About Life Summer 2021

about life Summer 2021

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Meet Ivan Oates A Copper Coast legend

A family mission A message from retiring Residential Services Manager, Ann-Marie Hogan

about life

Celebrating our Volunteers of 2021

This issue... is a celebration of the stories of Life Care – our people, our achievements and those whom we support to enjoy ‘Inspired Living’.

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Welcome Thoughts from CEO Allen Candy

Our People New and progressing Life Care team members

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Life Care wins SA development awards from the Urban Development Institute of Australia (SA)

A passing of the baton New and old faces changing places

12 Trailblazing trial Innovative fun with new technology - OBIE

SUMMER 2021

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Volunteers’ lunch Celebrating our generous volunteers

A family mission Anne-Marie Hogan talks retirement and reflections on Life Care

Donna’s homely advice How health, fitness and happiness work together

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Rumpus on the campus Life Care people show us what they get up to every day...

16 Talking with Kirsty Chivers Caring runs in the family

20 Meet Ivan Oates Stalwart of Moota joins Gaynes Park community

Nonagenarian young!

Yvonne Cleophas shares how At Home works for her

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Welcome Thoughts from CEO Allen Candy Life Care is constantly working to ensure our services and procedures evolve and align with the needs and expectations of those in our care and their families.

processes and scenario planning to meet the expectations of everyone who relies on our support.

It was mandated that all Life Care employees and volunteers must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and this has been achieved while maintaining staffing levels.

We have appointed a highly respected and independent advocacy firm, Point Heard, to engage with families and residents across our residential care homes.

With the state opening its boarders on the 24th November 2021, new government directives concerning Aged Care have been issued and we have incorporated them all into our planned response should one be required.

Point Heard have already completed a Voice of the Consumer review at Aldinga Beach Court and Glenrose Court and our currently finalising a series of focus groups with families whose loved ones have recently entered into care across all of our homes.

I am confident that Life Care has everything in place to meet any eventuality surrounding COVID-19, and we are in the process of testing our readiness across all of our services.

These one on one discussions and focus groups carefully assess how our homes, staff and services are regarded by families and their loved ones entrusted to our care.

Meanwhile, each of our services will select a person to receive a staff achievement award, and from that celebrated group we will announce an overall Life Care Staff Excellence Award recipient.

This approach will be expanded throughout Life Care in the New Year, with staff training and action plans based on the Point Heard feedback following. We will also be undertaking our annual Net Promoter Score Survey in February 2022, as another avenue for providing feedback.

On behalf of the Life Care Board and management team, I thank retiring Parkrose Village Manager, AnnMarie Hogan, and chaplain, Peter Bradley, for their outstanding service.

Initial feedback from Point Heard shows there is a high level of trust in Life Care, that our staff are warm and welcoming, and that residents and families are happy with the way we navigated difficulties associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ann-Marie has for the past 12 years been a passionate contributor to Life Care through her leadership and her positive engagement with residents and their families, with staff members and volunteers.

Associated with the focus group consultation process is a review of our clinical governance, with initiatives directed towards achieving and maintaining best practice and the commitment to excellence that defines Life Care. Among our priorities will be continuous improvement in clinical practice and education, enhancing lifestyles, food quality and nutrition.

She has led the team at Parkrose Village in a distinctive style, and in doing so she has positively influenced the lives of so many people.

Equally, Peter has given so much to the Parkrose Village community through his outstanding commitment to the spiritual care and wellbeing of all.

We wish them both the best of health and happy times in retirement.

The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown many challenges at Life Care, but we have worked together as a team to maintain the wellbeing and safety of those in our care, along with their families, team members and volunteers.

Anthony Hill succeeds Peter bringing to Life Care rich experience in ministry and in aged care chaplaincy, and we warmly welcome him aboard.

Meanwhile, Life Care continues to implement innovative strategies to attract and retain qualified people who will maintain the levels of care that set us apart in the aged care sector.

It has at times been stressful because of access restrictions and managing resident and family connectedness. But it has also led to innovative

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On behalf of the Board and management I would like to wish the entire Life Care community a very merry Christmas and happy New Year.

