The Resident Christmas Party

All hands were on deck this morning to set up for the Residents Christmas party, we thankfully have been blessed with a gorgeous day enabling us to set up tables on the verandah, all the decorations were in place, tables set, residents in their Christmas best and gravitating the dining room, just in time for the first entertainers. The local church group came to sing Christmas Carols, then Rik Dawson from AgeWell our Physio team came to play carols on the piano, closely followed by the Rotary Club Christmas Carolers. The kitchen staff exceeded all expectations by putting on an amazing food buffet. A slightly disheveled Santa even made a visit with gifts. All Residents, friends and relatives, along with staff had a lovely time.

Lack of information.........

I never anticipated it would happen to me so soon, however it is. I am starting to get phone calls from friends, and friends of friends asking advice on how to go about placing their aging parent into Aged Care Facilities. Our aging population is getting older. Being in the industry I thought there was a heap of information around for those looking for such placement. However I guess like alot of thing, unless you have been through it before you really have no idea where to start. Like buying your first home and bringing your new baby home for the first time, my generation are finding themselves in uncharted waters with their aging parents. ACCR assessments, low care vs high care, bonds and basic daily care fees and extra service fees are apparently not common topics of communication with most people. Hmmm.... So other than individually counselling my friends, what can I do about this issue? How do I share the knowledge I have acquired over the years of working in the industry? I have spoken to the Principal at my kids school and am putting together an information night for those within our school community that require friendly information on how to deal with placing their parent in aged care facilities, and requiring the support to do so.

Updates on the Christmas Decorating....

Ok, I think the boys did a pretty good job. Yes, we might have spruced the decorations up a little after they'd left, however the overall feel around the facility at the moment is definitely Christmassy. We are also dusting of the Christmas CD's and DVD's for a 4 week session of Christmas joy with Andre Riue, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby etc.

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas...

Well the Christmas decorations have been dusted off, and we have four Yr 10 Knox Grammar boys doing community service with us this week, and it is their "mission if they choose to accept it" to make this facility more Chritmassy than it has ever been....
Did they succeed....I'll have to get back to you. What was most suprising was the sound of Coldplay coming from the dining room, only to find 1 of the students playing Coldplay on the piano while another student sang along. Amazing! Right that's it, my 8 year old is learning the piano ...not the drums that she has been begging me for.

Person Centred Care

We are full steam ahead with educating our staff in Person Centred Care, encouraging staff to treat each resident as an individual, with individual needs and wants.

Life histories, we encourage relatives' contribution, are used to help us get to know each residents, with their own personalities and pasts. Understanding the reasons behind their actions and the people, places and belongings which are important to them can help to overcome the frustration and fear someone may experience at being unable to express what they want.

We have work to do to shift the task orientation of staff, who believe that they will get into trouble for sitting down and having a cup of tea or chatting with a resident. I want to change the way our staff see their days at work.

We have plans for our special care unit:

• personal name plates on their room doors to aid recognition
• memory boards in each of their bedrooms that include personal items such as photographs, certificates and other memory triggers
• coloured bathroom doors and toilet seats, making them easier to see
• sensory gardens, added to the existing courtyard, which will be adapted to appeal to all the senses through the use of colours, smells, textures and sounds

It's exciting to see the gradual change in the staff...........

Getting Started....

Wow...what a year it has been. A family trip to Italy resulting in a marriage proposal, a wedding to plan, the Groom landing himself a great new Marketing Manager's role in travel, and The Bride transferring from a Residential Aged Care Facility in Mosman as Care Manager to a Roseville facility as General Manager, and then of course there was The Wedding. Yes we have seen alot of changes this year. And now we are excited to get stuck into work. Yes, I accept the challenge. New residents, new relatives, new staff. Where does one start..........
The residents......................