News

The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety released an interim report on 31 October 2019, providing insight into what the Commission has learnt from 13 hearings held across the country and over 6800 submissions since January 2019.

The Commissioners identified three areas where immediate action can be taken to:

• provide more Home Care Packages to reduce the waiting list for higher level care at home
• respond to the significant over-reliance on chemical restraint in aged care
• stop the flow of younger people with a disability going into aged care.

The report also identifies systemic problems in aged care with a system that;

• is designed around transactions, not relationships or care,
• minimises the voices of people receiving care and their loved ones,
• is hard to navigate and does not provide information people need to make informed choices about their care,
• relies on a regulatory model that does not provide transparency or an incentive to improve, and;
• has a workforce that is under pressure and under-appreciated and that lacks key skills.

Despite the identified failures, the Commissioners also heard many examples of providers who deliver innovative and effective models of care and examples of individual staff members dedicating themselves to providing exemplary and compassionate care, despite the challenges of the system and their environment.

The interim report can be read here: https://agedcare.royalcommission.gov.au/publications/Pages/interim-report.aspx. The final report is due by 12 November 2020.

ACH Group strongly supports the work of the Royal Commission because it:

• is committed to continual improvement and transparency
• values its passionate and dedicated workforce and recognises the great service they provide with empathy and professionalism
• wants the aged care sector to be strengthened through industry-wide improvements so all older Australians have access to affordable, quality care and services that meet their changing needs as they age.

As part of ACH Group’s commitment to excellence, feedback on our services and the care provided to residents and customers is always welcomed via www.achgroup.org.au/contact/feedback or by calling 1300 22 44 77.

A group of aged care workers from Sun-Vision Social Welfare Corporation in Japan will spend a week in South Australia learning about the latest in dementia care, prevention and understanding as part of an exchange with not-for-profit aged care provider ACH Group.

The group of 11, including social workers, care workers, team leaders and unit leaders, will focus on innovation and the latest thinking on brain health ahead of Sun-Vision Social Welfare Corporation’s international symposium on dementia care next year.

Sun-Vision Coordinator Tomoko Suzuki said the group was interested in ACH Group’s Planning Ahead Advisory Service which supported people to complete an Advance Care Directive and Enduring Power of Attorney. “We would like to learn how ACH Group supports people living with dementia who have difficulties communicating their decisions, will and preferences,” she says.

Welcoming the group, ACH Group CEO said: “For over a decade we’ve exchanged ‘students’ to learn about aged care from different cultures and perspectives and share best practice developments. A key learning has been our shared passion for working with older people to support them to have their best life.”

The group will hear about ACH Group’s strategies to reduce employee turnover, innovation in mobility and independent living equipment and focus on early intervention to improve health outcomes. They will also learn about ACH Group’s holistic approach to physical, mental and cognitive health at each of its residential care homes to help residents continue to live healthier, happier and more active lives.

During the week the group will participate in a range of activities that are of benefit to people living with dementia including a mosaics and tai chi class at Colton Court, McLaren Vale and will participate in a dementia master class with dementia expert Teresa Moran at ViTA, Daw Park. The exchange will wrap up with a visit to South Australian attractions Gorge Wildlife Park and Beerenberg Farm at Hahndorf.

In its 12^th year, the Sun-Life exchange program involves annual visits to Australia and bi-annual visits by ACH Group employees to Japan.

A delegation from ACH Group who travelled to Japan in October as part of the exchange will help as hosts and translators on this visit.

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

ACH Group’s Student Placement Team is one of four national finalists in the Team Innovation category. A total of 12 finalists have been announced in the awards, which recognise Australia’s most innovative and proactive aged care organisations, teams and individuals.

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.

Winners will be announced at the 2019 HESTA Aged Care Awards on 14 November 2019 in Adelaide.

Learn more about ACH Group’s Student Placement program.

Read more about the award from HESTA.

Synonymous with fine dining in Adelaide for years, legendary chef Cheong Liew reflects on his rise to fame, from Neddy’s to The Grange, and shares his thoughts on Instagram, gardening and being ‘Gung Gung’.

You were a big part of the food movement in the 70s and 80s. How do you reflect on that?
When I first came to South Australia, the popular restaurant was the pizza shop – that was the big night out. I worked in a Spanish restaurant in Hindley Street, and everything came out of a tin.

One of the first things I did back in the 70s was open Neddy’s restaurant. It was probably one of the first places where we would go to the market, buy all the ingredients, bring them back to the restaurant and start on the menu. That is how we started – everything was always on the blackboard.

