Life & Love Issue 41

Life& Love

Honouring our elders

Our special NAIDOC Week issue celebrates our Indigenous residents

50

EDITOR'S LETTER

NAIDOC

It was #RespectOurElders, a focus that we live and breathe in all our aged care homes in WA and NSW every day. We held many meaningful and enjoyable NAIDOC events and I hope you will take the time to read about them in this special issue of Life & Love

In addition, we celebrated Aged Care Employee Day on August 7, and personally I loved seeing all the photographs which were sent in by our homes as members of staff were made to feel like VIPs for the day.

We marked 50 years of Mertome Retirement Village in the City of Bayswater at the end of July, and after inviting residents, their families, VIPs and staff members, it was a day to remember indeed. There are several more half century anniversaries coming up and it’s a great reminder of the long-term impact well-run aged care facilities can have on local communities.

With spring just around the corner, I hope you enjoy this edition of Life & Love

Life & Love

Issue 41 | Winter 2023

Djilba (WA)

Ngoonungi (NSW)

EDITOR

Gabi Mills

Gabi.Mills@hallprior.com.au

DESIGNER

Jennifer Mattison

Jennifer.Mattison@hallprior.com.au

CONTRIBUTORS

Jacki Downs

Jacki.Downs@hallprior.com.au

PHOTOGRAPHY

Ammon Creative

COVER IMAGE

Carl Garlett, artist and Hall & Prior team member, plays the didgeridoo in Kings Park, Perth.

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.

©2023 Life & Love is published by Hall & Prior Health & Aged Care Group.

Visit hallprior.com.au

facebook.com/

HallandPriorAgedCare

MERTOME CELEBRATES 50 YEARS

City of Bayswater Mayor, Filomena Piffaretti and CEO of Hall & Prior, Graeme Prior at Mertome Retirement Village’s 50th anniversary celebrations.

A WORD FROM THE

Chief Executive Officer

It’s been a very busy few months since the last issue of Life & Love, including the important commencement of 24/7 Registered Nurse coverage which began on July 1. Hall & Prior have always provided 24/7 RN coverage, but this was the date it became mandatory across aged care homes in Australia.

We added three well-run homes to our WA collection of aged care communities from Braemar Presbyterian Care. Now called Braemar Cooinda, Braemar House and Braemar Lodge, I welcome staff and residents to the Hall & Prior Group and am looking forward to working with all three communities in the future.

We celebrated NAIDOC Week in July, with many events held at our homes in WA and NSW, including very special morning teas at Karingal Green and Windsor Park in WA and Grafton in NSW. This year, the theme was #RespectOurElders which was an extremely relevant focus for our Group as a whole.

During that week, we launched our third Reconciliation Action Plan after many months of in-depth consultation with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander team members. I’m proud that this plan has been endorsed by Reconciliation Australia and represents our fiveyear commitment to building on the achievements of our last two RAPs. It’s a plan that seeks to further our organisation’s focus on reconciliation by becoming not just a care provider and employer of choice but also a community of choice where all people feel safe and included.

In early August, we celebrated one of the most important dates in our annual calendar - Aged Care Employee Day - when our hard-working and dedicated aged care team members were rightly applauded and thanked. It is because of their compassionate care, given on a daily basis, that our aged care homes are such warm and welcoming places for the elders who call our aged care facilities home.

Ten of our homes have recently achieved 42/42 compliance in recent months - you can read about what this means to one of these homes - Freshwater Bay - in this issue of the magazine. This takes an immense amount of teamwork and experienced commitment to achieve this perfect compliance score and I congratulate all those homes who put so much work into this on Hall & Prior’s behalf.

In addition to all of the above, we also celebrated 50 years of Mertome Retirement Village - the first aged care village in the country at the time to be established by a local council (the City of Bayswater). We held an anniversary morning tea which was a fitting celebration of this still-thriving aged care community with its eye very much on the future with a proud history in the rear view mirror.

I hope you enjoy this issue of Life & Love

GRAEME PRIOR Chief Executive Officer

Hall & Prior add Braemar Presbyterian Care homes to Group

In August, Hall & Prior Health & Aged Care Group assumed clinical and management oversight of all Braemar Presbyterian Care aged care facilities. This significant acquisition further bolsters Hall & Prior Health & Aged Care Group as a leading aged care provider in WA and NSW.

The homes, in East Fremantle and Willagee, will be known as Braemar Cooinda, Braemar House and Braemar Village. Hall & Prior will continue to operate them as high-quality residential aged care facilities, and the Group is looking forward to integrating the three homes as part of the organisation’s group of aged care home and services.

“Braemar Presbyterian Care is a very long-standing aged care provider in Western Australia with values and an approach which aligned with Hall & Prior’s own high standards,” said Hall & Prior’s CEO, Graeme Prior.

“We’re looking forward to a seamless transition for residents and the staff who care for them from August 1 onwards, and anticipate the three Braemar

homes will continue to deliver high quality aged care services to their community.”

According to Dr Kristi Holloway, Hall & Prior’s Executive Director Regional Leader, who has been leading the acquisition process with the Braemar team, there is a significant shortage of quality aged care, particularly in Perth’s southern suburbs.

“Demand is forecast to rise in the years to come, so ensuring ongoing, highquality care for current and future residents of Braemar’s three homes is a priority,” said Dr Holloway.

“It has been a pleasure to work with the Presbyterian Care team and existing staff over the past few weeks to ensure a smooth transition to the Hall & Prior systems and processes. We are looking forward to supporting the existing teams to continue to provide exceptional care and services.”

Hall & Prior will honour all provisions contained in current resident agreements and other than any

Pictured above, Cyndy Johnson, Director of Care Braemar House, Priceilia Varso, Executive Manager Braemar Cooinda, Kristi Holloway, Executive Director Regional Leader and Davis Rath, Director of Nursing Braemar Village.

government-legislated changes to indexation of means testing fees, there will be no changes to fees payable.

Hall & Prior has committed to operating Braemar’s homes ‘as is’ in the initial transition phase. Following that, any changes will be designed in consultation with residents and their representatives.

LEADERSHIP TEAM

Be somebody with Hall & Prior

Valentina Giannelli, Food & Nutrition Project Lead, Hall & Prior NSW

In a new series of features providing inspiration for those considering a career in aged care with the Hall & Prior Group, meet Valentina Giannelli.

When asked ‘why aged care?’ Valentina Giannelli, Food & Nutrition Project Lead for Hall & Prior NSW, has a simple response.

“I guess I’ve always had a deep connection with the older generations,” she says.

As a dietitian in aged care, Valentina loves the variety of the role and the opportunity to work with so many different people, which makes every day look different

“You might find me one day providing education to staff in the homes, the next day

working with the chefs in the kitchen trialling some fortified recipe or at the computer reviewing menus. On the following one I’ll be organising food activities with the Lifestyle Officers,” says Valentina.

Valentina’s early life sounds like a fairy tale existence having grown up in a quaint village on the top of the Tuscan hills in Italy, where life tends to run very slowly and the average age of those who live there is above 70.

This is where Valentina’s direction was shaped and her passion ignited for working with the elderly.

“I have always shared a special bond with my grandparents, especially my ‘nonna’, who taught me the beauty of sharing meals as an expression of love and care,” she says.

A success story demonstrating career development with the Hall & Prior Group, Valentina began her role of dietitian in May 2019, spending four years strengthening her experience in the Group’s NSW arm.

