Keep Connected
to the Spring issue of Keep Connected Welcome
As we farewell Winter, it’s nice to welcome the warmth and fresh changes that come with Spring. The past few months have been somewhat of a new beginning for me - settling back into Adelaide and finding my feet as Chief Executive here at ECH. This has led me to spending a lot of time out and about meeting you, our clients and residents, as well as staff. It has been an absolute pleasure to have met and chatted with many of you.
In my first week, I was privileged to be invited to the annual dinner at our Rotary Village in Modbury. You can read more about my recent adventures as well as my aspirations for the future direction of ECH on pages 12-13.
As I discover more about ECH, I understand that building and maintaining strong connections with those living around you is extremely important. One village who recognises this is Victor Harbor’s Hill Court. Featured on pages 4-5, they actively welcome new residents, letting them know all about their village activities.
At ECH, we listen, so following the recent magazine survey, we have doubled our Community News pages. The feedback showed you are keen to see and hear more about what others in the ECH community have been getting up to.
This really is your magazine so if you would like to be featured and have your photos or stories included, then please contact the team at keepconnected@ech.asn.au Plus, don’t miss our gardening competition on page 11, it’s open to small and larger gardens including balconies –you just need to be creative!
Thanks again to everyone for giving me such a warm welcome. Our ECH community is at the heart of this organisation, and I look forward to meeting and talking with more of you over the weeks and months ahead.
Kind Regards,
Claire Scapinello ECH Chief Executive
GET INVOLVED IN THE NEW CONSUMER AND FAMILIES PANEL
The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission is establishing a new Consumer and Families panel made up of people receiving Australian Government-funded aged care services, their family members and representatives.
The panel aims to hear the ideas and experiences of those involved which will assist the Commission in overseeing the quality of aged care services and resolving complaints about these services.
People wishing to be part of the Commission’s Consumers and Families Panel can register their interest via the Commission’s website at agedcarequality.gov.au/consumer-panel or call the Commission on 1800 951 822.
Challenging the Status Quo
ECH Board member Marc Makrid has never travelled a traditional path.
Since an early age, his love of challenging the status quo and pushing the boundaries of what is possible have set him up to now be a key component in ECH’s long term strategy.
His appointment to the Board was a natural fit for Marc given his life experiences, all of which culminated in him joining the ECH Board in early 2018.
“As far back as I can remember I have always felt a connection and drive to challenge traditional notions of aged care,” Marc says.
“My mother worked in a nursing home when I was young and from a very early age, I could see that the respect and level of choice available to older Australians left a lot to be desired.
“Fast forward and I also found myself caring for my father who lived with dementia and again my general thought process was why are there not more forward-thinking methods of care?”
In his work life, Marc has built a long and distinguished career across a range of senior executive positions and running his own business, advising iconic Australian businesses, Boards and Chief Executives. Through all the work Marc does comes an innate ability to understand what makes people and businesses tick.
Enter ECH. Marc became aware of ECH and its commitment to enabling older South Australians to remain in their homes for as long as possible
and so ensued substantial research into every element of the organisation, from home services, wellness and allied health services to independent retirement living.
“I was impressed from day dot. Its progressiveness and commitment to care and respect were fully aligned with not only my lived experiences, but also my questions around reimagining care and not making assumptions on someone’s position in life,” says Marc.
“I absolutely love representing the thousands of ECH clients and independent living residents as a Board member and I will never stop looking for new and challenging ways to enhance their overall experience to ensure that they are at the centre of all decisions made.”
ECH Board member Marc Makrid
BEAMING Community Spirit IN HILL COURT VILLAGE
Providing a helping hand and building strong and friendly connections with those who live in your ECH village is extremely important in creating and maintaining a positive and supportive community.
It’s not just about spending quality time together but also being there for each other.
One ECH village with a flourishing community spirit is Victor Harbor’s Hill Court village, where residents often organise fun get-togethers, making use of their inviting outdoor gathering area, and supporting each other during times of need.
When a new resident moves into the village, they are greeted with a knock on the door, a welcome card, and a friendly chat about all the activities and events the Hill Court community has organised.
A couple of years ago, residents felt there was a lack of connection in the village and decided to make a change.
Hill Court resident Gwen says it was hard to meet and connect with people, so a group started putting together ‘the list’.
“The Hill Court Village “list” includes the names and contact numbers of all the residents, which helps with arranging outings or to contact
each other if anyone needs help or support,” says Gwen. “It also helps with looking after each other’s homes when someone is away or organising a group who help put out and bring in all of the bins in the village, especially for those who have difficulty with heavy lifting.”
Like Gwen, Hill Court resident and neighbour Fran says she really enjoys the community support and spirit within the village.
“We always say how safe we feel here, it’s a big thing when you’re living on your own, to feel safe –best of all is the friendships among the neighbours,” she says.
“ It’s actually a community here, and we connect –we’ve got it down to a fine art. “
Hill Court village residents come together every Friday afternoon for coffee or wine, to socialise, get to know each other better, share a laugh and find out new things they can do in Victor Harbor.
Village resident Kaylene looks forward to the weekly catchup and wouldn’t miss it, no matter the weather.
“Every week, rain or shine, we gather together under our communal gazebo,” laughs Kaylene.
The weekly catchups have led to monthly lunches at a local restaurant, often trying something different, as well as keeping fit with weekly walks, rewarded afterwards with a coffee.
“If it’s a lovely day, one of us might just go and sit outside next to the gazebo, and suddenly we all join in together,” says Gwen.
Fellow organiser and resident Julian says the neighbours have created a positive and supportive community and he looks forward to arranging more activities.
