SOCIAL
HELLO FRIENDS
Dear Residents, Families & Friends,
Welcome to the spring issue of our Social Engagement Newsletter.
This edition will provide a recap of all the main events our residents celebrated from September to November and a brief window in our festive season.
We have been subjected to a wild spring, with heated days and wintery nights, but our SE team has tempered itself to it, providing excellent events on the way.
With Father’s Day celebrations done and dusted, the next event on the list was Halloween.
While not a mainstream Australian holiday, the SE team decided to spread the fun within our care homes, along with treats. Staff dressed up for the occasion and took part in a fashion parade, giving the residents the opportunity to have their say in who had the best appearance. The princess elf was voted the winner!
Melbourne Cup followed with a whizz of bonnets and horseshoes, leaving behind a bunch of happy sweepers.
Remembrance Day was solemnly observed by many with only few participants’ eyes left dry following a touching service by Reverend James.
On a happier note, Christmas is around the corner and the following is what we have in the pipeline:
• The Mackie Street singers will delight us with their performance at the beginning of the month
• Bunnings’ Santa Claus will be visiting
• Janie O’ to deliver a concert at The Club
• Christmas Lights bus tours to the city will be facilitated
• Christmas High Tea in our care homes are scheduled
All in all, a very bustling festive season.
Before closing, I would like to send a heartfelt thank you to the SwanCare Centres Auxiliary and to all the volunteers for their support throughout the year. Wishing you all a remarkable Christmas and a sizzling New Year.
Yours,
Nilla Curia
Nilla Curia
GREAT MOMENTS 1
Let the Games Begin!
Residents from all four homes gathered for the SwanCare Games, starting with SwanCare Kingia vs SwanCare Tandara and later SwanCare Waminda vs SwanCare Ningana in Waminda’s refurbished Clubhouse. Laughter filled the room during beanbag toss and skittles, with bright house colours adding to the festive spirit.
Congratulations to Waminda and Kingia who were this year’s champions! We look forward to the ultimate showdown in the new year.
Father’s Day Fun
Kingia and Tandara celebrated with a week of dad jokes, quizzes, crafts and games like paper airplane contests and target shooting, ending with parties and champagne bottles filled with chocolates for every man.
Raffles featured SwanCare goodies, thanks to the Marketing Team. And thanks to Elaine for sponsoring the raffle and to Philip J and her daughter Denise for their special treats including those made by OSH Club kids.
Ningana residents enjoyed an afternoon in the garden with target shooting, remote-controlled car races, drinks and snacks. It was a joyful Father’s Day for all!
GREAT MOMENTS 2
Spooktacular Celebrations
Creepy crawlies, friendly bats and a variety of fun Halloween decorations filled our homes as we celebrated the spooky season this year. Residents at Waminda enjoyed a relaxed afternoon of Halloweenthemed treats while watching Hocus Pocus. The mummy dogs and spider Oreos were especially popular, bringing lots of smiles and laughter. Meanwhile, residents and staff at Ningana had fun “Trick or Treating” on Halloween Day morning. Staff dressed up and shared the fun with our residents; we all loved it!
Residents and staff at Kingia and Tandara celebrated Halloween in style! Everyone enjoyed posing with festive photo props and many joined in the fun by wearing creative costumes. The highlight was the staff fashion show, where each costume was introduced and the competition was fierce. Winners Leidy O, Luis B, and Sheridan R were recognised for their standout costumes. After the fashion show, residents participated in games like the sticky notes TikTok challenge, monster hunting and stop dance. Halloween treats were shared on each floor along with Halloween cupcakes during the party. It was a fun-filled, festive day!
GREAT MOMENTS 3
Cup Day Reigns Supreme
Racing fever hit Waminda as residents gathered in the Clubhouse for morning tea, bubbly and the big race, with fun games and quizzes adding to the cheer.
Kingia and Tandara built excitement with themed crafts and quizzes before enjoying a festive Melbourne Cup Luncheon. Fancy hats, televised races and a lively horse race game brought plenty of laughs and friendly competition.