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Life Care wins SA development awards Life Care’s drive to deliver best practice residential care and seniors living options through its flagship Gaynes Park campus has been recognised with two major awards from the Urban Development Institute of Australia (SA) (UDIA).

Life Care won the Aged Care & Community Housing Award and Seniors Living Award for our Gaynes Park Manor and Suites campus in the inner-city Adelaide suburb of Joslin.

The awards recognise excellence and innovation in creating places and projects that shape South Australia, with Gaynes Park recognised for providing an innovative and elegant solution to the accommodation needs of older South Australians.

“Winning both awards is confirmation that our vision for a co-located residential care and assisted living community is exactly what older South Australians need,” said Allen Candy, Life Care CEO. “We wanted to provide a destination where those needing a little support to live independently could live, safe in the knowledge that should their needs become more complex, they wouldn’t have to move, other than across the walkway,” said Allen.

“Gaynes Park is also meeting a deep need for couples where one partner needs higher levels of support, while the other is still quite independent.

Being able to live next door to a loved one in residential care and in such a beautiful and dignifying environment has proved to be a very special thing for a number of couples already,” said Allen.

The UDIA awards judges said the Gaynes Park complex marked a significant step forward in the retirement and aged care industry.

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“The hospitality model of care and services with its back of house design gives a 5 star hotel or luxury cruise ship type feeling”

“The hospitality model of care and services with its back of house design gives a 5 star hotel or luxury cruise ship type feeling as opposed to the facility having an institutional character,” they said.

Residents also enjoy daily meals overseen by widely acclaimed executive chef Bethany Finn in their five-star restaurant, The Four Seasons Kitchen & Dining.

Allen Candy commented that seeing the Gaynes Park campus completed was one of his proudest achievements as Life Care CEO.

Gaynes Park Suites brought the internationally successful ‘assisted living’ model to South Australia for the first time. This model bridges the gap between retirement living and full-time aged care in a first-of-its-kind concept for South Australia. It allows those in their 70s and 80s to enjoy bespoke, luxury apartmentstyle living with in-house support, a dedicated concierge and a wellbeing program designed to help them make the most of life.

“Gaynes Park is a campus that we can be proud to have our parents and grandparents move into today and it will remain relevant for many years to come,” he said.

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Our People New faces and career progressions at Life Care

Julie Venning General Manager Customer Innovation

Mandy Micallef Residential Services Manager Mandy Micallef started with Life Care in November as Residential Services Manager (RSM) at Reynella Lodge. She succeeds Heather Fraser who has moved to Parkrose Village as RSM following the retirement of Ann-Marie Hogan. After graduating from nursing studies at Flinders University, Mandy worked as a registered nurse for 26 years. She later moved into administrative roles as Client Services Manager at the Health Care Australia nursing agency, then site manager for Eldercare Aged Care and Retirement Living and site manager with Resthaven at various locations in Adelaide.

Julie Venning has been appointed General Manager Customer Innovation to deliver initiatives and experiences that maximise the wellbeing of customers. Julie had a diverse career in research and training in the health sector locally and internationally. Most recently she played a key role in the development of aged care strategies with SA Health. She is identifying opportunities, developing partnerships and leading initiatives to ensure Life Care continues to be a premier provider of aged care services.

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Sheralee Freimeyer Assistant Site Manager

Kerri-Anne Barnes Clinical Services Manager

Sheralee Freimayer is a long-term Life Care employee who has been elevated to the role of roving Assistant Site Manager. Sheralee began her Life Care career path as an enrolled nurse at Roselin Court then transitioned to Gaynes Park Manor as a Live Every Day Coordinator. During this time, she gained two business degrees. “I am thrilled to continue my journey with Life Care in this new role,” she said. “Working with a team who are dedicated to ensuring our residents Live Every Day by bringing purpose and meaning to their lives is very rewarding.”

Kerri-Anne Barnes has moved to a new position as Clinical Services Manager at Gaynes Park Manor.

