledge with residents and fellow staff members at Hall & Prior.

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A Q +

2021 INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF HEALTH AND CARE WORKERS

with Pema Yangdon, carer at Karingal Green Health and Aged Care Community, WA.

Pema Yangdon is a long way from home - the remote Kingdom of Bhutan - but she has found a new work family at Hall & Prior’s flagship aged care home, Karingal Green.

L&L: What made you become a care worker?

PY: After graduating from high school, my passion and long-held desire was to work as a caregiver. Working in the healthcare industry allows me to make a difference, which is a small contribution from me to society which makes me proud and pleased at the end of the day. A small interaction can have a significant impact on someone’s life, which gives me pleasure and motivates me to work more with many individuals.

L&L: What does the World Health Organization's International Year of Health and Care Workers mean to you?

PY: The year 2021 has been designated as the International Year of Health and Care Workers in appreciation of their unwavering dedication in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic during the last two years and in the years ahead. This event is vital and unique for me, as well as for all caregivers around the globe, because I feel proud and recognised for what

44

we are doing. It also makes me feel that I have chosen the right path which again renews my commitment as a caregiver and resolve to work even harder on the frontline to address the needs of adults and differently-abled people.

L&L: How long have you worked in aged care and when did you join Hall & Prior?

PY: I come from the tiny Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan and this is my first job in Australia.

I’ve been with Hall & Prior for nearly six months and prior to that, I used to work as a volunteer for a differently-abled centre in my hometown.

L&L: What does an average day look like for you?

PY: My days are never the same; they primarily depend on the situation, the clients and my co-workers. Some days are good and some are harder work but I commit until the end of the day which means when I have a day off, I have a big smile on my face.

MEET THE STAFF

L&L: What is the best thing about working at Karingal Green?

PY: The best thing about working at Karingal Green are my residents who are friendly, my managers and co-workers who are supportive, and the many opportunities for development.

L&L: What have you learned about yourself and those you care for while you’ve worked for Hall & Prior?

PY: I have learned a lot about myself, but I think the most important thing is that I should always look forward and be positive, irrespective of the situation.

L&L: How would others describe you?

PY: Usually I would say my colleagues describe me as positive, proactive and that I have a great sense of humour.

L&L: What qualities are required to make a great care worker in your opinion?

PY: I think it’s important that you’re someone who’s reliable, focused on the job, respectful, compassionate and a person who can comply with the orders.

L&L: Tell us about one part of your job that makes you feel really rewarded and connected to those you care for?

PY: It is incredibly rewarding for me to be able to see elderly people happy and connect with them. Working with them, watching them enjoy themselves, and seeing them happy is the most fulfilling thing that I do.

L&L: What is the best piece of advice you ever got about caring for others and from who?

PY: It is from my mum that I have received some of the best advice in my life. She taught me to work with a pure heart and soul for the benefit of others rather than solely for my own benefit.

FAST FACTS If I wasn't a care worker I would be a DJ as I love music.

What’s your favourite movie?

Scarlet Heart.

What’s your favourite song?

Stand By Me. When I’m not at work you’ll often find me - out with friends or on the phone talking with them.

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A Q +

2021 INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF HEALTH AND CARE WORKERS

with Elham (Ellie) Mokhtari, carer at Vaucluse Aged Care Home, NSW. L&L: How long have you worked at Hall & Prior?

Elham - or Ellie as she’s known - Mokhtari derives so much personal satisfaction from working in the aged care sector and loves the opportunity to be part of a team which puts caring for the elderly at the heart of everything they do.

L&L: What made you want to become a care worker?

EM: I realised that I enjoyed working with people and it helps me to satisfy my feelings about caring for others. I get a great sense of worth knowing that I can make a difference to somebody’s daily life.

L&L: What does the World Health Organization's International Year of Health and Care Workers mean to you?

EM: I am proud to be a care worker and I love that there is a whole year dedicated to showcasing the work that we do. I am so thankful to be featured in Life & Love with this initiative. It can be a very hard job, but I think care workers are the best kind of people - we are just people who care for other people’s wellbeing and needs.

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EM: I have been part of the Hall & Prior family for nine years. I have loved every minute, of every day, of every year here! Vaucluse feels like home to me and I hope that carries through me to our wonderful residents.

L&L: What drew you to working in aged care?

EM: My father passed away when I was a young teenager. Since then my mother and I became very close to each other; I’m her eldest child and always tried to support her, especially giving lots of emotional support.

Maybe that’s the reason that I’ve always enjoyed working with the elderly.

L&L: What does an average day look like for you?

EM: Super busy trying to organise and conduct many tasks, but satisfactory when I see residents are comfortable, happy and engaging in the activities that they enjoy or have received the help and support that they needed.

