Afford Carer Connections Newsletter - Edition 7 (January 2019)

CARER CONNECTIONS Edition 7

EXPLORING THE WORLD WITH SUPPORT FROM AFFORD The new year is a time for renewal and looking at the year ahead with excitement of what is to come.

For many of our clients, we offer a variety of opportunities that support them to explore their local community, learn different skills and take on new life experiences.

Club Afford is a member based program that we run for our clients and residents that includes a variety of activities and events that help develop skills, social networks and fitness.

Activities organised for Club Afford are centred around the interests of participants.

Activities can include everything from attending community events and visiting local parks for a day out, through to discos, dinner outings, regular fitness programs at the gym and more.

If your loved one is looking to take on adventure this year with support and care from our staff, our supported holidays initiative, Afford Getaways, presents many wonderful options to explore Australia and the world!

At the end of last year five Afford Group Home residents took to the seas on a cruise to Tasmania - Australia’s Apple Isle. There they spent six nights tasting the local delicacies, seeing the sights such as Port Arthur and enjoying time as friends. Other groups have travelled to various Australian destinations and even Disneyland in the USA! Afford Getaways can be tailor made to suit the needs and travel desires of your loved one, and most importantly, they are designed to be fun. You can even come along to share a wonderful holiday with your loved one - with the knowledge that qualified staff are on hand to ensure that your loved one and you enjoy the holiday experience.

The best thing about Afford Getaways is that your loved one can choose their support staff. All Afford staff who join Afford Getaways have a valid First Aid Certificate, Manual Handling Training and Medication Training.

Browse the many Australian and overseas holidays available throughout 2019 and 2020 in the Afford Getaways destinations brochure at bit.ly/2sseDB1.  

For more information please call 1300 233 673 or email info@afford.com.au

CARER CONNECTIONS Edition 7

Carer PROFILE FAYYAZ LAGHARI Who are you caring for?

My son, Rehan who is 24 years old How long have you been a part of the Afford Community?

Four years How has Afford helped you as a carer?

Afford cares for Rehan five days a week and on weekends which means I can work and know that he has good care If you had a whole day all to yourself, what would you do?

I would go on an outing What is one tip you can give others transitioning to the NDIS? Have a consistent advocate that supports your loved one’s needs

Dysphagia Health Supports At Afford, our client’s well being is our top priority. That’s why we encourage our staff to attend training sessions and conferences to ensure that they remain up-to-date with all the developments in treatments and care for our clients.

Dysphagia related care and supports are required by participants who have difficulty swallowing. The Minister for Social Services, Paul Fletcher, recently announced the NDIS will fund, as an interim arrangement, the initial assessment, development and monitoring of meal plans for people with Dysphagia receiving support in a community setting.

This announcement comes at a time when Afford is already rolling out new support services for clients with Dysphagia . The Afford speech pathologists have been conducting intensive training during new staff induction, at staff conferences and across all Afford sites. Taking a proactive approach to dysphagia, all Afford sites now display a poster of Signs & Symptoms of Dysphagia so staff or families can make immediate contact and/or referral to the speech pathologists prior to a major incident occurring.

In November of last year, staff from our Allied Health team also attended specialised training that covered the assessment and treatment of picky eaters and problem feeders using the SOS Approach to Feeding. The training enhanced our therapists’ knowledge to identify feeding problems and the ability to create and implement feeding programs within a group or on an individual basis. Our therapists are now qualified SOS Feeding therapists and will begin launching Afford Feeding Clinics throughout this year. By attending this training, our therapists can now help both adults and children presenting with a range of eating and swallowing difficulties.

If your loved one has Dysphagia or requires feeding support, please contact Afford to ensure that a specialised feeding plan is developed to support your loved one’s individual needs.

Signs and Symptoms of Dysphagia (swallowing difficulties)

Excessive and/or reduced drinking or eating

Spiking temperature

For more information please call 1300 233 673 or email info@afford.com.au Very quick and/or lengthened mealtimes

Coughing during or after swallow

Change of facial colour

Unexpected and/or excessive weight loss

CARER CONNECTIONS Edition 7 A PROGRAM THAT MAKES LEARNING LIFE SKILLS FUN! If focussing on numerary and literacy is a priority for you and your loved one this year, then get involved in our fun and supportive Read to Succeed Program!

Our Allied Health team is made up of experienced and qualified psychologists, speech pathologists and occupational therapists who run the program across Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.

Read to Succeed groups support individuals with number and letter recognition. The sessions run with small, intimate groups to ensure that everyone gets the chance to have one-on-one time with therapists.

Therapists engage participants with a range of texts and books covering a variety of topics that are of interest to each individual. Whether it’s a story about animals, dinosaurs, gardening, cooking or something magical, therapists work with each individual to develop communication skills through the identification of letters, numbers and putting words together.

The Read to Succeed groups are fun and friendly and present opportunities to learn in an interactive and practical way that will develop skills for life.

For more information about Afford’s Read to Succeed program, contact Allied Health on 1300 233 673.

Afford Rewards - Start Saving in 2019!

We care about each and every part of our clients’ lives. We truly appreciate the tremendous effort you, as carers, put in each and every day to help us deliver exceptional holistic care for your loved one.

To say ‘thank you’ for being our partner in this journey, we encourage you to join Afford Rewards for Carers!

Afford Rewards is an opt-in initiative that gives you direct access to discounts and deals across a range of products from a variety of big name brands and retailers. Being part of Afford Rewards can potentially save you thousands of dollars each year!

If 2019 is your year to save, then let Afford Rewards be the start of your savings strategy. All you have to do is email your interest to marketing@afford.com.au or call (02) 8805 3700 and ask to speak to someone in Marketing about Afford Rewards.

Once you’ve registered, simply log onto www.affordrewards.com.au or download the SmartSavings app on Google Play or the Apple Store to start saving instantly. If you have any questions or technical problems, the Afford Rewards Customer Service Helpline is on hand to answer your questions on 1300 900 186.

For more information please call 1300 233 673 or email info@afford.com.au

CARER CONNECTIONS Edition 7

upcoming carers events and activities

UPCOMING CARER EVENTS & ACTIVITIES Keep up to date with info sessions, events and seminars at www.facebook.com/pg/Afford/events/ EVENT VIC Carers Facilitator Training

NSW Carer Wellbeing: Therapeutic Group ‘Talk-Link’

QLD QLD Brisbane North Mental Health Carer Support Group

DETAILS

CONTACT

Date – Tuesday 19th February 2019 10:00AM - 12:00PM & 12:30PM - 3:00PM A one-day comprehensive workshop run by Carers VIC

Places limited register via calling 1800 242 636 Carers VIC and quote event #6030

Date – Tuesday 12th February 2019 10:30AM - 11:30AM Talk-link is a six week telephone program run

by Carers NSW for adult carers, facilitated by two trained counsellors.

Places limited register via calling 1800 242 636 Carers NSW

Date – Friday 1st February 2019 10:00AM - 12:00PM Connect with others who understand the impact that caring has on our life. *In conjunction with Prince Charles Hospital

Contact Carers QLD 07 3624 1700 pkelly@carersqld.asn.au

Welcome Home! a place you can call home and live independently Afford Group Homes offer life changing supports for work, home and life.

Our qualified Lifestyle Assistants support your loved one to get out in the community, learn new skills and enjoy life on their terms – that’s the Afford Lifestyle.

For details and availability of shared independent living

How to make the most of everyday 1. Wake up early 2. Visualise your day 3. Plan your meals 4. Find the good 5. Be present

options in QLD, NSW and VIC, call us on 1300 233 673.

For more information please call 1300 233 673 or email info@afford.com.au