CAREGiver CONNECT
FEB 22
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February 2022
Your Wounds Time doesn’t heal wounds to make you forget. It doesn’t heal wounds to erase the memories. Time leaves you with a scar to remind you of how you fought through it. Time leaves you with a scar to remind you of how you bled and how you survived. You survived. - Lauren Jarvis-Gibson
What’s inside - CAREGiver Highlight - Maintaining your Wellbeing - Budgeting Tips - Poem - Laughter really is the best medicine! - Valentine’s Day Dinner - Lil Funny - Office Family
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CAREGiver Highlight
Kimberly Went
Introducing the wonderful Kimberly Went!
What do I love most about being a CAREGiver? What can I say! I have only been a CAREGiver professionally for a little over a year now. Prior to this, I was actively involved in volunteer work for over 35 years so have always had contact with people living with disabilities or specific needs.
A very good friend of mine said that I should become a CAREGiver as I was a very compassionate person. I thought that I was way too old for that! When Covid hit I thought I might as well do something with my time so I went to Stategex and studied for 6 months and got my Certificate III in Individual Aged Care and Disability. I immediately fell in love with what I was doing! When I was doing my 120 hours in an Aged Care facility, as part of my training, I liked the fact that making someone smile and that helping with the little things could make a person’s day better! It’s heart-warming to be supporting someone and be able to help make a positive difference in their day!
Thank you Kimberly for all your fantastic work!
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What is one thing that I have learnt as a CAREGiver?
Through my year of CAREGiving, I have learnt so much. Not just about CAREGiving, but also in relation to the development of many skills pertaining to peoples’ lives, values, relationships and character. I have learnt to do things I never thought I would. I have learnt to take care and support clients who are totally dependent on me to help them with their daily tasks of living. Oh, and I’ve learnt to strip and make a bed super fast!
Fondest memory as a CAREGiver?
My fondest memory was when I was nursing a client who had Parkinson’s. She was a beautiful 94 year old lady. The family was very close and as I nursed her I got to know the family quite well. We had been told that it was only a matter of time before we would say our final goodbyes. As she lay in bed one day and as I was finishing her bed bath and doing her hair, she whispered to me, “Before I go, I just wanted to thank you for taking such good care of me.” It just melted my heart. Two days later she passed, with me holding her hand. It’s things like this that make me so pleased I chose this career path. My only regret is that I took so long to make the change. Being a CAREGiver is a huge personal accomplishment for me. I am so proud of the fact that despite being 59 when I started this career change and it being no easy feat, I have achieved so much. It was very daunting going back to study for 6 months, being with a lot of young students and learning to use all of the new modern technology, but I did it! Not only have I learnt new skills, I have established good relationships with clients and their families. My biggest achievement would have to be my Above and Beyond Award that I received for my role as a CAREGiver and most especially in relation to me caring for my lovely 94 year old client living with Parkinson’s. I will never forget her smiles as I walked through the door.
So, all you lovely CAERGivers – who is up next ? Let’s share our stories and strengthen our community! Please contact Vib Thomsen on 07 3277 3077 or vibeke.thomsen@homeinsteadbsi.com.au with a few lines (approx. 100 words) so we can share your story or advice - or anything else you would like to share with us.
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g n i n i a t Main Your ! g n i e b l l We How do I look after my mental health during COVID-19?
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The COVID-19 pandemic has been stressful and continues to impact our mental health and wellbeing. Feelings of anxiety, distress and concern are normal. However, there are several steps you can take to look after your mental health.
1. Maintain a healthy lifestyle • Form a daily routine and plan activities that you enjoy, such as watching movies and engaging in your interests and hobbies. • Stay active — Set up an exercise routine to keep you physically fit and decrease stress. • Eat well — A healthy diet will benefit your mind as well as your body. • Stay connected with your family and friends — If you can’t meet in person, you can remain in contact using phone, chat, email or video calls.
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! g n i e b l l e W r u o Y g n i n i a t n i Ma FEB 2022
: e s e h t f o e m o s y r t r This yea
2. Stay informed
• Get information from reliable, trusted sources to learn the precautions you need to take to stay healthy. You can find information on the COVID-19 support page of the Australian Government’s Head to Health initiative.
3. Access support services • You’ll be able to access a range of mental health support services throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Just to name a few:
Beyond Blue - 1800 512 348 Mind Spot - 1800 614 434 Better Help - betterhelp.com
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! g n i e b l l e W r u o Y g n i n i a t n i Ma FEB 2022
This Too Shall Pass 4. Stay Positive • Look forward — while the pandemic is difficult, it will pass. • Be mindful about the way you ‘talk’ to yourself. Change negative self-talk to be more constructive and helpful. You can challenge your negative thoughts by asking yourself what you would say to a friend in the same situation. • Turn off the ‘noise’ — when people talk about their worries, it can create more stress. Turn off the ‘noise’ by taking time out from the news and social media and by keeping your distance
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K L A T L REA Make them pennies count!
