Meet the staff

Q+A with Sunita Khatri, carer at Hamersley Aged Care Home in Subiaco, WA.

Sunita Khatri, who works as a carer at Hamersley Aged Care Home, believes that aged care work is about gratitude, caring and being grateful for the chance to make a difference to residents’ lives.

L&L: How long have you worked in aged care?

SK: I have been in the aged care sector for six years and I have worked in Hall and Prior for the same number of years.

L&L: What made you want to become a carer?

SK: My love and affection towards elderly people made me want to become care worker.

L&L: Tell us what an average day might look like for you.

SK: No one day will be the same, with the needs of our residents being different from day-to-day. Residents need assistance with going to the bathroom, showering, dressing and grooming. This is a big part of my job, as well as assisting residents with walking aids, pushing wheelchairs to transport them where they need to go, and assistance during meal times. A day in aged care can be widely varied from providing urgent assistance to a resident who needs some help to perform a task, to sitting and having a chat with a lonely resident - and everything else in between.

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

SK: Helping people every day. A job as a carer is an opportunity to do something you love every day, giving care and support to others and being an important part of people’s lives.

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

SK: I was told that aged care work is deep work, it’s important work, it’s about gratitude, and it’s about caring and being grateful. This was from one of my mentors.

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

SK: It is satisfying and rewarding when you get an unexpected gesture of love and gratitude from the residents. We respect and learn from diverse cultures and also work as a great team who also become like a second family.

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

SK: I have learned the skills of genuinely caring for people and patience. I have learned to genuinely appreciate the smaller things in life.

L&L: How would others describe you?

SK: Friendly, supportive and a team player.

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

SK: Empathy, patience, the ability to show respect, have a happy and cheerful persona, the ability to remain calm under pressure, the ability to communicate and work well as a team.

CAREER GROWTH Sunita Khatri is a valued part of the Hamersley care team.

FAST FACTS

If I wasn't a care worker I would

- be a community/disability worker or childcare educator.

What is your favourite movie?

Jumanji

What’s your favourite song?

Cake by the Ocean by DNCE.

When I’m not at work you’ll

often find me - at my university or doing my assignments.

Q+A with Suphee O’Brien, carer at Sirius Cove Aged Care Home in Sydney NSW.

Suphee O’Brien, a careworker at Sirius Cove in NSW would be a singer if she wasn’t dedicating her career to the care of the elderly.

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

SO: I have been working in the aged care field for seven years now. I have worked in two different homes within the Hall & Prior family. My first home was Glenwood, where I worked for five years, and now I have been based in Sirius Cove for almost two years.

L&L: What made you want to become a careworker?

SO: My inner feelings and respect that I always have had to provide people seeking care and assistance.

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

SO: It’s pretty challenging as we have to deal with residents with different personalities, especially when we don’t know what is waiting for us during each shift. But I do love challenges and feel like I’m well-trained enough to handle all the situations we face with care, respect and dignity.

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

SO: I would say communication and making our residents enjoy the homely environment followed by spending time with the residents and getting to know them better, every day.

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

SO: I was told to always keep the same level of spirit and kindness at all times. This approach has been complemented by residents’ loved ones, residents themselves and family members.

RAY OF SUNSHINE Suphee O’Brien at Sirius Cove is a kind and supportive addition to the NSW team.

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

SO: I would say to work as a team and feeling comfortable and free to speak out whenever required.

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

SO: Never stop learning and looking after myself, which is my number one priority because if I am healthy and strong, than I can keep the people around me happy and healthy.

L&L: How would others describe you?

SO: Kind, supportive, respectful, and the go-to person to get help if required.

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

SO: Being respectful to each other, building communication working as a team - because team work creates the dream work.

FAST FACTS

If I wasn't a careworker, I would -

have become a singer because I love music and I can sing very well.

What is your favourite movie?

Anything from the romantic genre.

What’s your favourite song?

Anything that is pop rock.

When I’m not at work you’ll often

find me - at the gym, in the water at the beach or walking down the harbour side as I like keeping myself fit.

WHEN

can be better

Understanding how magnification can help those with vision impairments can go a long way in improving the lifestyles of older people, says VisAbility.

Your eyes change as you get older. If you’ve been diagnosed with vision loss or a condition such as macular degeneration, magnifiers will help you to see more clearly and are available in all shapes and sizes.

They can come handheld, on a stand or as a video magnifier, and have zoom ranges from two times to ten times. Magnifiers are also available to download on your smartphone. At the top end of the scale, you can get a fixed desktop magnifier.

Shirley was born in Burma and grew up in

India before moving to Australia fifty years ago. She has always led a very active and independent life, but a recent diagnosis of wet age-related macular degeneration had left her struggling to see.

“I lost peripheral vision in my left eye and my confidence has also taken a knock.’’

Shirley came to see the team at VisAbility to enquire about magnifiers, and discover what would be best for her requirements.

VisAbility has a Resource Centre in Victoria Park in Perth which has magnifiers on display. The items can be bought online as well. Shirley wanted a magnifier so she could read the small print on containers and jars. These type of magnifiers are commonly known as spot magnifiers and can provide up to four times the normal magnifying strength. Some have inbuilt LED lighting to provide extra illumination. These would enable Shirley to easily read her microwave, and oven dials as well as bills and letters.

Shirley loves watching sport events on the television as well as daily news. She’d heard about magnifier glasses that would give her a clearer image on the screen and improve her television viewing. The glasses are hands-free and head-mounted to provide a higher magnification. Each eye lens can be focused separately. “These glasses make such a difference, especially with any text that comes up on the screen along the bottom.”

VisAbility Occupational Therapist Katie gave Shirley a demonstration of electronic portable video magnifiers. “Video magnifiers are perfect for people with vision impairment because of the additional magnification and the larger surface area they offer, which means you can read larger amounts of print,” Katie explains. “The high contrast options available at the touch of a button make the print clearer. One of the most popular video magnifiers is a touchscreen handheld magnifier that incorporates an eight-inch screen. It’s ideal for people who prefer a large screen but want portability,” she adds.

Shirley was impressed with the portable video magnifier and hopes it will help her to read her recipes and magazines. If she wanted to progress further, there is also a range of desktop magnifiers. These are ideal for anyone wanting to enjoy a hobby such as knitting or scrapbooking and mean you don’t have to hold a magnifier for a long duration of time.

There are also magnifier apps on smartphones which are free to download and use. Did you know the camera on an iPad or iPhone can be used as a video magnifier? VisAbility has a range of specialists and services to support people with vision loss. If you live in Perth and want general information and advice about magnifiers, why not visit the Resource Centre? If you live elsewhere in the country, investigate what’s available through the VisAbility Online Living Aids shop. 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.

VISUAL AIDS PROVIDE ASSISTANCE VisAbility is able to provide magnifying devices to help the visually impaired.

FAST FACTS about magnifiers

Basic spot magnifiers and television glasses can be bought over the counter - up to three times the magnification. For magnifiers greater than this strength, you’ll need to arrange an appointment with an orthoptist who can assess for the most appropriate magnifier. An occupational therapist can also provide you with information about magnifiers up to approximately five times magnification.