It’s not all socialising – another group activity is collecting and recycling everyone’s cans and bottles with the funds raised going to support group events, such as their Christmas party last year, or to buy an outdoor heater so they can use their gazebo area allyear round.
“We value that communication when we get together and chat – it helps when people get to know one another because we’re all living together in the same village” Julian says.
Kaylene adds: “Everybody is so independent and friendly here, it’s nice to know you have contact in the village if you want it.”
ECH Hill Court residents, Victor Harbor
ECH Senior Care Coordinator
Michelene Johnson finds joy every day in empowering and enabling older people to remain living independently.
She does this by assisting them in creating a personalised care plan that meets their care needs and wellbeing goals. This can include traditional services such as laundry, basic cleaning, meal preparation, and cooking as well as allied health services and other more unusual requests such as flying pigeons!
Before a care plan can be put into place, the ECH journey starts with the Onboarding Team. The team will visit the client and share information on what services ECH can provide as part of a Home Care Package. The client is then assigned a dedicated Care Coordinator to provide ongoing support, and together, a care plan is developed.
“Home Care Packages are a way of being able to remain independent with the support of Government funding that can be used to ensure people’s care needs are being met so that they can continue to remain living confidently at home,” says Michelene.
“Having that support makes our clients feel independent and empowered, so we ensure we do everything we can through working collaboratively with them and their families.”
Home Care Packages do have limitations due to Government guidelines and regulations, with certain services not being included such as buying food, travel and accommodation for holidays and
items that would normally be purchased out of general income.
“Home Care Packages can be tailored to a client’s specific health and wellbeing needs. We’ve had one client wanting to go and release pigeons and do pigeon flights, and another client who wanted to play a game of pool at the pub. Any requests for activities have to be clearly linked to the client’s care plan and their needs and goals. If they are and the client has funds available in their Home Care Package, then we will do our best to accommodate the request.
“We get requests to accompany clients on dolphin cruises around once every eight weeks, or visits to a wine region, not to drink the wine, just to experience the beauty of the region.
“Being able to give our clients these experiences mean more to them than you know; it truly means the world to them.”
Top 5 things to know about Home Care Packages
1. There are four levels of Home Care Package funding dependent on your needs. The level you are eligible for is determined by an ACAT (Aged Care Assessment Team) assessment and your package will be dependent on the availability of your package level from an individual provider in your local area.
2. At ECH, we work closely with our clients to ensure you receive quality, personalised care planning so you get the right mix of services to meet your care needs and achieve your health and wellbeing goals.
3. All ECH Home Care Package clients have a dedicated team of ECH staff so you get the right support and advice when you need it.
4. Ageing is a journey and over time your needs and goals may change which is why ECH regularly review your Care Plan and update it as required.
5. Your ECH team can also work with your GP and other healthcare providers to provide the right care at home if you are unwell as well as planning any support you may need if you have to go into hospital.
IRENE’S MUSICAL JOURNEY TO STROKE RECOVERY
ECH client Irene and Music Therapist Bec Davies
Singing, tapping your toes and clicking castanets to music sounds more like things you’d do at a party than at a health appointment.
Yet for ECH client Irene, music therapy was the perfect treatment to help her recover from a stroke.
Irene lost a lot of the function in the right side of her body and set herself some big goals to speak well, overcome a lip droop and be able to use her right arm effectively again.
After meeting ECH Registered Music Therapist, Bec Davies, and as a lover of music, Irene knew music therapy would be the perfect motivation for her to complete her stroke rehabilitation.
“I became involved in music therapy at the ECH Wellness Centre in Henley Beach after my stroke,” says Irene.
“When I was younger I was a professional singer, so being involved in music again makes me feel great and also helps with my overall wellbeing.
“Music therapy supports me with the exercises and techniques that I do in speech therapy, physiotherapy and neurological rehabilitation sessions.”
Working with Bec, Irene has improved her lip droop by doing singing exercises to strengthen her mouth muscles. She is also working towards her goal to hang clothes on the washing line with her right arm again, through a music-based activity playing castanets above her head.
Bec explains: “Music therapy can help with a wide range of conditions. We harness a range of musical elements which can calm, motivate, evoke memories or encourage movement to address physical or cognitive goals. We use the natural processes of singing to strengthen the voice and breathing. You don’t need to be musical to benefit from music therapy.”
Bec works with other allied health professionals including Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and Speech Therapists to support clients’ goals using music therapy.
Reasons to see a music therapist
There are many reasons why people use music therapy to help them, including:
• Maintaining or improving speech volume and clarity which may be impacted due to conditions like Parkinson’s
• Physical rehabilitation in a fun way e.g. range of motion in arms, hands strength or dexterity
• Improving walking, gait and balance
• Calming someone with dementia or other cognitive conditions
• Reducing anxiety and stress
• Help to sleep better
Music therapy can also support carers of people living with dementia. Often people with dementia can feel confused and disorientated, but familiar music can help to calm and reassure them. Bec works with clients and their carers to identify well known music to them and advises on how to incorporate it into everyday activities that may be challenging.
Do you have an instrument you no longer use?
ECH Music Therapy is looking for unwanted musical instruments to give new life to.
If you have an old guitar, drum, bongos, even an old keyboard that you would be willing to donate please call ECH on 1300 275 324
Irene with photos from her singing career
Grow A WINDOWSILL HERB GARDEN
Fresh herbs smell and taste great and are an easy project for gardeners of all abilities.
ECH Horticulturalist Dean Gaston suggests starting with pots that are not too deep, but wide enough to let the plant spread. Choose a windowsill with good light but avoid windows that get very hot, like west-facing windows in summer.
