+ Rathdowne Eee Kons Our Way Of Being Safe Expo a In conjunction with the North West Region, Rathdowne Place was lucky enough fo host the Our Way of Being Safe Expo which saw a variety of stalls available offering their expertise, informative pam- phlets and show bags. Guests had the opportunity to watch a spe- cial Maggie Beer trained chef cooking demonstration and were lat- er treated to a BBQ lunch was cooked especially for guests by facil- ity General Manager, Gavin Young. Rathdowne Place was fortu- nate enough to come second place in the RLS competition for best Our Way Of Being Safe workplace initiatives. oreOn Wednesday the 28th of October, the North West Region hosted its very own Our Way of Being Safe Expo at Rathdowne Place. The day was a great suc- cess and saw varying activities and events run by Rathdowne Place and our Product Providers. The general atmosphere was filled with excitement, with many noteworthy highlights the expo had to offer. In the morning, the children from the Mel- bourne University Childcare Centre joined us as per their typical Wednesday routine. Together with the residents, the children actively took part in vari- ous arts and crafts activities. A particularly popular activity on the day was the Maggie Beer trained chef cooking demonstration which saw guests watch and indulge in the creation of chocolate cov- ered fruit and cold dripped coffee. The whole expe- rience was televised live via Skype to residents ena- bling all in their rooms to participate. For lunch, guests were treated to a home cooked BBQ, where Gavin Young took to the role of head chef, putting his culinary BBQ expertise into practice. Following lunch, there was a Police Officer information ses- sion which informed guests about their own per- sonal safety and how to ensure it, Melbourne C Baths ran seated Tai Chi as well as gentle exercise for your heart. Overall, the day was enjoyed by all who were in- volved. We would like to extend a warm thank you to all who participated and played a part in the per- fect execution of our very first Our Way of Being Safe Expo. Here’s to many more exciting days to come.Rathdowne Place was fortu- nate enough to have the Park- lands Animal Farm visit Reeve’s Street Park with all of their baby animals in early September. The visit was held on a Wednesday in conjunction with the children visiting from the Melbourne University Childcare Centre. The morning was a huge suc- cess amongst the residents, staff and children. Everyone in- volved had the opportunity to pet and feed baby chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs and goats. Residents who were unable to attend were still involved in the morning, with many baby rab- bits visiting each floor in their baskets. For anyone who happened to miss out on the fantastic morn- ing, keep your eyes peeled for information about another Parklands Animal Farm visit in the next few months.RATHDOWNE PLACE NEWS Issue # 6: August- Novemb HAVING WOES ABOUT CHR | S TMAS Coming SOON SHOPPING? Buy a Rathdowne Place voucher today. Any amount can be loaded onto the vouchers Vouchers can be purchased via EFT or credited to a resident's room Vouchers are redeemable for any services Rathdowne Place offers, including allied health services Vouchers are active for 12 months following purchase date INQUIRE AT RECEPTION ON THE LOWER GROUND FLOORRATHDOWNE PLACE NEWS Issue # 6: August- Nover Tai Chi at Rathdowne Place Rathdowne Place, partnering with Carlton Baths, are introducing Tai Chi. Commencing on 16th December on level 4, the program will initially be monthly, however as popularity increases we will consider adding more opportunities. LEVEL FOUR December 16th 2015 1.30pm Community Choi r Crow @Rathdowne Place Do you enjoy singing Christmas Carols? Why not join the Rathdowne Place Choir on level 5. Residents and family enjoy a range of songs and with Christmas approaching, come and enjoy Christmas singing Wednesday Level 5 1.15pmRATHDOWNE PLACE NEWS Issue # 6: August- November + Sweeny Todd vs Gavin Young For the month of November, our facility General Manager, Gavin Young took an active part in the Movember challenge. The Movember Foundation is a global charity committed to men living happi- er, healthier, longer lives. Each November, the Movember Foundation encourages all men to grow a moustache to raise awareness and mon- ey for men battling with prostate cancer, testicu- lar cancer, poor mental health and physical inac- tivity. Rathdowne Place is very proud to acknowledge that Gavin was able to raise $515 in donations. Level 4 was the most generous floor to donate and were thus awarded the honour of rid- ding Gavin of the infamous November mo on Wednesday 2nd December. This day alone raised $200 of the overall donations. Well-done to Gavin and all who contributed. ate S- The Moon is a Balloon and so is