Her early experience in aged care came working as a personal care worker and kitchen hand before she embarked on several years of study to become a registered nurse (RN). Since then, Kerri-Anne has worked in clinical nurse, clinical nurse manager, and residential services manager roles.

Kerri-Anne’s career highlights include successfully achieving full accreditation in 7 accreditation rounds since she commenced in aged care. She states that the most fulfilling part of her work in aged care is working with staff, families and residents to identify new and innovative ways to meet the individual needs of residents.

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A passing of the baton Heather Fraser, (top, opposite) formerly Residential Services Manager at Reynella Lodge, has transferred to the same role at Parkrose Village, succeeding retiring Ann-Marie Hogan.

Heather brings extensive experience in aged care and nursing to Parkrose Village. She has been at Reynella Lodge for the past seven years after working with Southern Cross Care. Before entering the aged care sector, she was a registered psychiatric nurse and midwife.

Over the past seven years, Heather has overseen important advances at Reynella Lodge including development of two new houses with 30 extra beds, introduction of a new model of care, and pioneering the Call Assist system that has been extended across the organisation.

“As a team we achieved a huge amount at Reynella Lodge, with fabulous outcomes for our residents and their families,” she said.

Mandy Micallef (bottom,opposite) is the new Residential Site Manager at Reynella Lodge after joining Life Care in early November.

A nursing graduate from Flinders University, Mandy worked as a registered nurse for 26 years including acute nursing at Calvary Hospital, North Adelaide.

The Scottish born mother of three boys, and grandmother of two, said she reflected on her time at Reynella Lodge with great pride.

“I am looking forward to new challenges and opportunities at Parkrose Village, and to being able to bring across some aspects of our care achievements at Reynella Lodge.”

She later became Client Services Manager at the Health Care Australia nursing agency, then site manager for Eldercare Aged Care and Retirement Living and site manager with Resthaven at various locations in Adelaide.

“I was attracted by the excellent reputation of Life Care and am delighted to be joining the team at Reynella Lodge,” Mandy said.

“From the outset, I sensed the warm and welcoming nature of the Life Care Way and the strong sense of teamwork that exists at Reynella Lodge. I am looking forward to consolidating my experience and developing my role in this community.”

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Trailblazing Trial Life Care is the first Australian aged care provider to invest in an advanced, interactive technology called Obie within residential care homes.

Life Care’s nurses, carers and allied health staff, including physiotherapists and occupational therapists, use Obie among residents and encourage their family members, including children, to participate.

“Obie is being incorporated into lifestyle activities and as part of physical and cognitive therapy practices, but the technology is accessible to residents and their families at any time,” Julie said.

The Israeli-developed technology provides opportunities for residents to participate in fun and meaningful activities encouraging social connection, cognitive practice and physical movement.

“Life Care is excited to be leading the use of this interactive, sensory tool in the Australian residential aged care context, and we are already seeing positive outcomes among our residents.”

Obie features a variety of imagery-based games that can be projected onto surfaces, including walls, floors or tables. Playing in groups of individually, participants use movement to interact with projected games, touching, pushing or sweeping various visual prompts.

Obie is being trialled at Life Care’s Aldinga Beach Court and Glenrose Court homes, and if successful, it will be introduced to Life Care’s other residential care homes and Norman House respite cottage.

Julie Venning, General Manager Customer Innovation, said the initial response to date from residents, staff and family members had been very positive.

“Obie not only energises people, but also encourages social interaction, physical activity and fun,” she explained.

“Obie not only energises people, but also encourages social interaction, physical activity and fun.”

“Feedback on the technology from residents and staff members will be used to understand what works well and to enhance the enjoyment and benefits for people in our care and their families.”

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Volunteers’ lunch As is always the case, the 2021 Volunteers’ Lunch was one of the highlights of the Life Care calendar.

We celebrated in May with more than 100 of our valued volunteers at Adelaide Pavilion, enjoying a sumptuous three-course lunch.

The ceremony was hosted by General Manager, People & Culture Nichole Tierney, with speeches by Life Care CEO Allen Candy, Deputy Chair Greg May and Coordinating Chaplain Nigel Uppill.