Valentina is currently working through her Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Leadership at the Southern Cross University on a scholarship from the

Australian College of Nursing. Valentina also holds a degree in herbal medicine which helps underpin her food and health philosophies.

“I enjoy studying, and I always feel the need for selfimprovement and personal growth,” she says. “I am aiming to become a wellrounded professional and gain a deeper understanding of the aged care sector.

“It is important to have goals and for myself, I hope to progress in the fields of food service and learning, as well as working towards driving positive changes within the aged care sector while advocating for the wellbeing of the residents.”

The Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Leadership aims to increase confidence and skill in motivating and leading people to adapt to change, while inspiring and supporting others to work together to overcome the challenges of food service in aged care.

“Our aim is to always provide an excellent service for our residents, which I think we do well at Hall & Prior,” says Valentina.

“Our wonderful Nutrition and Hydration team, led by Fiona McHugh, work together very well and enjoy providing an excellent service to all.”

Freshwater Bay achieves perfect accreditation score

Along with nine other Hall & Prior aged care homes in WA and NSW, Freshwater Bay Aged Care Home scored 42/42 in the home’s recent accreditation.

Director of Nursing, Devi

Subramaniam was delighted with the result and credited her team and the strong relationships between the residents and their families for this perfect score.

“There are eight standards and from these, 42 requirements which must be met during the stringent accreditation process,” she said.

“We have to meet them all from a patient care point of view. I would say however that we don’t just prepare for accreditation - we meet these standards all the time.”

The challenges of delivering excellent aged care presents a ‘tug of war’ with assessors, as Devi and her team face significant challenging behaviours by many of the residents.

“Fortunately the person who carried out the accreditation understood what we were achieving on a daily basis and awarded us 42/42,” said Devi.

“Everybody was so happy with the result, and every single member of the team is part of this success. We held a little party afterwards and many of the residents joined in the celebration.”

A special order from Red Rooster was served up to say thank you to all of the residents and their families, with dancing being the order of the day as the celebration progressed.

“One of our residents with Parkinson’s disease even joined in the dancing,” said Devi. “We created a special ‘thank you’ tower of Diet Cokes with a chilli plant on top for Julie Beaton, Hall & Prior’s Director of Quality, Safety and Compliance, to thank her for all her hard work at Freshwater Bay.”

Congratulations to Devi and her team, and all the other Hall & Prior homes who achieved 42/42 over the past few months.

TIME TO CELEBRATE

Top, Director of Nursing Devi Subramaniam with her team; Libby Simpson, Executive Director Regional Leader and Julie Beaton, Director of Quality, Safety and Compliance with her tower of Diet Cokes, and staff and residents celebrating the achievement.

Top Marks for Hall & Prior Aged Care Homes

• Hocart Lodge - June 2023

• Shangri-La - June 2023

• St Lukes - June 2023

• Bexley - June 2023

• Mertome - May 2023

• Tuohy - May 2023

• Tuia Lodge - April 2023

• Glenwood - March 2023

• Montana - January 2023

Flying foxes, acacias and grass trees flourish

It’s the time of Djilbathe growing season (or season of conception) between August and September in WA.

Djilba season is a time to look for the yellow and cream flowers starting all together. It’s also a transitional time of the year, with some very cold and clear days combining with warmer, rainy and windy days mixing with the occasional sunny day or two.

This is the start of the massive flowering explosion that happens in the south west of WA. This starts with the yellow flowering plants such as the acacias. Other colours that are around at this time of year are creams combined with some vivid and striking blues.

Traditionally, the main food sources included many of the land-based grazing animals

as in the season before. These included the Yongar (kangaroo), the Waitj (emu) and the Koomal (possum).

As the days start to warm up, we start to see and hear the first of the newborn animals with their proud parents out and about, providing them with food, guiding them through foraging tasks and protecting their family units from much bigger animals, as well as people.

The woodland birds will still be nest-bound, hence the swooping protective behaviour of the Koolbardi (magpie) starts to ramp up and if watched closely, so to do the Djidi Djidi (willy wagtails) and the Chuck-a-luck (wattle birds) to name a couple of others.

As the season progresses and the temperatures continue to rise, we’ll start to see the flower stalks of the Balgas (grass trees)

emerging in preparation for the coming Kambarang season.

Meanwhile in NSW, it’s a time of transition between Wiritjiribin - Tugarah Gunya’marri and Ngoonungi - Murrai’yunggory. As the weather warms up and the cold winds reduce, the buds of the waratah swell and redden. The Ngoonungi (flying foxes) gather in vast numbers over D’harawal Lands as the sun sinks below the horizon and dusk falls.

Gentle rains fall during this time, and the flowers bloom heavy with nectar. It is a time for ceremony, and the clans gather to celebrate a time of plenty.

ACED 2023 celebrates all those who give so much

Aged Care Employee Day is one of the most important days on the Hall & Prior Health & Aged Care Group’s calendar, and with this year’s theme#thanksforcaring - it’s more appropriate than ever that we express our gratitude to all those who work in this vital sector.

Graeme Prior, CEO of Hall & Prior, has been particularly impressed by the work ethic of his staff during the past year.

“As I have visited our aged care homes in NSW and WA over the past year, I’m struck, as ever, by the professionalism, kindness, loyalty and absolute dedication to our residents by our staff. Our number one priority is the safety and well-being of our residents and our staff.

“The patience and kindness of those who assist residents whenever they need it, from meal times to a swim in a therapy pool is something that never fails to move me when I witness it in action. Thank you for your dedication to this important way we deliver compassionate care.”

Hall & Prior’s strength has always been our people and the world-class care we provide to society’s most vulnerable older people.

ACED 2023 got off to a flying start on August 7 as the hardworking staff at Windsor Park Aged Care Home were delighted to tuck into some delicious cake and treats this morning - all in the name of Aged Care Employee Day.

In NSW, the staff of Aubrey Downer Aged Care Home

Karingal Green Health and Aged Care Community

in Sydney enjoyed a special moment this morning, basking in the love and appreciation of their peers and residents.

They paused during their busy day for a moment to give each other warm messages and tuck into some yummy cupcakes.

Meanwhile, outside Caroline Chisholm Aged Care Home, we said an especially big thanks to Guardian Funerals, who had very kindly sponsored the team for activities like pet therapy and chocolates for staff in the past.

On ACED, they won lots of points with a FREE coffee van from Jamie-Lees for staff to enjoy.

Guardian Funeral representative Chloe, popped along to visit us on this special day for our staff.

Caroline Chisholm Aged Care Home

Aubrey Downer Aged Care Home

Windsor Park Aged Care Home

And a big shout out too to resident Yvonne’s kind family who also brought cupcakes from Black Velvet Cakes for staff too.

At Glenwood, there was a garden party in full swing on ACED. The staff of Glenwood (along with some residents) enjoyed the great outdoors with a big yummy cake and the chance to celebrate together. As the centrepiece of a special garden party in honour of this special day, we think you’ll agree that it looked tip top.

The staff were all smiling and enjoying a ‘big thank you’ from Hall & Prior for being such amazing people.

Glenwood is lucky to have such a wonderful team.

Back in WA, Kensington Park’s team celebrated with flowers, smiles and of course, cake.

Thank you to all our aged care staff - you go above and beyond every day, and we value your compassionate care so much.

At Glenwood, there was a garden party in full swing on ACED . . . the staff were all smiling and enjoying a ‘big thank you’ for being such amazing people.