The Earth (both being Celestial). This being the case, and we all know that on pricking them they will not burst! by John McGeachen Carol, my carer and | travelled to Dubai, Mi- lan, New York, New Orleans and San Francis- co. The highlight was the Opera, Otella, which we saw in Milan and we were also treated to Jazz in New York and New Olean's. This brings to mind, the very important devel- opment of air travel over the last 100 years to which time has been the real essence. Direct Line of Site Flying (straight line) was a necessity in the early days, due to the tanks capacity, aircraft design, weather conditions and posi- tioning of airfields~ no airports in those days- plus numerous other affects, which still happen in the outback today, such as cleaning the . strip of cam- els, wild pigs and the ev- er present “brumby" - by the way, the young pilots, in high winged aircrafts love doing this... This phase of flying was done by the power of the “Hydro Carbon Fuelled Internal Combus- tion" engine. Then came the prop jet in the 60s and then, in the 1950-60s, the first commercial flights of the Concorde. With the advent of the very first commercial aircraft, came the arrival of the Great Circle travel. We have more or less moved time, and fuel and much more from the travel equation.RATHDOWNE PLACE NEWS Gavin Young We have had a busy couple of months here at Rathdowne Place which has seen an increase in admis- sions since July to reach a total of 155 Residents at the end of October 2015 and | would like to extend a warm welcome to our new residents. This has also meant that quite a large in- take of new employees has followed and | hope all new comers to RP have settled in well. This includes our new chef Jason Milich who has a vast experience in the catering world with key positions in companies such as Bidvest and working as a chef in Aged Care in Sydney. Our activities and events team has worked extremely hard in improving our schedule to great success, with themed outings daily meaning our bus is on the road everyday. Please ensure you review the weekly calen- dar and book in early. One of those themed events is the weekly cooking on a floor which has seen pasta sauce making, pizza baking and cooking a traditional roast on individ- ual floors which have all been met with enthusiasm by residents and staff alike. Another successful event held in Oc- tober was the Our Way of Being Safe - Safety, Health and Wellbeing Expo that saw over 250 residents, staff, fam- ily members and members of the community join in the festivities of the expo, lectures and demonstrations. With support from our sponsors on the day who contributed to the event in different ways either holding a stall, providing a lecture on safety or do- nating the BBQ lunch the day was a great success. Issue # 6: August- Novembe The OWBS Expo also saw the first of our Safety Ambassadors presented an award, George Boscolo (September 2015) and Gregor Poole (October 2015) were recognised for their outstanding work in Health and Safety by going the extra mile. Also in October we had a visit from the Australian Aged Care Quality Agency who completed an unan- nounced visit to Rathdowne Place, they focused on three areas of the facility which included Incident Re- porting, Regulatory Compliance and Cultural and Spiritual Life. | am proud to advise that the accreditors found that we met all criterion in these are- as which is a credit to the Rathdowne Place team. Well done! Now with the tenth month behind us we are only four weeks away from Christmas and planning has begun for the festive season so please stay tuned to all communications as Christmas events will be soon an- nounced. Our Learning and Development man- ager, Joanne Trickey is currently on annual leave and as such there will be no L&D report for the November issue. Again welcome to all of our new resi- dents and staff | am sure you will love it here as much as | do. Best regards Gavin Young;ATHDOWNE PLACE NEWS Issue # 6: August- November Clinical Care Manager's Report by Kimberley Miller With Summer approaching and the days becoming warmer, we hope everyone is taking the op- portunity to enjoy the beautiful weather outside. With Christmas in sight | encour- age families to please give the clinical and care staff as much notice as possible if residents will be out on social leave or not here on Christmas day. This al- lows for all departments to plan for the upcoming events and gives time to arrange medica- tions/ care needs etc. | would like to welcome Jamie Knight, an Enrolled Nurse, Ruby Smith and Suzi Fratric, Registered Nurses to the clinical team. Jamie has moved across from another Australian Unity _ site, Walmsley. She is highly experi- enced in aged care and is dedi- cated to aged care, she is easily approachable. She currently works Monday through to Thurs- day 