CEO’s Christmas Message

* 3 December 2018 *

The last part of the year is always a busy time for the organisation, with the Saluting Excellence Conference and staff awards, Remembrance Day commemorations and the AGM, as well as events in the community, such as the AFL Grand Final, the Melbourne Show and the Melbourne Cup adding to the sense of rush that takes over as we approach Christmas!

So it is important to take a moment and stop to appreciate and value all that has been happening.

Residents Living with Dementia

I was delighted and moved to hear presentations from staff at our Frankston South home, at the end of the first stage of the Birch Pathway Program.

This is a program that we have been working on together with experts from Dementia Australia (formerly Alzheimer’s Australia) to overhaul our approach to caring for people with dementia in our Memory Support Unit in the Kapyong-Flanders Wing at Frankston South.

The Birch Pathway Program aims to change the face of dementia care, bringing choice, meaning and purpose to those living with dementia, and working to their strengths and their abilities.

This program makes it the role of every person to actively see how they can remodel their own actions and interactions.

There have been education sessions for staff and for families; there has been an environmental assessment and overhaul; there have been completely different expectations set for every aspect of care for this group of individuals; and it was quite emotional to hear from those who have led these changes.

Now that this major milestone has been reached, Dementia Australia will be taking a back seat as we move into the next stage.

I am proud of the staff who have led this program and I am excited to see the next stage take place. This model of person-centred care is the future of best practice.

Beat the Heat

As summer finally arrives in Melbourne and the temperatures soar, it is important for us all to remember to look after ourselves and those around us.

Slip – slip on a shirt
Slop – slop on some sunscreen
Slap – slap on a hat

It’s is an old message but still 100% relevant. And don’t forget to stay in the shade, especially between 11am and 3pm, and drink plenty of water!

Some older people have a tendency to drink less, and it is thought this is because their bodies’ responses to thirst do not work as well. So it is especially important to make sure that those around you not only have access to fluids, but do actually drink them.

One important initiative undertaken by our Property Services Team this year has been to have generators installed, or at call, for all of our aged care homes where we have so many vulnerable residents. In the case of a power outage, at the three larger sites, the on-site generator will take over power production, while at the two smaller sites, our transportable generator plan will be activated.

So please stay safe over the Christmas and new year holidays, and if you are taking time off or going away, enjoy the time to relax and recharge, ready for the year ahead.

Have a very Happy Christmas and New Year!