You can choose herbs based on what you enjoy eating and how much light your windowsill gets. If you get four hours a day Basil, Thyme, Oregano and Sage will all grow well. If you get less light, Parsley, Chives and Mint are good options.
You can buy growing herbs, or start from seed, either way, plant into a good quality potting mix and fertilise regularly with a liquid fertiliser high in nitrogen which will boost leaf growth.
Dean recommends harvesting regularly to keep your plants healthy and encourage new growth and as soon as you see flowers, pinch them out to keep the plant growing for longer.
“Windowsill herb gardens are fantastic,” says Dean. “Because they are normally in the kitchen, the herbs are right there when you need them, so fresh and they taste wonderful.”
SPRING IS blooming beautiful
Spring is a real treat for flower lovers with gardens bursting into life. Here’s some of South Australia’s top spots for impressive blooms.
Riverland Roses
Each October, the Riverland becomes a spectacle of roses of all varieties and colours. The area not only hosts the largest private rose garden in the Southern Hemisphere, but there are also many smaller, but equally lovely, open gardens to explore. Combine this with the great food and wine in the Riverland for a wonderful day out or weekend away.
Beautiful Botanic Gardens
Adelaide, Mount Lofty and Wittunga Botanic Gardens all put on beautiful spring displays. Mount Lofty boasts one of Australia’s best Rhododendron collections which fill a gully with blooms in October and November. Wittunga offers brilliant displays of Ericas and Proteas in Spring whereas the Adelaide Botanic Gardens’ Wisteria Arbour puts on a spectacular show until October.
Fields of Gold
The Clare Valley’s rolling hills transform into fields of gold as Canola crops burst into blossom every early spring. Take some great pictures then stop off at one of the many world-class wineries for a glass or two.
Pockets of Purple
The Jacaranda trees across Adelaide’s suburbs create impressive purple displays in spring. North Adelaide, Dulwich, Burnside and Unley are perfect spots for a coffee and a walk around streets carpeted in purple flowers.
For more information including guided walks and events in South Australia’s Botanic Gardens visit botanicgardens.sa.gov.au/whats-on
For more spring events and things to see and do in South Australia, including spring flowers, visit southaustralia.com
HAVE YOU GOT A WINNING GARDEN?
Spring is a time for blossoming flowers, colourful landscapes and wonderful aromas in the garden. Whether you have a small garden, patio spread, pot cluster on your balcony or are involved in a communal garden, we would love to see it! To enter, send us a photo at keepconnected@ech.asn.au of your blooms and make sure to include your category:
• Small garden
• Large/communal garden
• Patio
• Balcony
Competition closes March 30 2023 and the best garden in each category will win a $150 EFTPOS card. The winners will be announced in the June 2023 magazine.
“ For me, the ability to provide retirement living and home care services that help keep people healthy, safe and living longer in their homes is very important.
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Claire is making a home at ECH
While it has been a busy few months for our new Chief Executive Claire Scapinello, she has enjoyed every moment of getting to know more about the ECH Community.
From residents to clients and staff, Claire has spent a lot of time getting out and about visiting our various sites and meeting people. Claire has visited several of our Social Day Programs, spent time with the Customer Reference Group, visited clients with a Home Support Team Member and even attended the Rotary Village Annual Dinner.
“For me the best way to learn about the business is to be in the business. I’m learning an incredible amount about our organisation by meeting directly with the ECH team and our clients and residents - it has been wonderful to learn first-hand how we deliver our services,” said Claire.
“The team has been very warm and welcoming, and it has been important to me to get that time to meet everybody. It has been an invaluable introduction.”
ECH may be a long way from Sydney, where she has spent the past 22 years, but returning to her home state where she was born and raised, to be part of our organisation was a simple decision.
Claire said she was drawn to ECH because of its philosophy to empower people as they age, giving them the confidence to remain living independently. Not only that, her future in-laws are also ECH residents.
“I hear first-hand about their experience and what they enjoy most about living in an ECH retirement village. It’s a nice personal connection, and allows me to better understand what is at the heart of what we do here at ECH,” she said.
“I was also impressed by the way the organisation has been brave in investing in new technology and services, plus the commitment by the Board to be progressive and look to the future was a big factor when deciding to join ECH.”
“I want to look at the organisation and how we can sustain it for the future and enable our team to deliver more services to more older South Australians.”
Claire will be able to do this with a strong team around her feeling encouraged and inspired.
“My personal values are to empower my team and others around me - to foster a culture of learning and growth that is supported and encouraged to be the best they can.”
GET TO KNOW CLAIRE
Claire grew up in Rosslyn Park
Claire lived in Bellevue Hill and Edgecliff in New South Wales
Claire wanted to be a criminal barrister when she grew up
Claire loves visiting the Adelaide Central Market as well as the state’s wineries and great restaurants
She has a dog named Gigi and discovered many ECH staff are pet lovers as well
SETTING THE STAGE FOR DIVERSITY
Telling a story without words or holding your breath without straining yourself are skills commonly practiced by stage performers.
Yet for a group from ECH, they received exclusive training in the art of performance from talented actors and crew, thanks to a new three-year sponsorship between ECH and the State Theatre Company.
As part of the sponsorship, ECH have worked with the State Theatre Company to create a 12-week Storytelling Monologues Project. Over the course of the project the 15 participants were guided through writing, creating and performing their own monologue, in some cases to an audience, if they chose.
State Theatre Company Executive Director Julian Hobba says the partnership is set up to highlight productions that support diversity as well as recognise the extent of the theatre-loving community within ECH and encourage older people to engage with the arts.
“In talking, we discovered we have the same cultural diversity and have the same cultural diversity and community values as ECH. The monologue project specifically came about as we wanted to work with ECH to demonstrate that everyone is welcome at the theatre and show
how it can be a great way to bring people together,” says Julian.
