In the Pipeline: Tuia Lodge

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.

Hall & Prior took over management and operations of Tuia Lodge from the Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup in July. 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.” Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup President Cr Brian Piesse agreed, adding that the Shire was impressed with Hall & Prior’s commitment to care.

“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.

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

- Graeme Prior, CEO Hall & Prior

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.

5

things to consider when planning your legacy

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.

We 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 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

Australia’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

PEAK PRACTICE

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

“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.

A VISION

for the future

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

We’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 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.

“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, 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. 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.

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.

FAST FACTS VisAbility Services include:

Occupational Therapy Orientation and Mobility Exercise Physiology Social Work Orthoptics Assistive Technology

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.

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