In a year when COVID-19 has presented significant challenges to our group of volunteers, it was important to recognise the enormous contribution of some of our longest-serving volunteers. Amongst them, Jean Young received a certificate for 25 Years of Volunteer Service.

Thank you again to our volunteers.

Life Care would not be the same organisation without you!

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Volunteer 15 Years recognition for Lesley Thompson Geoffrey Thompson Years of Service 15 Years 5 Years Lois Otterspoor Wendy Ellis Kay Carss Christopher Carss

20 Years Marion McDonald

25 Years Jean Young

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Talking with Kirsty Chivers Kirsty Chivers believes that a person’s life can be shaped by childhood memories.

For her first 14 years, Kirsty was an only child, but then came a succession of five sisters who are now aged between three and seventeen.

Given the sudden and spectacular expansion of the family, it was natural that she would fall into a caring role helping with the upbringing of her much younger siblings.

But Kirsty’s childhood links with her chosen career path go deeper than that!

“I came from a very caring and loving family with numerous nursing connections,” she said. “When I look back at some of my old photographs there is one of me as a little girl wearing a stethoscope, and I remember using it to listen to people’s heartbeats.

“So from an early age, I wanted to be involved in health care. But there are some defining memories.

For example, my great grandmother suffered from dementia and apparently I was very supportive of her.

“Whilst visiting my great grandmother, I met an elderly lady with dementia. I spent time with her to help guide her and reassure her. My family watched how I responded to her and my mum said at the time that I was a ‘natural’ in caring for older people.”

After leaving school, Kirsty – who is now 31 – began a nursing degree while also gaining a Certificate III in Aged Care. While undertaking her nursing studies, she gained a casual position as a Personal Care Worker with Life Care At Home, and also spent some time assisting residents at Reynella Lodge.

“After spending time in the community, I felt that it was where I was meant to be, and I decided to pursue my career in community services rather than nursing,” she said.

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About six years ago, she joined the staff at Norman House, Life Care’s acclaimed day and overnight respite home at Everard Park, and rose to become team leader.

“So I do believe I found my destiny in aged care and perhaps it can be traced back to my childhood experiences, and especially the time I spent with my great grandma as her life declined with dementia.

“Every person, irrespective of age, faces challenges in their life. We are shaped by those challenges and I personally feel stronger and more resilient from my own experiences.”

“Norman House is a truly unique place,” Kirsty said.

“It gives people who are still living with their loved ones in the community a place that is fun and also feels homely while providing their regular carers with much-needed respite.

“Our guests at Norman House actually tell us that it feels like a home away from home where we have some extra time to concentrate on their leisure and lifestyle interests.

There are so many examples of happy outcomes for guests and their regular carers through Norman House experiences, and it continues to make a positive difference in the lives of so many people.

“There are so many examples of happy outcomes for guests and their regular carers through Norman House experiences, and it continues to make a positive difference in the lives of so many people.

“Many regular carers struggle with the concept of respite, but at Norman House they are assured of its benefits for them and those in their regular care.

“I love the sense of community at Norman House. It allows us to provide the best of care while also having fun, and it is so nice to see our guests smiling. I feel lucky and blessed to have participated in the caring environment of Norman House.”

More recently, Kirsty has taken a new step on her career path as a Consultant with Life Care’s At Home team, providing a range of services to support and improve the well-being of older people living in their own homes.

At Home Consultants spend time with people who need some extra help in their home environment and they tailor individual care packages to meet specific needs.

“Life Care has given me many opportunities to pursue my ambitions in aged care,” Kirsty said. “If you are happy at work it makes a big difference in your own daily life as well as the lives of others.

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Meet Ivan Oates A Copper Coast legend in business, community and sport Leaving school at the age of 14 is not often a pathway to reaching the heights of achievement in business.

But for Ivan Oates, farewelling school as a young teenager in 1945 to work in his father’s Four Square general store on Yorke Peninsula was the beginning of a highly successful career in retail and in local government.

Ivan started taking orders riding a bush bike around Moonta and delivering to customers on a horse and buggy.

Had he not begun work alongside his father Frank, Ivan would have pursued his ambitions to become a woodwork teacher saying he “could do anything” with his hands.