People started saying that Neddy’s was cooking interesting food. Then we started getting all these hobby farmers bringing in produce for us like flat leaf parsley. That was very hard to get in the 70s. You could always get the curly but not the flat leaf Italian variety. Now it’s so common, it’s like a weed in my garden. The same with lettuce – so much variety now.

Neddy’s had a fabulous reputation without social media. Do you think Instagram has changed things?
We never thought about taking pictures of our food. Even in the 70s we hardly took any photos of our food at Neddy’s. Now, everything I cook, I always take a picture.

After Neddy’s, you then moved on to the Grange at The Hilton?
The Hilton era was great. The success of one place is everyone working together. It takes a team like the one at The Grange, it is next level. It was food for people that wanted to excite themselves, once in a lifetime. Something more extraordinary!

Can you tell us about your early years?
As a boy, I lived on a farm. We would walk for miles to catch a bus to get to school.

Why Adelaide?
I went to Melbourne and studied engineering for a couple of years before moving to Adelaide to visit my brother Khai. Adelaide was much better for me because in Melbourne I wasn’t mixing with other people. My brother had so many different friends – Malaysian, Italian, Czech and Polish.

What’s been happening in 2019?

I celebrated my 70th birthday earlier this year and went back to my home in Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur. We had a family reunion; like a clan gathering. There were about 60 people including my cousins and their offspring – all my family from Australia, Canada and America too.

 

Exercising in water offers many benefits to people who are recovering from injury or living with a range of conditions, from mild to chronic.

As well as its abilities to calm, relax and ease pain, water also supports our body weight reducing stress on joints.

“People are often surprised at what they can do in the water; when weight is dispersed across the body, it is so much easier. This means water exercise is a lot more suitable for those living with a range of chronic conditions such as arthritis, multiple sclerosis (MS) and fibromyalgia,” said ACH Group Exercise Physiologist Daniel Peacock.

Daniel, who runs hydrotherapy and water exercise classes across ACH Group’s health sites, said water exercise is an ideal way to stay active for any age group.

“By simply walking or moving in the water, you activate a range of muscles. For people who have found exercising on land too challenging or painful,

it can be great for confidence, giving people that little bit of hope and helping them in their recovery.”

Hydrotherapy is modifiable and exercises can be prescribed and adapted according to an individual’s goals or needs. Instructors are in the pool with the class to ensure exercises are done properly.

As well as building strength, water exercise can help people lose weight, manage pain and improve cardiovascular health or lung function, balance and mobility.

“Besides the physical health benefits, there are a range of mental health benefits from mood modification, a reduction in stress and anxiety, and improvements in sleep.”

Like any exercise, it’s always best to start slowly and not overdo it.

“One of the key things we tell people is not to go too hard in the first two weeks because when you’re in the water, you’ll feel great, and feel less pain, but you’ll feel it the next day when you’re out of the pool.”

Daniel has witnessed many ‘good news stories’ as a result of hydrotherapy including a customer who started classes as part of her recovery from a car accident.

“This customer was having trouble walking and struggled to get into the pool – now the steps are no problem and her walking is almost back to what it used to be,” he says.

Water wise

Lap swimming is an excellent form of cardiovascular exercise and can contribute to the recommended 150 minutes moderate to vigorous activity per week for those aged 65 plus.

Water is about 50 times thicker than air and supports our body weight. Swimming in water can require four to six times more energy.

All ACH Group hydrotherapy pools are heated at 30 to 34 degrees Celsius and have hand rails for customers who are less confident in the water.

Water exercise provides an excellent alternative to land exercise for older people with the same cardiovascular, strength, balance and mobility benefits.

Project to create dementia-friendly pools

ACH Group is leading a project that aims to create dementia-friendly swimming experiences and environments.

Funded by a grant from Dementia Australia, the project has enlisted the help of people living with dementia, their carers, family and care workers, along with people who work at swimming pools, to find out what changes could be made that make swimming easier and more accessible for all.

Project Coordinator Fiona Telford-Sharp says online surveys and face-to-face interviews helped shape a series of fact sheets for swimming pool venues, swimming coaches, people living with dementia and their families.

“We know that swimming offers many health benefits and we recognised the need to raise awareness of the needs of people living with dementia and to take steps to create a welcoming and safe environment for all swimmers.”

To find a hydrotherapy or water exercise class near you call 1300 22 44 77.

 

It’s been a busy two years for Jane Reilly since her appointment as ACH Group Ambassador in 2017.  

One of South Australia’s most recognised and loved media presenters, Jane has enjoyed a long and distinguished media career spanning four decades including 17 years as news and weather presenter for Adelaide’s Network Ten.