“ Glenwood Aged Care Home

Clover Lea Aged Care Home

Freshwater Bay Aged Care Home

Kensington Park Aged Care Home

Fairfield Aged Care Home

Kensington Park Aged Care Home

Glenwood Aged Care Home

Budgie Buddies

A

little feathered friend at Vaucluse Aged Care Home gives residents so much joy - proving that happiness really does come in small packages sometimes.

If you’ve heard chirping during a visit to Vaucluse Aged Care Home, relax. You’re not hearing things.

The care home’s budgerigaraptly named Birdie - has been part of the home for over nine years, after arriving as a rescue animal. Making herself at home almost immediately along with another budgerigar all those years ago, Birdie was rescued by a Registered Nurse who was also an animal rescue advocate.

Birdie continues to delight the residents every day with her sweet tweeting. Once believed to be a boy bird, it transpires that he is actually a she. Current resident Ian’s wife, Gloria, knows a lot about birds and recently set the record straight about the sex of the budgerigar.

Gloria also advised staff that this type of bird can live up to 20 years of age, so it looks like Birdie will be at Vaucluse for quite a while longer.

Staff cleaner, Apri, has grown very fond of Birdie and has taken on the responsibility of cleaning her cage weekly and ensuring she is fed and watered with lots of toys to play with. Filling her cage with cuttlefish to sharpen her beak and hanging bird seed bells and mirrors are just some of the playtime items that Birdie enjoys.

Apri even moves Birdie around the home daily, allowing her to stretch her wings in the living spaces, entertaining the residents or into the great outdoors on a sunny day to feel the warmth of the winter sun. It is very cute to hear Birdie start to whistle when she sees Apri walk by.

Birdie is a very busy little bird and is moved around the home, spending time in various residents’ rooms on a regular basis. Past resident Shirley was particularly fond of her and insisted she be kept

in her room every night, but now Birdie moves around various rooms and lounge spaces to share her joy with all the residents.

Everybody at the home, whether they are visitors, residents or staff, just love our little Birdie.

“She lights up our days when she starts tweeting along to the music that plays in the hallways and lounge rooms,” says Apri.

EVERYBODY’S BEST BIRDIE FRIEND Vaucluse Aged Care Home’s budgie, Birdie, is a beloved member of ‘staff’.

The Crucial Role of Observational Pain Assessments in Dementia Care

By Katie Conciatore, Behaviour and Cognition Clinical Nurse

Caring for individuals with dementia presents unique challenges, one of which is accurately assessing and managing their pain. Communication difficulties caused by the brain damage dementia causes can often make it hard for them to express their discomfort verbally. This is where observational pain assessments, particularly tools like the Abbey Pain Scale, step in to play a critical role.

The Silent Struggle

People with dementia often experience pain but find it difficult to express their feelings due to cognitive and communication impairments. As a result, their pain often goes unnoticed and untreated, leading to unnecessary suffering and a decreased quality of life. Caregivers and healthcare professionals need alternative methods to identify and address pain in these individuals effectively.

Observational Pain Assessments

Observational pain assessments involve keenly

observing a person’s behaviour, facial expressions, body language, and vocalisations to determine their pain levels. This approach is particularly valuable for individuals who can’t communicate their pain verbally. Caregivers and nurses are trained to interpret subtle cues that indicate distress or discomfort.

Introducing the Abbey Pain Scale

The Abbey Pain Scale is a widely recognised tool specifically designed for assessing pain in individuals with dementia. It provides a structured framework to evaluate behavioural indicators of pain, such as facial expressions, body movements, and vocalisations. The scale uses a simple scoring system to help caregivers assess pain severity and provide interventions accordingly.

Benefits of Observational Pain Assessments

• Early Detection: Observational assessments allow pain to be detected early, preventing the progression of discomfort into more severe stages. Timely intervention leads to better pain management outcomes.

• Personalised Interventions: The insights gained from these assessments enable

caregivers to provide specific interventions based on the observed pain cues, leading to more effective pain relief.

• Enhanced Quality of Life: Addressing pain promptly enhances the overall quality of life for individuals with dementia, reducing their agitation, restlessness, and behavioural changes caused by unmanaged pain. This is particularly relevant when providing personal care.

• Reduced Medication Dependency: Precise pain assessments help avoid unnecessary medication prescriptions, ensuring that medications are administered when truly needed.

Observational pain assessments, such as the Abbey Pain Scale, are invaluable tools in the care of individuals with dementia. By focusing on non-verbal cues and behaviours, caregivers can accurately identify and manage pain, significantly improving care delivery.

Incorporating these assessments into dementia care practices is a step towards ensuring a better quality of life for individuals who may not be able to express their discomfort verbally.

NAIDOCWEEK cElEbrations s trikethe rightnot e

As NAIDOC Week began on July 2, this year’s theme - For Our Elderswas particularly apt.

Across every generation, our elders have played, and continue to play, an important role and hold a prominent place in our communities and families.

We care for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander elders in our homes and will take the opportunity during NAIDOC Week - and every week - to celebrate and recognise the history and achievements of the oldest, continuous living culture on earth.

Hall & Prior were particularly proud to launch a new Reconciliation Action Plan during this period too, with a commitment to recognise, elevate and promote Aboriginal and Torres Islander peoples within the organisation whenever possible. Local Grafton artist Deborah Taylor’s work,

especially commissioned for the RAP and depicting turtles, now hangs proudly at Grafton Aged Care Home, near the Clarence Valley. Many of our aged care homes in WA and NSW marked NAIDOC Week with poignant and moving activities. Here’s a snapshot of just a few:

Sharing NAIDOC with the kids

Bexley Aged Care Home residents paid a visit to Bridge St Kids Learning Centre at Hurstville for two hours filled with fun, laughter, kisses, hugs and cuddles. They sang some songs, blew bubbles, played a parachute game, painted and read together. As it was NAIDOC Week, a special mention regarding its significance for all First Nations Australians was discussed.

Story continues overleaf . . .

ART AND CULTURE

Opposite, artist Carl Garlett plays the didgeridoo in Kings Park in Perth. Portrait by Ryan Ammon. Above, a specially commissioned painting for Hall & Prior’s Reconciliation Action Plan by Deborah Taylor now hangs, pride of place, in Grafton Aged Care Home.

The children created a special collage, sang the Taba Naba song for the occasion and gave Fay a huge cuddle in recognition of her Aboriginal heritage.

Residents commented on the wonderful morning and wished they could do it every week of the year . . .

YOUNG AND OLD

The children of Bridge St Kids Learning Centre played happily with the elders at Bexley Aged Care Home during NAIDOC Week.

Respecting our First Nations Elders

During NAIDOC Week, Menaville Aged Care Home’s lifestyle staff members, Navi and Margaret hosted a number of NAIDOC-inspired events to spread knowledge and encourage respect for our First Nations peoples.

To start the week residents gathered together and enjoyed finding out about various Indigenous themes according to where they were sitting. They also learned about and ate some wonderful damper served with bush honey and native flavoured dips.

Another memorable task was when residents gathered food items such as berries, apricots, grapes, dry mangoes, and some chickpeas which were then

laid out in baskets as they would be displayed as a meal gathered from nature.

Meanwhile, at Freshwater Bay Aged Care Home in Western Australia, It was wonderful to see how many residents were keen to take part and try some kangaroo.

The team made some kangaroo sliders, kangaroo kebabs topped with Kakadu & plum sweet chilli sauce and kangaroo meatballs.

TASTY TREATS

NAIDOC Week provided the perfect opportunity for residents to try some popular Aboriginal treats including kangaroo sliders and meatballs.