At Ningana, residents dressed to impress, sipped pre-race drinks, joined sweepstakes and capped off the day with racing games and snacks. A fabulous celebration for all!
FRAMED MOMENTS 1
TANDARA FAMILY
Footy Finals
The AFL Grand Finals brought a week of excitement to both Kingia and Tandara, where residents immersed themselves in all things footy. During one craft session, residents created colourful pompoms, which they proudly used during their lively footy match. It was a joyful morning filled with cheering and plenty of smiles as everyone enjoyed a refreshing change of scenery outdoors.
At Tandara, residents held their footy game in the shaded courtyard, creating a relaxed and cheerful atmosphere. The calming sound of the water fountain and the gentle movement of the Koi fish added to the peaceful setting.
Keeping Crafty
Throughout Spring, Tandara residents have also been busy with a wide range of art and craft activities. Their projects have included themes such as Father’s Day, Spring, Footy Finals, Halloween, the Melbourne Cup, Remembrance Day, and even early Christmas decorations. A big thank you goes to our dedicated staff member, Sue, whose creativity and hard work have made these wonderful activities possible.
Special Thanks
Another special thank you goes out to everyone who helped feed our Halloween Chocolate Monsters in both Kingia and Tandara! The residents will have plenty of treats to enjoy as bingo prizes and the remaining funds will allow us to purchase supplies for upcoming activities. Your support is greatly appreciated!
WAMINDA FAMILY
Hands on Christmas Cake
Waminda residents were joined by the hospitality team to start the prep for the Christmas cakes. Residents were shown how to properly sanitise their hands and to wear the appropriate food safety gear before mixing the fruit and rum together. The fruit will soak for a month before the residents then head to the main kitchens to assist in the next stage of the process.
Expert Self Care
Each week, our Physiotherapy and Social Engagement teams come together to host the Pain & Relaxation Clinic. Residents enjoy a calming afternoon that includes manicure and nail care provided by our Social Engagement staff, along with soothing massages and heat therapy from our Physio team. The clinic continues to grow in popularity and it’s wonderful to see so many residents taking part and enjoying the experience.
MESSAGE OF THE MONTH
Grading and Adapting in Occupational Therapy
By Alex parker
In occupational therapy, grading and adapting are key strategies used to help us continue to participate in meaningful activities as independently and safely as possible.
This entry will focus on our understanding of grading.
Grading means adjusting the level of difficulty of a task to suit the person’s current ability. We then gradually increase the difficulty, until the desired goal or level is achieved. It is important to make each step achievable but still challenging enough to promote improvement and/or engagement.
Grading terminology
Common terms
Grading up - increasing the difficulty.
Example
Making a sandwich and then progressing to a more complex meal like making a full dinner.
Grading downdecreasing the difficulty. Instead of assembling a sandwich, the individual just gathers the ingredients.
Grading also includes varied levels of assistance.
Stay tuned for the next Occupational Therapy entry to learn more about the concept of ‘adapting.’
Concept Definition
Grading
Adapting
Changing the challenge level of the task to improve ability and performance.
Changing the task or environment to fit the person.
Example
Gradually increasing participation in dressing; assistance to button up jumper, to being able to complete with no assistance.
Using thick-handled cutlery and plate guards during meals
Kingia:
Barbara D.
Hilda O.
Hazel P.
Jean B.
Lorna W.
Jansje T.
Hermanus T.
Gregory C.
Alice L.
Tandara:
Barbara M.
Maureen B.
Janise S.
Mervyn C.
Beverly C.
Brian D.
Terence W.
Meg W.
Olive D.
Waminda:
Susan F.
Vincent F
Norman D C.
William B.
Margaret T.
Roslyn C.
Robert R.
John S.
Jan J.
Joao R.
Jeffrey L.
Rose S.
Wendy P.
Sheila T.
Doreen H.
Janice C.
Michael N.
Charlotte S.
Patricia S.
Simon W.
Elaine K.
Denise P.
Margaret R.
Lynne J.
Mary M.
Birthdays & Milestones
NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS
2nd Jeanette B. 10th Kevin B. 11th Rose B. 20th Valma C. 21st Barbara D. 21st Danuta H. 23rd Calvin S. 25th Norman R.
