Winter feasts on the way

The in-house catering and dietitian Hall & Prior teams have been very busy behind the scenes, creating delicious new menus for the change in season. And best of all, some of our homes in WA and NSW were invited to try the new dishes - and give their feedback too.

Mertome Aged Care & Retirement Village, Bayswater, WA

The residents of Mertome in Bayswater were the lucky group to be chosen for taste testing samples of the new winter menu, which will be rolled out in WA over the next few weeks.

When they tucked in to the new dishes, the menu was at the planning stage with the kitchen team and the dietetics team. The Mertome residents were provided with a glimpse and taste of the newly-proposed additions to the menu, and it’s fair to say the group weren’t shy about providing feedback. “I am sure you would expect nothing less than full honesty being provided in the feedback - however, it was nearly all positive news!,” said Mertome’s Executive Manager, Laura Currie. “The experience was fantastic; thank you to the Fresh Fields catering team for the chance to try this tasty preview.”

DINNER TIME Trying new menu items for the winter was a delicious task for residents.

Grafton Aged Care Home and Clover Lea Aged Care Home, NSW

Over on the other side of the country, the residents at Grafton and Clover Lea enjoyed a visit from Fiona McHugh, Director of Nutrition & Hydration to give a preview of the new winter menu. Fiona was keen to find out how the new items would be received and take feedback on what food choices residents at the home would prefer to see listed on their weekly menus. “All the residents really enjoyed the new soup - roast cauliflower and fennel - and were also introduced to some other new menu dishes so we can gather their feedback,” said Fiona. “There was lots of great discussion and we feel confident that all our residents are already loving the new menu, which began to be rolled out in May.

Winter at Karingal Green

Hall & Prior’s High Wycombe world-class aged care community - Karingal Green - has had a busy few months, and now that winter is here, there’s more to do than ever.

PARK GETS A REFRESH The Gladys Newton Park in High Wycombe near Karingal Green opened after a revamp.

PARK REVAMP A BIG HIT

The newly upgraded Gladys Newton Park in High Wycombe opened in early June and it was an occasion to remember.

Karingal Green residents joined locals in the celebrations which included mini golf, ice-creams, face painting, food trucks and a coffee van, as well as a number of stall holders promoting local services. The Karingal Green stall did a roaring trade too, offering some yummy cupcakes. The park officially opened at 3.45pm with speeches from Mayor Margaret Thomas and Member for Forrestfield Stephen Price, and once the formalities were over, it was time to cut the ribbon.

The afternoon was filled with music, a series of free play activities and fun for all ages which locals and visitors enjoyed. Make sure to take a look the next time you visit Karingal Green.

HOW TO FIGHT THE FLU THIS WINTER

With the cooler weather now upon us, it’s important to keep an eye on your health more than ever. Read on for our handy tips and strategies so you can try and fight the flu this winter.

Drink plenty of fluids

One of the best ways to try and fight off the flu is by staying hydrated. Our bodies need to be replenished regularly, and when we’re riddled with the bad stuff, liquids can help keep our respiratory system hydrated, and turn the thick mucus into a thinner liquid you can cough up and spit out. Mix things up with a soothing tea, warming broth or a fruit juice.

Get some rest

A key way to help bring on a speedy recovery is taking time out and staying in bed. Not only does this help keep your germs contained (rather than spreading them around at work) but it also gives your body a much-needed break and reduces stress levels. Get cosy on the couch or in bed, put on your favourite TV show or grab your favourite book.

Sanitise regularly

Did you know there are between two to 10 million bacteria on your fingertips and elbows alone? If COVID-19 has taught us anything, it’s how quickly germs can spread through touch. We recommend stocking up on some hand sanitiser, wipes and hand wash and regularly sanitising. So after you return from the shops, after you’ve seen a group of friends, killing these germs is one way to help keep the flu at bay. Considering we come into contact with 300 surfaces every 30 minutes, exposing us to 840,000 germs, keep this front of mind the next time you’re out and about.

Maintain a healthy diet to boost immunity

You are what you eat is a real thing, especially in these cooler seasons. By increasing your fruit and vegetable intake, making soothing and comforting broths, and ensuring you are keeping up your fluid intake, treating your body like a temple is one of the easiest and most beneficial ways to give your immunity system the fuel it needs to reap all the benefits from this healthy diet. By incorporating leafy greens such as spinach and kale, or adding ginger and lemon to hot drinks, you can help boost your immune system.

Avoid contact with people who are sick

Staying away from friends and loved ones when flu is circulating will protect them and you. Stay home when you’re contagious - it’s one of the best ways to reduce the spread so as soon as symptoms begin, say no to socialising in person. Once you’re feeling 100%, we would love to see you back in our home. From rugging up to creating heart-warming concoctions, these simple but effective strategies can be introduced into your routine during these cooler months. Keep in mind, when visiting a loved one at Karingal Green, we do require proof of your most recent flu shot before you can enter.

To find out more about Karingal Green, call (08) 6372 0400 or email enquiry@karingalgreen.com.au

A word in your ear

Audio books are more popular than ever, providing an aural window into the world of literature for all to enjoy.

There’s something unique about having a narrator read the story to you in the comfort of your own surroundings and getting lost in the book, becoming immersed in a storyline you’ll remember for years to come. Gwen McLean, 90, is an ardent audio book lover. She developed glaucoma in her late forties that affected the peripheral vision in both her eyes. Four years ago, she had haemorrhages in the optic nerves of both eyes, leading to complete loss of sight. During her long life, Gwen had always been a voracious reader.

“I would read a lot as a youngster because I was an only child. I lived on a large property and I’d hide away with a book - it became my best friend.” Gwen and her husband used to run a cattle and sheep farm, and she passed on her love of reading to her daughter Alison. “As a child, my mother would make up stories for myself and my brother at bedtime that would incorporate our farm animals. She’d also write poetry. My mum was that passionate about the written word she should have been an author,” explains daughter Alison. Her mother’s love of books spurred Alison to become a librarian. When Gwen lost her sight completely, she started enjoying audio books from VisAbility’s Audio Library. Gwen now lives in an aged care home. The VisAbility Library is the Southern Hemisphere’s biggest talking book library. It contains more than 70,000 titles in digital or Braille format. The titles are available free to Australians with low or no vision or who have a print disability. “I’m a bookworm. I know the new ones due for release and the type that will appeal to mum,” Alison explains. “I’ll choose a book for myself to read. At the same time, I’ll order the DAISY cartridge containing the audio book and four others from the VisAbility Library. It’s sent through the post.” Gwen has a tactile marker placed on the play button of her talking book player to make it easier to use.

Alison will read the same title at home, while Gwen will listen back to the audio book. They’ll then discuss the plot and characters when Alison visits her mum.

“We choose one book a week to share together - we like different genres of books, fiction, memoirs, biographies, so we like variety,” Alison explains. After listening to the books, Alison sends the cartridges back by post and requests more. “We have a very close bond. You could say our love of reading has come full circle. My mother read to me as a child, now I read alongside her. I am fortunate we have that shared interest.”

VisAbility has been sending out audio books by post since 1985. Each DAISY cartridge contains five books. Every month, 4,500 books are sent by post.

LISTENING TO BOOKS The VisAbility Library of audio books has allowed Gwen McLean (above) to continue her love affair with books.

There’s also an option to download books from the VisAbility Library. Membership to the Library is free of charge to Australians who have a print disability, so people living with blindness or vision impairment, or who have a physical limitation that makes it difficult to hold a book.

Want to find out more? Visit www.visability. com.au/oak