Smoking ceremony sets the scene at Fairfield

The team at Fairfield Aged Care Home had the best time working with the First Nations community to share with residents a smoking ceremony during NAIDOC Week.

First Nations’ representative Ivy amazed everyone with his skills and knowledge as he told stories about where the leaves come from and how the smoke represents healing in this particular ceremony.

Later on, we enjoyed some damper and scones with jam made by some of our local Indigenous friends.

HONOURING TRADITIONS

A smoking tradition kicked off NAIDOC proceedings at Fairfield.

New shirts look the business

Don’t our Windsor Park team look stellar in their new shirts?

Designed in-house and inspired by a painting crafted by Windsor Park’s very own occupational therapy assistant, Carl Garlett, these new shirts truly stand out.

You can find Carl’s original artwork adorning the walls of our Hall & Prior HQ at Mayfair Street.

We gathered at Windsor Park in honour of NAIDOC Week and to show off the new designs. And we must say, they’re simply sensational!

Grafton pays its respects

Grafton Aged Care Home residents attended the Serving Country Exhibition held in Lismore at Southern Cross University with our resident and Gnibi Elders Council Member, Uncle Rob Bryant.

Uncle Rob was honoured in a photographic exhibition sharing the stories of First Nation’s servicemen and women.

In conjunction with the exhibition, Gnibi Elders shared stories of life, values and education, while guests were entertained by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who danced, Meanwhile, the chef prepared lemon myrtle and wattleseed cheesecake for morning tea and kangaroo curry for lunch.

Back at the home, residents and staff listened to the story of the Rainbow Serpent while combining their artistic talents to create an impression of the rainbow serpent, a Dreamtime legend.

Residents enjoyed singing with Dave Ferguson, and even demanded an encore performance from him.

Finally, there was an afternoon tea to present Grafton’s First Nations residents with blankets, beanies and scarves, all donated by the Warm Touch Group.

Residents and staff donned “For Our Elders” shirts to show our appreciation for the stories and culture of our First Nations people.

FOR OUR ELDERS

Top left, Uncle Rob Bryant, resident and veteran of Grafton Aged Care Home, attended a photographic exhibition celebrating the contribution of First Nation servicemen and women.

Grafton residents and staff members also marked NAIDOC Week in style.

Visit hallprior.com.au to check out Uncle Rob’s appearance in our ANZAC Day video

Karingal Green hosts NAIDOC morning tea

Residents, their families, staff and local dignitaries attended a special NAIDOC Week morning tea which was made all the more impactful thanks to a didgeridoo performance by local artist and Hall & Prior employee, Carl Garlett.

A specially created morning tea menu was a big hit too, with macadamia banana bread with a lemon myrtle drizzle, wattleseed and strawberry gum muffins and spiced kangaroo, lamb shoulder river mint pies, and pork sausage rolls served with a native bush chutney going down a treat.

FEAST FOR THE SENSES

Karingal Green was the venue for a special NAIDOC Week morning tea, well-attended by residents and local VIPs.

Mertome Retirement Village celebrates 50 years

A special event marking half a century of aged care at Mertome in the City of Bayswater was held at the end of July, a fitting occasion for this unique community of elders, the first of its kind in Australia at the time.

By Gabi Mills. Photography by Ryan Ammon.

Back in 1968, the seed of a unique idea took root when Bayswater Shire Council decided to something no other local council in Australia had done before. After visiting aged care facilities in the eastern states, far-sighted councillor HG Campbell suggested that the City of Bayswater create an aged care community for locals. Although other aged care homes already existed, this would be the first time a local government body had taken the initiative to house local aged people.

The aim was to provide housing for approximately 200 aged residents, with the first stage of the build - involving 22 independent home units - officially opened by local politician Mr J Berinson on July 22 1973.

The naming of the project - Mertome - was decided after consultation with the widow of the late Merv Toms. It had been decided at an early stage that Mr Tom’s record term of service to the district should be fittingly marked in a unique way.

Mr Toms had been made a Freeman of the Shire in 1971, and he was the only identity to have been so honoured after serving for 27

years as a councillor. Thus Mertome is a contraction of his name - Merv and Tomsand has stood the test of time ever since.

This enlightened approach to providing dedicated accommodation for the elderly in the City of Bayswater has proved to be a successful and popular one. Mertome Retirement Village has grown into a thriving aged care community, and in 2019, a new era began for the community as Hall & Prior Aged Care Group took over management of the aged care home and village.

Executive Manager Laura Currie was appointed to oversee the home and villageand she is still in the role today.

“With a diverse cultural and age range we have an immense amount of life experiences here at Mertome, bringing a thriving and supportive community of its own,” she said.

“I am extremely proud to have been part of Mertome

HALF A CENTURY OF CARE

since 2019, supporting the development of the Care Home and Village to provide a safe, supportive and happy home for our over-55 population.”

There are ongoing renovations and additions to the aged care home and village’s facilities for the 100 residents and 70 aged care home consumers.

A morning tea with residents, their families and VIPs was the order of the day on July 31,

Top, Hall & Prior’s Graeme Prior, Laurie Currie and Libby Simpson. Right, past Chairman of Mertome’s Residents Committee gives thanks.

with the City of Bayswater’s Mayor, Filomena Piffaretti recognising the groundbreaking approach the City of Bayswater took back in 1973 to accommodating local elders.

“The City would like to recognise the efforts of care providers including Hall & Prior and Juniper (United Churches) for providing valuable services to the residents of Mertome over the years,” said Mayor Piffaretti.

“I would also like to acknowledge the residents who have made Mertome Retirement Village their home. I’m delighted to see the sense of community that has developed at Mertome, which is a testament to the success of what was a truly visionary project at the time. “

Hall & Prior’s CEO Graeme Prior acknowledged the presence of the residents

and families of Mertome Retirement Village and Aged Care Home as well as Mayor Piffaretti, Dan Bull of the City of Bayswater, Hon Lorna Harper, Member for East Metropolitan Region, current Chairman of the Residents Committee, John King, as well as past Chairman Doug Noel and wife Isabel, Vaughn McGuire (Reconciliation Advisory Committee) and Hall & Prior staff.

“As we look forward to the next 50 years, I would like to thank all those who have contributed to the ongoing success of Mertome Retirement Village and the Aged Care Home,” said Mr Prior.

“To all the staff who have cared for the many residents who have called it home over five decades, to the very active committee members

THRIVING COMMUNITY

For the past 50 years, Mertome Retirement Village has grown to become a vital part of life for elders in the City of Bayswater.

who still play such an important part in the day-to-day life of the Village, and to the residents who bring so much to Mertome.

“I would also like to acknowledge Mr Toms, one of the City of Bayswater’s longest serving councillors whose exceptional service was marked by naming Mertome after him.”

As residents and staff look forward to the next 50 years, Mertome continues to thrive and grow, with plans in place for improvements and renovations to the gardens and buildings.

It is - as it was then - a wonderful place to spend those golden years we all hope to enjoy.

As John King said, “we don’t stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.”

EYES TO THE FUTURE

As the next 50 years of Mertome’s story begins, there are plans to increase and improve the village and aged care facilities.

Students shine as they learn on site

Agmaroy Aged Care Home

During June, Agmaroy and Karingal Green aged care homes in WA were lucky enough to host fourth year Speech Pathology students from Curtin as part of their final adult placement.

With a focus on assessing, diagnosing and managing dysphagia and supporting quality of mealtimes specifically with residents with dementia, the students threw themselves in wholeheartedly to learn as much as they could during their three-day intensive opportunity, mentored by their clinical educator and our senior speech pathologist on site.