7 am till 39m. Ruby has re- cently graduated as a Regis- tered Nurse. She has been gain- ing a lot of experience from the clinical team and has been thor- oughly enjoying the new experi- ence. Ruby is a friendly staff member who has a great rap- port with residents and _ their families. She currently works Fri- day through to Tuesday. Suzi is an experienced Registered Nurse, with a wealth of aged care experience. Suzi is complet- ing the care plan reviews for all residents. Suzi will be contacting POA/NOK when an annual care plan review is approaching for their loved ones and you will be encouraged to meet with Suzi to go through all care needs. All suggestions, complaints and compliments are always wel- come at this meeting. Suzi has been warmly welcomed by our staff and residents, her hours are flexible working around the needs of our family and friends. The clinical staff welcome resi- dents and their families to discuss any clinical matters. We please ask that you book in an appoint- ment via email — Kmiller@australiaunity.com.au Kind Regards, Kimberley Miller.RATHDOWNE PLACE NEWS Issue # 6: August- November Community Development Report na ) by Michelle Garita It is the Community Development team's mission to play an integral and strategic role in the sustainable care of our residents and the development of the partnerships we engage in that provide residents with the social and human needs they require to remain engaged . During the period of August to November, the Community De- velopment team has either led, participat- ed or had input into a wide variety of ac- tivities including the following. Wellbeing Clinic The Wellbeing Clinic for older adults was established at Rathdowne place with our partners, Swinburne University, in October 2014. The clinic represents an innovative partnership which aims to deliver counsel- ling and psychological services to the resi- dents living at Rathdowne Place. It also provides an innovative model of training in clinical psychology for provisionally regis- tered psychologists, a process that is very important to Rathdowne Place and Aus- tralian Unity. The Community Development team work closely with the Clinical Care Manager and Swinbume to arrange this service, namely appointments and follow up com- munication for residents. If you are interested in participating in the Wellbeing Clinic, please refer to your Sen- ior Care Partner or our Clinical Care Man- ager for further information. Shared Care Program Rathdowne Place and Swinburne Universi- ty launched the Shared Care Program in the month of November. The program has been designed explicitly for families and carers, providing a place where like mind- ed people can gather to discuss their con cems, stories and successes. The inaugural program established the ground rules for the groups purpose and focus, with more to follow in the coming meetings. It also demonstrated to us just how important it is to you, to be in a room with people in similar situations for conver sations and support. The program is an extension of our Wellbe- ing Clinic, facilitated by Swinburne Univer- sity and supported by a provisional Psy- Chologist. It will reconvene in February 2016, if you are interested in joining the group, please email Jencie Castles — jcastles@australianunity.com.qu. Student Placements Many of you would have noticed a num- ber of students on your levels over the past few months. The students attend Rathdowne Place as part of the educa- tion and come from a range of providers including Swinburne University, Monash University, SEED and New Futures Training. The program, in 2015, included students documenting residents’ life stories through video and print, providing counselling ser- vices and care and support . The placement program has been critical fo the parinerships with local training o ganisations which also aids our recruit- ment process. Rathdowne Place will wind down activity over the Christmas period, however expect to see the students again in January 2016. And finally... Thank you to the volunteers, carers, com- munity development team, residents and their families and friends for supporting and participating in our 2015 Program and we look forward to meeting your needs in 2016.RATHDOWNE PLACE NEWS Updates from the Desk py Anushka DeMel Welcome to our very first newsletter contribution, fittingly tiled “Updates from the Desk”. This small piece aims to provide a quick overview on the various happenings taking place in the Admin- istration/Reception Department. New faces Since the last newsletter was dispersed, we have seen a number of changes take place. The most notable change - apart from the desk which now can oc- cupy up fo 3 people comfortably enough with computers and paperwork ~is the change to the usual faces at the desk during the week and over the weekend. Eileen Ibanez, who