“And it was very well receivedparticipants were able to exercise their creative muscle, make social connections and be physically active in learning basic theatre skills.”
In the workshops, participants were able to find their own personal stories, take part in creative writing sessions and explore skills and techniques of solo performance.
The workshop theme was centred around the State Theatre Company’s
ECH is proud to have the Rainbow Tick Accreditation. This accreditation demonstrates our commitment to inclusivity, we believe that all older Australians should have safe access to aged care services no matter their preference, gender, race or disability.
latest production, The Normal Heart, which marks this year’s 40th anniversary of the Aids crisis in America.
“Many of the LGBTI community as part of the program have lived through this period and have a connection with it. So, we asked ourselves, ‘how do we add value to their interest?’ and to not only have them as spectators but as participants as well,” he says.
“We developed a group that is supporting one another and supporting artists to capture stories that are significant to them. We wanted to draw on people’s lived experience but also reach them where they are now in their lives.”
Julian says the program was designed to give people an appreciation of
the stage while also bringing the community together.
“We were delighted to give older people this amazing insight into the theatre. People come together through the arts, it keeps you connected to other people and introduces you to new things and new perspectives, it combats loneliness, and helps you develop empathy.”
Lorraine, one of the project participants, thoroughly enjoyed the experience. “It was a fabulous opportunity to work with industry professionals like Stephen House and gain insights on how we could improve our writing and learn new skills. We had direct access to actors like Matt Hyde who helped us enhance how we expressed our stories.
“It was great being surrounded by a group of like-minded people who enjoyed putting in the effort to be creative. It was a wonderful experience that I couldn’t pass up!” says Lorraine.
This was the first year of the sponsorship and while the program received positive feedback, some elements may change in 2023. Make sure to keep your eyes out for the next State Theatre collaboration.
“Next year depending on the program the theme may change and we could look at working with a different group from the ECH community, watch this space,” says Julian.
The Normal Heart is running 30 September – 15 October 2022 at the Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide Festival Centre. To learn more or book tickets visit statetheatrecompany.com.au/shows/the-normal-heart
State Theatre Company staff and ECH participants
Having a well-stocked and organised first aid kit and knowing how to use it can help you provide valuable medical help that could even save a life.
St John Ambulance and Australian Red Cross both supply first aid kits which can be bought online and from a number of shops. They also offer first aid courses covering situations such as strokes, heart attacks or even snake bites.
For first aid advice at your fingertips, the Australian Red Cross also has a free app called First Aid – Australian Red Cross. If you have an Android phone you can download the app from the Play Store, or on Apple devices visit the App Store, and search the app name to install.
You can also assemble your own first aid kits for your home and car. As a starting point a basic first aid kit should contain:
(skin) tape
Could you help by donating blood?
The Australian Red Cross is looking for new blood donors after COVID-19 has caused a significant drop in the number of donations.
An estimated 20 percent of Australian donors have been unable to donate on any given day due to record numbers of people isolating or currently unwell with COVID.
Giving blood takes just an hour but each donation can save up to three lives.
You can become a first-time donor anytime up until you turn 76 and you can keep donating up to any age you want as long as you meet the eligibility criteria.
Am I eligible to give blood?
I take medication for blood pressure and cholesterol
I am on hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
I have a heart condition Maybe, it depends on the condition I have had a stroke
I have multiple sclerosis (MS)
I have had the COVID-19 vaccination
I lived in the UK for 6 months or more between 1980 and 1996
Yes as of 25 July 2022
If you are unable to give blood there are many other ways you can help. The Australian Red Cross often needs volunteers to help with refreshments at its collection centres or drivers to take people to and from collection centres.
Financial donations are tax-deductable and support the Australian Red Cross to deliver their life-saving work.
Finally, you could spread the word to friends and family on social media, encouraging them to become donors.
Clients are at the heart of ECH
ECH General Manager of Client Experience Carolyn Dawkins may have worked in various roles across the organisation, but one thing has remained constant – her passion for enabling people to live their best life as they age.
This is also ECH’s purpose and one that resonates strongly with Carolyn, which has kept her part of the ECH family for more than 10 years.
“I get fabulous job satisfaction working with like-minded people to deliver on our purpose. It brings me great joy working alongside others who have the same goal and this truly translates in the work we do which is - to make a genuine difference in the lives of our clients,” Carolyn says.
Carolyn has been an important part of various teams throughout her time at ECH – starting in the Learning and Development Team delivering corporate inductions, to working on the communications of a new corporate strategy, followed by her role as Manager of the Customer Service Centre, then moving on to become Client Growth and Innovation Manager.
Now as General Manager of Client Experience, Carolyn focuses on understanding client and resident needs and responding to those needs by delivering appropriate products and services.
“People are living longer, and their needs and expectations are changing – social engagement is more important than ever – people want to remain connected to their community. We want to ensure we deliver on these expectations and give our clients unique experiences,” Carolyn says.
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Our purpose at ECH is to give people the best life as they age and to live independently for as long as they choose. We are not just about their home services and care, it’s also about connecting them with their communities – it is a wellrounded experience.
“We understand that every client and resident is unique, and their needs are individual – we pride ourselves on knowing our clients so we can wrap the different services
around them to have the best possible outcome – which is going to be different for each client,” Carolyn says.
In her role, Carolyn also works closely with the Research and Evaluation Team who lead the gathering of feedback and data from our clients and residents to better inform continuous improvement. This team also actively partner with universities and organisations on research projects to ensure ECH remains informed of any new ideas and technology that could potentially benefit our clients and residents.