Although initially the students focused on their academic learning, they soon got the pleasure of meeting our

wonderful residents with a focus on building meaningful rapport with a range of different people.

“They noted the privilege and pleasure of getting to know our valuable older Australians and their rich and interesting lives, while ensuring they could continue to access food and fluids they enjoyed in a safe manner,” said Melissa Trinca, Director of Nutrition and Hydration.

“The residents were gracious and excited to teach our students as much as possible but ensured enough gentle teasing was included to keep them on their toes. We are so grateful for their participation to help upskill future speech pathologists.”

With a specific focus on the value of multidisciplinary

support, the importance of our nurses, and how our roles benefit the lives of our residents, many of the students reported they saw aged care as a real career option in the future.

“It was wonderful to support each student to see the value of aged care, especially as the sector transforms into a nursingled industry with a focus on clinical skill,” said Melissa.

Thank you to all involved and we can’t wait to welcome our third block later this year.

The Curtin University speech pathology students with their clinical educator, Aisle Batucan (Director of Nursing, Agmaroy Aged Care Home), Daphne Paden (DDON) and Michelle, dietitian (Hall & Prior).

Warm weather + BBQ = happiness

Grafton Aged Care Home

When the staff and residents of Grafton Aged Care Home in NSW heard that the weather was forecast to be an unusually balmy 26 degrees, they knew they couldn’t pass up on the opportunity for a BBQ lunch at one of their favourite picnic destinations, Shannon Creek Dam.

The dam is part of the Regional Water Supply Scheme which links the Clarence Valley and Coffs Harbour water supplies. On arrival, they drove up to the

viewing area at the top of the dam walls to see the water below, and then back down to the beautiful picnic area where resident Valda showed everybody she still had her golfing skills by chipping around the park like a pro and sinking her first putt on our putting trainer.

Valda’s sporting prowess continued when she teamed up with Joan to beat the men’s and staff teams at bocce.

Everyone enjoyed the fun, food, and perfect weather.

C’mon Barbie , let’s go party

Fairfield Aged Care Home

IT WASN’T JUST ANY BARBIE at Fairfield the other day. It was a BARBIE BBQ!

Staff and residents had a blast with a Barbie-themed event that reflected the recent movie’s themes - and then some!

Dressing up in their very best cerise outfits, the BBQ showcased ‘empowered women of all cultures’ in a deliciously fun way.

The Barbie movie, starring Australia’s very own Margot

Robbie, has been a hit worldwide and Fairfield wanted to enjoy it’s own slice of the shocking pink action, letting women know everywhere that Barbie represents us all, whichever version of the popular doll we identify with.

Yes, that means even you, Ken . . .

PJ Day raises vital funds

The annual Pyjama Day fundraising event at Mosman Park Aged Care Home in WA raised an amazing $800 for foster kids this year.

Staff came to work dressed in their best jammies and also donated toys and clothes for this worthy cause.

With the money raised from National Pyjama Day, all those who donated are helping The Pyjama Foundation offer learning skills to more than 1,000 children, fund educational resources and help provide stable, positive relationships.

Well done, Team Mosman Park - you rock (in your PJs).

Meanwhile, hot chocolate, marshmallow and comfy pyjamas were the order of the day at Leighton Aged Care Home when everybody joined in the fun of PJ Day.

Staff and residents pulled on their cosiest PJs for the day and tucked into some delicious hot choc and all

the trimmings too. Admin Tash took the task very seriously indeed, even wearing a very fetching burgundy dressing gown and slippers too for the duration.

We think PJ Day should be EVERY day - don’t you?

homes kept it comfy all day and raised dollars for charity in the process.

PJ DAY A COMFY HIT Mosman Park and Leighton aged care

Vive La Fairfield

Fairfield Aged Care Home

TO CELEBRATE Bastille Day (July 14), Fairfield staff put on their berets and feather boas to support the French on this special day at their home.

Bastille Day is France’s national day where the people commemorate the storming of the Bastille Prison which marked the beginning of the French Revolution back in 1789. Out of this revolution came France’s ideals of ‘liberty, equality and fraternity’.

“Residents had a very fun time enjoying everything French we could think of,” said Rodopi Villacis, Fairfield’s lifestyle officer.

Très bien, as the French would say.

Sculpture workshop stretches

Belmont artists

Belmont Aged Care Home

Some of our residents at Belmont Aged Care Home in WA got crafty with a special sculpture workshop recently.

As you can see from the photos they worked together to put together a framework for their sculpture and were happy with the results.

Art and crafts are regular activities here at Belmontas they are at many of Hall & Prior’s homes.

Taking a stroll round Lake Monger

Emerald Life Aged Care Home

It was on with the walking boots on a sunny winter’s day recently as a trio of our residents at West Leederville’s Emerald Life Aged Care Home put their best feet forward and set off for a bracing walk around nearby Lake Monger.

We’re so fortunate to have such lovely spots right on our doorstep - and the chance to see local flora and fauna during the walk was a highlight for all those who took part.

Roll on more days like this in spring . . .

We DO like Mondays

Hocart Lodge Aged Care Home

Who says that Mondays have to be the worst day of the week? Not the lucky residents at Hocart Lodge in the south west of WA!

The team held a wonderful high tea for residents and there was plenty of laughter and high spirits to go around. One of our gentlemen even donned a special hat for the occasion.

Scones with cream and jam, cups of tea and other delicious treats were the order of the day as everybody enjoyed the opportunity to read some magazines and chat about their day together.

Mondays should always be this way, right?

Red Nose Day raises lots of laughs and $$$

Clarence Estate in Albany, WA held a week of fun-filled events to raise funds for Red Nose Day in August.

The week began with a delicious treat on Monday, as special cupcakes were available for sale to staff members. Not only did this satisfy everybody’s sweet tooth, but it also contributed to a good cause.

On Tuesday, residents took part in a decorating extravaganza, as they adorned muffins and cookies in the spirit of Red Nose Day. This activity brought out everyone’s creative side and added a touch of festivity to the estate.

Wednesday was a day to dress to impress in red. Both staff and residents joined in by donning their finest red outfits to show support for the cause.

The main event took place on Thursday, as the highly anticipated “Soak The Management Team” took centre stage.

Staff members eagerly donated to participate in this fun-filled activity, using water balloons and various super soaker equipment to drench the management team. Residents were given the option to join in or simply enjoy watching the hilarity unfold. Laughter filled the air as both staff and management were soaked, creating a memorable experience for all.

A staff raffle was held throughout the week and included enticing rewards such as free coffee vouchers from the dedicated visiting coffee van, exclusive parking privileges, and free meals, including the beloved fish and chip Fridays from the

Clarence Estate kitchen, further contributing to the overall fundraising efforts.

All at Clarence Estate wish to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who supported the cause and those that enthusiastically participated in the week’s events. The efforts of staff, residents, and management were not only enjoyable but also contributed to raising funds for an important cause.

The total amount raised has recently been tallied and through Clarence Estate we were able to raise $882.20, so thank you to all who made this successful. This is an amazing amount to go towards Red Nose Day.

Overall, the week at Clarence Estate was a wonderful celebration filled with fun, laughter, and community spirit. Through these events, they not only raised funds for Red Nose Day but also fostered a sense of togetherness and support among the residents and staff.

