News

Leading South Australian not-for-profit aged care provider ACH Group is celebrating its 70th birthday in 2022.

ACH Group, or as it was initially known Aged Cottage Homes, was founded in 1952 by Sir Keith Wilson, a former Senator for South Australia, and Federal Member for Sturt.

ACH Group CEO Frank Weits said throughout the seven decades the organisation has been proud to positively impact the lives of hundreds of thousands of South Australians.

“For 70 years ACH Group has supported older people to live and age well, acted as passionate advocates in challenging ageist stereotypes, and helped shape Australia’s aged care sector,” he said.

“Following in the footsteps of our founder Sir Keith Wilson, who was a trailblazer in supporting older people, ACH Group continues to be at the forefront of innovation contributing to current aged care reform and reimaging services to provide better health and wellbeing outcomes for residents and customers.”

Identifying the need for low rent home options for older people, Sir Keith championed the campaign to raise funds to build housing for older couples, with the first completed in Payneham in Adelaide’s east in 1954.

Then-Prime Minister Robert Menzies became interested in Sir Keith’s efforts as the government insisted it was preferable to have these homes built and managed by religious or philanthropic organisations rather than by government. Sir Keith’s work inspired the creation of the Aged Persons Homes Act 1954, which provided grants toward the capital of building the homes.

Evolving from the initial focus on housing, ACH Group is now one South Australia’s largest not-for-profit organisations with eight residential care homes and 700 retirement living units located across metropolitan Adelaide and the Fleurieu Peninsula. While in the community ACH Group offers a range of help at home, health, wellbeing, respite,  and social experiences.

In 2022, ACH Group employs more than 2000 staff and supports over 20,000 older South Australians.

“Our caring and committed workforce is integral to ACH Group. I pay tribute to and thank our current and previous staff and volunteers dedicated to supporting older people to live good lives,” Mr Weits said.

Looking to the future, Mr Weits detailed a series of developments for the aged care provider including construction of Healthia, a $40 million health and education hub in Adelaide’s northern community featuring a state-of-the-art residential care home.

“Healthia, which encompasses a powerful partnership with UniSA, City of Playford and the Northern Adelaide Local Health Network, will improve the health and lifestyle outcomes for Adelaide’s northern community and reimagine residential aged care,” he said.

Furthermore, ACH Group will expand its health and wellness offering in the community with a new $4.5 million Health Studio 50+ to be built in Rostrevor.

Healthia is due to open in mid-2023, while Health Studio 50+ Rostrevor is currently scheduled to be completed by the end of 2023.

A series of celebrations will be held with staff, volunteers, customers, and residents to mark ACH Group’s 70th birthday.

Download: Media release – ACH Group’s 70th birthday

ACH Group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Ageing Research Institute (NARI) bringing the organisations together to improve the health and wellbeing of older people.

The new agreement aims to strengthen the capacity of both organisations to jointly pursue research goals, provide expert leadership, and promote excellence in the field of ageing and aged care.

“ACH Group has recently developed a research and development strategy and our new alliance with NARI will enhance our strong commitment to being evidence-based and data informed,” ACH Group CEO Frank Weits said.

“ACH Group is passionate about re-imaging aged care, including developing new models, technology and innovations to meet the changing needs of our customers.

“This collaboration will support ACH Group to make practical changes that will have a lasting positive impact on residents, home care customers, and carers.”

NARI Acting Director, Associate Professor Frances Batchelor, said the partnership will be invaluable to both organisations, fostering research and service delivery of the highest quality.

“By working closely with an aged care organisation like ACH Group, NARI will be able to embed our research into everyday practice. In this way, evidence-based interventions can be rolled out directly into care homes and services, and we can make positive change,” Associate Professor Batchelor said.

“Building relationships with industry bodies allows for vital progress to be made, with the input and consideration of those at the heart of our work – older people and their carers. This new agreement will help us continue with our strategic approach to knowledge transfer, education, training, and upskilling of health professionals.”

