SOCIAL
JULY & AUGUST 2025
HELLO FRIENDS
Dear Residents, Families & Friends,
Welcome to our July-August 2025 edition of our Social Engagement Newsletter.
We have been very fortunate to enjoy the last rays of sunshine of this autumn season with outdoor activities, concerts, walking club and Cycling Without Age rides around our village.
Our residents and staff from all the care centres held beautiful ANZAC Day services to pay their respects to the fallen during the World War. It was moving and meaningful for all to commemorate this important day.
To celebrate Mother’s Day, we hosted a beautiful outdoor concert featuring the very talented Daniel Drieberg from WAAPA, who delivered a magical performance that was perfect for Mother’s Day. Our residents really enjoyed Daniel’s performance as he showcased his different talents.
In June, we commemorated World Elder Abuse Awareness Day and staff were encouraged to wear purple to raise awareness of this very important matter.
In other news, we are excited to announce our very first “SwanCare Games” will be held in August; residents from our care centres will join in some friendly competition. It will be a day filled with fun, laughter and good sportsmanship.
Once again, we would like to thank all our volunteers who help us out every month and the SwanCare Centres Auxiliary committee for their kind donations for our activities, our residents and staff are grateful for your ongoing support.
Yours,
Claudia Becerra
Claudia Becerra
GREAT MOMENTS 1
ANZAC Day
ANZAC Day is a day to remember and honour those who served and sacrificed their lives to bring peace to our country. To commemorate this important day, our Social Engagement team held ceremonies across our care centres.
Waminda and Ningana had beautiful services. Residents were very involved and played an important role during the ceremonies, some read “the poem”, some placed the wreath and other residents sat in remembrance, while the team leaders read the ceremony. It was a special and meaningful moment for all present. Residents at Waminda enjoyed a special morning tea after the ceremony.
Kingia and Tandara residents created arts and crafts for ANZAC. They made poppies that were used for the ANZAC Day ceremony in the Concourse room, facilitated by our Social Engagement team member Megan G. Afterwards, residents John L. and Geoffrey H. solemnly laid wreaths.
GREAT MOMENTS 2
Mother’s Day
Daniel Drieberg from WAAPA entertained our residents from all four care centres with a lovely performance to celebrate Mother’s Day. They enjoyed this moving afternoon and delighted us with his amazing talent; it was a beautiful concert.
Waminda residents indulged in a relaxing pamper session, enjoying face masks and manicures while sipping on some bubbly drinks. Residents from Ningana enjoyed a fun Mocktail afternoon party, where the mums sipped a variety of fancy mocktails, accompanied by cheese and crackers and lots of fun and laughs, chatting and reminiscing about motherhood.
Kingia and Tandara mums and mothering women had a blast during their Mother's Day party. They all received a special rose from Bed, Bath and Table with a greeting card. All the party attendees received a gift bag from the raffle. Alongside music and cakes, they also enjoyed tasting some Moscato. We want to express our gratitude to Denise, Philip J's daughter, who has been such a blessing to us—especially to the K1 residents. She gifted potted succulents from the children in the OSH Club of John Wollaston School.
Purple Day
In honour of Elder Abuse Awareness Day on the 15th of June, the staff and several residents wore purple across our four care centres. The Social Engagement team from Waminda also made purple pancakes for the residents. There were many weird looks, but ultimately the smell and taste won them over, with residents going back for seconds and even thirds.
KINGIA FAMILY
In addition to having a Mother’s Day party with gifts, roses and cards for our wonderful women in Kingia, they were also visited by The Reed Collective and Communicare. Our residents received lovely bouquets of flowers, which were welcomed with awe and wonder.
Congratulations to Valma P. for celebrating her 90th birthday with family and friends here at Kingia. She was all smiles as she unwrapped a turquoise (her favourite colour) scarf and a pair of cosy, fluffy socks. Then she shared her ice cream cake and played passthe-parcel with a quiz about herself.
