News and views from our community
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Gentleman Jim makes a difference by lifting others at Karana
If you look up ‘Gentleman’ in the encyclopaedia, don’t be surprised if it has a photo of Jim Allinson.A much-loved member of Baptcare’s Karana residential aged care community, Jim has a caring word or action for every resident or staff member he encounters.“Treating people well is important,” he says. “We need to look after each other.”Although born in Elsternwick, Jim lived in a string of country towns as a child. His father was posted to different schools as a Maths, Science and Agriculture teacher, but Jim was not so enamoured of the classroom.“I wasn’t a very good student,” he recalls. “All I wanted to do was get to the weekend when I would go out to farms and ‘help’, in inverted commas.”At the age of 15 he left school in Shepparton to assist in running his Uncle Bill’s dairy farm near Cobram. However his father insisted that if he was successful in gaining entry to the agricultural college at Dookie, he must enrol.That is what happened. Jim describes his time at Dookie College as three of the best years of his life. In his final year he was College Captain.He developed an interest in soil and land use which led to employment with the newly-established Soil Conservation Authority. For the next 25 years he travelled all around Victoria, working on erosion, land management and related issues.“At that time there was a high percentage of farmers not treating the soil resource well, but there have been tremendous changes in understandings and actions around ecology and agriculture since then,” he says.Farmers, shire engineers and other land users sought advice on control and prevention of soil erosion and improvement of land productivity. Jim served in senior management positions with the Soil Conservation Authority and the National Parks Service.He also worked overseas on land management improvement with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations. During a posting north-east of Cairo, working between Mersah Matruh and the Siwa Oasis, Jim focussed on land management improvement while his wife Mary – a Home Economist – worked with a young female Bedouin Land Management graduate on helping women improve family nutrition and child development within their desert living conditions.On returning to Australia, Jim taught Land Management at Ballarat University College, as well as engaging in further overseas work in the Cook Islands and Zimbabwe.Through it all, Mary McDonald from Shepparton was by his side.They first knew each other through being in the same remedial maths class at Shepparton High School. They had a long and happy marriage and have three children. Jim was Mary’s carer for the last decade of her life.“Of course I wish Mary was still here, but I’m proud to say that if I could choose any three people to be with, it would be my children. I just love them and I love being with them.“We booked Mary into Respite Care at Karana. When we saw how well staff cared for you, we changed to permanent, and I booked in full time too. That was over three years ago, and I am so glad and grateful to be one of the Karana family.”Karana community members love being with Jim, too, because of the way he is always on hand for an encouraging word or to help out.“I call Jim the Cary Grant of the home,” says Bryan Mooney, Baptcare’s Volunteer Program Specialist. “He is a true delight and in truth a bit of a role model for me. I asked his advice on how to be the best husband to my beautiful wife just before I got married.”“I enjoy living here very much,” Jim says. “The Karana staff are just marvellous. You hear stories about places that don’t have good staff, but it’s the reverse here, with their dedication and the high quality of their care. These are such thoughtful, caring people.”Which is of course a perfect description of you too, Jim.