With both NARI and ACH Group focused on a consumer-led approach, the partnership will provide opportunities for new research, funding, and workforce capacity building, benefiting both parties and — most importantly — the older people they support.

A total of seven events were held across ACH Group Retirement Living communities to mark the celebration.

Friendships, having a laugh, and looking out for one another were common sentiments shared at the recent events.

More than 250 retirement living residents attended events in their community hub from 22 March – 8 April, where along with enjoying a chat and food, residents shared what they most enjoy about their community.

A keep-sake board on display in the hubs has captured these thoughts.

Responses included,

• ‘The social club at JEC is so good,
• ‘I love the people we interact with and love having a laugh,’
• ‘Smiles and support when needed’.

Held annually, on the last Sunday of March, Neighbour Day is a celebration of community.

It also aims to support sustainable and respectful relationships across communities, while helping to address loneliness.

Competition Winner

As part of Neighbour Day, residents were invited to enter a competition for the chance to win a Samsung Galaxy Tablet. To be in the running residents wrote a favourite memory they’d experienced with a neighbour.

While there were many lovely memories shared, there could only be one winner.

Congratulations to Helen and Tony, residents of Cornish Street.

Helen and Tony shared,

“Our first COVID affected ANZAC Day Dawn Service. We all met at dawn in our night gear in front of our units, all holding candles, with the service coming from a radio in a garage – pets included!”

ACH Group’s art community is ready for the 2021 South Australian Living Artists (SALA) Festival.

In its 11^th year of participation, ACH Group’s community of customers, residents, volunteers, and staff have submitted over 100 works under the theme of ‘From little things big things grow’ to be exhibited across three venues state-wide.

The majority of works have been created in ACH Group’s community arts groups, run across metropolitan Adelaide and the Fleurieu Peninsula, as well as art classes in residential care homes.

Community class artist Stephen Hill has submitted an acrylic on canvas painting of a Monarch butterfly sitting on a sunflower.

The SALA Festival marks one year since Stephen joined the ACH Group art class held in Aberfoyle Park.

Stephen is living with Parkinson’s Disease, and the prospects of a new hobby he would enjoy, combined with being aware that art can be a useful therapy for Parkinson’s made the decision to join the group an easy one.

“With Parkinson’s there is nothing you can do about its existence and progression. It is all about managing and finding activities that might make it easier to live with it,” he said.

“The activity forces my brain and nervous system to concentrate hard, so I can hold the paint brush steady.

“Even though I had never done painting in my adult life, I have always had a certain interest in it and in high school I was fairly good at it. I am enjoying the classes and look forward to exhibiting in SALA.”

To celebrate SALA, ACH Group is offering free come and try art classes available to people aged 65 and over.

To find a class near you and for exhibition opening times visit www.achgroup.org.au/event/sala/

ACH Group has welcomed experienced and prize-winning artist Linda Hammond to the role of art teacher for Art in Focus.

Linda, who owns her own studio, is enthusiastic about all different types of art and is committed to making a difference in the lives of those she teaches and supporting charities that help injured wildlife.

Linda is also a proud participant in ‘100 Artworks for Koalas’, an initiative raising funds to support koalas, that will be going live soon. She has also donated a watercolour koala artwork to be auctioned with funds raised going to the Adelaide Koala and Wildlife Hospital.

“I also do a lot of charity pieces during the year, in last year’s devastating bushfires I managed to raise over $500 for charities that help injured wildlife and then rehabilitate them back into nature”, Linda said.

“I love our Australian lifestyle and wildlife and a lot of my work is inspired by what is around me. I generally have a camera ready wherever I go, and I am constantly taking photos of our native fauna and flora.

The Fleurieu region as the backdrop made the position to work as the lead artist for ACH Group’s Art in Focus even more appealing to Linda.