In August 2015, she received an Order of Australia Medal for services to the broadcast media and charitable groups. She is currently a valued contributor to the FIVEaa Radio Breakfast Team.

Jane says she has enjoyed her experience with ACH Group and her role in raising awareness of its many and varied services, facilities and initiatives.

“It’s certainly been a real eye-opener for me to experience the diversity of what’s on offer – there really is something for everyone,” she says. “There’s so much support available. What has really impressed me is that people are at the heart of everything that the organisation does.”

 

Sing for Joy choir rehearsal
Jane stopped in at a rehearsal between Ridgehaven Primary and Wynn Vale School students and Sing for Joy choirs ahead of their ‘Why We Sing’ performance.

“To see people ranging from eight-years-old to 80 or 90 years of age and the collaboration between the generations was just lovely. They sang such beautiful songs. I met people who had never sung before in their lives, and people who were on their own but enjoyed that connection with others. It was fantastic to be part of it.”

 

Health Studio 50+
At the launch of the Health Studio 50+ at Glenelg, Jane tried out equipment and enjoyed a sneak peek.

“It was very exciting to be among the first to try the specialised equipment and talk to some of the fitness trainers and allied health professionals who are there to tailor programs to the needs of AGEING BODIES.”

 

Riverside Artists
Members of the Riverside Artists at Port Noarlunga were thrilled to meet Jane and share the works they were preparing for the upcoming South Australian Living Artists (SALA) Festival. Jane chatted to Brian, Judith and Fred about the group and felt a real sense of the friendship and enjoyment shared by all.

“I met people who were either taking up a skill they hadn’t done for a long time, or trying it for the first time, guided by professional artists,” Jane says. “And again, the volunteers were there to help; they’re really part of the process and I think they get a lot of value out of being involved as well.”

 

HenPower at Kapara
Jane had an ‘egg-cellent’ day at Kapara meeting four new resident chooks and talking all things ‘HenPower’; an initiative that complements the organisation’s Healthy Ageing approach.

“How can I ever forget the Kapara chooks? It was such a thrill to witness the joy the chooks bring to people; collecting the eggs, chasing them into their coop every night – to be part of those nurturing activities. It was lovely to see and such an enjoyable experience.”

 

Cambodian Program
Knowing how important cultural diversity is to ACH Group, Jane visited one of Adelaide’s Buddhist temples to learn about the Cambodian Program.

“For a long time I had seen this structure on the Northern Expressway and I had no idea that it was a Buddhist temple. It was an incredibly colourful, soulful and mindful experience meeting the monks as they chanted and prayed, and having the opportunity to share some amazing food.”

 

Neighbour Day AT GLYNDE
As part of Neighbour Day last year, retirement living residents were thrilled to meet Jane and share stories of neighbourly connections – as well as some home-cooked goodies and a cuppa.

“These are really neighbourly places where you can be as private or as involved as you want knowing that if something happens, someone is there for you, to put your bin out or check on you – you have that peace of mind.”

 

Ceramics at JamFactory
At iconic arts hub JamFactory, Jane found out how ACH Group’s ceramics classes for people living with neurological conditions are promoting positive brain health and leading to new friendships.

“It’s very therapeutic when you sit there and you’re rolling out the clay, making shapes then adding colour,” she says. “People sit around a big table and chat to each other; it’s such a great bonding experience and helps people feel connected while getting very skilled tuition in the process.”

 

Beach access day
Jane enjoyed getting her toes in the sand with residents from West Park and Yankalilla Centre at Horseshoe Bay, Port Elliott. ACH Group is the first aged care provider in Australia to purchase Mobi Mats that create a pathway to the sea for people who rely on a wheelchair or walker. “A couple of ladies I spoke to hadn’t felt the water on their toes for 20 or 30 years, and to see the sheer delight on people’s faces was just magical. We had a lovely lunch of fish and chips and ice-creams afterwards. It was a wonderful day; the kind of experience that leaves a lasting impression. It brought back incredible memories of time spent with family and friends at the beach – all made possible with the help of some amazing volunteers.

“During my time as ambassador I’ve had a fantastic opportunity to meet people who live in retirement living units across the state.” 

 

Men’s Shed at Perry Park
Watching members of the Perry Park Men’s Shed at work was another highlight for Jane, who was impressed by the workmanship she witnessed. “This lovely group are making the most exquisite wooden toys for children, and these incredible reindeer at Christmas time, which they sell to family and community members,” she says.

“These blokes have so much fun together; they’re down here three days a week and they really enjoy what they do.”