Other activity highlights were International Nurses Day biology quiz, WA day quiz and armchair travel to New Zealand. We are pleased to inform you that all Kingia and Tandara weekend activities began on the 21st of June. Officially, we had weekend activities before, but they were only displayed on our weekly calendars in the Memory Care Unit. Thank you for your support and input at the residents/relatives meeting.
NINGANA FAMILY
SwanCare Ningana has been taking advantage of the warm autumn with lots of activities and fun. The warm weather was still on our side, allowing our residents to enjoy the Cycling Without Age rides around the village and refreshing walks in our courtyard when the sun was out. When the rain comes, our memory care unit residents have a good excuse to join Coffee Club and enjoy a nice cup of cappuccino!
Food Experience
Our team has delighted our residents with two Food Experience sessions. We had “Dips Around the World” where we residents were part of a live cooking experience, watching our Social Engagement team prepare a variety of dips and then dipping in enjoyment trying them all! Additionally, “Chip Chip Hooray” took the residents on a journey to learn a little bit about the history of chips and how this favourite snack has become popular. Our residents were delighted to try different sorts of hot chips and toppings.
Men’s Club
Since we started the Men's Club, our male residents have been able to gather with their peers, have fun, chat and enjoy each other's company. This time, our residents got artistic and went above and beyond, becoming artists of the brush, learning new painting techniques while enjoying a nice, warm cappuccino!
TANDARA FAMILY
Our Tandara residents created beautiful flowers made up of pistachio shells and dough to celebrate International Nurses Day. To show their appreciation, they gifted these flowers to nurses and invited them to wear their nurses’ caps as residents held on to their greetings.
Congratulations to John L. who turned 90. He celebrated his milestone with an intimate family gathering and then another with his fellow residents for the end-of-the-month celebrations. Our staff don't miss events like this, and some residents might even be surprised by birthday room decorations appearing out of the blue.
Other highlights include armchair travel to Singapore and SwanCare Post with our very own Postman Pete delivering greeting cards from Admin staff. Thank you to all our sweet and thoughtful admin staff for filling up our mailbox.
Kingia and Tandara had a memorial service for those who passed away, which is held every three months. Lastly, we also started our practice for the upcoming SwanCare Games. The practices happen every week on each floor, and then another one that is combined for Kingia and Tandara to compete.
WAMINDA FAMILY
With the recent opening of "Main Street" at Waminda, residents are now enjoying access to several newly updated areas within the building.
The hairdressing salon has undergone a refreshing makeover, creating a more open and relaxing environment. Many residents have been taking full advantage of the improved space, enjoying their appointments in comfort and style.
A newly established physiotherapy room is now in use and is being temporarily shared between the Physiotherapy team and the Social Engagement team while renovations continue in the activities room. Despite the shared space, the program has seen an increase in exercise-focused activities, much to the delight of residents.
In addition, the Pain and Relaxation Clinic has resumed just in time for the cooler winter months. Residents have been embracing the return of heat packs and soothing massages - perfect for keeping warm and relaxed this season.
MESSAGE OF THE MONTH
Hello everyone,
My name is Danni, and I’m delighted to join the team as your new Dietitian. I’d like to sincerely thank Alicia for her outstanding contribution and the care she provided. I look forward to getting to know you all and supporting your health and well-being through nutrition.
Winter is back—and often brings some unwelcome visitors: cold, flu, and lower energy. With shorter daylight hours and colder temperatures, it's normal to feel a bit off. But there are ways to support your body and stay well during the winter months. Below are some key areas to be mindful of as the seasons change:
1. Managing Appetite
Changes in appetite are common during winter. Some people tend to eat more, while others may eat less due to lower mood or reduced activity. Why it matters:
Eating too much can lead to unwanted weight gain, while eating too little can result in low energy and nutrient deficiencies.
