Christadelphian Aged Care

Year of InnovationBringing out the best in our people

2012

Our Goal, Our Purpose

General Managers welcome

Ashburn House:Our People, Our Home

Casa Mia: Positive Living in Aged Care

Chamberlain Gardens: Embracing Technology

Lakefront: Healthy Living

Ridgeview: Better Palliative Care Program

Southhaven: Fitting Together

Contents34-5

6-7

8-9

10-11

12-1314-15

16-17

18

19

Editor and designer: Jenny Pogson Cover photo: Digitally created mosaic of CAC images

This magazine is published by Christadelphian Aged Care, a not-for-profit provider of aged care and retirement services in NSW. 2012 Christadelphian Aged Care 11 Queensbury Rd, Padstow Heights NSW 2211, P.O. Box 690, Riverwood NSW 2210Phone: (02) 9782 6000, E: contact@chomes.com.au

2

Introduction

Our Partners

Our Projects 6

8

14 16

12

8 10

Corporate finance: Money matters...

College of Nursing: Assessmentof Competence Program

3To give excellent care to all our residents.

To provide one avenue for the Christadelphian community to engage with, and be a blessing in a practical way to, the aged and needy in our care, along with their family and friends.

To encourage excellence in our staff and volunteers so that their contribution is a means of personal fulfilment.

Jesus example shows us his concern and positive influence on all those around him:

Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)

Our Goal

Our purpose is to enrich the quality of life of older Australians in our care, by nurturing them through compassion, service and comfortable living environment.

This will be delivered by seeking to:

Operate by Christ-like principles

Maintain a reputation for excellent service and care

Provide comfortable, attractive and well-maintained facilities

Support those in particular need of help

Promote innovation and best practice

Comply with the letter and intent of government regulation

Run a professional and financially sustainable organisation

Be a place in which it is a pleasure to live and work

Our Purpose

4Recent growth in our organisation has led to new opportunities for us to look to the future and challenge ourselves in the workplace to do something different, however small, which could really improve the lives of our residents.

Christadelphian Aged Care is fortunate to have an abundance of very capable, dedicated and enthusiastic staff. To promote best practice it is imperative that we engage, acknowledge and empower you, which enables us to move forward as an organisation.

We need to develop our staff and give you the confidence, skills and ability to be involved in decisions to bring about change in the workplace.By challenging ourselves to think differently and actually question why we do something in a particular way, we will be able to start enhancing and improving what we do. To continue doing something simply because we have always done it that way will never allow us to move forward.

At each of our sites we have developed specific projects for 2012. The development of the projects

has come about through feedback, comments and interest of staff at those sites.

As part of the Year of Innovation any staff member can also propose an initiative which will be considered by the facility. Remember, sometimes small ideas are the best.

To make the Year of Innovation successful we need all staff to become involved and bring new ideas, no matter how small, to help make a difference. I have no doubt that through these initiatives we can

improve the lives of our residents and make the workplace a better place to be.

Throughout 2012 each site will develop and implement their individual programs and ideas. At the end of the year each site will showcase their projects to the other facilities and any good ideas can then be shared amongst all our homes in 2013. Matthew Lamey - General Manager

We need to develop our staff and give you the confidence, skills and ability to be involved in decisions to bring about change in the workplace.

Welcome to Christadelphian Aged Cares Year of Innovation

A message to our staff,

5

The winner will receive a prize to the value of $2000, the runner-up will receive a prize to the value of $1000. The facility that Brings out the best in our people will win $3000 towards staff activities. The runner-up facility will win $1500.

The Rewards Program

At the General Managers discretion, three iPads will be awarded to staff who have shown continued dedication and commitment throughout 2012 Year of Innovation.

Programs will be judged by representatives of the CAC Board of Directors.

At the end of 2012, prizes will be awarded to individual staff in recognition of excellent contribution towards implementing their programs.

6

Historically health care, particularly nursing, has been largely task orientated, where specific tasks must be done at specific times.

However, it is very important to remember that we are caring for an individual person. How we care for that person will very much depend on their personality, culture and background, their relationships with others, and on who they are.

At all times we need to give person-centred- care: remember who the person is before prescribing care, rules and requirements for them. We need to consider the interconnectedness (the connections between) body, mind, emotion, spirit, social/cultural, relationship, context, and environment.

Rather than focusing on just physical needs, we need to care for the whole person.

Caring for our residents should not necessarily be something that we do: it is an attitude, a philosophy, and a way of being.