BUDGETING TIPS FOR OLDER ADULTS!
SHOPPING Shopping is a necessary part of life, but it can also be a drain on our expenses if we don’t shop smart. To keep our shopping expenses manageable, we can: • Save purchasing unessential items for when there’s room in our budget to do so, or wait until they are on sale • Take small amounts of cash with us and avoid using credit cards to limit spending • Use coupons or promotion codes whenever possible • Leave a cushion in our budget in case we need to make an unexpected, emergency purchase • Explore prices at different stores so we’re not spending more when there are better deals elsewhere • Shop at discount stores or warehouse clubs like Costco where we can make inexpensive bulk purchases. However, we should remember not to buy things we don’t need just because the price is good! • See if stores we frequent offer savings clubs or senior discounts, and avoid opening charge cards at stores we do not visit often
NOT TODAY JOSÉ!
Be a smart shopper! DINING AND GROCERIES Food is an important part of maintaining our health and should by no means be neglected in the name of saving money. There are ways to cut costs, but we should make sure to never keep ourselves understocked or cut down on maintaining a healthy diet to budget. When possible, cooking at home rather than going out to restaurants is the more affordable, and often the healthier, choice. To save money on our grocery trips, we can: • Plan ahead so we know what we need, and avoid buying things that are not on our list • Take a calculator and add up everything we put into our cart so we can be sure we aren’t spending more than we can afford • Bring coupons, or look for store coupons or special sales available at the grocery • Compare prices between brands. Sometimes it’s better to invest in a better brand if the taste and quality is better, but oftentimes the store or off-brands taste just as good or better for a lower price • Be mindful of the quantities we buy if the food can easily spoil • Avoid shopping while we are hungry, and avoid bringing along hungry guests such as children who may ask for unneeded snacks or junk food
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K L A T L REA Make them pennies count!
BUDGETING TIPS FOR OLDER ADULTS!
UTILITIES Utilities can often take up a big portion of our expenses, but the good news is that there are several ways to cut back on the amount of money we spend on electricity, heating, cooling and other fees associated with running a house. Here are just a few tips to consider: • Unplug electronics from outlets when not in use • Turn down the heat or air conditioning when not at home • Avoid turning on lights or television unnecessarily • Be mindful of how much time is spent in the shower or running sinks • Seal chimney flues, windows and doors to save on heating and cooling • Turn down water heaters set at the high 140-degree factory setting to the more comfortable 120-degree setting • Use the cold water setting when doing the laundry instead of high heat when possible • Use LED light bulbs • Clean out the filters and lint traps of appliances to keep them from losing efficiency • Discuss Budget Billing plans with your utility companies • Look into programs offered by your state to help individuals on a fixed income
The habit of saving is itself an education; it fosters every virtue, teaches self-denial,
DINING AND GROCERIES
cultivates the sense of order,
Food is an important part of maintaining our health and should by no means be neglected in the name of saving money. There are ways to cut costs, but we should make sure to never keep ourselves understocked or cut down on maintaining a healthy diet to budget.
trains to forethought, and so broadens the mind.
When possible, cooking at home rather than going out to restaurants is the more affordable, and often the healthier, choice. To save money on our grocery trips, we can: • Plan ahead so we know what we need, and avoid buying things that are not on our list
- T.T. Munger
• Take a calculator and add up everything we put into our cart so we can be sure we aren’t spending more than we can afford • Bring coupons, or look for store coupons or special sales available at the grocery • Compare prices between brands. Sometimes it’s better to invest in a better brand if the taste and quality is better, but oftentimes the store or off-brands taste just as good or better for a lower price • Be mindful of the quantities we buy if the food can easily spoil • Avoid shopping while we are hungry, and avoid bringing along hungry guests such as children who may ask for unneeded snacks or junk food
UGHTER A L S E IM T E SOM
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Really is the Best Medicine!
Laughing doesn’t just lighten your load mentally, it actually induces physical changes in your body. Laughter has been clinically proven to strengthen your immune system, activate and relieve your stress response and stimulate many organs. A good sense of humour cannot cure all ailments, but there is mounting data about all the positive things laughter can do. It’s also contagious and free! Instilling a culture of humour and laughter into long-term care facilities is good for everyone and may even improve the overall functioning and wellbeing of your clients.
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COLLIES & CO IN SAMFORD VILLAGE
10 Benefits of Laughter:
What if we told you, that there’s a place where you get to play with PUPPIES while you wait for your food to arrive?