“I’ve really enjoyed my time as Ambassador for ACH Group and I’m very much looking forward to more interesting experiences in the future.”

ACH Group is set to invest more than $1 million to upgrade its residential care homes at McLaren Vale and Rostrevor.

The upgrades are set to commence in August and will include a new reception and welcoming entry at Colton Court, McLaren Vale, and a new gym and café that will be open to the public at Milpara, Rostrevor.

Leading Adelaide architect Walter Brooke, whose portfolio includes the Adelaide Oval redevelopment, Australian Federal Police headquarters and ACH Group’s ViTA facility, has been appointed to design the projects. Well regarded South Australian firm, Marshall Brougham, will undertake construction.

Colton Court residential care home at McLaren Vale will also be upgraded to include a new reception area and welcoming entry, undercover drop-off zone for residents and visitors, refurbished walkways and improved storage units.

ACH Group CEO Frank Weits says the upgrades are in line with ACH Group’s Healthy Ageing approach which aims to make it as easy as possible for residents to remain physically, mentally and socially active.

“We want to ensure that our residential care offerings continue to offer innovative models of care and the best in modern facilities to support people to live well as they age,” Mr Weits says. “New gyms will support active ageing, cafes open to the public will foster community connection and an innovative studio apartment at Rostrevor will pioneer small scale living within residential care.”

Anthony Balsamo, Associate Director from Walter Brooke Architecture, describes the design vision for the upgrades as having a strong focus on improving the health and wellbeing of all residents. “The refurbishments will bring further amenity to each home and further encourage people to enjoy and spend time together in multiple newly appointed communal spaces,” says Mr Balsamo.

Each stage of the projects will be carefully staged to minimise disruption to residents, staff and volunteers during the construction phase, which is due for completion early in 2020.

A not-for-profit organisation established in 1952, ACH Group operates eight fully accredited residential care homes across Adelaide and the Fleurieu each with their own signature features and strong links with the community.

ACH Group’s arts community is set to take a trip ‘Around the World’ at this year’s South Australian living Arts (SALA) Festival.

In its ninth year as part of SALA, ACH Group’s community of customers, volunteers and staff has submitted over 240 works to be exhibited across a record 10 venues state-wide.

Works have been created by community arts groups, run across metropolitan Adelaide and the Fleurieu Peninsula, as well as art classes in residential care homes and ceramic and jewellery making workshops run by ACH Group in conjunction with JamFactory that are open to people living with neurological conditions and people over the age of 65.

ACH Group Manager Social Inclusion and Programs Gwyn Elson said works had been submitted across a range of mediums, from jewellery and ceramics to photography and painting. “This year we invite people to explore the influence and uniqueness of different cultures, travel destinations and experiences through art,” she said. “We’re thrilled to be involved in this inclusive festival that celebrates the creative talents of our customers, volunteers and employees.”

ACH Group will again invite the wider community to try art for the first time via a series of free art classes, along with printmaking, a sketching tour of the Art Gallery of South Australia, jewellery and metal, ceramics and spoon carving workshops at JamFactory. Come ‘n’ try classes will be held in Yankalilla, Torrensville, Victor Harbor, McLaren Vale, Newton, Ridgehaven and Adelaide.

“We know that art can bring so many benefits, including relaxation, a sense of satisfaction and joy, the chance to make new friends and challenge ourselves to try something new,” Ms Elson said. “Art classes give people the opportunity to try art for the first time or renew an old passion or interest.”

Flinders Medical Centre Arts in Health Manager Sally Francis said there was growing evidence that ‘Art on Prescription’ programs introduced in the UK – where doctors prescribe ‘art and culture’ to patients – were improving health and wellbeing, saving costs for GP practices and reducing hospital admissions.

“Art can be therapeutic as a simple diversional activity and a distraction, but also therapy-based and a valuable form of self-expression and communication, increasing feelings of self-worth, self-esteem, confidence and identity. There is a myriad of neurological effects and hormonal responses, which improve health and wellbeing and can change behaviours in a positive and long term way.”

Ms Elson said ACH Group, which marked its 65^th anniversary in 2017, had long recognised the value of art in healthy ageing.  “We’ve been running arts classes for older South Australians for more than 30 years,” she said. “Our arts focus is one of 50 different social programs across South Australia.”

ACH Group’s SALA exhibition is supported by a grant from the ACH Group Foundation.

Find an ACH Group venue near you.

Pictured: ACH Group’s 2019 SALA exhibition includes works produced in ceramics workshops held in conjunction with JamFactory.