26th Geoffrey H.
DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS 1st Ah Foon L. 1st Valmai O. 4th Gwenyth S.
JANUARY BIRTHDAYS
NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS
DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS
6th Philip H. 16th Norman R. 20th Edward C. 20th Edna P.
25th Philip J. 26th Jon W. 27th Pauline D. 28th Joan S.
8th Bill M. 9th Bruce H. 10th Rod N. 16th Jill P. 18th Kathy C. 21st Connie L. 30th Irene T.
2nd Lois D. 2nd Shirley R. 4th Patricia C. 10th Pat C.
JANUARY BIRTHDAYS
NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS
12th Bev G. 14th Juliet B. 15th Jack M. 16th Barrie R. 22nd Audrey H. 23rd Anne E. 24th Blanche T. 25th Barbara K.
25th Elaine A.
5th Brian C. 5th Isobella M. 8th Pearl R. 10th Letty R. 10th Maria I. 13th Denis S. 14th Maggie H. 14th Rosa C.
21st John M. 27th Leonie H.
3rd Kathleen K. 6th Peter D. 8th Thomas M. 10th Mohammad A. 25th Malathie G. DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS 4th Janise S. 9th Olive D. 10th Colin K. 20th Khoon L.
21st Alice L. 22nd Ricky R. 31st Edward F.
JANUARY BIRTHDAYS 6th Beverley C. 8th Jill H. 10th Valeria H. 22nd Tahereh L. 29th Gregory C.
NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS 1st Norman D C. 3rd Joan F. 4th Ken L. 7th Richard H. 11th Pat W. 13th Beryl C. 19th Wendy P. 21st Rosa F. 22nd Joyce C. 22nd Joao R. 24th Maise P. 27th Basil K.
29th Janice C.
DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS 12th Swee S. 12th Florence D. 14th Nellie C. 15th Robert R.
21st Audrey B. 21st Augusta C. 28th Evelyn C.
JANUARY BIRTHDAYS 4th Priscilla A. 4th Jean P. 15th Margery B. 19th Elizabeth C. 22nd Bev D. 28th Roula G. 29th Ken H.
MEET THE TEAM
Marketing & Communications
Ever admired a new sign, read a heartwarming story or liked a Facebook post and wondered, “Who creates this?” That’s just part of what our Marketing & Communications team does!
From publications and signage to our website, advertising and corporate collateral; if it has a SwanCare logo, it’s in their hands. This dynamic duo works hard to keep our brand strong and our community proud.
Nancy Kingston, Head of Marketing & Communications, shares how she and Creative & Design Lead, Sean Le, contribute to enriching lives and ensuring SwanCare remains a highly desirable place to live.
“When I started in 2021, I noticed how happy everyone seemed.” says Nancy. “Our residents and staff are our biggest ambassadors, so showcasing SwanCare’s authentic self through our work just makes sense. It provides true connection to our brand which stock photos or actors can’t. Utilising our own people also has the added benefit of instilling a sense of pride within our residents and our staff which maintains our position of being a highly desirable community for our residents and employer of choice for prospective staff. Plus, their families love seeing what everyone is up to.”
No two days are ever the same and you’ll often spot Nancy and Sean around campus, camera in hand, capturing special moments and stories. If you see them, don’t forget to say “cheese”!
ALWAYS SOMEONE TO TALK TO
SwanCare Kingia Reception (08) 6250 0100
Care Services Manager Jovy Tesani
Clinical Nurse Manager Iva Gayagoy
SwanCare Ningana Reception (08) 6250 0650
Care Services Manager Sharleen Mann
Clinical Nurse Manager Arnel Braulio
SwanCare Tandara Reception (08) 6250 0101
Care Services Manager Jovy Tesani
Clinical Nurse Manager Iva Gayagoy
SwanCare Waminda Reception (08) 6250 0051
Care Services Manager Pauline Bremner
SwanCare 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 Wednesday to Friday 6:30am to 3:00pm Saturday & Sunday 8:00am to 3:00pm
25th December 14th February 26TH JANUARY
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.