- 08 Mar 2024
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Communicating with someone who is hard of hearing – tips for better connection
Communication is central to feeling understood and connected to those around us. But for people experiencing hearing loss, even everyday conversations can feel challenging and lead to feelings of isolation.Simple interactions, such as going out shopping or heading to a café for a catch up, can seem daunting when background noise intrudes on simple conversations, making it difficult to hear what is being said. People experiencing hearing loss can feel awkward about continually asking someone to repeat themselves or fear that they may be misunderstanding the conversation completely. This can cause them to retreat from social outings to avoid feeling uncomfortable.Whether you are interacting with a family member, friend or co-worker, the strategies outlined below can make a difference in fostering better understanding and connection.Please note that these tips are most helpful for people with mild to moderate hearing loss. People experiencing profound hearing loss or those who are Deaf have very different needs – please contact your local Deaf awareness society for more details.Choose the right environment – lighting can make a big differencePeople with hearing loss often rely on visual cues, such as lip reading, facial expressions and gestures to assist with understanding what you are saying. So, it’s best to avoid dimly lit rooms or areas with heavy shadows to make it easy to see everyone’s faces.Another important consideration is to choose a setting without excessive background noise. Crowded restaurants, cafes and venues with loud music will make it hard for the person experiencing hearing loss to focus on the conversation at hand due to sound distortion issues. If you are at home, consider turning off the television or radio to limit background noise.Adjust your speaking style – make sure you face the personBefore starting the conversation, make sure you have the person’s attention – say their name or consider waving towards them to indicate you want to tell them something.Remember to position yourself so that your face is visible to the person with hearing loss. Avoid speaking when your back is turned and remember not to cover your mouth. Some people with hearing loss may hear better in one ear than the other, so adjust your position and speak more towards their preferred ear.Speak clearly and slowly to help with comprehension. If you are in a group, avoid speaking over the top of other people, as it can be hard for someone experiencing hearing difficulties to follow the conversation.Conversation etiquette – remain patient and flexible in your styleAvoid speaking too loudly or shouting at the person – for some people experiencing hearing loss, this can distort the words and lead to even more trouble understanding what is being said.Consider rephrasing your words or even write down important details, for example, appointment times and locations, so that they are not misunderstood.Don’t give up and say things like ‘it’s not important’ and walk away. This can add to feelings of isolation for those experiencing hearing loss.Provide choice – offer to meet someone at their preferred locationIf you want to go out for social reasons, consider asking the person with hearing loss where they would prefer to meet you. This empowers them to suggest a familiar location with low background noise that can help them hear you much better.In summary, if we can all make some gentle adjustments to the way we communicate with someone who is hard of hearing and try to follow these simple tips, we can help create a more inclusive and understanding environment for people with all levels of hearing.
- 01 Mar 2024
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Meet Craig Smith
How long have you been working at Baptcare? What is your current role and what does it involve day to day?I started with Baptcare in July 2021. I recently added the Workforce (Talent Acquisition & Employees Services) functions to my previous portfolios of Remuneration/Compensation and People Systems.My role involves fixing problems and improving processes to help keep people working and making their working lives easier.What do you like about working with Baptcare and in your current working space?I admire anyone who works as a carer and I get a lot of satisfaction from supporting the people who perform that important role.What surprises you about your job?People never fail to surprise me, but it doesn’t matter how unique an organisation thinks it is, it is surprising just how often the underlying issues are often the same.Did you always want to work within this space and what are some other jobs you’ve performed in your career?I’ve always worked in the “people” space in some capacity. I started out as a payroll officer and worked my way up to my current role.What did you want to be when you grew up?I’ll let you know when I figure that out.We heard that you won Volunteer of the Year Award for your contributions to community radio station 88.6 Plenty Valley FM. Firstly, congrats and secondly – can you tell us a bit about your volunteering and what drew you to get involved with PVFM?I have always enjoyed music and I thought it might be fun to have my own radio show*. There are a couple of community stations in my area but PVFM offers a formal training course.PVFM supports the local community by promoting services and events offered by community organisations, and the station is also a designated emergency broadcaster delivering key safety messages to the community. Volunteering involves representing PVFM at community events including broadcasting from the mobile studio and the occasional working bee around the studio building. PVFM as an organisation is a great community of like-minded people to be involved with.