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

EM: Providing emotional support makes me feel rewarded and connected to my residents, as well as seeing them feeling more relaxed

MEET THE STAFF

L&L: What have you learned about yourself and those you care for while you’ve worked for Hall & Prior?

EM: Regarding the residents I care for, I realised that despite having different backgrounds and various cultures, I could learn a lot from them, they teach me lots of life lessons. As for myself, I learned that I can multi-task after always thinking I couldn’t!

L&L: How would others describe you, do you think?

EM: Residents have told me that I am polite!

L&L: What qualities are required to make a great care worker?

EM: They should be patient, have compassion and enjoy working with people.

FAST FACTS and calm. When they share their thoughts with me, I feel more connected to them.

L&L: What’s the best piece of advice you ever got about caring for others and from who?

EM: When I told my mother that I had found a job in a nursing home, she told me that the most important things that an elderly person would appreciate would be respect, care and love.

If I wasn't a care worker I would still be a care worker! I can’t imagine myself working in another field.

What’s your favourite song?

Sway With Me. What’s your favourite movie/TV show? The Blacklist series.

L&L: What’s the best thing about working at your aged care home?

When I’m not at work you’ll often find me - on the phone with my mum or reading books.

EM: I think it’s working with a supportive and wonderful management and team, especially the lifestyle team here at Vaucluse. I’m really glad that I’m working with Kareena and Angie, I believe we make a great team!

Five words you live by - family, humanist ethic, optimism, happiness and fun (lots of it!).

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M Y FAVOURITE THINGS

Natasha Meredith Overseeing two busy aged care homes (McDougall Park and Kensington Park) in Perth means that experienced Director of Nursing Natasha Meredith values time away from the workplace more than ever - and is especially passionate about her family, her faith and the importance of good nutrition.

MY FAITH My most favourite thing in the whole world is my Bible. As a devote Christian, my relationship with Jesus and the Word of God is the framework for how I live my life.

MY FAMILY Family is everything to me. I am married to Tor and we have two sons - Michael and Jacob. My mum (Doreen) also lives with us. Fun fact - mum also works for Hall & Prior as an OTA at McDougall Park.

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MY ADOPTED HOME TOWN - PERTH I was born and grew up in Dunedin, New Zealand.

After I completed my nursing degree, I moved to Perth in 1998, to undertake a graduate program at Royal Perth and fell in love with the sunshine in Perth and never went home. I have been working in aged care in a management position since 2007.

BEING SELF-SUFFICIENT I love growing my own vegetables in my veggie patch, knitting, journaling and learning how to be more self-sufficient.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS I love the outdoors and enjoy kayaking, riding my motor bike, hiking and going camping.

OUR CATS We have two fur babies – Alan, a Burmese, and Cobwebs, a Bengal.

EATING RIGHT I am passionate about preventative medication and as a result of that I eat a plant-based diet. I love to cook and whenever I can (and I know I can be annoying) I try to promote the eight laws of health - nutrition, exercise, water, sunshine, temperance, sleep, fresh air and trust.

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PUZZLES CROSSWORD DOWN

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Traditions (7) Schools (9) Saliva (7) Enthusiastic; impatient (5) Roughened (9) Synthetic material (7) Country on the Iberian peninsula (5) Large strips (7) Parachuters (9) Express regret (9) Made certain (7) Normal; mean (7) Painters (eg) (7) Abandons (7) Units of computer memory (5) Pressure increasers (5)

No. 012

No. 012

DOWN

1.

Bonsai is an art form that originated from which country?

2.

In what year did Queen Elizabeth II become head of the commonwealth: 1951, 1952 or 1953?

3.

True or false: the colour puce takes its name from the French word for flea?

4.

What is the largest surviving species of pigeon?

5.

Who plays the title role in the 2020 film Enola Holmes?

WORDSTEP Complete the list by changing one letter at a time to create a new word at each step.

There may be more than one possible answer.

reAdY

_ _ _ _

_ _ _ _

_ _ _ _

_ _ _ _

_ _ _ _

BANGS

SOLUTIONS

9-Letter word

QUICK QUIZ

6 5

1 3 9 8 9 4 6 3 5 4 Puzzles and pagination © Pagemasters | pagemasters.com

OCT, 2021

CroSSword

Part of hand Opera song Clairvoyant Job

wordSteP

1 2 3 4

adhering, aged, anger, danger, daring, darning, deign, deraign, ding, dirge, drag, earning, egad, ending, engird, gain, gained, gainer, gander, garden, gear, ginned, gird, grad, grade, grain, grained, grand, grid, grin, grind, grinned, handing, hang, hanger, HARDENING, haring, heading, hearing, herding, hinge, hinged, nearing, neigh, nigh, rage, raged, rang, range, ranged, reading, regain, reign, rending, ridge, ring, ringed

