Seniors Community Talk – Kadina

Seniors Community Talk – Kadina

Kadina's Seniors Community Talk

In August, we travelled to Kadina for our next Seniors Community event, and we were grateful to have such a wonderful turn out.

There was some great discussions and questions from the community, especially with our first guest speaker, Senior Constable Richard Osbourn. Constable Osbourn shared his wisdom on scam awareness with the community.

Scams are at an all time high at the moment, and unfortunatley older australians are the biggest target for scammers, so having Constable Osbourn present a talk on how to protect yourself from scammers was invaluable for the community.

If you would like to know more about protecting yourself from scams, then visit www.scamwatch.gov.au

Our second talk was called Don’t take all your secrets to the grave by our staff member Maggie.

This talk raised the importance of recording your wishes as you approach towards end of life, or having your wishes in place in case anything should happen to you. Through this discussion, Maggie referred to two great resources. The first is the Advanced Care Directive. An Advance Care Directive empowers you to make clear legal arrangements for your future health care, end of life, preferred living arrangements and other personal matters.

The second resource is the Bottom Drawer Book.

Their website https://thebottomdrawerbook.com.au/ shares that this book is “The after death action plan will help you prepare for the inevitable by giving you the information you need to make your funeral decisions. Full of practical tips, there’s lots of room to write your plans, requests, and life’s reflections.

This quirky, thorough, and very Australian workbook guides you through things to consider with humour, like a religious funeral or celebration of life? Hymns or pop songs? Fire cremation, water cremation, natural or conventional burial? A champagne wake or cordial and cake?

Written by Aussie journo Lisa Herbert, The Bottom Drawer Book will make things easier for your grieving loved ones when the time does eventually come. Once you’ve filled in the book, you can get on with living!”

It was a fantastic event, and both guest speakers received plenty of questions, and lots of positive feedback.

Seniors Community Talk – Barossa

Seniors Community Talk – Barossa

Our MC Elspeth introducing guest speaker Maggie

Tanunda's Senior Community Talks

This year we have launched our first free Senior Community Talk which was held at the Tanunda CWA in March this year. Our staff member Elspeth did a wonderful job of being the MC for the event, (featured in the left picture,) and we had two excellent guest speakers who delivered some great talks to our local community.

Our first talk was ‘Healthy Bladder Care’ talk by Jude Christie from Cormie, (picture on the far right.) Cormie is a company that sells continence products, but more than that, they offer support and assistance in choosing the right product, and they can talk you through the process in applying for funding for these aids.

Jude’s talk went into understanding incontinence, why it happens and how you can look after your bladder, including exercises. Cormie’s Webpage is Reinventing Incontinence Care – Cormie

Our second talk was called Don’t take all your secrets to the grave by our staff member Maggie, (pictured in the center.)

This talk raised the importance of recording your wishes as you approach towards end of life, or having your wishes in place in case anything should happen to you. Through this discussion, Maggie referred to two great resources. The first is the Advanced Care Directive. An Advance Care Directive empowers you to make clear legal arrangements for your future health care, end of life, preferred living arrangements and other personal matters.

The second resource is the Bottom Drawer Book.

Their website https://thebottomdrawerbook.com.au/ shares that this book is “The after death action plan will help you prepare for the inevitable by giving you the information you need to make your funeral decisions. Full of practical tips, there’s lots of room to write your plans, requests, and life’s reflections.

This quirky, thorough, and very Australian workbook guides you through things to consider with humour, like a religious funeral or celebration of life? Hymns or pop songs? Fire cremation, water cremation, natural or conventional burial? A champagne wake or cordial and cake?

Written by Aussie journo Lisa Herbert, The Bottom Drawer Book will make things easier for your grieving loved ones when the time does eventually come. Once you’ve filled in the book, you can get on with living!”

It was a fantastic event, and both guest speakers received plenty of questions, and lots of positive feedback.

A chair changing a life

A chair changing a life

Susan sat in her brand-new electric wheelchair, a smile stretching across her face as she watched her friends stroll alongside her. It was a moment she never thought she would experience again. After six long years, she was finally able to join them for a walk, thanks to the help of Country Home Services.

When Susan’s mobility started deteriorating, her friends would invite her for walks, but she couldn’t keep up with them using her regular wheelchair. It was a daily struggle, and the feeling of exclusion weighed heavily on her. Until now.

Through her Home Care Package, Country Home Services supported Susan to purchase an electric wheelchair, along with a specially designed crane in her car to lift it up effortlessly.  The newfound independence brought immense relief and joy to Susan. She was no longer reliant on her friends to attend her weekly swimming sessions. With a simple touch, her electric wheelchair was ready, empowering her to head to the pool on her own. “I am happier today than I have been for a VERY long time,” Susan expressed, her voice filled with gratitude.