“But I joined the business and dad told me I would have to start from the ground up, so I stuck with it,” he said.

In the mid to late 19th century, copper mining around northern Yorke Peninsula attracted workers from Britain, and in particular Cornwall, and made Moonta the biggest town in South Australia beyond Adelaide.

With falls in copper prices globally in the 1920s, the Moonta mines become unviable and population levels declined in the town. But it survived as a commercial centre for farming communities and for the burgeoning tourism industry when family cars became more affordable in the 1950s and 1960s.

In the 1940s, there were four other grocery stores in Moonta. But, one by one they sold out to Frank and his wife, Norma, leaving the prosperous Oates Four Square store the only one in the town.

Ivan, who had inherited a block of land and house in Moonta, married Winsome Andrews in the Moonta Mines church in 1955 with the births of their three children – Louise, Denby and Brenton – in 1956, 1958 and 1960.

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His commitment to community seemed to have no bounds becoming a life member of the Moonta Progress Association, a 25-year member of the Moonta Lions Club and a loyal, longserving player member of the Moonta Golf Club.

When Frank died in 1966, Ivan took over the business, initiating a major renovation, expanding the number of employees and rebranding as Foodland.

Now 90 and a resident at Gaynes Park Manor, Ivan reflects with pride on his achievements in business and life with a sharp memory and great sense of humour.

Rising to become a well-known and respected local businessman, Ivan also responded to a call to become a councillor of the then Corporate Town of Moonta becoming Deputy Mayor from 1992 to 1997 and Mayor of the newly formed Copper Coast Council – an amalgamation of Moonta, Kadina and Wallaroo – from 1997 to 2000.

While Ivan worked his golf handicap down to a respectable eleven, Winsome honed her own skills at the game, winning numerous titles.

Before recently moving to Gaynes Park Manor, he resided in an aged care home in Moonta. Through family and friends, he keeps abreast of news and developments on the peninsula.

“I have always been immensely proud of Moonta and passionate about its progress,” he said.

“I was one of the locals who was prepared to stick my neck out and think about what the future could hold for Moonta. Today, it is the best tourist town on Yorke Peninsula.

When his mind is not drifting back to the joys of fishing, Ivan keeps track of horse racing and his other sporting interests.

“For years I worked in my business from 6.00am to 6.00pm and just about every night I’d be at one meeting or another on council or progress matters.

“Nobody thinks I’m ninety years old you know,” he said with a smile and sparkle in his eyes. “But after all these years, the progress of Moonta is still very important to me.”

“When I did have some spare time I used to love fishing on my boat catching King George whiting or at home making pickles and relishes. I also enjoyed renovating old furniture.”

In 1972, Ivan extended the Moonta Foodland employing 40 local people and in 1984 he established the Wallaroo Foodland with a similar workforce. He sold his business in 1996, but bought it back two years later before selling out again to the Drakes chain of stores in 2000.

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A family mission Parkrose Village Residential Services Manager, Ann-Marie Hogan, is retiring after a career devoted to aged care.

What’s the motivation behind a life devoted to aged care? Ann-Marie Hogan might find the clue in her family stories.

“As a girl, I was very close to my mother’s parents,” Ann-Marie explained. “My grandmother Joan was the youngest of eight children and she was just three months old when her mother died.

“She always wanted to be a nurse but was unable to pursue her ambitions because she left school at the age of 13 to help care for other children in the family.”

Although Ann-Marie never thought about it deeply, she said that perhaps this wonderful bond with her grandmother sparked her interest in nursing.

“Maybe something in the DNA, isn’t it?” Ann-Marie giggled at the idea.

And our family’s influence may shape our lives in many other ways. Ann-Marie and her younger siblings, David and Sue, grew up in a family with strong values and often cared for others.

“Mum and Dad did everything for us as kids,” AnnMarie said. “Mum was at home and my Dad used to work seven days a week as a panel beater.”

Ann-Marie trained at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and became a registered nurse at the age of 21. She later undertook part-time studies in rehabilitation in aged care and palliative care and gained a Postgraduate Diploma in Gerontology.