Collies & Co are known for all-day breakfast coffee, and lunch with A sense of humour is a quality well worth having. Norman Cousins’ puppy cuddles. Guests are welcome to join their puppy socialisation 1979 book of an brought sessions that ‘Anatomy are held daily atIllness’ different times. much attention to the
idea promote good health.for a more They are over anthat hourlaughter long andcould split into groups to provide intimate and personalised experience.
There sohere many proven benefits oftolaughter! Check their are website for further details as well as access their booking system. It is known to: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Reduce tension Promote cooperation Build trust Inspire a positive outlook Remove barriers between people Increase motivation Improve memory Enhance the immune system Lower blood pressure Improve alertness and creativity
UGHTER A L S E IM T E SOM
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Really is the Best Medicine! Tips for Adding Humour to your Facility
Laughter and humour positively influence the body’s healing system. Some Ageing Adults lack the necessary stimulation to sustain a cheerful frame of mind. The difficulty lies in the fact that what is funny to one person may pass unobserved to another. So, it is important to incorporate funny and amusing activities into your regular program that cater to all tastes.
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COLLIES & CO IN SAMFORD VILLAGE
10 Activities to Make People Laugh
What if we told you, that there’s a place where you get to play with PUPPIES while you wait for your food to arrive? Collies & Co are known for all-day breakfast coffee, and lunch with puppy cuddles. Guests are welcome to join their puppy socialisation sessions that are held daily at different times. They are over an hour long and split into groups to provide for a more intimate and personalised experience. Check their website here for further details as well as to access their booking system.
1. Create a Laughing Basket Use a wicker basket to collect tidbits of humour. Folded pieces of paper with written jokes and funny sayings, masks, silly toys, a clown nose, Groucho glasses, rubber noses, and noisemakers. Encourage clients to dip into the Laughing basket several times a day and pick up something to share, laugh at and enjoy. Encourage relatives and visitors to do the same.
2. Tell Jokes • Tongue Twisters • Buy a Joke Book for all Occasions - Related: Jokes for Seniors • Share Jokes
3. Play Fun Group Games • Balloon Games • Wedding Photo Guessing Game • The Vicar’s Cat • Charades • Find It Group Activity
UGHTER A L S E IM T E SOM
C AR EGi ver-C on n ec t FEB 2022
Really is the Best Medicine!
10 Activities to Make People Laugh
4. On Cue Staff Dancing
Make a deal with staff: every time they hear certain music e.g. The Macarena, or The Chicken Dance - they will start to dance right where they are! Play the music 3 or 4 times a day when clients are around.
5. Themed Days Hold theme day parties and dress and behave accordingly.
6. Sing Happy Music Songs for Seniors is a wonderful activity with lyrics to 80 songs for the elderly! You can find music to accompany the songs for a singalong on YouTube.
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COLLIES & CO IN SAMFORD VILLAGE
10 Activities to Make People Laugh
What if we told you, that there’s a place where you get to play with PUPPIES while you wait for your food to arrive? Collies & Co are known for all-day breakfast coffee, and lunch with puppy cuddles. Guests are welcome to join their puppy socialisation sessions that are held daily at different times.
TheyBe are Silly over an hour long and split into groups to provide for a more 7. intimate and personalised experience.
Learn to juggle balls or wear a silly hat or nose just to make Check their website here for further details as well as to access their people bookinglaugh. system.
8. DIY Horoscopes Find a group of clients, volunteers and staff to write a profile to suit clients. It is bound to put a smile on the faces of clients. For example: ARIES - Romance is in the air today, just north of the staff room. Be warned that Scorpio singled you out for a cake-to-face altercation... Aries are gentle people prone to meddling in other people’s affairs. Heaven knows what will happen to you if you don’t sing ‘Three Times a Lady’ at the next Residents Meeting. But don’t despair, gossip has it that your cheating won’t be discovered and your ex is planning a comeback.
9. Make a Paper Fortune Teller Make paper fortune tellers with hidden messages. Many people will remember this game from their childhood.
10. Invite Children to Play Watching babies or children play is a wonderful way to bring joy and laughter into your facility.
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Valentine’s Day Dinner to Woo the One You Love
As Fanny Farmer once said, the way to a person’s heart is through their stomach. So, if you’re trying to treat your loved one to a special meal, why would you let strangers feed them? Instead of agonizing over dining at a restaurant this Valentine’s Day and catching COVID-9 we recommend cueing up a rom-com on Netflix, gussying up the place with some V-Day decorations, and treating your partner or yourself to a romantic Dinner at Home Instead.