Clarence Estate Residential Aged Care and Home Care

Pop-up café

a winter hit

Agmaroy Aged Care Home

THE LUCKY RESIDENTS OF Agmaroy Aged Care Home in Wilson, WA are continuing to enjoy dropping in at the home’s pop-up cafe.

Whatever the weather, this clever spot feels like Agmaroy’s very own special in-house cafe for residents, a convivial spot they can go without having to leave the grounds.

“Residents can ask for a grazing platter to share with family and friends, as well as a range of other food and drink,” said Aisle Batucan, Agmaroy’s Director of Nursing. It’s the little things which make living at Agmaroy so special.

A warm touch for Grafton residents

Grafton Aged Care Home

Here at Grafton Aged Care Home in NSW, we are so very appreciative of the Warm Touch volunteer group who recently came up with the idea of crocheting blankets, beanies and scarves for our First Nations’ residents during NAIDOC Week to keep them warm in the winter.

Everyone enjoyed an afternoon tea to present the gifts, and as you can see from the photos, the residents loved their super-cosy blankets, scarves and beanies, with resident Nic beaming a huge smile and commenting “I feel smothered in Culture”.

“The Warm Touch Group do such an amazing job, they

are so generous and giving, our community is very lucky to have them,” said Grafton’s Director of Nursing, Pattie Iredale.

“We appreciate their valuable time and all the efforts they put into providing our residents with a range of one-of-a-kind, useful items that can’t be purchased in a store.”

BIG fun with little ones

Kensington Park Aged Care Home

The residents and staff at Kensington Aged Care Home in Perth were lucky enough to welcome a whole class of little visitors from Montessori Childcare in Kensington in early August.

The fun-loving group of little ones spent a couple of hours with residents playing games, visiting the chickens outside and getting to know the home.

As you can see from the photos, both the residents and the children loved it and we can’t wait to see the bonds that will form.

FUN AND GAMES

Kindy kids played happily with residents of Kensington Park Aged Care Home in August.

Geoffrey takes a train ride down memory lane

Grafton Aged Care Home

It was all aboard the Picnic Steam Train for a few of Grafton Aged Care Home’s residents recently, with one train fan in particular having an extra special time.

The trip was a walk down memory lane for Geoffrey Harries (pictured wearing his hat) who is a retired train driver. He shared stories about working on the train and reminisced about his old work days behind the boiler plate.

The Picnic Train was returning to Grafton from Newcastle for the first time in nine years, with the streets and paddocks along the way lined with onlookers, waving and taking photos. The driver was happy to entertain them too, tooting the horn as the train puffed past.

The conductor on the train told passengers about the Picnic Train and how all the workers on the train except

a fitter, turner and the admin person are all volunteers.

Residents were asking when the next train ride would be, hopeful that it wouldn’t be another nine-year wait.

The carriages on the Picnic Train are hauled by a steam locomotive from the 1930s. The volunteers’ philosophy is simple - when you buy a ticket you are not just buying a train ride but an immersive heritage experience,

A sentiment that all our residents agreed withespecially Geoffrey.

ALL ABOARD

Inset, resident Geoffrey Harries joined the Picnic Steam Train for a trip back in time near Grafton Aged Care Home.

Happy International Friendship Day

On July 30, we celebrated all the friendships made within the Hall & Prior family, between our team members who come from all corners of the world, to the friendships made between our residents who may have been born down the road or in far-flung places, before ending up here in Australia.

Friendships forged at work and in our homes are an integral part of what makes living and working within the Hall & Prior Health & Aged Care Group so special.

Time for a tree change?

Grafton Aged Care Home

To acknowledge National Tree Day on July 30, residents at Grafton Aged Care in NSW spent the afternoon creating some tree-inspired craft. Using toilet rolls to paint the outline of the leaves on the trees, they also glued coloured paper to make abstract leaves on their trees.

As they worked away, the group spoke about National Tree Day and the importance of trees in the environment, moderating climate, improving air quality and providing habitat for wildlife.

The residents also reminisced about climbing trees in the school playground and getting in trouble.

Then it was time for a quick photo in front of the artworkmaybe we should ‘branch’ out into running an art gallery . . .

MEET THE DON

Director of Nursing at Villa Dalmacia, Spearwood, Western Australia.

Kelly Snook has taken over the reins at Villa Dalmacia in Spearwood. The Director of Nursing, originally from Wales, is already relishing daily life at aged care community with many residents from the local Croatian and Italian diaspora. By

Gabi

Mills.

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

KS: I have been working in aged care since I qualified in 2012. I embarked on my nursing career as I have always been passionate about caring for people. As a nurse, you can make a real difference in someone’s life while building meaningful relationships with residents and their families.

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

KS: I joined Hall & Prior in June 2023 as the Director of Nursing at Villa Dalmacia in Spearwood.

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

KS: I enjoy the diversity of the role and the challenges that it can bring. I also enjoy working alongside the multi-disciplinary team and implementing change to ensure our residents receive high quality care.

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

KS: Every day is different and that’s what makes each day special. Having the opportunity to create a positive culture for both the residents and staff and creating a nurturing environment for the residents we care for is at the heart of what I try to do every day alongside my team. It’s also my job to inspire staff - it’s important to encourage teamwork, communication and collaboration.

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

KS: Working in aged care is very rewarding but it also comes with its challenges.

However, having the time to build relationships and getting to know those that you care for is most satisfying. There are always great stories to be heard and I would say to work in aged care you must have a genuine passion for the role and plenty of empathy.

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

KS: I would hope that they say that I am approachable, understandable and kind but professional. I like to think that I am very hands on and always willing to teach and share my knowledge.

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?

KS: A good day in aged care is when you see meaningful interactions taking place and smiles on residents’ and staff faces.

Death is an inevitable part of the ageing process. Completing my post-grad in palliative care and nursing residents at end-of-life can also be a fulfilling part of the role. By ensuring the person has high quality care at end-of-life promotes the opportunity for a dignified death.

L&L: What plans do you have for your home?

KS: I have already started progressing change and will continue to implement positive changes within Villa Dalmacia.

L&L: Tell us something we don’t know about you?

KS: I enjoy the outdoors and am a very keen camper. During the spring/summer months, my family and I enjoy packing up and heading off for the weekend where we enjoy the outdoor lifestyle.

To find out more about Villa Dalmacia Aged Care Home please visit hallprior.com.au.

Born in India and originally a dentist, Pallvi Rathore has found her true calling in the aged care profession with ambitions to become a director of nursing one day on her horizon.

with Pallvi Rathore, Registered Nurse at Karingal Green Health and Aged Care Community, WA

L&L: Where were you born? When did you come to Perth?

PV: I was born in India and came to Perth in July 2018.

L&L: What was your first job in the health sector?

PV: I started working as an agency personal carer while I was studying nursing.

L&L: What attracted you to aged care?

PV: My background has always been in health care and in fact, I was a dentist in India. I always wanted to work in aged care - it was so fascinating for me, as we do not have much aged care culture back home. I am learning new things in this sector and I feel I was meant to be here.

L&L: When did you come to Karingal Green?

PV: I started working in KG as an agency care worker in 2021. I liked the environment

and respected the management and staff over here, so I applied to KG as a personal care worker in November 2021.

I completed the short course run by Hall & Prior to become a PCAP in February 2022 and started working in this capacity that month. While doing the PCAP course, I was told about the aged care transition to practice program. Before that, I was not aware that aged care also ran grad programs so I immediately said yes, as it was what I had always wanted to do. I was keen to learn more in this field and polish my skills and knowledge. I applied for a graduate program from the Australian College of Nursing and the program graduated in April 2023. I joined as a Registered Nurse at Karingal Green on 22 August 2022.