After working in several nursing and management roles—always in the aged care industry—, AnnMarie has applied her extensive experience for the past 12 years as a residential site manager at Parkrose Village, Life Care’s residential care home in Everard Park.

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“I am very grateful for my time with Life Care... people that you care for give back more than we do [for them].”

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Ann-Marie said that when a recruitment company advised her of this position, she hadn’t heard anything of Life Care or even Everard Park, the suburb where Parkrose Village is located.

“Some [residents] are quite dependent and helpless and they share things with you that perhaps they wouldn’t with their families,” Ann-Marie said.

“We [also] get to say goodbye to people”.

Ann-Marie said that on her first days at Parkrose Village, the home provided her with some significant challenges.

Ann-Marie also valued the great sense of gratitude she has received from the families of residents who know that their loved ones are in good hands.

“Boy, did I get a shock when I got here!” said Ann-Marie. “Most leaders here weren’t actually employed by Life Care, they were agency staff.”

Another of Ann-Marie’s most cherished memories at Parkrose Village was the Anzac Day service during the period of COVID-19 restrictions in 2020. On Anzac Day of that year, Parkrose Village neighbours were asked to pay their respects to former servicemen and women. In response, they stood in their driveways at dawn, holding candles in silent admiration. The event even made the front page of The Advertiser.

“This was before [Life Care CEO] Allen [Candy] came on board [with Life Care] and they’d taken on new board members and were trying to fix things.”

“At the time I said to myself, ‘My goodness me, what have I done?’” Ann-Marie said with a laugh. “But then I thought, No, no, I am not a quitter, I’ll see it out for a couple of years. So twelve years on, here I am.”

“The [Anzac Day] ceremony [in 2020] was one of the most touching things I’ve ever been to,” Ann-Marie said. “One of the gentlemen [Life Care resident John Hooper] was standing [in the Life Care driveway] in uniform and his wife was sitting in the dark [in a wheelchair] with the little candle facing him. That was just so touching.”

Not only did Ann-Marie stay at Life Care for the past 12 years, but she has also witnessed and been part of Life Care’s evolution into a premier aged care provider.

Ann-Marie said that now Life Care is a welcoming and inclusive organisation that gives people a go and embraces their strengths.

Ann-Marie was also proud of the hard work that the Parkrose Village team put into organising the event, given it started so early.

Great stories—such as Ann-Marie’s— always feature brilliant supporting roles. Ann-Marie said she has felt supported by many people throughout her time at Life Care. One of these people is Parkrose Village’s Clinical Services Manager, Sharon Richardson.

“Staff were coming in at 4:00 a.m. to get [residents] up and ready,” Ann-Marie said. “That was really touching. And we had a lot of [neighbours come out to pay their respects] as well. So you can imagine how beautiful it was,” said Ann-Marie.

“I was very fortunate [to meet Sharon] in my second year [at Life Care], when I was still struggling,” Ann-Marie said.

As the conversation moved to her impending retirement, Ann-Marie reflected on what it feels like to finish such a rewarding career.

“At the time, Sharon was based at Reynella and put up her hand to come over [to Parkrose Village] and be the clinical lead person here and the clinical manager.

“It’s a bit bittersweet, really, but I’ve made my decision and I’m going,” ” said Ann-Marie with satisfaction. “The time is right.”

Ann-Marie explained that spending more time with her family was the main reason for her decision, including looking after her parents, who are in their eighties.

“We’ve worked together closely for the last eleven years and she’s amazing.”

When Ann-Marie began to speak about her residents, her warm and gentle voice adopted a higher emotional tone.

But what of her grandmother Joan’s dream to be a nurse? Was Ann-Marie’s career in a sense fulfilling this dream? Ann-Marie’s last comment suggests there may be stronger forces behind her success.

“I am very grateful for my time with Life Care,” Ann-Marie said. “People that you care for give back more than we do [for them].”

“What’s my main satisfaction in life? It has to be my family.”

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Nonagenarian young!