“If there’s an opportunity, we are willing to work with like-minded partners to get the best possible outcomes for our people and remain leaders in the industry. ECH is continuously innovating and challenging itself and always striving to be a leader in our sector,” says Carolyn.
KEEPING READERS CONNECTED TO KEEP CONNECTED
At ECH, we are dedicated to placing our clients and residents at the heart of all decisions we make.
To ensure we are staying connected to our community and listening to your needs, a survey was sent out with the March issue of Keep Connected, giving our readers the opportunity to give feedback on your quarterly magazine.
In the last issue of Keep Connected we promised to show you the full results…so here they are!
The survey was mailed out to over 6,000 readers and also made available online to make it as easy as possible for people to complete.
We received 736 responses (12% response rate) and the overall feedback was very positive.
The majority of people who returned the survey said they enjoy reading the Keep Connected magazine and like the content and design. The features people were particularly interested in reading about included community news, resident and client stories, technology and financial scam advice
as well as lifestyle tips.
The survey also identified a number of opportunities for improvement, which we are currently looking into, these include looking at the thickness of the paper and eliminating coloured text on a page.
It’s important to us to hear from you, our readers, so if you would like to share your ideas or stories or have further feedback, please email us at keepconnected@ech.asn.au
the magazine is well laid out and like the style of the content and images
Do you pass your magazine on to a friend or family member? Do share the magazine
Do not share the magazine (mainly because they had not considered doing so), so please feel free to share your copy with a friend or neighbour! 48%
DIGITAL WORLD AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
Now more than ever, digital technology is an easily accessible and essential tool in our everyday lives.
From emails, social media, smartphones and apps, the list is endless when it comes to navigating the digital world we now live in.
ECH is embracing these technological advances to make it that little bit easier for older people to learn about the latest devices.
In June, ECH hosted two, free digital-help workshops at Encore Apartments, giving the community an opportunity to improve and expand their digital knowledge and skills.
Digital Mentor at Create Your Change, Kat Milner, explained the functionality of smartphones and tablets to participants, talking the group through instructions and processes to download and use applications, otherwise known as “apps”.
“Being online is one of the best ways to keep in touch with families, today it’s the exception rather than the rule that we live down the street from our loved ones,” says Kat.
“For many, it is the best way to keep in touch with grandkids and see photographs on platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
Digital Mentor at Create Your Change Kat Milner
“Our world continues to drastically change and being online means you have so much information at your fingertips.”
Kat, who tailored her workshops for both Android and Smartphone users, says there is an abundance of benefits in teaching older people to adapt technology into their everyday lives.
“Staying connected with family and friends is the way of the world plus being able to live independently through online banking, online shopping and opening the mind up to learning new things are just some benefits,” says Kat.
“I aim to empower people to feel independent and capable and instil confidence. It’s all about shifting in mindset which allows older people to learn and know they are more than capable to discover, and problem solve by themselves.”
ECH Encore Apartments resident Merike attended the smartphone workshop to gain a little more confidence using technology and said she learnt a lot from the experience.
“I could only really text and make or receive phone calls. My husband is
quite good with technology and has been saying that I should learn a bit more, so we went along together.
“I really enjoyed it. You tend to push yourself more when you’re in a class like that, so now I feel more confident.
“Kat was very down-to-earth with her presentation and simple to understand. The hints she gave us were priceless, so I’d like to go along to more if they are held in the future.”
ECH plans to host future workshops for the community to further enhance their digital skills and knowledge and provide opportunities to adapt technology into their everyday life.
Future workshops are currently being planned, when they are released they will be available on ech.asn.au/eventsplease keep checking regularly to book your spot!
KAT’S TOP DIGITAL TIPS
Do not be afraid to experiment. It is easy to press the wrong button and trigger an unintended action, however, it is also easy to go “back” and start over again. It is almost impossible to destroy a digital device with the touch of one button.
TAKE NOTES
Kat is a firm believer in taking notes and curating personal checklists to ensure things are done correctly. When learning something new such as downloading an application to a digital device, steps can be created that can avoid causing stress by triggering any wrong buttons.
ASK FOR HELP
Do not be afraid to say “show me, don’t do it for me” when asking for assistance. Be your own best advocate for your education because it does not help if things are done for you.
EMPOWER YOURSELF
Instil confidence within yourself and know that once you can perform simple actions like navigating your digital device, it is going to be easier for you to learn to do other things independently.
STAY CONNECTED
Online banking or online shopping can help you feel and remain independent. Staying in touch with family and friends via FaceTime can help combat loneliness.
Keep your home pest-free
Household pests can range from annoying to damaging and dangerous, yet with a few simple tips you can keep pests away.
BARRIER SPRAY
Stop ants, spiders and cockroaches before they come in by using a simple shop bought barrier spray around doors and windows.
MAINTAIN YOUR SCREENS
Repair holes or use duct tape over any holes to stop flies and mosquitos coming in.
DON’T LEAVE FOOD LAYING AROUND
Ants, rats, cockroaches, fruit flies and other pests are all attracted by food. Store food in airtight containers and regularly clean up any on the floor. In the garden pick up fallen fruit quickly.
BEES VS WASPS
If you spot bees swarming, call a local beekeeper who will take the swarm often for little of no cost. Bee populations are declining and they are important for pollenating food crops, so try not to kill them.
European Wasps are a pest and most local councils will destroy them free of charge.
GET EXPERT HELP
If you are facing a tough pest problem it’s always best to call in the experts with the right knowledge and equipment to tackle it. Pest control companies can also help prevent problems with regular termite inspections and baits.
Did you know?
• Black ants attack and eat termites, so if you have black ants in the garden, they can be a good deterrent for termites getting into your home.