During 2012 Ashburn House will be further exploring this concept of care, particularly looking at:

Respecting and valuing the resident as an individual: person-centred-care Providing individualised care that is in tune

Ashburn House

Our People, Our Home

Ashburn House

7

with the persons changing needs Understanding the perspective of the person Providing a supportive social environment in order to help people live a life where they can experience well-being. Ensuring the person is at the centre of decision-making

Each month the staff at Ashburn will be exploring different aspects of care to assist in developing a focus, understanding and appreciation of resident needs. This will include topics such as holistic care, communication, understanding dementia, healthy eating, mobility, social interactions and spirituality.

Caring for our residents should not necessarily be something that we do: it is an attitude, a philosophy, and a way of being.

Development of Expert NursesWe can also look at developing our Assistant in Nursing staff to become clinical resource staff within Ashburn. This can include involvement in family conferences, clinical decisions, orientation of new staff or general education.

If we can support, develop and acknowledge our staff to look at the needs of the whole person in areas they can make a genuine difference, then this will go a long way to further developing Ashburn as a home for residents.

8

Casa Mia

Across each of our sites we are continually striving to create home-like environments for our residents, where we are able to promote quality of life and well-being through positive approaches to the prevention and management of illness.

There is a perception that depression is a normal part of ageing, but this is simply incorrect. However, depression is a common part of living in residential aged care. Recently a study conducted by Beyond Blue has shown the prevalence of depression in residential care to be as high as 34 per cent or one in three residents, compared with about 10 per cent in the community.

Each year the Aged Care Association Australia (ACAA) showcases the promotion of Mental Health Projects in Residential Aged Care through their Positive Living in Aged

Care initiative. We are fortunate to have staff at Casa Mia who are passionate about exploring the issues of mental health in aged care.

During 2012 the staff at Casa Mia will develop new strategies to assist in combating the issues of mental health and more specifically depression and anxiety in aged care.

The focus will be around developing proactive projects to address the following:

Demystifying mental health in aged care and removing the stigma Improving outcomes for residents with a mental health condition Maintaining healthy minds that promote resident wellbeing

By raising awareness of mental health issues in aged care, our staff will be better able to appropriately identify and initiate strategies to

Positive Living in Aged Care

9

better respond to the changing needs of our residents.

There are many things that can be done to assist our residents to remain mentally healthy. Research shows that simple things such as exercise, family, friends, socialisation, good food, good sleep and thinking about the good times are some of the ways to maintain well-being.

We need to encourage our staff and residents to think differently and take on new interests and projects our new resident choir

is one example. Without this approach the mind can decay as much as the body.

Over the coming year the staff at Casa Mia will work closely with our residents to address these challenging issues. There is no doubt that our wonderful staff will be able to make a difference.

There is a perception that depression is a normal part of ageing, but this is simply incorrect. However, depression is a common part of living in residential aged care.

Chamberlain Gardens

10

iCare is a computerised Clinical Care System for recording most of the information about a residents care.

All information about a resident is contained in a secure Regional database and computer network. The iCare system includes a resident database, Assessments, Progress Notes, Forms and Charts, Incident and Accidents Reports, Care Plans and Handover Sheets.

During early 2012 Christadelphian Aged Care will be progressively implementing iCare at Chamberlain Gardens for recording most of the information about a residents care.

All information about a resident will be contained in a single database and viewable from any computer across our computer network. The two primary purposes of implementing iCare are:

1. Reduced documentation and duplication of information - iCare is designed to automatically integrate information entered into an Assessment Tool or Form directly into the progress notes, care plans and handover sheets.

2. Increased transparency and accessibility to resident information - iCare is designed to make information available to you instantly. You will be able to quickly identify changes to resident care needs, search for information across all residents within wings leading to improved resident outcomes.

CAC is committed to providing the right amount of training for each and every staff. There are currently 20 staff at Chamberlain

Embracing Technology

iCare is designed to make information available to you instantly.

11

Gardens who have undergone the Train the Trainer training for iCare. These staff are competent in the use of iCare and will be available to train the balance of the nursing staff and allied health care staff.

CAC will be providing Resource Requirements such as a Project Coordinator and IT support for the implementation of iCare at Chamberlain Gardens. They will be responsible for the overall project management and will be the primary contact point for iCares Software Implementation. We will also ensure project compliance is in line with CACs standards.

iCare at Chamberlain Gardens will be rolled out in modules concurrently. This way we will minimise and control the amount of change to our business process.