With crystal clear memories of contrasting lifestyles and cultures in India, England and Australia, Yvonne Cleophas is a charming and captivating nonagenarian.

Yvonne’s AngloIndian life journey has taken many fascinating twists and turns, and today she resides happily in her Edwardstown home with support from Life Care and the abiding love of her daughters, Katrina and Trudi, and their families.

Yvonne’s Anglo-Indian life journey has taken many fascinating twists and turns, and today she resides happily in her Edwardstown home with support from Life Care and the abiding love of her daughters, Katrina and Trudi, and their families.

Born in the Indian city of Rajkot ninety years ago, she spent the first three decades of her life on the sub-continent before moving with her husband to England in 1961.

At the time, Yvonne’s brother was living in the United Kingdom while her husband had a sister residing there.

After the birth of Katrina and Trudi, they moved to Australia in 1973 to pursue new employment opportunities.

“After arriving in Perth and staying for a few weeks, we moved to Adelaide, where my brother and his wife were living and they were our sponsors,” Yvonne said. “My daughters were aged eight and eleven.

“I loved the lifestyle in England, but our decision to come to Australia was primarily for our children and their education.

“In the United Kingdom I worked as a secretary and gained a similar position in Adelaide as well as employment as a nursing aid in aged care and in hospital settings.

“I feel that India will always be my first love as that, of course, is where I was born and raised. It was a beautiful country. Its culture and beauty no doubt had an impact on my life.

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“It was difficult to leave England. I truly loved that country and all that it brought to my life – for my family and me personally.

Having experienced aged care early in her working career, Yvonne recognises how life has come a full circle. The home garden she loves thrives through the expertise of Life Care’s Household Heroes and, although most meals are prepared for her, she occasionally enjoys some of her own recipes.

“Australia had to grow on me. I left England begrudgingly, and initially missed it terribly.

However, as time progressed I clearly saw the benefits of raising our family here, and what a wonderful way of life it was.

“From a young age I was taught to be honest with myself and to others, and now after all these years I only hope that I will be remembered,” she said.

“My journey had eventually taken me to the right place to allow my family to grow and prosper, and for this I am forever grateful.”

Katrina and Trudi said their mother in her younger days was a very vivacious person who was generous with her time and loved to host parties, especially birthdays.

From an early age, Yvonne was motivated to read and learn by her schoolteacher mother and her father, who she described as a “very eloquent man” who instilled a powerful sense in independence in his siblings.

“Mum’s world may be smaller than it was, but she still has interaction with others, and that is so important,” Trudi said.

“We had a good education – I particularly enjoyed history and geography – and look back on a very pleasant life in India. It is a beautiful country and I have fond memories of my time there, as I do of our years in England.

“We are very lucky as mum’s carers from Life Care are lovely people and come in twice a day.

That provides peace of mind for mum and us.”

“Australia represented a new chapter in our lives and I was prepared to give it my best shot.”

Katrina said the family greatly appreciated the level of communication and support from Life Care from administrative and caring perspectives.

Yvonne has aged gracefully and she enjoys the independence of living in her own house with daily support from Life Care’s At Home services. She was also among the first recipients of Life Care Household Heroes gardening services.

“I am ninety now, a good old age, and I have had great experiences in my life in three different countries.

“Although I feel a deep sense of loss about loved ones who are gone, especially my sister and brothers, I am happy and grateful.

“I live each day the best I can, taking it as it comes, and I often think about the many friends that I have made in my life. I have always enjoyed being with happy and friendly people.

“Of course, I have two marvellous daughters and I would not change them for anything in the world.”

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Donna’s homely advice Health, fitness and happiness are the guiding beacons that Donna Wellington sets for herself and her family, and in her quest to maintain the wellbeing of people in her professional care.

An experienced personal trainer and teacher of yoga and pilates, Donna joined Life Care in January 2021 as a member of the At Home team that provides practical assistance to clients to help them live independently while supporting their physical and mental health.

As a Consultant with At Home, Donna’s role is primarily to create the support plans that enable people to live independently at home. Her new role is a natural fit with her personal interests.

“I have always been interested in health and fitness, along with nutrition, and my work with Life Care aligns with my passion to help people be happy in their wellness,” Donna said.