What you can do:
• Try to eat small and regular meals throughout the day—even if you're not very hungry.
• Choose nutrient-rich foods that keep your energy levels stable, like whole grains, lean protein, fruits, and vegetables.
• Consider vitamin D-rich foods like fortified cereals or oily fish (e.g., salmon), as we get less sunlight in winter. Studies show that low vitamin D can affect appetite and mood.
2. Digestive Health & Fibre
Colder weather and reduced physical activity can slow down digestion, leading to constipation or irregular bowel movements. This can cause discomfort and affect overall well-being.
Tips to support digestive health:
• Eat more fibre-rich foods:
- Wholegrain breads and cereals (e.g., Weet-Bix, oats, bran)
- Vegetables and fruits digestion regular and prevent constipation. Physical activity is also linked to improved mood and immune function.
- Legumes such as beans, lentils, and chickpeas
• Stay hydrated: Even if you don’t feel thirsty, drinking enough fluids is essential. Warm drinks like milky tea or soups are great options in winter.
• Keep moving:
Light indoor exercise, walking, or stretching can help keep digestion regular and prevent constipation. Physical activity is also linked to improved mood and immune function.
Danuta H.
IT'S A CELEBRATION!
Birthdays & Milestones
JUNE BIRTHDAYS 4th Shirley S. 22nd John M. 25th Maxine T. 26th Doris H.
JULY BIRTHDAYS 10th Joseph G. 10th Joan B. 11th Georgette N. 11th Glenice J. 14th Robert H. 19th Alan H. 21st Gordon B. 21st Marianna D. 23rd Winsome D. 25th Anne L. 28th Sally O. 29th Hendrik D. 31st Robin W. A BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO VALMA P., PATRICIA W., JANICE B. & JOHN L. WHO WILL BE CELEBRATING THEIR UPCOMING BIRTHDAY MILESTONES! Much love from the SwanCare Team. JUNE BIRTHDAYS 3rd Sharon D. 9th John L. 12th Zenaida B. 21st Jan D. JULY BIRTHDAYS 1st Pamela L. 2nd Judith B. 3rd Jennifer M. 9th Hylton M. 14th Margaret B. 23rd Carl C. 23rd Heather C. 28th Ibtessam S. JUNE BIRTHDAYS 3rd Maria C. 18th Valma P. 19th Kerry M. 27th June S. JULY BIRTHDAYS 2nd Hilda P. 3rd Patricia W. 4th Edith S. 8th Margaret O. 26th Michelle M.
JULY BIRTHDAYS 10th Gloria T. 11th Eileen B. 29th Stefania D. JUNE BIRTHDAYS 4th Thomas P. 7th Graham C. 9th Helen C. 14th Lay (Linda) W. 19th Doreen H. 20th John B. 22nd Kevin G. 23rd Allen S. 25th Janice B. 26th Alan P. 28th Ian E. 29th Lesley Y.
ALWAYS SOMEONE TO TALK TO
Kingia, Ningana, Tandara & Waminda
visiting hours: Monday to Sunday 9:00am to 7:00pm
Spritz Café hours:
Monday to Friday 7:30am to 3:00pm
Jarrah Café hours: Monday & Tuesday 6:30am to 1:00pm
*Commencing 14th July
General Manager Health & Aged Care Services
Wednesday to Friday 6:30am to 3:00pm
Saturday & Sunday 8:00am to 3:00pm
Julie Atkinson
Admissions Coordinator Tina Franklin
Clinical Operations Manager Rikke Wallace
Food Services Dietitian Danni Gillman
SwanCare Kingia & Tandara Managers
SwanCare Ningana Managers
SwanCare Waminda Managers
Jovy Tesani Iva Gayagoy
Sharleen Mann
Arnel Braulio
Pauline Bremner Bindhya Baby Theres
There are plenty of volunteering opportunities for you to share your skills and time with our residents, so get in touch with us to express your interest. WE LOVE