We will begin with Progress Notes and

facilitate this training for 4-5 weeks and then Go Live on progress Notes. Once Live on progress Notes, we will facilitate training on Assessment Tools, Forms & Charts. Finally once we are Live on Assessment Tools, Forms & Charts, training will begin for Care Plans. Each resident must have all their required Assessments completed in iCare for a care plan to be created.

We are looking forward for the Implementation of iCare at Chamberlain Gardens in 2012 and are positive and confident this implementation will enhance the existing clinical and care documentation business processes and systems already in place.

CAC is committed to providing the right amount of training for each and every staff.

Lakefront

12

A healthy eating pattern is fundamental to the maintenance of good health and well-being. Healthy eating benefits almost every aspect of our health throughout our lifetime.

While many Australians enjoy a varied and healthy diet, there is still considerable room for improvement. Health problems that can

be linked to poor eating patterns are heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers.

Finding, preparing and eating healthy food is critical to our well-being. As we age, we tend not to eat as much, which makes it harder to get critical nutrients. Sometimes we dont feel like eating, are tired of cooking, or are worried about the cost of fresh ingredients.

Healthy Living

13

A communal vegetable garden has been the focus of attention at Lakefront Village and has produced copious amounts of green leafy vegetables.

During 2012 Lakefront Village staff will look at ways to develop this project and explore new strategies with the purpose to:

Improve nutritional awareness Improve socialisation Improve aspects of daily living Improve community spirit

Eating a variety of nutritious foods is just as important as staying active.

A good diet, combined with physical, and social activity is the best recipe for health as we age.

Eating a variety of nutritious foods is just as important

as staying active.A good diet,

combined with physical, and

social activity is the best recipe for health as we age.

Healthy Living

Ridgeview

14

Knowing what to expect makes a big difference when caring for residents at the end of life stage.

Palliation is care provided for people who have a life limiting illness, with little or no prospect of cure, and for whom the primary treatment goal is quality of life. Palliative care uses a holistic approach managing pain and other symptoms, whilst also addressing the physical, emotional, cultural, social and spiritual needs of the person, their family and their carers. It focuses on 'living' well until death.

Ridgeview nursing staff have taken a great interest in the process of Palliative Care. Consequently, as part of the Year of Innovation, Ridgeviews project will focus on a Better Palliative Care Program.

For many staff, assisting residents through their end of life phase can be a difficult

and challenging task. The process can be emotionally draining, and some staff may feel unprepared for the rapid changes in care needs that often develop as a person approaches death. Supporting family members during and after this difficult time can also be challenging and confronting for staff.

One of the most common questions staff ask is: How can we tell when a person's death is near?

Ridgeview Aged Care pursues continuous improvements to ensure residents receive high quality care and we meet their individual needs. During 2012 the management and staff will be embarking on the development of proactive projects to address the following:

The needs and rights of residents at the end of life A new way of looking at palliative care

Better Palliative Care

15

Preference for care and death Develop palliative care skills of individual staff Supporting families and caregivers during and after the passing of a loved one

The better palliative care program can reduce suffering, both physical and emotional, by

providing appropriate care and support for the dying person, their family and loved ones. It demonstrates the importance of effective pain management, together with the necessity for continuous assessment and teamwork.

The better palliative care program demystifies the dying process and gives staff at all levels an understanding of what to expect through the final weeks, days and hours of a person's life.

One of the most common questions staff ask is: How can we tell when a person's death is near?

16

Within aged care there are many therapeutic measures used to try and improve the socialisation and lifestyle of our residents and also manage behaviours and mental illness.

Across each of our homes we are continually striving to develop not only a positive living environment for our residents but also a positive working environment for staff.

The staff at Southhaven will be developing new programs where fun, laughter, singing and dress up in the workplace will be used to make the day for our residents a little more exciting and fulfilling.

Our program will look at increasing the well-being of our residents through creating an environment where fun is used to improve socialisation and reduce conditions such as agitation, anxiety or depression.

It is also important to recognise that laughter and socialisation is not just the realm of our activity officers. We need engagement from all staff including the nurses, laundry, kitchen, volunteers and management. Through this program we can build team harmony through a positive experience for all.

This program is about the staff at Southhaven understanding the residents, their interests, their history and their story. By tapping into those things we can better engage and bring harmony to their day. At all times we need to look at each resident as an individual and remember that we need to cater for the whole person, not just the physical being.

Fitting Together

Southhaven

This program is about the staff at Southhaven understanding the residents, their interests, their history and their story.

17

Over the coming year we will be undertaking a program to assist our staff in developing this holistic approach to their working day through using measures that might be as simple as a smile to improve the life of our residents fitting together a visual expression of happiness.

