Food and Drink

Dietitians take centre stage

I

t was Dietitians Day at the end of March, and this important role is rightly celebrated not just at Hall & Prior, but around the world.

With an understanding of biochemistry, psychology, sociology and medical nutrition therapy, dietitians are best placed to translate nutritional science into practical and individualised strategies that can be applied to everyday life, considering preferences and capacity. Within aged care, dietitians have a unique opportunity to support a range of clinical conditions (such as diabetes, renal disease, liver disease, Parkinson’s Disease, Dementia and wound care) and influence the food service to support the nutritional needs of such conditions.

A dietitian in aged care is not isolated to one area of practice, but works within the clinical, community, public health, food service, management and operations, regulations and compliance, and quality assurance and improvement scope. All of Hall & Prior’s in-house dietitians are accredited by Dietitian’s Australia (APDs), and to maintain accreditation must undergo at least 30 hours of continuing professional development each year. So here’s to all our dieticians - and a big thank you for all their hard work across the Group.

WINTER (MENU) IS COMING

THE NEW NSW WINTER MENU is about to be launched - so residents there can expect delicious comfort foods to warm them up over the coming cooler months. We’re looking forward to seeing warm and delicious seasonal dishes like soups, casseroles and filling sweet and savoury pies. Don’t worry - favourites will remain like roast dinners, fish and chips and chocolate ripple cake. Food is such a big part of every day happiness and it’s why we work so hard in consultation with our residents and families to find out what your loved ones most love to eat. Everything we do is aimed at ensuring we put a smile on the plate at every meal.

Our menu is developed by our chefs and dietitians and we listen very closely to the important feedback our residents provide on a daily basis, as well as through our regular food satisfaction surveys. We will also be looking for your feedback on our new menu items after their launch. We loved creating this delicious menu, we hope you love it too.

A taste of the Swan Valley

With such a beautiful, wineproducing destination right on Perth’s doorstep, it made perfect sense for residents of Tuohy Aged Care Home to head to the Swan Valley for a delicious food and drink day out.

Some lucky residents from Tuohy Aged Care Home headed to WA’s beautiful Swan Valley for a wine and cheese tour in March.

On a perfect autumn day, with the sun shining, the group headed to Lancaster Wines for their first stop. There they were treated to some delicious cheese to nibble with glasses of sparkling wine, verdelho and a reserve chardonnay as well as a fruity shiraz, harvested from old vines. The cheeses included a creamy cheddar with cracked pepper, a zingy chilli and garlic cheese, Harvey Cheese’s Ash Blonde and Dellendale Creamery cheese. The group then headed to The Henley Brook pub for lunch, a beautiful spot in the heart of Swan Valley. Fish and chips was the order of the day, served in a private shed reserved for the Tuohy team. “Feedback has been extremely positive after the day out,” said Mina Pindolia, Tuohy’s Director of Nursing. “It was lovely to see the residents sharing memories and stories and we’re keen to continue this new outdoor excursion in the future.”

CHEERS TO THE SWAN VALLEY Residents from Tuohy Aged Care Home headed to the Swan Valley for a wine tasting treat.

Get covered with Medibank

Did you know Hall & Prior have partnered with Medibank, Australia’s largest health insurance provider?

Supporting the health and wellness of all Hall & Prior staff is a key objective. Initiatives in the past have included a Hall & Prior City to Surf team and R U OK Day morning teas. Medibank and Hall & Prior are working together to design a corporate cover for our staff with plenty of benefits for staff and their immediate family. As a Medibank member and Hall & Prior employee, you will have access to an 8% discount each month as well as other

Medibank benefits including:

• A separate, flexible annual extras limit of up to $1,500 per person • Up to 80% back on included extras at any recognised provider in Australia The partnership with Medibank extends beyond discounted health insurance. Medibank will also be able to provide tailored support to Hall & Prior’s wellbeing initiatives. Collaboration between the two organisations through data and insights will also help build the employee health profile at Hall & Prior. Medibank consultants will be available soon for your free 1:1 health cover consultations.