• To keep ants out of pet food, put the food bowl in a tray of shallow water, because ants can’t cross water!
WATCH OUT FOR MONEY RECOVERY SCAMS
People are being warned to watch out for uninvited offers to help recover money by Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) website Scamwatch.
These scams are targeting people that have already lost money in a previous scam by promising to help them recover their losses for a small up-front fee. Scammers will often pose as a trusted organisation such as a law firm, fraud taskforce or Government agency and may have official looking websites.
They will offer to help the victim, then request paperwork and identity documents or may request remote access to computers or smartphones.
In 2022 Australians have already lost over $270,000 to this type of scam.
ACCC Deputy Chair, Delia Rickard advises people not to engage with the scammers: “If you are contacted
out of the blue by someone offering to help recover scam losses for a fee, it is a scam. Hang up the phone, delete the email and ignore any further contacts.
“Don’t give financial details or copies of identity documents to anyone who you’ve never met in person and never give strangers remote access to your devices.”
If you have been the victim of a scam you should tell your bank or financial institution straight away. You can also contact IDCARE – idcare.org – a free service that can help you to protect your identity and reduce the risk of further losses.
WHAT’S ON Spring
24 SEPTEMBER
SA SPRING GARDEN FESTIVAL
Mt Pleasant will once again be the backdrop for the annual event combining sunny weather, a charming venue and a multitude of plant and garden stalls.
SA Gardening Guru, Kim Syrus will be special guest speaker. Kim, a qualified horticulturist and one of Australia’s most respected rose experts, is also known for presenting on TV shows Outdoors Indoors, Gardening Gurus and In the Garden.
For more information, visit saspringgardenfestival.com.au
14-16 OCTOBER
CHEESEFEST - GATHER AND GRAZE
Prepare your tastebuds for the most tantalising treat of Australia’s biggest cheese festival.
With a collection of cheesemakers from all over Australia you will find different styles of cheese plus winemakers, brewers, food producers, restauranteurs and fermenters. It truly is a foodie’s paradise.
For more information, visit cheesefest.com.au
9-21 OCTOBER
9-5 THE MUSICAL
Dolly Parton’s joyous smash hit musical will have you dancing in the aisles.
Join the all-star Australian cast including Marina Prior as smart and sassy career woman Violet Newstead, Casey Donovan as freshly separated new recruit Judy Bernly, Erin Clare as bright and beautiful country gal Doralee Rhodes, Eddie Perfect as the controlling boss Franklin Hart Jnr. and Caroline O’Connor as busy-body Roz Keith, for a night of fun.
For more information, visit adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au
16 OCTOBER
BAY TO BIRDWOOD
Held annually, the Bay to Birdwood is an historic motoring event that draws participants from around Australia, and the world, to celebrate vintage cars. The event is one of the world’s greatest and has been an iconic fixture on the South Australian calendar since 1980.
Thousands of spectators line the 67km route to view the passing parade from West Beach through to the National Motor Museum, Birdwood in the Adelaide Hills. The crowd’s admiration for the antique, veteran, vintage, post-war and classic cars is truly inspiring.
For more information, visit baytobirdwood.history. sa.gov.au
19-30 OCTOBER
ADELAIDE FILM FESTIVAL
One of Australia’s most distinctive and innovative film festivals, Adelaide Film Festival (AFF) screens films you won’t see anywhere else.
Also known as the ‘friendly festival’, AFF is renowned for its warmth, welcoming film industry guests from around Australia and the globe to an event where makers and audiences alike can enjoy and celebrate films together as a unified community.
Named as one of the top 50 film festivals in the world by Variety, the festival shows the very best in contemporary Australian and international feature films, documentaries, shorts, artist’s moving image and virtual reality productions.
For more information, visit adelaidefilmfestival.org
12 NOVEMBER
NATIONAL PHARMACIES CHRISTMAS PAGEANT
The National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant is a magical, free community event, full of fantasy, floats, colourful characters, bands, dancers and more, shared by generations of Australians.
Since 1933, the Pageant has grown to become one of Australia’s most cherished events and marks the official welcoming of Father Christmas to Australia.
In 2022, the Christmas Pageant is celebrating its 90th anniversary and will make its return to the city streets of Adelaide.
For more information, visit christmaspageant.com.au
20 OCTOBER6 NOVEMBER
OZ ASIA FESTIVAL
Held annually over three weeks in Spring, OzAsia Festival is Australia’s leading contemporary arts festival engaging with Asia. It presents a bold and exciting lineup of boundary-pushing contemporary arts each year and is revered by audiences and critics alike.
The Festival showcases the best theatre, dance, music, visual arts, literature, film, food and cultural events from across Asia, with its extensive program featuring artists from around the world.
Audiences love OzAsia Festival’s Moon Lantern Trail – a free outdoor reimagining of the ever-popular Moon Lantern Parade; and foodies adore the Lucky Dumpling Market - the vibrant and ever-popular hub offering delicious food inspired by Asian cuisine, bars, and free entertainment throughout the three weeks.
For more information, visit ozasiafestival.com.au
27 NOVEMBER
PICNIC IN THE PARK
South Australia’s biggest single participation event Bring your friends, family, and don’t forget your dog! Kick back and relax at Feast’s annual community picnic. Explore community information and artisan market stalls, enjoy a variety of cuisines from local food vendors.
For more information, visit feast.org.au/events/picnic-in-the-park
Simple swaps for food intolerances
Up to a quarter of all Australians could be affected by a food intolerance1 which affects what they can eat.
It can feel challenging if you are cooking for someone on a special diet, such as gluten-free, yet according to ECH Dietician Deepti Parmar, catering for intolerances can easily be overcome with just a few substituted ingredients and some close reading of food labels.