usually works the Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm shift, is presently soaking up the sun in Columbia and will not be returning until early next year. Stepping in whilst she is away is the very talented Matea Pichet, who is originally from France, has trav- elled extensively, completed a Bachelor of History of Arts and Cultural Mediation and is working part time as journalist for a music magazine. Whereas during the week, and also over the weekend, we have the also very talented Rhiannon Thomas who was born and raised in Melbourne, commenced studies to be a nurse, has managed a nightclub and worked in various other administrative roles around Melbourne. Should you wish to learn more about these two or have questions or concerns then please do no hesitate to pay them a visit. New measures, new hours and new ac- cess As part of our new security measures which were introduced late September Issue # 6: August- Novembe to guarantee the security of all residents and staff at Rathdowne Place, recep- tion hours have been extended. As such, the new reception hours are as follows: Monday - Tuesday 7am-Spm Wednesday - Friday 7am-épm Saturday -Sunday 9am- 5pm Please note that any calls put through outside of these hours will go directly to the Registered Nurse on duty. Additionally, with the disabling of the green button and the fulltime activation of the pin, we have introduced a new system based on individual swipe cards allocated to residents and/or their Pow- er of Attorneys. These cards provide ac- cess to each of the floors via the lifts and the front door between the hours of 7am and 10pm. A fee of $70 incurs when purchasing the card ($20 for the card and a $50 refundable deposit). To obtain a swipe card, a form needs to be filled and retumed to the Senior Care Partner of your floor. Thank you for your trust in Rathdowne Place. We are looking forward to seeing you all at our desk. Regards, Anushka, Rhiannon and Matea. For any general enquiry, please contact reception: 03 9240 7000 rathdownepk fralianunity.com.aiRATHDOWNE PLACE NEWS Care Team Report sy Mary Fromberger It is always an expectation that comes with the job and | think the work that we are doing deserves the best apprecia- tion and recognition. The contribution that the team have been providing is absolutely outstanding on all levels, the care, the love, the compassion and the dedication is the best we have seen. Most levels are now at full capacity and our roles are evolving to providing the best in “taking care of someone else". Highlights from the levels... Welcome to all the new staff that com- menced employment with Rathdowne Place and Australian Unity. We have a full complement of staff who are well versed in care and have been a pleas- ure to induct. With a few minor roles to fill, we are certain that the training and support our staff receive will provide resi- dents and family with the care they are entitled to in their home. During the past 3 months, residents have been assisted and visited by the students from a variety of providers including Swinburne University, Monash University, New Futures Training, Brotherhood of St Laurence, and a series of High Schools. Students participated in a range of activ- ities including the Life Story project, the Wellbeing Clinic, Care Companion Placements and discussion groups. One group, in particular, was a group of students from Northcote High who shared afternoon tea with the residents. The discussion group provided the stu- dents with the opportunity to practice their Italian and the residents lead a healthy discussion about food, some- Issue # 6: August- Novemb thing that the residents are very passion- ate about. On a weekly basis, residents participate in an afternoon with the staff of Rathdowne Place. On one particular oc- casion Chef Jason, and our General Manager, Gavin, cooking a traditional Bolognese style sauce with residents and staff for dinner. diff." = This is a wonder- = Me ful way for our residents to remi- nisce about the food they love and have provided us with a great source of recipes, albeit family secrets! It has been great to see the levels come alive over the last couple of months with fun and interactive activities especially the introduction of regular exercise clas- ses, coffee club, moming and afternoon strolls. All these activities are run by the fantastic companions of the facility. As we move into a new season you can ex- pect to see these classes pick up mo- mentum and take on a summer flavour. October was safety month at Rathdowne Place and | am proud to an- nounce that Gregory Poole, from level 4, was awarded Safety Ambassador. Gregor's team have been instrumental in safety and initiated the Safety Affirma- tions Program, whereby, companions and partners express and post positive statements towards having a safe and healthy October. Lastly but not least, | would also like to welcome all the new residents to our fa- cility. Our care companions and care partners are your key contacts and will ensure the service you receive and your home is always to your expectation. