SOCIAL
MAY & JUNE 2025
HELLO FRIENDS
Dear Residents, Families & Friends,
Have you noticed how quickly time seems to fly these days? It feels like just yesterday we were celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, and now Easter is behind us and ANZAC Day has just passed by.
2025 will be remembered as a favourite year to our Irish residents, as they have been provided with, not one, but two themed concerts! The weather was still “summery” and each performer delighted the residents’ ears for an hour at a time. Green cupcakes were on the menu, along with lime cordial cool drinks; and shamrocks distributed among the spectators for good luck.
Easter was very festive, with various colourful and joyful Easter bunnies hopping around the centres, distributing cheer and chocolate eggs. The Easter raffles were a success, with prizes delivered to the lucky winners; an assortment of items in colourful baskets caught the attention of potential winners and were described as "easy on the eye."
On a more solemn note, ANZAC Day was observed early on the 24th, with each care centre celebrating it with their own personal touch. It was also a time to be thankful for the constant support we received from our beloved volunteers, the Auxiliary Committee, and Karen, who didn’t shy away when help was needed. Lest we forget.
We hope everyone had a blessed Easter, full of meaningful and joyful moments with your loved ones.
Warm regards,
Nilla Curia
Nilla Curia
GREAT MOMENTS 1
St Patrick’s Day
St Patrick’s Day at SwanCare was a joyful celebration filled with fun and Irish cheer. Staff decorated the spaces with green and festive touches, creating a lively atmosphere. Residents enjoyed tasty snacks and a cheeky drink, while Waminda hosted chocolate gold bingo and quizzes. Over at Ningana, Kingia, and Tandara, an outdoor concert by Tommy O’Brien had everyone singing along to classic Irish tunes, accompanied by delicious cupcakes.
Harmony Day at SwanCare
Harmony Day brought residents and staff together to celebrate SwanCare’s rich cultural diversity. Many wore orange or traditional attire to mark the occasion. Activities included armchair travel, dancing, and ice cream in the gardens. Kingia and Tandara hosted a vibrant fashion show, while Ningana residents participated in a reading circle to reflect on the meaning of the day. Staff also shared a multicultural lunch, each bringing a dish from their homeland, fostering connection and appreciation for all cultures.
GREAT MOMENTS 2
Easter
The Easter bunny was spotted by many residents in the lead-up to Easter. They brought smiles to the residents while delivering chocolate eggs throughout SwanCare. At Ningana, residents participated in an Easter scavenger hunt and an Easter trivia quiz, which sparked some friendly competition among them. Waminda residents enjoyed an Easter-themed movie, and the staff ensured that all residents were surprised with more eggs on Easter morning. The residents at Kingia and Tandara were very busy with various arts and crafts, cookie decorating, egg hunting, and an Easter party.
NINGANA FAMILY
Arthur’s 100 years young!
In March, our resident Arthur celebrated his 100th birthday, and we had a special afternoon tea to acknowledge this milestone! He had fun and enjoyed being the man of the hour! A big congratulations to our lovely Arthur; he brings joy and laughter wherever he goes.
Men’s Club
Residents enjoyed the Neurons VR experience, these devices have become very popular within our residents, in this occasion they had the opportunity to fly over Kangaroo Island, see a vintage car show and even swim with dolphins, our residents thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
Armchair travel
In April, our residents journeyed to Morocco! This stunning destination, abundant in history and culture, offered delightful gastronomy. Our residents savoured tasty snacks and refreshing mint tea.
Walking clubs
The sun is still shining, and the weather is perfect for taking long walks, our residents are joining in on our walks to the village on Thursday mornings! We even had an Easter edition walking club, we could admire the beautiful garden and enjoy the sunshine and fresh air, our residents are fortunate to live in a beautiful community.
TANDARA FAMILY
The Tandara Easter raffle was a success. Special thanks to those who continuously support us. Congratulations to our lucky winners: 1st prize Bev H, 2nd prize Kim, and 3rd prize Linda N.
Thanks to our Bentley Park Auxiliary Group for sponsoring our Kingia and Tandara Easter gifts given to each resident. We also bought additional decorations, more chocolates, and Easter prizes from their donation. Tandara is blessed with a beautiful fishpond filled with many Koi and other fish. Occasionally, our residents feed them and enjoy time in the courtyard. It’s wonderful to see our residents and their families appreciate the company of others through various activities. Just like Kim M, who came dressed up for St Patrick’s Day. We’re all grateful for her donations and for dressing up her mum, Val H, on different occasions as well. We’d like to extend our regards to Bev F, our longtime Tandara receptionist, who recently retired and celebrated her last day with us in March after 33 years of service.
Lastly, Tandara launched SwanCare Post with Postman Pete delivering postcards and letters to Tandara residents. To begin, Kingia residents created messages using colouring postcards donated by Denise, Phil J’s daughter. The next delivery is on May 12th, and postcards are available at SwanCare Admin. Thanks to the Marketing team for organising this for us.
MESSAGE OF THE MONTH
Energy Conservation in Occupational Therapy
Energy conservation is a strategy used in occupational therapy. It involves planning activities in ways that minimise unnecessary effort, allowing people to maintain independence and improve their quality of life. This approach is especially beneficial for those with chronic illnesses, injuries, or conditions that cause decreased endurance, such as multiple sclerosis, arthritis, or post-surgical recovery.
The primary purpose of energy conservation is to enable individuals to participate in meaningful activities without becoming overly fatigued. Benefits include improved activity tolerance, reduced stress, better time management, and an overall enhancement in physical and emotional well-being. By conserving energy, individuals can engage in more of the activities they enjoy and need to do, leading to a greater sense of control and satisfaction in daily life.
Here are some tips and tricks for using energy conservation techniques during daily activities:
Prioritise tasks: Focus on what’s most important and let go of less critical activities.
Plan ahead: Organize your day to include periods of rest between activities.
Use adaptive equipment: Tools like reachers, shower chairs, and long-handled sponges can reduce strain.
Simplify tasks: Modify activities to require less energy, such as preparing simple meals or using easy-care clothing.
Pace yourself: Break larger tasks into smaller steps and take frequent breaks.
Sit whenever possible: Sit while grooming, cooking, or performing household chores.
Organise your environment: Keep frequently used items within easy reach to avoid unnecessary movement.
Using these energy conservation strategies can empower individuals to live more independently and with greater comfort.
If you have any questions about how the concepts of energy conservation could be applied to your daily tasks, please feel free to reach out to our Occupational Therapist, Alex Parker!
Zalie A.
Keith S.
Barbara P.
Heather J.
Brian L.
Lynette T.
Paul G.
Hip C.
Shui C.
John D.
Denis S. Tandara:
Viv E.
Rosa F.
Margaret P.
Joy C.
Benjamin C.
Sharon D.
Lynette W. Rajalakshmi K.
Charles L.
Anna O.
Judith R. Kingia:
Janette W.
Waminda:
STAR WARS