“Food intolerances are very common,” explains Deepti. “They usually come with symptoms like bloating, cramping or diarrhea.
If you are cooking for someone with an intolerance there are foods you can easily swap. If you are buying food, you just need to make sure you read the labels closely and look for glutenfree, or lactose-free, whatever the diet may be.”
Here are some simple swaps for food intolerances.
Lactose
Lactose is a sugar found in milk and dairy products.
Foods that contain lactose Low or non-lactose alternatives
Cows and goats milk
Soft cheese e.g. ricotta
Milk chocolate
Gluten
Soy, oat, rice and other lactose-free milks
Hard cheese e.g. cheddar or parmesan
Dark chocolate and cocoa used for chocolate flavour
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley and oats. You can be gluten intolerant or have Celiac disease which is a serious immune response to Gluten that leaves you feeling very unwell.
Foods that contain gluten Gluten-free alternatives
Wheat, barley and rye flours, oats and semolina
WeetBix and porridge oats
Noodles
Chips and crackers
Bread
Other digestive irritants
Almond meal, buckwheat, lentil, quinoa and soy or rice flour
Rice porridge and cornflakes
Rice noodles
Rice cakes, corn cakes and corn chips
Gluten free bread and gluten free wraps
Foods that cause intolerance Alternative choices
Caffeine
Found in coffee, black tea and coca cola
Fructose
Found in fruits, especially high in fruit juice, grapes and watermelon
Rooibos tea, peppermint tea, decaf tea or coffee and Milo
Savoury platters instead of fruit platters and avoid fruits in dessert
1nutritionaustralia.org/fact-sheets/food-intolerances
ECH Dietician Deepti Parmar
Mango & Chicken Salad
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes
Serves: 4
Ingredients
1 fresh mango, cheeks removed, peeled and thinly sliced
1 long red chilli, sliced thinly into rounds
½ cup coriander leaves
½ cup mint leaves
2 cups baby spinach leaves
1 Lebanese cucumber, peeled
Salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper
Dressing
1 clove garlic, crushed
¼ cup orange
½ tsp orange zest
Juice of one lime
Salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
Poached chicken
1 clove garlic
1 long red chilli
¼ cup coriander root
2 chicken breasts
Salt flakes
METHOD
1. For the poached chicken, combine garlic, chilli, coriander root and salt together in a pestle and mortar blending to a smooth paste.
2. Rub all over chicken breasts, cover and refrigerate for two hours to marinate.
3. Place chicken breasts in a small saucepan and cover with cold water.
4. Place over a medium heat and slowly bring to the boil.
5. Reduce to a simmer, cover and cook for two minutes.
6. Remove from heat and allow to steep for 15 minutes or until chicken is just cooked.
7. Remove from cooking water and allow to cool.
8. Tear into bite sized pieces.
9. For the dressing, combine garlic, orange juice, zest, lime juice salt, pepper and olive oil in a screw top jar, shaking vigorously to combine. Set aside until required.
10. To serve, place chicken, mango, chilli, mint, coriander, baby spinach and cucumber together in a large mixing bowl, tossing to combine.
11. Season with salt and pepper.
Community news
A diamond celebration for Chris and John
What started as a chance meeting through a church acting group back in the 1960s has led to a loving marriage of 60 years for ECH Arthur Court residents Chris and John.
The pair met while part of The Young Anglican Players after Chris, who “liked the look of him”, made the first move and started chatting to John.
“I was happy someone was paying attention to me,” John laughed cheekily.
After a year of courtship, the couple married at St Bede’s at Semaphore and spent their honeymoon in Coffin Bay.
Throughout their married life, Chris and John said they have been lucky to live in many places around the state, from Mt Gambier to Port Augusta and Ceduna due to John working for the police.
As well as having a growing family, three children, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, one of their many highlights as a couple was travelling around Australia in their caravan.
“We spent four months on the western side, then another four months around Queensland and New South Wales,” Chris said.
“I told people I put my feet in the ocean on the west coast and then in the east coast all in the same year. There’s nothing like Australia, there’s so much to see and do.”
Fast forward six decades and the couple celebrated their diamond milestone in June surrounded by family and friends at the Marion Club for a meal, as well as a gathering with other residents from Arthur Court.
“One of the ladies bought us a cake to celebrate, which was lovely – it’s a really good bunch of people,” Chris said.
What’s their secret to a long marriage? Communication and respect they both said.
“We were so young when we got married, so we grew up together,” Chris said.
“John is a good man; he’s very kind and very tolerant of other people, he sees the good in people. He’s been a wonderful support especially with my health issues.”
John added: “It goes both ways –there have been some tight times, but if you’ve got the support from your partner there’s nothing you can’t achieve.”
NGAIRE CLOCKS UP 30 YEARS AT ECH
In May, ECH Rental Property Officer Ngaire Merritt celebrated 30 years of working with us.
Ngaire is currently our Rental Property Officer at Kidman Park and does an amazing job helping people find and move into ECH rental units. Over the past 30 years she has worked in several roles at ECH, from receptionist through to the role she has today.
Ngaire said she loves the variety of work, the people she works with, the new challenges her role brings and being able to help people find suitable, safe housing.
“I have so many fond memories of my time at ECH, but the best are of new residents’ joy when I hand over a unit. For some of them, it is the best home they have ever had and they are so grateful. “
Staff who work with Ngaire have expressed great pleasure working with her. They appreciate all the hard work she has contributed over the years and are grateful for all she does for ECH residents every day.
To mark National Volunteers Week in May, we celebrated our wonderful volunteers and community members, at the annual Volunteer Thank-You Lunch.