“I was aware of many of ACH Group’s programs due to my father recently being diagnosed with early onset dementia. He receives regular support with outings and housework. When I told him I had taken this position he was so proud of me. Silly, I know, but even at 51 years of age, your dad being proud of you still makes you smile.”

Linda said that ACH Group’s Art in Focus is for everyone, from beginners to pros and everyone in between.

“It is an inclusive environment where peer learning is encouraged. Everyone is so excited to see each other’s progress in the group, it is such a great environment to work in,” she said.

“You’re never too old to learn something new or try to reconnect with art even if it has been 20 or 30 years since doing it. I love how each person is so happy to learn or mentor each other, it really is a lovely environment to work in.”

Visual arts and the practice of it helps with an increase of self-esteem, socialising and building a social network which encourages a feeling of place in society.

“There are so many art exhibitions ACH Group customers can enter. Showing their work publicly will get their art and stories into the world and give themselves pride in what they have accomplished,” Linda said.

“I find in my classes that people feel relaxed and calm as they leave the session, because creating something has lifted them spiritually and physically. I know art is a wonderful place to let go of a lot of stress.

“You may never be a Van Gogh, but you can give it your best shot and enjoy yourself while doing it in the process.”

Read more about the benefits of art.

 

Calling all knitters and knitters to be!

ACH Group residents are driven to give back and need the community’s help to keep hearts full and hands warm this winter.

Residents at ACH Group’s seven residential care homes are seeking to partner with knitting enthusiasts from across the state to make mittens, gloves and scarves for people supported by charity organisation St Vincent de Paul Society (Vinnies).

Anyone handy with a needle and thread is being asked to knit the base pieces for mittens using a supplied pattern and drop off to ACH Group Perry Park residential care home at Port Noarlunga, or ACH Group’s office in Mile End. From there, residents will sew the pieces together and decorate the mittens ready to be gifted to Vinnies. Residents will also knit gloves and scarves; two items Vinnies have identified are also in demand this winter.

Download the pattern here.

It’s all part of aged care provider ACH Group’s ‘Keeping hearts full and hands warm’ campaign.

ACH Group CEO Frank Weits said the initiative – now in its second year – is driven by residents wanting to give back to the community and support those experiencing homelessness.

“2020 was the first year of the campaign with over 100 knitted pieces donated to Vinnies by Perry Park residents and their local community,” Mr Weits said.

“On the back of this success, residents from all eight ACH Group residential care homes are getting involved this year and are looking forward about teaming up with fellow sewing and knitting enthusiasts.

“It’s a lovely way for residents to work in partnership with the broader community, build meaningful connections, and help South Australians experiencing homelessness.”

Vinnies Fred’s Van Coordinator Teresa Branch said, “Vinnies was delighted to receive the knitted items last year, and they were gratefully received by the men and women staying in our crisis centres and people accessing the Fred’s Van meal service.

“To know that someone had gone out of their way to knit something made them all the more meaningful during a time when people were in a very vulnerable state.

“We can’t wait to see this initiative come to life again.”

The completed knitted pieces can be dropped off or posted before August 31 to:

ACH Group Perry Park
26 River Road
Port Noarlunga SA 5167

ACH Group Office
22 Henley Beach Road
Mile End SA 5031

Not a knitter but have some balls of wool taking up room in your cupboard, we would love your donations!

There are 2 drop off locations:

ACH Group Perry Park
26 River Road
Port Noarlunga SA 5167

ACH Group Office
22 Henley Beach Road
Mile End SA 5031

*Please note, all current Government residential home requirements will be upheld on arrival to Perry Park. Please refer to our Site Entry Requirements here.

ACH Group is offering three different fully supported entertainment packages so you can experience the Adelaide Fringe with ease.

Experience the mesmerising power of gospel singing with the Soweto Gospel Choir night out. Take your time to discover the Garden of Unearthly Delights and Yabbarra Dreaming in Light show night out, or travel back to the 1920’s to the golden years of magic with Auslusion in Improbable Deductions.