Prior to joining Life Care, Donna, 44, was a consultant with Healthwise Global and the ACH Group. She also maintains a casual position as an instructor with Goodlife health clubs.

Born in Broken Hill, Donna and her husband, also a local in the Silver City, moved to Adelaide when she was 19 in the first of many relocations associated with the mining industry.

Donna and her children – Fletcher, 18, and Ruby, 16, – have called Adelaide home since 2012, but she has not lost her sense of connection with Broken Hill and her upbringing in far western New South Wales.

“I think growing up in a regional place helped me to relate to people around me and reinforced an ethic of getting on with the job, whether in the challenges of work or in daily life,” she said.

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Donna said she had been powerfully influenced by the guiding principles of the Life Care Way and its mission to “create communities where people embrace life and truly Live Every Day.”

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“I find people interesting and enjoy listening to the life stories and experiences of my clients in Life Care.”

“He was lonely and anxious, and we developed a good relationship built on communication and meeting his specific needs to be far more independent.

When her daughter was a baby, Donna suffered a debilitating back condition that her doctor advised would require surgery.

“It is important for people to know that they have someone willing to actually listen to what they have to say and the challenges they face, and that is a great strength of the At Home team at Life Care.

“But I chose a different path of building strength and developing body movements to overcome the problem,” she said. “As a result, my interest in health, fitness and mobility grew to become a really important aspect of my life and career.

“I enjoy helping people with the individual support they need at home to create a pattern for health and happiness irrespective of age.”

“Because of my own experience, I can relate to people who have movement or mobility problems and so it is a nice fit for me to apply my knowledge in Life Care’s At Home services.

“At Home supports older people not only to live independently, but also to thrive in their home environment.”

Donna said she had been powerfully influenced by the guiding principles of the Life Care Way and its mission to “create communities where people embrace life and truly Live Every Day.” “It brought home to me why I do what I do,” she said.

“I look forward to going to work every day. There are many significant moments that I like to recall in my work. For example, one of my Life Care clients who managed to walk around the block near to his home for the first time in ten years.

“I enjoy helping people with the individual support they need at home to create a pattern for health and happiness irrespective of age.”

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about life

Rumpus on the campus Life Care people show us what they get up to every day...

You can keep up to date each day and across our campuses @lifecaresouthaustralia

Aldinga Beach Court — Keith playing interactive Obie

Aldinga Beach Court — Colin meets Parkinson (the horse)

Aldinga Beach Court — Lorna helps with messages for Coralie Musician In Residence, Kelly Menhennett entertains

Aldinga Beach Court — Sewing group bags it for Chaplain Julie

Gaynes Park — Show Day

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SUMMER 2021

Glenrose Court — Wilf enjoys bingo with Mtoto

Glenrose Court — Top Footy Tipper Colin wins the award

Gaynes Park — Italian Week

Gaynes Park — Cooking up a storm

Glenrose Court — ‘Cup Day

Gaynes Park — Monthly Appreciation Day celebration

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about life

Parkrose Village — Lock down Dress-up day

Parkrose Village — Aged Care Employee Day celebrations

Property Services — Aged Care Employee Day celebrations

Reynella Village — Aged Care Employee Day celebrations

Reynella Village — Aged Care Employee Day celebrations

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SUMMER 2021

Life Care At Home — Crooning with “Elvis” during Cabaret

Household Heros — Celebrating with Frank, their 100th client

Life Care At Home — “On the Go” lunching at Bridgewater Mill

Corporate Services — Finance team getting fresh air

Life Care Active — Aged Care Employee Day celebrations

Corporate Services — Coffee catch up for ICT team

Norman House — RUOK? Day

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About Life is the official publication of the Churches of Christ Life Care Inc. Would you like more information about Life Care or to receive your own copy of About Life?

Contact us T 1800 555 990 E enquire@lifecare.org.au lifecare.org.au We welcome your feedback Please email feedback@lifecare.org.au or post to: About Life feedback Attn: Andrew Harvey 128 Greenhill Road Unley SA 5061

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