7 minute read
Always one of our own
ALWAYS ONE OF
The team at Windsor Park Aged Care Home in Carlisle worked tirelessly to help one of their residents - Lena - return to her community over a period of several years. By Gabi Mills.
The people who pass through Hall & Prior homes’ doors come from many backgrounds, and their stories are all different. We work extremely hard to make a difference to all those who live with us, no matter how long or short their stay may be, and in the case of one of our residents - Lena - that commitment is ongoing. Lena’s story with Hall & Prior began when she was just 56 in 2019. After a stay in hospital, she was appointed a Public Advocate who was assigned to make decisions on her behalf. As such, she was admitted to our Windsor Park home after leaving hospital. Her relatively young age made Lena’s admission to our home an unusual one but nevertheless, Jayne Cummings, the home’s Executive Manager and Aboriginal Health Co-ordinator Wendy Ashwin, worked closely with Lena to improve her ability to care for herself.
“The aim was that one day we would be able to return her to the community,” says Jayne. “So we liaised with her Guardian and began to float the idea of Lena’s return.”
It wasn’t an easy process, and required ongoing updates and feedback to the Guardian regarding Lena’s progress, but eventually she started to come around to the idea, says Jayne. As the year progressed, Jayne and Wendy continued to work with Lena closely, aligning different community groups and health professionals to help Lena re-integrate with her community. “Multiple organisations worked closely with Lena to arrange for her to return to her community, liaising with the Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT), the mental health team, the Aboriginal Medical Health Service (Derbarl Yerrigan), Lena’s family members and the public guardian,” says Jayne. “By January 2020, Lena was placed back in the community, a huge achievement for the combined team of health workers and those who supported Lena,” says Jayne.
ONE OF THE FAMILY: Lena (above) has thrived thanks to the team at Windsor Park, and opposite, Lena with some of the Windsor Park staff and residents.
OUR OWN
Unfortunately in August 2020, Lena had a lapse in her mental health which resulted in her being readmitted to hospital, before eventually being welcomed back at Windsor Park until she was in a position to once again consider going back into her community. “Over the next six months, Lena was again rehabilitated sufficiently after her admission to Windsor Park, and in February 2021 she was again returned back to her community and family,” says Jayne. “Mental health is extremely challenging, but by reaching out for help from allied organisations when we need it, strategies have been put in place for Lena to try and support her while she is in the community.”
Windsor Park Aged Care Home specialises in supporting people with high care requirements and is staffed round-the-clock with Registered Nurses and a team who specialise in complex medical conditions, severe cognitive impairment and responsive behaviours. Windsor Park is comprised of three houses; Banksia & Boronia, Coolibah and the Lodge. All houses have access to large activity rooms, quiet rooms, lounge rooms plus extensive gardens and barbecue areas for residents to enjoy.
However, Lena’s story – and others like her - doesn’t end when she leaves our doors, says Jayne. “Whatever happens, Lena will always be a part of the Hall & Prior family no matter where she is.”
Banksia & Boronia provide specialist care programs for residents with complex care needs. Coolibah is an all-male unit and offers care for those living with dementia, behavioural needs and other mental health conditions.
The Lodge is a small female unit and cares for those living with dementia and other mental health conditions.
FAST FACTS About Windsor Park
Launched in 2006, Windsor Park’s specialised Aboriginal Cultural Care Program is continually improving the way we provide respectful care for Aboriginal people. It is based on a strong foundation of partnerships with the Dementia Training Study Centre (DTSC), which is led by researchers at Curtin University, and trust between the academic, Aboriginal and aged care communities. A key part of providing culturally appropriate care is Windsor Park’s Aboriginal Health Co-ordinator, Wendy Ashwin. She is passionate about advocating for residents’ rights and providing additional support. Wendy is well-connected to Aboriginal Health groups in both Perth and throughout Western Australia.
Communication and sharing information between residents and staff is a large part of how we have been able to continually improve our care and make sure each resident and their family feel welcome and well looked after. Aboriginal artwork, menus with traditionalstyle meals such as kangaroo stew, and collaborating with local community groups helps us bring a sense of country to Windsor Park. In several cases, we have been able to increase a person’s independence and health outcomes to a point where they are able to return to country. Our culturally-appropriate care program has been acknowledged nationally with three Commonwealth Better Practice Awards in 2013, 2016 and 2018. These prestigious industry awards are presented by the Aged Care Quality Agency and recognise innovative approaches to care.
By using a yarning way of exchanging knowledge, our team take the time to get to know every resident individually. This helps us learn how to adapt our procedures in order to be inclusive of, and sensitive to, cultural needs and practices. We understand the impact that historic, political and social events have had on Australia’s Aboriginal communities, and we are committed to ensuring our home is culturally safe for individuals to ensure they remain connected to country and their heritage. Our Back to Country program focuses on specialised care for Aboriginal people from rural or remote communities who travel to Perth for medical care and would like to return home following treatment. Being away from country can be very difficult for everyone in the community, so we work with residents and families to maintain connections to a person’s community and work with multidisciplinary teams to support the resident while they are away from their community. If you would like to find out more about Windsor Park or any of the Hall & Prior aged care homes, please visit hallprior.com.au
Second chance for June
New Aussie movie June Again, starring Noni Hazelhurst as a woman on a mission to make amends, is the perfect winter treat for all ages.
In the heartfelt comedy June Again, a twist of fate gives no-nonsense matriarch June the chance to bring together her estranged children, save their ailing family wallpaper business and rekindle an old flame.
June (Noni Hazlehurst, pictured above) has been given a reprieve from a debilitating illness and decides to make amends for wrongs in her life. Much to their amazement, June re-enters the lives of her adult children, Ginny (Claudia Karvan) and Devon (Stephen Curry), and learns that ‘things haven’t gone according to plan’. With limited time but plenty of pluck, she sets about trying to put everything, and everyone, back on track. When her meddling backfires, June sets out on a romantic journey of her own and discovers she needs help from the very people she was trying to rescue. Directed by JJ Winlove, and with a stellar Australian cast, the movie, shot in Sydne,y is finally seeing the light of day after several years in the making. In an interview with if.com.au, Winlove says how lucky he feels to have worked with such a beloved bunch of Aussie actors on his passion project. “I feel incredibly fortunate to be working with such a great bunch of people on both sides of the camera who’ve all come together to make this film happen,” Winlove said in the interview from 2019.
“The attitude, energy and positivity of everyone on board is just incredible.” Noni Hazelhurst, one-time presenter of Play School, awardwinning star of stage and screen and true blue Australian acting legend is equally thrilled to be involved with the movie. “The whole cast really responded to JJ’s script. It’s a fabulous opportunity to play a character like June.” June Again opens on May 6 around Australia.