L&L: How do you feel about your achievements?

PV: I feel more confident and satisfied with where I am today.

However, it still feels like there is a long way to go, career-wise, and I want to keep going. I am always more inclined towards studying and I would like to undertake more training and development programs.

L&L: Did you have any mentors or anyone particular who supported you?

PV: Mina Pindolia (KG’s Executive Director of Nursing) supported and guided me throughout my journey. Most importantly, she trusted me and gave me the opportunity to work alongside her at KG when I was going through a lot in my professional life. Because of her trust, I was more confident and felt more responsible towards my work, always working towards becoming a better version of myself every day. I learned a lot from her and I can say that wherever I am today in my professional life is because of her. As such, I will always be grateful and thankful to her.

Urvashi Halai (Deputy Director of Nursing) also supported me to do better, every day. She is approachable and humble. As a new nurse, there are lot of queries and concerns in your mind, but Urvi was always there with smile on her face to guide me.

Also thank you to Pia Valeen, somebody who has always been there to help me during my grad program.

Finally, thank you to my senior nurses and my co-workers. Nancy trained me on my buddy shift and supported me along the way. Lovepreet (CNM), Ann, Ritu and Jasneel also always supported me.

L&L: What’s the most challenging part of your job?

PV: The most challenging part of the job was

the transition from carer to PCAP to RN. This is because although you may have worked with the same people earlier in your career originally at their level now you are supervising them. I think the most difficult part was to build a rapport with the care staff team, better communication and listening skills really helped me.

L&L: What is the most rewarding?

PV: Getting appreciation for your good work from management and the family members of the residents, and specifically from the residents themselves. Working in the KG team is no less than a reward because of the wonderful team and approachable staff. There are also lots of opportunities to develop your career through training programs for staff, and this helps to enhance clinical skills.

L&L: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

PV: I always wanted to work in management, as I believe I have management skills and documentation skills. I see myself either as a Director of Nursing in another 10 years or maybe in quality control team or part of the AN-ACC team.

FOCUS ON THE FUTURE Pallvi Rathore, RN at Karingal Green.

Q+A

with Leeja Gurung, Assistant in Nursing at Caroline Chisholm Aged Care Home, NSW

Leeja Gurun, AIN at Caroline Chisholm Aged Care Home in Sydney has always loved being of assistance to others and in turn, making a positive impact on people’s lives.

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

LG: I have always loved helping others, and coupled with my natural sense of empathy and compassion to make a positive impact on people’s lives, this paved the way for my decision to become a care worker.

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

LG: I have been working in aged care for almost a year and I joined Hall & Prior at Caroline Chisholm Aged Care Home in March 2023.

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

LG: As a care worker, each day presents unique challenges and opportunities to make a positive impact on the lives of the residents I care for. Therefore, I try my best to make my day fulfilling by maintaining the needs and wellbeing of the residents and in turn, seeing them happy and content

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

LG: Being a source of comfort and making a meaningful difference in the lives of the residents makes me feel truly rewarded and connected to them, especially when I can provide the support and companionship they need to feel that they are more comfortable and cared for.

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

LG: ‘‘Put yourself in their shoes’’. When you put yourself in the position of the person you are caring for, you gain a better understanding of their feelings, needs and challenges.

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

LG: Being surrounded by a compassionate team and a supportive work environment.

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

LG: Working as a care worker is emotionally and physically demanding. Thus, I have learned to be resilient enough to bounce back from any challenging situations and maintain my commitment to providing quality care.

L&L: How would others describe you?

LG: Compassionate, empathetic, patient, caring and respectful with a positive attitude.

L&L: What qualities are required to work in an aged care home in your opinion?

LG: In my opinion, a great aged care worker must be dedicated and hardworking, be flexible and able to adjust to changing circumstances or new challenges with a positive attitude. They should also be a good learner, empathetic, a team player and someone valuing and respecting individual differences fosters an inclusive and supportive work environment.

FAST FACTS

If I wasn’t a care worker - I would be an air hostess.

What is your favourite movie?

Jaari - a Nepalese movie.

What is your favourite song?

Who Says by Selena Gomez.

When I’m not at work you’ll often find me - travelling and exploring the beauty of nature.

Each day presents unique opportunities to make a positive impact . . .

Ensuring a comfortable final goodbye

Hall & Prior Health & Aged Care Group has a proud history of being at the forefront of compassionate care, especially when it comes to ensuring a resident’s end-of-life wishes are carried out in the best and most comfortable way possible.

The Group’s palliative care program was launched in 2010 and initial planning included the engagement of the newly developed Metropolitan Palliative Care Consultancy Service (MPaCCS).

During this time, Hall & Prior has continued to engage with the MPaCCS team across the metro area in WA and the service continues to evolve and grow as the requirement for palliative care becomes more widespread. It has helped nurture, teach and support many staff within the aged care group, and made Hall & Prior a leading light in this important part of the delivery of aged care.

“Our teams within the Hall & Prior aged care homes have developed an Advance Care Plan,” said Louise Appleton, nurse practitioner with the resource team based in Perth.

“This includes creating policies and processes that help our families make better decisions about comfort, care and inclusion for residents living in our homes at the end of their lives.”

This vital part of work in the aged care field was acknowledged at a recent end-of-life conference in Perth.

PALLIATIVE CARE PROFESSIONALS

Agmaroy was the setting for a special photo shoot of Hall & Prior’s palliative care staff.

“Our program at Hall & Prior helps with the identification of those residents who need end-of-life care, and informs the hospitals of the resident’s current needs when being transferred to hospital,” said Ms Appleton.

“We are very proud of our home care resources and the support that offers loving care to our residents and their families.”

To celebrate a decade of specialist palliative care, a photoshoot was arranged at Agmaroy Aged Care Home, marking the special collaboration between Hall & Prior’s homes and MPaCCS which has resulted in many of our residents having a more comfortable death.

If families require more assistance and questions about end of life care please call the home and a referral can be arranged.

Try hydrotherapy for comfort and relief

Karingal Green’s stateof-the-art hydrotherapy pool is open to all - whether you’re a resident of the aged care community or not.

If you’re seeking relief from symptoms of arthritis and back pain or would like to increase your fitness and balance, head to Karingal Green’s hydrotherapy pool and experience a new way of improving your quality of life.

A physiotherapy-led hydrotherapy group is offered in our state-of-the-art pool at the High Wycombe health and aged care community. The comfortably heated pool is an effective setting to exercise when experiencing joint and muscular pain as well as providing social and psychological benefits.

Karingal Green physiotherapists will instruct and assist you in working on strengthening, flexibility, pain management, balance training and functional skills training, while at the same time providing a fun, motivating, and safe environment.

The properties of water, including buoyancy, resistance and hydrostatic pressure, along with the

warmth of the water reduces stress on joints. It also allows greater freedom of movement than is possible on land. Our specifically-designed hydrotherapy classes will ensure you benefit from easyto-understand instructions in a safe environment.

Our team is here to look after you and your needs. If you have any feedback on the delivery of these services, please speak to our friendly team.

For more information contact the Karingal Green team today on 1300 096 988 or email wellness@karingalgreen.com.au

Karingal Green Home Care Welcome to

If you’re looking for exceptional care in the home for your loved one, look no further than Karingal Green Home Care.

Karingal Green is a worldclass, connected aged care community from award-winning provider Hall & Prior. Our team live and work in your community and are committed to supporting people to continue to live independently in their own home. We offer a wide range of flexible programs and services and can tailor them to suit you.