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.RATHDOWNE PLACE NEWS Laundry Report by Davina Brown Issue # 6: August- November The laundry staff and myself would like to thank all staff, families and friends for their help in our Lost Property Department and for assisting with getting residents addi- tional clothing items labelled. This has reduced the amount of items that come through lost property. We appreciate this very much. Thank you all. As we only place residents outer gar- ments on the display rack for lost proper- ty, any resident that may be missing socks, underwear, nighties or pyjamas are kept in the laundry. Please either ring the laundry on 9240 7073 or send an email with a brief description of item/s and we will be happy to assist. dbrown@australianunity.com.au Lilia Lana The Artist sy Jencie Castles ‘As a way of showcasing the amazing talents of our residents we have started to display the artwork of one resident each month. During the month of No- vember Lilia Lana had some of her art work displayed in the reception area of Rathdowne Place. Lilia learned to paint at her local community centre, over twenty years ago when she as in her six- ties. Over the last twenty years Lilia has developed a beautiful painting style which is demonstrated in her ability to capture the movement and flow of her subject. The work displayed in the re- ception area included three copies of her work and one original. Two of her paintings are in watercolour and the other in oil. Lilia enjoys painting beautiful land- scapes with her paintings featuring the Australian bushland, country and sea As our weekend laundry Attendant, Suki Romano is on 5 weeks holiday, visiting her family in india, | will be working weekends until Suki returns to work. We alll wish Suki and her family well. Don't forget, Christmas is just around the corner! side. There are also influences in her work extending from her Italian heritage countryside. December will feature work by Peggy Colk, one of our legacy residents whose watercolour images uniquely demon- strate her creative vision.ATHDOWNE PLACE NEWS Transform Physiotherapy ny Megan Fisher Transform Wellbeing Located on the ground floor of Rathdowne Place, the Transform Well- being Clinic is open to residents’ fami- lies and the public for physiotherapy assessments and treatments. After an assessment, the physiotherapist will work with you to develop a treatment plan best suited to reach your goals. Treatment options include land based exercises, hydrotherapy, Pilates, and manual therapy. Posture: A common cause of pain and discom- fort is poor posture. Good posture en- sures a good base to move from. Hunched forward shoulders restrict arm movement and limit reaching. In this posture, the pectoral muscles at the front of the shoulder become tight and the muscles in the upper back are long and weak. This posture is com- mon in people who work at comput ers. Alternately, in a sway back pos- ture, the abdominal muscles become long and weak and the low back mus- cles become tight. At Transform Wellbeing, physiothera- pists are trained to assess posture and provide an exercise program that will help you maintain good posture. To book an appointment at the Trans- form Wellbeing Clinic, call 9240-7090 or drop in and speak to one of our re- ceptionists. Issue # 6: August- November Transform Aged Physiocare It has been a busy few months for Transform Physio as the beds at Rathdowne Place fill up. All residents are assessed by physiotherapists and reviewed routinely for any changes in strength and mobility. Physiotherapists will make recommendations regarding equipment that will benefit residents including gait aids, and help to pre- vent pressure areas, and manage swelling. If you are interested in seeing one of the physiotherapists, please let your care partner know, and they will make a referral for you. Stay tuned for more information re- garding twelve fun filled days of exer- cises leading up to Christmas! aby HleaysSubmit a Review & WIN A CRUISE! This aged care facility is proud All reviews are Your review will help this of the service it provides, and anonymous, and it takes facility improve, and will be encourages reviews from less than 2 minutes. a valuable resource helping residents, family members other families to make an and visitors. informed decision. agedcarereviews.com.au/reviewus THE 8, LOYALTY ISLANDS’ me ft «= Please refer to the Information pamphlets that are located va Aged Care Revie’ ‘on each floor near the lift exit for more information.RATHDOWNE PLACE NEWS Getting the Most from our Food... py