Access to the Medibank Live Better app is also a bonus, giving members the opportunity to earn Live Better Points for taking steps towards a healthier lifestyle. “Live Better members can use the Medibank Live Better app to track their goals join challenges and earn credits for healthy actions,” says Ben Carrick, Hall & Prior’s OSH manager. “Members of the scheme can work towards earning enough credits to reach new levels and gain more Live Better Points.”

To find out more, please contact Benjamin Carrick at BCarrick@hallprior.com.au or Elise Rayney at ERayney@hallprior.com.au Visit corporate.medibank.com.au/hallprior

you could be better off

with Medibank corporate hospital and flexi extras cover

As a Medibank member, you’ll have access to:

A 8% discount each month, just for being an eligible Hall & Prior Health and Aged Care Group employee, PLUS:

Extras:

100% back on up to two dental check-ups with a members' choice advantage dentist1 100% back on optical items, up to a $300 limit per person, per year2 A separate, flexible annual extras limit of up to $1,500 per person3 Get up to 80% back on included extras at any recognised provider in Australia3 No hospital excess for kids on a family membership4 Peace of mind that comes from knowing that your cover includes unlimited emergency ambulance5 If an Accident does happen, no matter what hospital cover you have you’ll get the benefits of our top level of hospital cover6 Our hospital cover gives you access to around-theclock advice over the phone, through our 24/7 Medibank Nurse

Hospital:

corporate.medibank.com.au/hallprior 131 680

wacorporate@medibank.com.au visit a store

1. Waiting period applies. Limited to two dental check-ups on all extras annually. Maximum two bitewing x-rays per check-up where clinically needed. Not available in all areas. 2. At recognised providers. Waiting periods apply. Some lens coatings excluded. $300 annual limit on Flexi 80 extras. 3. Up to annual limits. At recognised providers. Waiting periods apply. Excludes optical. 80% back and $1500 limit with Flexi 80 extras only. 4. Other out of pocket expenses may apply. 5. Waiting periods apply. For ambulance attendance or transportation to a hospital where immediate professional attention is required and your medical condition is such that you couldn’t be transported any other way. Tasmania and Queensland have state schemes to cover ambulance services for residents of those states. 6. Cover only for Accidents that occur after join date. Excludes claims covered by third parties such as Workcover, and our Private Room Promise. Out of pockets may apply.

ROYAL COMMISSION REPORT HANDED DOWN

The aged care sector awaits the Government’s response after the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety was finally received. By Daniel Hitchcock.

After two and a half years of enquiry, submissions, hearings and enquiries, the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety has released its final report. The results provide a clear reform agenda for the sector over the next three to five years.

The Commissioners had a clear vision of redesigning a sector that promotes positive ageing, placing quality services and consumer control as guiding principles across many of the 148 recommendations that were made.

Hall & Prior have always been supportive of the need for a Royal Commission, as the current system of regulation, poor funding and in many cases market failure to meet the needs of the consumers is not representative of the world class aged care system that all Australian’s deserve.

Not only did Hall & Prior support the Royal Commission, the Group actively participated in the process, providing a total of five submissions to the commissioners, covering areas that align with the organisation’s strategic priorities including care hours per resident, the care of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the role of Registered Nurses in care, the care of veterans, and approved provider accountability. One of the key focuses in the final report was around staffing hours. The commissioners recommended a gradual requirement to increase care hours over the next three years to a minimum of 215 minutes per resident per day, including a minimum of 44 minutes of Registered Nurse time. Hall & Prior have been a longstanding advocate for an RN-led model of care in aged care, and this recommendation recognises this role. Another key theme of the recommendations was increasing the accountability of the sector to current and prospective consumers in regards to the clinical and quality performance of the provider. Hall & Prior are an advocate for increased transparency, as this will lead to consumers being able to make informed choices as to the provider who will best meet their clinical, emotional and spiritual care needs. The sector now awaits the Government’s response to the Commissioners’ findings - this is expected to be outlined in the May budget.

Did you know that all Hall & Prior homes have Registered Nurses on duty 24/7?

This includes a wound care specialist, nurse practitioner and infection prevention control specialist. We also have Allied Health teams on staff with dietitians, speech pathologists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists, plus extensive lifestyle programs for our residents.

If you'd like to find out more about accommodation available at any of our homes please contact: info@hallprior.com.au