A new wheelchair provides more than practical assistance; Susan has a renewed sense of purpose and belonging. No longer does she feel isolated or burdened with worries about her mobility. She said she is, “one of the girls again,” able to accept invitations and participate in activities without hesitation. “It was always a pipe dream that I never expected to happen. But you made it happen!” she told her co-ordinator, Tammy.

Susan couldn’t have been more grateful for her co-ordinator and the exceptional care she has received. “I am so very pleased I picked Country Home Services and doubly lucky that Tammy became my case worker,” Susan remarked with a heartfelt appreciation.

As Susan begins to enjoy activities with her friends again, the kindness and support she feels she received has breathed new life into her world, and she is determined to make the most of it.

Clare Valley Model Engineers

Clare Valley Model Engineers

 

Clare Valley Model Engineers

Nestled within the Clare Valley is a remarkable organisation dedicated to the art of model engineering, bringing to life an intricate miniature railway network. The club was founded in 1998 and over the next 15 years, volunteers created a miniature railway network, complete with intricately designed tracks, tunnels, bridges, and stations. The layout showcases different eras and styles of railway architecture, providing visitors with a delightful journey through time.

In November last year, we were proud to assist the club with a grant so that they can build picnic tables for visiting families. It helped to make the park more accessible and their next projects involve adding more pathways to also make it easier for visitors. 

This is a club that is also very connected to the community and is always keen to work with the local high school to encourage future engineers. During one school term a group of students helped to build the arched shelter which was very successful.

The club attracts members from various walks of life who share a common love for engineering and craftsmanship. They meet twice a week, and the space provides a supportive network for the members However, you don’t need to be an engineer as they are always open to new volunteers who love trains, gardening, and generally just helping out.

The park is open up to the public for special events and on the 2nd and 4th Sunday monthly when people can experience train rides. Visit https://clarevalleymodelengineers.org/ for more information.

 

More than an exercise class – Easy Moves SYP

More than an exercise class – Easy Moves SYP

More than an exercise class – Easy Moves SYP

Easy Moves is an activity that truly supports the community. Easy Moves SYP offers weekly seniors-specific exercise classes in Yorketown and Stansbury, with classes averaging between 8-20 participants weekly in each location.

Weekly sessions include a range of physical activities, designed to promote strength, balance, coordination, flexibility, and dexterity, as well as increased mental health, social connection and well-being. The class uses chairs as well as hand-held equipment, such as exercise balls, weights, therabands, and pool noodles. Both new and existing clients regularly comment on their improved overall physical and mental health with consistent class attendance. Clients are often referred by local health services to support health issues including diabetes, weight management, neurological conditions, heart health and mobility. Easy Moves is also an inclusive space, which welcomes members with intellectual challenges as well as their carers, and also clients with physical disabilities such as low vision, hearing impairment and mobility issues.

The addition of a healthy quarterly lunch/afternoon tea at each site has been a welcomed and highly regarded part of the program. Participants gather a few times a year after a class to share healthful, whole foods, providing them with the opportunity to connect, socialise, network, and support each other in a meaningful, community-oriented environment. This has proven to be a remarkably beneficial component of the group, providing much-needed resilience and a sense of community in a regional and remote area such as SYP, where geographic and social isolation play a big role and have a large impact on our ageing population.

During a lively lunch last month, several attendees said the same thing: “I came because a friend invited me and haven’t missed one since.”

We are proud to form a partnership with Easy Moves for this year!

Working with Asthma Australia to improve asthma care in Yorkes 

Working with Asthma Australia to improve asthma care in Yorkes 

Working with Asthma Australia to improve asthma care in Yorkes

Across our rural communities, asthma is a leading health concern. On the Yorke Peninsula, 1 in every 5 or 6 people live with asthma. This rate is higher than the state or national average.

Asthma Australia has recognised that in our communities, the detection and diagnosis of asthma and access to ongoing treatment needs to improve to reduce the risk of asthma attacks and the daily struggle poor breathing is having on people’s lives.

Country Home Services is proud to help Asthma Australia improve asthma care in the Yorke Peninsula with a grant that will supply much needed asthma diagnostic equipment to medical centres. One piece of equipment will ensure compliance with COVID requirements and the others will ensure testing machines will be accurate. With extra funding from Country SA PHN, Asthma Australia has helped train nurses in Minlaton, Maitland and Ardrossan to use the asthma diagnostic equipment, and in Wallaroo by the Better Care in Community team. This new equipment is now critical to comply with COVID infection control regulations.

In addition to improving medical training and equipment, Asthma Australia has identified that an asthma outreach clinic is sorely needed to help traverse the large distances between our towns.
The outreach clinic will be run by trained nurses and equipment will be in the clinic. The nursing team will be supported by Kerry Goldsworthy in the Asthma Australia outreach clinic. Kerry is a local Asthma Community Connector trained by Asthma Australia, providing excellent support through asthma first aid talks to community groups and schools, supporting people with asthma one on one, and sharing resources across the community.

To find out more about the outreach clinic you can contact Kerry by email kgoldsworthy@asthma.org.au or phone 0498 073 899.