Or would you prefer to book your own Fringe show and want cheaper tickets? Get $10 off your Fringe membership just by being part of the ACH Group community.

Being a Fringe Member gets you exclusive access to discounted gigs, shows and venues all year. To claim this offer, call FringeTix on 8100 2088 or visit the Fringe website and apply the discount code ACHGROUP20

See you at the Fringe!

A new dog park at Port Noarlunga is set to get tails wagging and create community connections at ACH Group’s Perry Park.

Located alongside the Perry Park residential care home and adjoining retirement living units on Murray Road and Riverview Drive, the park has been created in an enclosed communal space with a barbecue and seating, shading and dog water fountain.

ACH Group’s CEO, Frank Weits, said it was hoped the park would bring together owners of dogs and others in the community.

“For many people, young and old, our dogs can be a connection point, a way of bringing people together, starting a conversation and helping people form new relationships,” he said. “Pets are our companions, they can reduce loneliness and depression, relieve stress, lower blood pressure, provide opportunities for social interaction and exercise, a sense of purpose and belonging.”

Residents also experience other benefits living in retirement villages as they can make use of a range of shared spaces, like Perry Park’s new dog park.   Common spaces and activities, whether they be a BBQ area, a community hall or a simple park bench make catching up with neighbors easy; helping to connect and bring people together and reducing social isolation and loneliness.

“ACH Group is committed to providing good lives for older people, which includes connecting and supporting our communities to be as healthy and happy as possible.”

City of Onkaparinga Mayor Erin Thompson and ACH Group CEO Frank Weits officially opened the park at Perry Park Retirement Living Village Murray Road this week.

Residents from the village together with their dogs Bertie, Benji, Scruffy, Roxy, Holly, Olly and friends joined in the opening, enjoying ‘puppuccinos’, dog treats and free vet checks.

ACH Group allows people to bring a small pet with them when they move into most Retirement Living locations across South Australia and Victoria.

ACH Group’s work to attract more nurses to the aged care sector has been recognised in the 2019 HESTA Aged Care Awards announced yesterday.

ACH Group’s Student Placement Team has taken out the Team Innovation category in the awards, which recognise Australia’s most innovative and proactive aged care organisations, teams and individuals.

ACH Group was one of four finalists in its category and 12 finalists in the national awards.

Samantha Manoel, Student Placement Manager at ACH Group, said the award provided recognition of the organisation’s aim to attract more nursing students to work in aged care by developing a strategy to improve the experience students have during their university placements with ACH Group.

“We identified that negative stereotypes were a significant factor in the shortage of nurses working in the sector,” Ms Manoel said. “We set out to develop a strategy to demonstrate first-hand to students that working in aged care can be a rewarding job and career.”

The team has developed a number of student placement initiatives to change student perceptions, including a pre-placement education day, providing an informative online orientation, developing an induction booklet and conducting pre- and post-placement student evaluations. Since these changes in 2012, more than 4,000 students have had placements in ACH Group services.

“Post-placement feedback shows that students now consider aged care as a unique and dynamic work environment, with 68 per cent of students saying they were interested in working in aged care compared to only 40 per cent who said they were interested prior to their placement.”

Ms Manoel said pre-placement education day touched on a range of areas including healthy ageing, dementia, the admissions process and relationship building. “We find that this day helps alleviate any stress or uncertainty about working in an aged care environment,” she said. “Students are given an insight into all aspects of care from all disciplines, including allied health offerings and early intervention initiatives. We want people to understand that the aged care workplace is a place that’s dynamic, and that it’s about supporting people to live a good life.”

HESTA CEO Debby Blakey said this year’s finalists were selected for their outstanding compassion, leadership and innovation in improving services and standards of care in the aged care sector.

“This year’s finalists have pushed the boundaries and developed innovative services and programs that rise to the challenge of providing high-quality care to the growing number of ageing Australians,” Ms Blakey said.