Connie Caligiuri Issue # 6: August- November Call for Volunteers {t is important we take every opportunity to get the most out of our food as it can provide protection against disease, help maintain strong, healthy bones, boost our immune sys- tem and improve our overall wellbeing. Some key foods to look out for include: Colourful fresh fruits and green leafy vegeta- bles, which contain a wide range of vitamins and minerals Milk, yoghurt and cheese, which are fantastic sources of calcium Fibre-containing foods such as wholegrains, wholemeal bread, fruit, beans and lentils Fish, which is filed with essential fats including the omega-3s It may not be a food, but the sun is our main source of Vitamin D, so don’t be afraid to get some sunshine ae Volunteers are a valued resource and by volunteering you are enabling the residents of Rathdowne Place to have access to a range of activities and events. Rathdowne Place provide a full range of services to residents within the facility and we are seeking Volun- teers to help support residents in these activities and events. Our com- mitment is to match your interest to our programs. All you need is to have time and a willingness to contribute Some of the major benefits we can obtain from these foods include: - A daily intake of fresh fruit and vegetables, especially dark green leaty vegetables is asso- ciated with a reduction in your risk of cancer and impaired vision and improved bone min- eral density; - Calcium and Vitamin D are essential for bone health and together help to prevent bone loss and improve bone mineral density. Strong, healthy bones play a vital role in falls prevention and reducing one's risk of fracture and osteoporosis. - Regular consumption of fish such as tuna and other boiled or baked fish may assist in maintaining cognitive performance, as well as, lowering your tisk of stroke, dementia and Alz- heimer disease. - A diet high in fibre keeps us feeling fuller for longer and helps regulate bowel movements, both preventing and alleviating constipation. - And remember to Limit your intake of salt and processed foods and drink plenty of wa- and the ability to enjoy the experi- ence volunteering brings. Volunteering for the first time can seem a bit overwhelming, however we provide orientation and training, including position descriptions that tell you about the work you can do with- out taking you outside of your comfort zone. It can lead to some amazing re- sults. Call the Community Development Team on 03 9240 7000 to apply.Outing Highlights a RathdownePlaceEvents@australianunity.com.au,RATHDOWNE PLACE NEWSRATHDOWNE PLACE NEWS Suggestions to the Activities and Outings Schedule Australian U POUTIMESISC NG COS. nets ee es How do you think the activity schedule could be improved? Issue # 6: August- November What activities would you like to see on the schedule? Suggestions for outings: Additional comments: Print name (optional) Date: {sa} Your right to submit confidentially is respected. However, if you are comfortable to include your name, it does give us the opportunity to give us the opportunity to give feedback directly to you. Please leave in the boxes provided on each level beside the elevator on each floor.RATHDOWNE PLACE NEWS Issue # 6: August- November + There's Something For Everyone This Christmas A wealth of Christmas activities are already prepared for an exciting and festive Christmas at Rathdowne Place. Among the activities are Christmas themed cooking collaborations, art and craft activities, Christ- mas entertainers and carol singers, a resident cocktail party and much more. Below is a schedule of dates ‘and times for all of the Christmas activities that you can get involved in, for more specific details please re- fer to our weekly program. Remember, if you want some help decorating your rooms there will be someone available from the community development team Saturdays to assist you. Morning Outinas Cooking Collaborations | Night Scenic Bus Trip 7/12 The Christmas Elves of |7/12 Famous Goulash | 7/12 Christmas Lights of East pesion 14/12 Roast Ham & Sal-_|'Vanhoe 14/12 Christmas Melodies | ad 14/12 Christmas Lights of East 21/12 Christmas Lunch at |21/12 Roast Turkey a | Vanhoe Providence Vegetables 7.30pm 10.00am 2.30pm Christmas Art & Craft Christmas Planting Christmas Shopping Trolley Level 1 Courtyard Multilevel AM & PM Mass Service Christmas Shopping Community Choir Group AM Service: St Brigid's Northland Shopping —_| Christmas Carol Singing, Level 5 8.45am | Centre 1.15pm PM Service: St Pat's Cathe- 9.30am dral 12.30pm Thursday | Christmas Planting Christmas Art & Craft | Resident Cocktail | Christmas Eve Courtyard Level 2 ae Coral Singers 17/12. courtyard, | 24/12 Foyer ground floor kane 6.45pm Friday | Afternoon Enteriainment 11/12 The Music Man, Roland Cox 25/12 An Extra Special Christmas Lunch