Prior time Region Fibs Stain

READY, READS, BEADS, BENDS, BANDS, BANGS

ACROSS

1 5 6 7

5 8

SUdoKU

4x4

4 5 8 2 1 6 3 9 7

r

1 2 3 5 7 9 8 6 4

42 words: Very good

d

6 3 7 8 2 7 5 1 6 8

7 6 9 4 8 3 5 1 2

N

I

8 9 5 3 4 1 2 7 6

57 words: excellent

G

A

To solve a Sudoku puzzle, every number from 1 to 9 must appear in: each of the nine vertical columns, each of the nine horizontal rows and each of the nine 3 x 3 boxes. Remember no number can occur more than once in any row, column or box.

3 1 7 9 6 2 4 8 5

today’s Aim: 28 words: Good

e

N

H

No. 012

2 4 6 8 5 7 9 3 1

Using the nine letters in the grid, how many words of four letters or more can you list? The centre letter must be included and teach letter may only be used once. No colloquial or foreign words. No capitalised nouns, apostrophes or plural words ending in “s”.

SUDOKU

5 7 4 6 9 8 1 2 3

9-LETTER WORD

6 8 2 1 3 5 7 4 9

25

9 3 1 7 2 4 6 5 8

8 14 16 17 18 20 21 23

4x4

Crustaceans (5) Daydreamers; jailbreakers (9) Climbing (7) Southern US state (7) Opera introductions (9) One part in ten (5) Shakes (7) Juices (7) Bliss (7) Clear gemstone (7) Sword (5) Rash; hasty (9) Go back over (7) Foggier (7) Distributes (9) Stairs (5)

ACROSS: 1. Past, 5. Area, 6. Lies, 7. Mark.

DOWN: 1. Palm, 2. Aria, 3. Seer, 4. Task.

ACROSS

1 4 9 10 11 12 13 15 17 19 22 24 26 27 28 29

No. 012

1. Japan 2. 1952 3. True 4. Victoria crowned pigeon 5. Millie Bobby Brown.

QUIoCK QUIZ ANSwerS

TEABREAK

WORDFIND

CODEWORD

No. 012

No. 012

Can you find all of the words listed below?

The leftover letters will spell out a secret message.

drive esplanade footpath freeway gate grove highway lane

CROSS MATH

+

+

+

= 19

A

–

+

= 49

G N

= 13

= 4

I

?

= 0

–

N

G

× –

+

Can you work out what the missing letter is that spells an 8-letter word? It could read either clockwise or anti-clockwise.

= 33

+ +

Each number corresponds to a letter. Can you crack the code?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

A

25

26

T

EIGHT AROUND HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW...

Insert each number from 1 to 9 in the shaded squares to solve all the horizontal and vertical equations. Multiplication and division are performed before addition and subtraction.

×

parade ramp road row street terrace walk

No. 012

A

5x5

No. 012

Insert the missing letters to make 10 words – five reading across the grid and five reading down.

B

A A

A

T O

I S

S E I

A

S

EDDIE MURpHY 1. Which fictional kingdom features in Murphy’s film Coming 2 America?

A. Wakanda B. Kumandra C. Zamunda D. West Angola

5. Who plays his son in Coming 2 America?

A. Arsenio Hall B. Omari Hardwick C. Jermaine Fowler D. Michael B. Jordan

2. Which film earned Murphy his only Academy Award nomination?

A. Shrek B. Dreamgirls C. Dolemite is My Name D. Harlem Nights 3. Which Disney sidekick does he provide the voice for?

A. Sebastian (The Little Mermaid) B. Timon (The Lion King) C. Genie (Aladdin) D. Mushu (Mulan) 4. In which movie does he play a US Congressman?

A. The Distinguished Gentleman B. A Thousand Words C. Trading Places D. Coming to America

1c, 2b, 3d, 4a, 5c

alley avenue bend boulevard close court crescent dale

B G Z Q XWR H Y S D A T 14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

U I C V F O K NM L P J E 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

CODEWORD WORDFIND secret message: wrong way 8 × 3 + 9 = 33 + + × 4 + 2 – 6 = 0 + – – 7 + 1 + 5 = 13 = = = 19 4 49

CROSS MATH

managing

EIGHT AROUND O A P S

S

I

T

R A S S A R T H D O R E

B E A

5x5

M I

D

OUR WA HOMES

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McDOUGALL PARK COMO

AGMAROY WILSON

ROCKINGHAM ROCKINGHAM

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CLARENCE ESTATE ALBANY

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