A Meaty Bowl of Romance Ingredients:
Method:
• 2 tbs olive oil • 800 g beef brisket cut into pieces trimmed • 1 brown onion finely chopped • 2 carrots thinly sliced halved lengthways • 1 celery stalk finely chopped • 200 g mushrooms • 1 bay leaf • 3 sprigs thyme • 3 garlic cloves crushed • 3/4 cup Massel* Liquid Stock Beef Style • 1/4 cup tomato paste • 2 tbs red wine • 500 g tagliatelle pasta *to serve
1. Heat 2 teaspoons of oil in a large frying
• 1 parmesan shaved *to serve
4. Serve with pasta and cheese.
*Massel is recommended by Australia's Best Recipes
pan over high heat. Cook half of the beef for 3 minutes or until browned. Transfer to a 5.5L (22 cup) slow cooker. Repeat with 2 teaspoons of oil and remaining beef.
2. Heat remaining oil in same pan over
medium-high heat. Cook onion, carrot, celery, mushrooms, bay leaf and thyme for 6 minutes or until browned. Add garlic and stir for 30 seconds or until fragrant. Transfer to cooker.
3. Combine Massel Liquid Stock Beef Style, tomato paste and wine in a jug. Pour into cooker and stir to combine. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or until beef is tender. Season.
Equipment: • 1 slow cooker • 1 frying pan
Vegan Roasted Cauliflower Salad Ingredients:
Method:
• 1.2kg cauliflower, cut into small florets 185ml(3/4 cup)
1. Preheat oven to 220/200C fan forced.
• Vegan buffalo wing sauce •150g mixed salad leaves • 2 Labanese cucumbers, thinly sliced • 1 Delcado Hass Avocado, cut into wedges • 95g(1 cup) bought lightly salted roast chickpeas, coarsely chopped • Ranch Dressing • 125ml(1 1⁄2 cup) vegan aioli • 1tsp chopped fresh dill, plus extra to serve
! e v i t a n r e t l A n a g e V
Roast the cauliflower and half the buffalo sauce on a large baking tray and toss to coat Roast, turning once, for 2025 minutes or until tender.
2. Make the dressing: Place aioli, dill and 1 tbs water in a bowl and whisk until smooth.
3. Time to serve: Pour the remaining
buffalo sauce over the roasted cauliflower and toss to coat. Arrange the buffalo cauliflower, salad leaves and cucumber on a large serving dish. Drizzle over half the dressing. Top with avocado, chickpeas, extra dill and serve remaining ranch dressing.
a f o t i Ab
! a y r o f y n n fu
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I asked my 91-year-old father, “Dad, what were your good old days?” His thoughtful reply: “When I wasn’t good, and I wasn’t old.” One of the shortest wills ever written: “Being of sound mind, I spent all the money.” While taking a clinical history from an elderly patient, I asked, “How’s your love life?” “I don’t know,” he said. “I’ll ask my wife.” He got up, walked into the hallway where his wife was sitting, and shouted, “Hey, the doctor wants to know if we still have sex.” His wife shouted back, “No, the only thing we have is Medicare and Blue Cross.” “This is your great-grandma and great grandpa,” I told my grandson as I handed him a photo of my parents. “Do you think I look like them?” He shook his head. “Not yet.” Scene: With a patient in my medical exam room Me: How old are your kids? Patient: Forty-four and 39 from my wife who passed away, and from my second wife, 15 and 13. Me: That’s quite the age difference! Patient: Well, the older ones didn’t give me any grandkids, so I made my own. — Mria Murillo Feeling down about my thinning hair, I told a friend, “Soon I’ll never need to go back to the beauty salon. Whenever I vacuum, all I pick up is my hair.” A glass-half-full kind of gal, she responded, “Well, then you won’t need to vacuum either.” — Agnes Scharenbroch
East Brisbane & Ipswich and Brisbane South Family
Th is fa m ily is yo ur fa m ily too !
Myles & Gin Beaufort Business Owner and People & Culture Manager
Natasha Robbie Executive Assistant
Donna-Jo (DJ) Ratcliffe
Gayle Reid Finance Manager
Lyndia Rennie Care Manager
Vibeke Thomsen
People & Culture Liaison
Recruitment & Retention Manager
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Renae Leslie Client & CAREGiver Support Officer
Susan Read Client Services Representative
Kim Spies Client Care Co-ordinator
Yasmin Tusa Care Management
Amanda (Mandy) O’Brien
Katrina Shears Client Care Co-ordinator
Learning and Development Officer
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O
V
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Jacob Farley Off-Site Graphic Designer
All the other CAREGivers! They are your family too!
East Brisbane 3277 3077 eastbrisbane@ homeinstead.com.au
Ipswich & Brisbane South
3288 8841 ipsbrissouth@ homeinstead.com.au
48 Wharf St, Kangaroo Point, QLD 4169