The festive event, held at the Adelaide Pavilion, was a great opportunity to come together and thank everyone for so generously giving their time to support us.
The 110 guests enjoyed a fun photobooth, band and guest speaker, author and facilitator Gail Miller who spoke about “having a positive mindset as you age”.
We are very thankful to all our volunteers for giving their time so freely to make a positive impact on our service delivery and the lives of our clients.
THANK YOU TO OUR VOLUNTEERS POP UP MUSEUM WITH A HISTORY FLAVOUR
ECH volunteers and staff attended a pop-up museum workshop in June run by the History Trust of South Australia.
Attendees brought along a memento, that represented a pivotal memory from their childhood and learnt how to present and share their history and memories with others.
It was a great relationship-building activity for volunteers and staff, which they can now replicate with clients, their families and friends, to help spark interesting conversations and connect with others more.
Our Happy Valley Get Connected group recently organised to collect donations of toiletries and warm winter items for the charity Life In A Bag.
They collected enough goodies to make 19 bags which were then distributed to people experiencing homelessness or escaping domestic violence.
Congratulations to the group for their kindhearted deed.
EVA’S ARTISTIC FLAIR ON SHOW
ECH client Eva, who turned 90 in June, exhibited her wonderful art creations during August as part of the annual SALA Festival.
A few years ago, Eva transformed her garden shed into an art studio and looked forward to welcoming art enthusiasts to view her works of etchings, linocuts, watercolours and oils.
Eva, who has been a leisure painter for 50 years, loves to paint flowers and landscapes, and is inspired by places she has been on holiday.
“I like to paint whatever comes my way. It could be something on holiday and I think ‘oh, I like that’ and make a sketch,” she said. “Painting is the best way out of a dull day.”
Anumber of our clients and regulars at the Annex Café in Glenelg have been catching up for a coffee and putting their artistic skills to good use in sketchbook and charcoal art workshops. Looking for inspiration the group recently visited the Museum of Discovery and Adelaide Botanic Gardens.
The Annex Café holds a variety of events. To find out more visit ech.asn.au/events
WITTUNGA BOTANIC GARDENS WALK
Clients were explorers for the day when they spent time wandering through the Wittunga Botanic Gardens in June yet they didn’t let the gloomy weather get in the way!
Participants braved the elements to enjoy the picturesque gardens and listened to their excellent guide, Evan.
After a talk about the history of the gardens, they took a lovely walk around the lake and found shelter under the pergola when the skies opened up.
The day was topped off with lunch in Blackwood and a quick stop at the Salvos!
ECH host an array of events each week, if you would like to know more, visit ech.asn.au/events
The cold winter didn’t stop our busy gardeners at the Henley Beach community garden! The group had a workshop on composting which led to wonderful helpers installing a new compost bin.
Everyone is welcome at our community gardens. To learn more visit ech.asn.au/community-connect/ community-gardens
ANNEX CAFE COMMUNITY
HENLEY BEACH COMMUNITY GARDEN
32 YEARS OF GIVING
In July, we celebrated ECH volunteer Iris, who retired after an incredible 32 years, with a morning tea.
Iris, who is 96 years young, started volunteering with ECH exercise classes when she retired from SA Health in 1990 at the age of 65.
When asked what she enjoyed most about volunteering she said “I like working with people and get satisfaction seeing people get enjoyment from being involved in new experiences. It has also supported me to keep fit.”
Thank you, Iris, for the many years of support and for being such a positive and enthusiastic volunteer, we wish you well into your retirement.
Volunteers of the Quarter
May - Tony Tilley
We would like to thank volunteer Tony Tilley for all his work at our Social Day Program in Smithfield. Tony has been heavily involved in setting up a ‘Men’s Shed’ so that we are able to offer activities including woodwork, gardening and more. Without Tony’s help, this wouldn’t have been possible.
Thank you, Tony, you have made a huge difference to so many of the clients who attend.
June - June Passmore
June has been volunteering with us for three years and is now a regular in our community garden at Henley Beach. June is a great advocate for the garden, regularly bringing along others from her village to take part in various activities. June is also one of our artists in residence and has been a great help with our garden signage!
A silent achiever, June has dedicated a huge amount of time in assisting ECH, and we’re very thankful for her contributions.
July - Angela Sacca
We would like to recognise the wonderful support Angela Sacca provides by volunteering at our Social Day Program College Grove. Angela always comes in happy to help with a positive and cheerful attitude. She is a natural with people living with dementia and, as she is fluent in Italian, is a great support to our Italian clients.
Thank you, Angela for providing your support and bringing a smile to those around you.
Spring PUZZLES
NAME THE FLOWER
Fill in the missing letters to complete the flower names. L V R O D S N W R
J S E
B T C P
PASS IT ON
At ECH we are constantly looking at ways to reduce our ecological footprint on the planet. This is why we ask that once you’ve enjoyed this magazine you pass it on to a friend, family member or even your local café so that it gets a long life. This magazine was printed on Forest Stewardship Council certified paper which supports the growth of responsible forest management worldwide.
Fingers crossed
One in a million Multiple
WIN!
Once you have found all the words in the word search, use all the remaining letters in the order they appear to discover the secret sentence. Send this sentence to keepconnected@ech.asn.au or call 1300 275 324 by 28/10/22 and two winners will be drawn at random will each win a $50 EFTPOS gift card.
Winners will be announced in the next issue. Last issue’s winners were Bill Grose and Bruce McQueen.
WORD SEARCH
Daffodil Pollen
BRAIN TEASERS
1. What comes once in a minute, twice in a moment, but never in a thousand years?
2. Until I am measured, I am not known. Yet you miss me, when I have flown. What am I?
3. What runs all around a backyard, yet never moves?