*Ed note: Each week, Craig presents Deep Cuts a motley collection of memories and musical oddities featuring lesser-known music by artists you know – and some you don’t. Live to air on 88.6 Plenty Valley FM: Wednesday from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. More information at the end of this profile.What was the last good book you’ve read or movie/tv series you’ve watched?Currently reading Picts: Scourge of Rome, Rulers of the North by Gordon Noble & Nicholas Evans (non-fiction).Recently enjoyed Everyone Else Burns, a coming-of-age sitcom about a Manchester family who are part of a puritanical Christian sect.Please complete this question: My favourite weekend would include…Four days.What are two things on your bucket list?Visiting the burial sites of ancestors in the UK.Visiting standing stone sites across Scotland, especially in the Orkneys.If you could sit next to someone at a dinner party, who would it be and why?Geneticist Professor Turi King who worked on the DNA sequencing of the remains of Richard III and consults on the BBC series DNA Family Secrets.Can you tell us two surprising things about yourself?I am a published illustrator (No, I’m not the children’s book guy).I occasionally give presentations at public libraries about using DNA for family history research. This is particularly surprising as I do not generally enjoy public speaking.You mentioned that you don’t like public speaking and yet you’re a radio presenter? What is it about radio presenting that you like (and is perhaps less scary than public speaking?).Speaking on the radio is much less daunting than speaking in public because your audience aren’t in the room looking at you.Tell us more about your illustration side gig. Do you have a favourite illustrator?The illustrations aren’t that exciting – they were for my wife’s academic papers (she’s an archaeologist), but those papers were published so I am taking that.My favourite illustrators include Jean Giraud (aka Moebius) who did the production design for The Fifth Element, William Stout whose art appeared on the cover of many bootleg albums in the 1970s and Kerry Callen, a current artist who creates hilarious parodies of classic superhero comics.Wow – your wife is an archaeologist! That’s pretty interesting.Yes, I sometimes put that as an answer to the “tell us something interesting about yourself” question – “my wife is an archaeologist.”From some of your responses above you’ve clearly got a love of history in common. Assuming history wasn’t part of your meeting story?When we met, my wife was a reference librarian although she did have a Bachelor of Arts in Archaeology. She now has her PhD and is the leading expert on the site she did her thesis on.Forgive me but there’s a line here that just has to be shared… “Craig and his archaeologist wife, bonded over their love of ancient ruins and genealogy…and the rest, as they say, is history…”That works.If you’d like to hear Craig’s radio show, Deep Cuts, here’s how!Live to air on 88.6 Plenty Valley FM: Wednesday from 6:00pm to 8:00pmStreaming live: https://www.pvfm.org.auRepeat broadcast: Sunday from 2:00pm to 4:00pmListen any time: https://omny.fm/shows/deep-cuts/playlists/on-demand
- 27 Feb 2024
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Caring for older people in hot weather
As the mercury rises and summer heat waves become more frequent, it’s crucial to pay special attention the well-being of our older population. Frail elderly people are particularly vulnerable to extreme temperatures and proper care can make a significant difference in their health and safety.Read on for some tips on how to keep cool in hot weather.Stay hydratedOne of the most critical aspects of caring for older people during hot weather is ensuring proper hydration. Dehydration can lead to serious health complications, so encourage seniors to drink plenty of water. Remind them to keep sipping water throughout the day, even if they don’t feel thirsty. Avoid caffeinated or alcoholic beverages which can worsen dehydration. Consider offering water-based fruits as snacks, for example, watermelon, cucumber and strawberries.Stay coolMaintain a cool living environment. Consider air conditioning (and make sure the unit is functioning correctly). Fans can also help circulate air and provide relief.Use a cool, wet cloth to wipe arms and necks. Soaking feet in a bowl of cool water can also help regulate body temperature. Consider a trip to an air-conditioned venue, such as shopping centres, libraries and movie theatres, or contact your local council for information about Seniors Centres in your area.Dress appropriatelyChoose lightweight, breathable clothing made from natural fabrics. Light colours help reflect sunlight and keep the body cooler. Encourage seniors to wear wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses when outdoors.Regular check-insOlder people living alone are at higher risk, especially if they lack frequent contact with others. Regular check-ins by family, friends or care givers are essential. Ensure they have access to a phone or emergency alert system.Recognise signs of heat-related illnessThe signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke include:Excessive sweatingWeakness and fatigueDizzinessConfusionNauseaCall triple zero (if living in Australia) in case of a medical emergency requiring ambulance support.For non-life-threatening situations, Victorian residents can contact Nurse-On-Call for free professional health advice over the phone. Call 1300 60 60 24 to speak with a registered nurse about health-related questions and concerns. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.Limit outdoor activities during peak heatEncourage seniors to stay indoors during the hottest part of the day (usually between 10am and 4pm). If they do need to go outside, encourage them to seek shade and take regular breaks from physical activity.Protect with sunscreenSunscreen isn’t just for days at the beach. Older adults should apply sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 before going outside. Sunburn can exacerbate heat-related stress.Medication awarenessCertain medications can affect how the body responds to heat. Some diuretics, sedatives, tranquilisers and heart and high blood pressure medicines can make it hard for the body to cool itself on hot days. People on these medications may require more frequent check-ins to ensure they are staying cool in the heat.Remind seniors to take their medication as prescribed and store them appropriately, away from the heat to avoid degradation.Remember, extreme heat can lead to hospitalisation and even death for older individuals. By following these guidelines, we can help keep our seniors safe and comfortable during hot weather.