Our program will look at increasing the well-being of our residents

through creating an environment where

humour, a friendly smile and laughter is used to improve

socialisation and reduce conditions such as agitation,

anxiety or depression.

Christadelphian Aged Care operates as a social business. We have two main objectives. Firstly, to deliver our Mission of providing excellent care to all those frail people whom we serve. Secondly, to do this in a financially sustainable way.

The Corporate Services Team plays an important role helping with this second objective. Based at Padstow Heights, the Team manages the financial processes, plans and computer systems which run behind the scenes.

This includes payroll, resident billing, human resources, marketing, accounts payable, financial reporting and IT networks.

In 2012 the team is aiming to improve our services and systems in order to help CAC staff and management carry out their work effectively.

To make this happen, the actions in 2012 are likely to include:

providing more informative business reports to assist managers make better informed decisions

improving the turnaround time for making information available to staff and residents families providing information about payroll matters such as PBI benefits and superannuation upgrading our financial controls and procedures ensuring that we dont pay more bank interest than we need to on our borrowed funds saving money by getting better buying power from suppliers improving the speed and reliability of computer networks exploring better ways of using our I.T. software such as iCare

Every time we deal with others is an opportunity to bring out the best in people.

Our teams customers are CAC staff, management, residents and their families and our goal is to provide excellent service to all in everything we do.

Money matters...

Every time we deal with others is an opportunity to

bring out the best in people.

Corporate Finance

18

As we all know there is an international shortage of Registered and Enrolled Nurses in the health care industry.

Traditionally, aged care has always had the challenge of attracting Registered and Enrolled Nurses into our specialty and showcasing the industry in a positive, highly specialised way. Christadelphian Aged Care is continually looking at innovative strategies to attract more nurses into our business.

The College of Nursing is offering a program where local and international nurses who are looking to work in Australia or have not practiced for a period of 5 to 10 years are able to enter the workforce. The Assessment of Competence Program is an initiative that will bring highly motivated and skilled nurses into the workforce.

The program orientates nurses into contemporary nursing practice. Building upon the nurses previous experience, knowledge and skills each participant undergoes both a four week theoretical or classroom component of training and assessment followed by a four week professional clinical placement.

Collaborating with the College of Nursing,

Christadelphian Aged Care will offer a clinical placement to a nurse at each of our sites. These placements will be overseen by a clinical facilitator who will support the nurse during their transition into the workplace.

During the program each participant will be buddied with one of our Registered Nurses to assist them in learning the skills necessary to be successful in the rewarding and challenging specialty of aged care.

Generally we will have an intake in February/March, May/June, August and October/November.

At the end of the program each participant who has achieved a positive result will not only be awarded full registration with AHPRA, but also an understanding and appreciation of both aged care and more importantly Christadelphian Aged Care. You never know, maybe some of these nurses will chose to stay with us.

The Assessment of Competence Program

is an initiative that will bring highly motivated and skilled nurses into

the workforce.

Assessment of Competence Program

19

Christadelphian Aged Care11 Queensbury Rd, Padstow Heights NSW 2211

P.O. Box 690, Riverwood NSW 2210Phone: (02) 9782 6000 Fax: 9782 6001

E: contact@chomes.com.au

11 Queensbury Rd, Padstow Heights NSW 2211(NH) Ph: (02) 9782 6010 Fax: (02) 9782 6011E: southhavennursing@chomes.com.au(Hostel) Ph: (02) 9782 6030 Fax: (02) 9782 6031E: southhavenhostel@chomes.com.au

Southhaven Nursing Home and Hostel

Casa Mia 28 Alma Rd, Padstow NSW 2211Ph: (02) 8707 6010 Fax: (02) 8707 6052E: casamia@chomes.com.au

Ashburn House20-34 Ashburn Place, Gladesville NSW 2111Ph: (02) 8876 9200 Fax: (02) 8876 9210E: ashburnhouse@chomes.com.au

Chamberlain Gardens

53-67 Chamberlain Rd, Wyoming NSW 2250Ph: (02) 4329 8000 Fax: (02) 4329 8099E: chamberlain@chomes.com.au

Ridgeview Aged Care95 Daintree Drive, Albion Park NSW 2527Ph: (02) 4235 7600 Fax: (02) 4235 7650E: ridgeview@chomes.com.au

Lakefront Retirement Village1 Village Way, Canton Beach NSW 2263Ph: (02) 4396 4288 Mob: 0410 613 280Fax: (02) 4396 3778E: lakefrontvillage@chomes.com.au

www.chomes.com.au