Providers are transitioning activities for aged-care residents from visits to parks and café to more concentrated support and respective leisure activities that establish a greater connection to the broader community.
Aged care provider Uniting has developed its transport service in the past five years to manage the lack of transport for the residents.
According to Melinda Alushaj, a Uniting service improvement specialist, the program conceived as the first about transporting residents, which eventually changed to deal with the person and their connection to the community.
In a presentation at the Aged and Community Services Australia National Summit next month, Ms. Alusahj is planning to elaborate on the program’s capability of enabling residents to continue with their leisure activities before entering aged care.
Up to date, the program is accessible to all residents at Uniting’s 17 aged care facilities in Sydney. The program tackled six days a week with no minimum or most restrictions for all residents.
The program’s regular activities include golf and participating in Sydney’s annual winter lights festival. One of the biggest events of the program is the annual senior’s ball wherein over 1,000 residents from all facilities gather for music, dance and a three-course meal.
Moreover, an event such as touring to different churches, mosques, and synagogues is part of the program’s itinerary.
According to Ms. Alushaj, such kinds of educational activities will allow the residents to learn new things. This could also create connections among the participants. In addition to the provided benefits, the program can leave drastic positive matters for the family members because this could invoke the possible focus of care necessary for the residents.
Transport program set up
Ms. Alushaj added that the interested providers should mandate consultations with the residents to secure inclusivity for the benefit of the residents.
Considering the benefits of the transport program to the well-being of the residents, the provider should deal with the residents as a homogenous group.
The main purpose of the program is to give an avenue for the residents to continue their lifestyle in their respective facilities and normalising their capacities as people. Providers should also be wary of the necessary participation of the staff to the materialisation of the program.
The ACSA National Summit scheduled to happen on 8-10 October of this year and to be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
