Message from the CEO

Hello good people,

I hope this finds you all well and in good spirits.

Welcome to another Everglow newsletter.

With the challenges of COVID-19, I want to reassure you that we continue to do everything that has been asked of us, in terms of putting in place measures to focus on our goal, which is protecting you from coronavirus.

Every time we have receive updated guidance, we have put this in place. However, what we are learning is that while we anticipated infection controls and processes - which we previously used as a matter of course with influenza and other infections - this virus is insidious and asymptomatic and is changing infection control policies and practices. 

That is why it is important for everybody - be they State of Federal government, aged care providers, health authorities or hospitals - to work together to make sure that every effort and every resource is afforded to our care team.

Our team members should always be asking the mandatory questions of you when they attend your home. If not, please advice your case manager immediately.

This information will only impact small amount of clients with Everglow. Clients accessing Social Support Group services through the CHSP who transition to a Home Care Package (HCP) after 1st July 2020 can continue accessing this service type as a CHSP client. You will not be charged cost recovery fees or asked to cease your service after transitioning to a HCP. You may choose to use your individualised package budget to pay the existing client contribution fee.

In continuing to provide a voice for members, I sent correspondence to Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck outlining the growing number of elderly people who are feeling distressed and lost at accessing and navigating the Federal Government's My Aged Care system which for many, is extremely complicated.

Many within the aged care community are simply unable to access a computer or understand how to navigate the system which is presenting a huge barrier to them being able to access important services.

Everglow believes there is desperate need for a complete overhaul of the My Aged Care system, to better support and enhance the lives of elderly Australians trying to access assistance.

As always, I welcome any feedback from you in relation to your services or any opportunities for improvement.

Until next month, stay safe .

Wayne  

How you may receive a congratulatory message from the Governor-General

Australians can receive congratulatory messages from Her Majesty the Queen and the Governor- General for :

• 50th wedding anniversaries (from the Governor-General only)
• 60th, 65th, 70th wedding anniversaries (and every year after - upon application)
• 100th , 105th birthday (and every year after - upon application.

If you are interested, below is the link to the website and it explains the the process and documents required to be eligible.

https://www.gg.gov.au/about-governor-general/receiving-congratulatory-message-governor-general

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Kurts Corner - Home Maintenance Team

Hello again My Friends,

Last time we spoke we spoke of getting our grass nice and green and getting rid of that pesky bindi. Hopefully you have had more luck than I have in this endeavour, my bindi fields are nice and healthy. This time I would like to talk about some of the other pesky pests that we are starting to encounter. I think the most prevalent are the flying variety ie: mosquitoes, flies, sand flies, I could go on but i won't. I have found, not fool proof mind you that for the most part air movement is a good way to reduce the chance of them lounging around and dinning on us. A fan, yes or the wind we have now is the cheapest way. There are plants that are natural repellents but I will cover them another time.

Another common pest we have mosquitoes and toads as they like wet areas. I am yet to find a way myself to control these pests and i am open to suggestions, probably the best way to limit them is to ensure you don't have water laying around. Unlike mosquitoes toads don't mind if the water is moving ie: fountain or other water feature. Unfortunately, they will be around hiding in the dark recesses of anywhere they can find while we fight to maintain a nice green lawn.

The other critter I would like to mention here are snakes. With the dry weather and the higher ground away from us where they usually hang out getting drier, they are heading down to the lower areas for water and food. As you are aware, we have a large variety of legless wonders here in North Queensland, some of which don't play nice with others so I would recommend leaving them all along and they will soon enough be on their way. If you are not sure what flavour they are and would like them removed I highly recommend James Bindoff. I have known him for some time and he is a fully certified and ensured snake removalist. He has removed a snake from our workshop and is very passionate about what he does. He can be contacted on 0438 346 679, there is a charge unfortunately however we also know that doing anything other than these to options is either dangerous or illegal.

Remember if in doubt leave it be or call the professionals.                                                                        That's about all I have room for this time so until we speak again take it easy and look after yourself.  

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Announcement - Event in September

Biggest Morning Tea to help raise money for Cancer Foundation

Location: House of Praise Corner of Mather Street and Bayswater Road Mount Louisa

Date : Friday 25th September 2020 

Time: 10am - 12pm

Cost: $5.00 entry includes Cent Sale, Raffle and Morning Tea

Feeling More Steady and Balanced Through Our Feet By Tracey Uber Cook

In our gentle exercise classes, we have been working on paying attention to our feet. Our feet are our direct connection with the Earth. They are our foundation of support, they carry the weight of our entire bodies, and are often overlooked in our daily life.

Our feet play such an important role in our health, so it is important that we understand the ways in which they support us. It is also important that we pay attention to how the weight of our bodies is distributed through what we call the Base of Support.

The Base of Support through our feet includes 3 points on each foot + the distance between the feet (see the above diagram, courtesy of Leslie Kaminoff)

In our Gentle Exercise classes, we spend time in each Friday session finding and feeling these points of contact in the feet and rotating our attention and weight distribution between these points. This helps to create a sensory memory of the Base of Support so that we remain connected to it throughout the day.

We also practice sitting and standing postures that work with keeping the Base of Support even through all the 3 points in each foot

By working with the Base of Support through our feet, we are able to:

1. Establish and maintain better posture
2. Improve our balance and stability
3. Feel more steady and confident with movement

Please join us for Gentle Exercise and Morning Tea 

Monday 9:30am with Rike

Fridays 9:30am and 11:00am with Tracey 

At Railway Estate Community Centre

We would love to see you there!

Wellness Corner  

As a part of continuous improvement, staff/client investment, education and relationship building we provide ongoing delivery of education around the Aged Care Standards to all staff.                        Quality standards really connect our staff with our clients in all roles at all levels and at Everglow, we are proud to provide cultural inclusion supporting our clients independence and ability to live the life they choose.                                                                                                                                            This months focus has been Standard 1. Consumer Dignity and Choice.                                                This standard is the foundation reflecting 7 important concepts and is centred around the     person - YOU.       

1. Dignity and Respect - Empowering your independence
2. Identity, culture and diversity - Understanding you, your values and sensitivities
3. Cultural Safety - Understanding culture, acknowledging differences, working together
4. Choice - You are to be included in decisions about your life - your voice matters
5. Dignity of risk - Skydiving? Yes, yes you can!!! Risky - Yes!But together we can find a way
6. Information - Education is the key to understanding so YOU can make informed choices
7. Personal Privacy - Respecting privacy is key to building trusting, positive relationships                                                                                                                                               

These concepts recognise the important of YOU - your sense of self. They also highlight the importance of your rights in being able to act independently, make your own choices and contribute to all that makes you - YOU. Contributing to your community and social engagement are also important in fostering social inclusion, health and well-being.

I have also been speaking to our valued clients about these concepts and it was heart-warming to hear that clients feel accepted and valued whatever their needs, ability, preferences, age, spirituality, mental health status or culture. Clients also reported that they always feel welcome, comfortable and safe with our staff and are encouraged to make decisions about their care and services.

This is great news... Over the coming months I will also be delivering this education directly to our clients, their families and carers and the community... Dates will be out shortly

Information and understanding build trusting relationships and are key to what this is all about - YOU.

Until next month, stay safe.

Tanya Rowan                                                                                                                                                        Wellness Coordinato

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