Our programs include home care packages, wellness, residential or in-home respite, as well as other services which you can book through us at any time. You might like to receive some help around your home, assistance with your meals, join us for social outings, transport to your appointments, or assistance with personal care and clinical services.

HOME CARE PACKAGES

Home care packages are individually planned packages

of care designed to enable you or your loved one to remain as independent as possible. Each package is flexible and can be individually tailored to suit your needs and goals.

DEMENTIA SUPPORT

If you or your loved one are experiencing difficulties with your everyday activities

because of the symptoms associated with dementia, we can help. Karingal Green is able to provide specialist dementia care in addition to the services offered as part of any home care package.

For more information, call 1300 604 506 or visit karingalgreenhomecare.com.au

HOME CARE AND SERVICES

The care and services provided will depend on your individual goals and needs, and will be agreed on in consultation with staff but can include the following:

• Medical rehabilitation unit

• Personal & nursing care

• Respite care

• Shopping

• Meal preparation

• Home maintenance

• Gardening

• House cleaning

• Nutritional advice

• Laundry support

• Health assessments

• Physiotherapy

• Occupational therapy

• Travel to outings & appointments

• Social support & companionship

• Wellness

Flexible programs and services tailored to your individual needs. You may like to receive help around the home, assistance with meals, join social outings, transport to appointments, or assistance with personal care and clinical services.

Karingal Green Home Care can provide the professional assistance needed to continue living safely and independently in your own home. 53

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

PUZZLES CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Person who didn’t win (5)

4 Beatles song, – Wood (9)

9 Acknowledges contribution of (7)

10 Argues (7)

11 US state (5)

12 Register (6)

15 Old name of phone company (7)

17 Dichotomy (7)

18 Ships (7)

20 Diabetic’s medicine (7)

21 Threefold (6)

22 Water lily (5)

25 Sailor (7)

26 Libyan capital (7)

27 Republic in Central America (9)

28 Fumes (5)

9-LETTER WORD

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 each letter may only be used once. No colloquial or foreign words. No capitalised nouns, apostrophes or plural words ending in “s”.

25 words: Good

4x4

DOWN

1 Railway vehicle (10)

2 Expert (10)

3 Lift (5)

4 Potion (7)

5 Lessened (7)

6 Humiliate (9)

7 Greek letter (4)

8 Bird’s home (4)

13 Infringements (10)

14 Olympic sporting category (10)

16 Major sale (9)

19 Part of Russia (7)

20 Inactivity (7)

22 Mendacious (5)

23 Self-satisfied (4)

24 Region (4)

No. 023

QUICK QUIZ

1 The Jacobin Club is associated with which historical revolution?

2 In which country is Krakatoa located?

3 In what year did Krakatoa famously erupt?

4 Which political party has ruled Singapore since becoming independent in 1959?

5 Which two monarchs were placed on the British throne after the 1688 Glorious Revolution?

No. 023

WORDSTEP

Complete the list by changing

DOLLY

No. 023

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. 46 8 96 21 3

89 32 7 79 53

75 25 34 18 9

SOLUTIONS

belie, belied, belief, belies, beside, bide, bides, bidi, bids, bifid, bile, bise, defies, defile, defiles, deifies, deil, deli, dibs, dies, diesel, DISBELIEF, edible, edifies, elide, elides, felid, fidei, field, fields, file, filed, files, ibis, idee, idle, idles, isle, isled, lied, lief, lies, life, sedile, side, sidle, sild, slid, slide

Puzzles and pagination © Pagemasters | pagemasters.com

4. People’s Action Party 5. Mary II and William III

Gran, 7. Sang. DOWN: 1. Gags, 2. Aura, 3. Stan, 4. Hong. DOLLY, DOLLS, DOLES, POLES, PILES, PIPES

Can you find all of the words listed below?

The leftover letters will spell out a secret message.

CROSS MATH

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.

WORDFIND

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

EIGHT AROUND

HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW...

P!NK

1. What is P!nk’s real first name?

A. Alecia

B. Alexandra

C. Alexa

D. Adriana

2. In what year did

P!nk release her debut solo single?

A. 1996

B. 2000

C. 2004

D. 2008

No. 023

Can you work out what the missing letter is that spells an 8-letter word? It could read either clockwise or anti-clockwise. ? L E A N E S T 5x5

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

3. What is the title of the Amazon Prime documentary about the singer?

A. I Don’t Know Much

B. Some Things I Know

C. All I Know So Far

D. Everything I’ve Learnt

4. What is the title of her latest studio album?

A. Trustfall

B. Missundaztood

C. The Truth About Love

D. Hurts 2B Human

5. In which sport does P!nk’s husband Carey Hart compete?

A. Motorcycle racing

B. Tennis

C. Boxing

D. NFL

MY FAVOURITE THINGS

Matthew Paul

Matthew Paul is Hall & Prior’s Landscape Supervisor, responsible for the maintenance and improvement of all gardens and lawns at the Group’s facilities. Working with the aged care group since 2019 and takes a particular interest in ensuring that the gardens and landscaped areas around our homes in Western Australia are filled with native and local flora.

MUSIC

My life outside of Hall & Prior is dominated by music, it is intrinsic to who I am and something I am deeply devoted to. I love all genres and there’s nothing I enjoy more than ending each day with a beautiful record.

HORTICULTURE

I’ve always liked landscaping and horticulture. However, it wasn’t until I moved to Western Australia from the Northern Territory that I started to consider it a passion. The incredibly diverse and unique flora endemic to the south west of WA is world-class and inspiring to work with. The sheer isolation that this beautiful pocket of the world is in allows for such intriguing and mesmerising pigments, textures, shapes and structures. Developing an understanding for horticulture through the perspective of Noongar teachings has only deepened my love for the practice. The wealth of knowledge, respect and understanding that comes from looking through this prism is awe-inspiring and humbling.

YOGA AND MINDFULNESS

Much like the fitness, I have recently undertaken a renaissance of the spirit. I have found so much enjoyment and tranquility from yoga and mindfulness that seems to have compounded and improved the relationship I have with nature and music. It is now a daily requirement to take some time to focus and relax my mind and body so that I can enjoy life in all of its beauty.

EXERCISE AND DISTANT RUNNING

I loved and played all types of sports as a kid, however, through my 20s, I took a step back from sports. Recently I’ve been enjoying a fitness renaissance by getting back into exercise and running, specifically, long distance and trail running. I love getting out there and building towards tangible fitness goals.

PRESENTING RADIO

I enjoy presenting and mixing various genres on community and underground radio. Community radio has such a special place in my heart for the power it has to connect people and ideas. I’ve met some amazing people through radio and grown so much as a person as a result.

BEING IN NATURE AND HIKING

Nature is an essential part of who I am. No matter where I have lived in the world, I have always prioritised living close to nature. I am originally from the Northern Territory and grew up with a close affinity to the bush and camping, a fondness which only increased when I moved to Canada for a few years in my 20s. It was in the old growth forests of British Columbia that I really fell in love with hiking and experiencing the natural world. Recently I have had the special privilege of experiencing the hiking trails of the south west of WA with their incredibly ancient geological history and the magnificent flora.

DJing

DJing has been such an integral part of my life for a few years now and is one of my deepest passions. I have a residency at a few places around town but I’m most passionate about club DJing. I love the power dance has to heal people and spread love throughout the community.

OUR WA HOMES

OUR NSW HOMES