ACH Group has been recognised as finalists in two categories in the Aged & Community Services (ACSA) SA & NT Awards for Excellence announced at the National Wine Centre on Friday.

The ACSA Awards promote and recognise excellence in a range of areas that contribute to the quality of life of older people, people with disabilities and or their carers.

The Awards also acknowledge efforts to increase public confidence and community involvement in aged and community care services.

ACH Group finalists:

ACSA Employee of the Year Award: Teresa Moran, ACH Group Product Co-Design Manager

Teresa is a passionate advocate for people living with dementia and the delivery of evidence-based best practice. During her time at ACH Group, Teresa has helped shape the delivery of services and the organisation’s dementia learning and development program. She has developed training to target specific job roles, including recent trials of empathy suits as part of care and support worker training in partnership with the University of Sydney.

ACH Group Head of Service Design and Production Innovation Ivy Diegmann said: “Teresa leads and inspires the ACH Group workforce, students and volunteers to change the way they deliver dementia services through risk reduction, earlier diagnosis and support, living well with dementia through to comfort, care and maintenance of dignity at end of life. Teresa is unrelenting in challenging the myth that dementia is an inevitable part of ageing and that there is nothing that can be done to support or indeed improve quality of life. She is a passionate champion of evidence-based best practice.”

Teresa’s advocacy and approach to service co-design is informed by the latest research and clinical guidelines. Examples of her leadership include:

• Part of leadership team partnering with University of Sudney to introduce ‘empathy suits’ as part of ACH Group’s Dementia Learning and Development Competency Level Three training requirement for more than 800 care and support workers
• Redesign of Positive Behavior Support tools and processes
• Developing new business models to provide flexible respite options
• Reviewing practice against the Cognitive Decline Partnership Centre ‘Clinical Practice Guidelines for Dementia in Australia’
• Co-designing new reablement services informed by the Cognitive Decline Centre ‘Supporting independence and function in people living with dementia guidelines’
• Piloting a frontline dementia evidenced-based mentoring program

With almost 80 per cent of people living in residential care and between 30 and 60 per cent of people receiving community care identifying with memory loss and or living with dementia, Teresa’s role is central to ensuring best practice and the promotion of good lives for all.

ACSA Innovation in Service or Design Award: Empathy Suits, ACH Group

ACH Group is the first aged care provider in Australia to trial ‘empathy suits’ as part of an innovative workforce training pilot through the use of three Premature Ageing Unisex Leisure (PAUL) suits.

Partnering with the University of Sydney, ACH Group has introduced the suits as part of its Dementia Learning and Development Competency Level Three training requirements for nearly 900 care and support workers.

Workforce participants wear a suit to carry out daily activities that allow them to experience a range of conditions including vision impairment, hearing loss, a hunched posture, reduced tactile sense and shortened gait.

Since the initial training pilot held in January 2019, more than 130 support and care workers had completed empathy training to the start of May 2019. The aim is for all of the organisation’s 900 care and support workers to complete the training by the end of October 2019.

ACH Group General Manager, People, Culture, Business Quality Nichole Tierney said in time, the training would be rolled out across ACH Group’s 1700+ workforce as part of onboarding and induction training.

“An ageing population worldwide makes it increasingly important that people employed in the aged care industry understand issues that older people face,” she said. “This innovative workforce training is designed to enable the workforce to experience what it feels like to be in the shoes of an older person or a person living with a disability. Developing the suits is in keeping with ACH Group’s person-centred approach and extends its toolkit to help the workforce build empathy, challenge stereotypes, respect uniqueness and individual identity, raise awareness of potential limitations in the environment and communicate effectively with customers.”

Read more about the awards.

On July 1 2019, the Australian Government introduced a new and simpler Charter of Aged Care Rights (the Charter).

This replaces previous charters to make it easier for older people receiving Australian Government funded aged care services, their families and carers to understand what they can expect from an aged care service provider, regardless of whether they are in residential care or receiving care in their home.

ACH Group CEO, Frank Weits said: “We welcome this move, which is in keeping with ACH Group’s philosophy of ensuring that customers are at the heart of what we do. This provides an important opportunity to ensure that customers are aware of their rights and what they can expect from us.”

Why a Charter?

The Charter places the customer at the centre of care by giving them choice and recognising their right to be treated with respect. It acknowledges that identity, culture and diversity are to be valued and supported. Customer responsibilities have also been revised in this new document. These changes will support aged care service providers in delivering care to customers and provide protection for the aged care workforce.

What now?

ACH Group will contact all applicable customers over the coming months to explain the new Charter and invite them to sign it.

Watch a video about the new Charter.

Read more about the Charter.

July 2019