- 20 Feb 2024
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Geraldine Lannon, Baptcare's CEO, elected Deputy Chairperson of ACCPA
We are delighted to announce the appointment of our Chief Executive Officer, Geraldine Lannon, as the Deputy Chairperson of the Aged and Community Care Providers Association (ACCPA).ACCPA sent out the following announcement to its members informing them of Geraldine’s appointment:Election of ACCPA Deputy Chairperson: Geraldine LannonWe are delighted to announce the appointment of Geraldine Lannon as the Deputy Chairperson of ACCPA, as elected by directors at the ACCPA Board meeting on 13 February 2024. Geraldine is the Chief Executive Officer of ACCPA member, Baptcare.Geraldine brings to the role strong industry knowledge, with extensive strategic leadership experience in aged care, public health and community services, along with very strong board governance experience and qualifications.In her time on ACCPA’s Board, Geraldine has demonstrated a strong commitment to the work of ACCPA in supporting its members and the age care industry.Geraldine’s appointment as Deputy Chairperson follows the departure of Cherylee Treloar from the Board at ACCPA’s Annual General Meeting in November 2023.As part of her new role, Geraldine will chair the sub-committee tasked with the recruitment of a new independent chairperson for ACCPA, who will take up their role when our inaugural chairperson, Dr Graeme Blackman AO, completes his term in November. This process will begin in the next few months and we will provide further updates as it progresses.
- 16 Feb 2024
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Life is about making connections says Karana’s Jean Giese
Ask 96-year-old Jean Giese what matters in life, and she answers without hesitation. A fairly recent resident of Baptcare’s Karana residential aged care community, Jean has discovered that several staff members grew up in Nepal, so she talks with them about what she saw and learned while trekking in that country.
- 13 Feb 2024
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Karana’s singing Personal Care Worker is Wan of a kind
Wanderful.Wan in a million.Baptcare’s Karana residential aged care community Wan the lottery when they secured him as an employee.Wan (pronounced like ‘one’) Tanamas is famous at Karana for singing to residents as he undertakes his Personal Care tasks.“I love to sing, and a lot of the residents like being sung to,” Wan said.“I like doing karaoke and even have a karaoke machine at home. I sing a lot of the classics like Sinatra and Louis Armstrong, and it makes people happy.”Wan started life in Jakarta, Indonesia, where he studied law and started a wholesale pharmaceutical company. In 2000 he moved with his children to Australia.“I have two daughters and two grand-daughters. No boys, so I tell them I’m the King in my family!”Singing and caring are inextricably linked in his personal and professional life. Away from Karana, Wan sings in the choir at St Francis’s in the city, where he also volunteers to serve food to people in need.“I like to help people. The residents at Karana are really good. They seem to love me – I must be a sweet talker! But seriously, I know everyone at Karana, every staff member and every resident, and I try to show care for everyone.“I love my job because, if I’m still able, I want to be helping others.”Jared McLeod, Spiritual Care Coordinator at Karana, has seen the difference Wan makes in people’s lives. “Wan is incredibly attentive to residents’ needs,” Jared said.“He is so insightful about how people are going, monitors them closely every day, and sometimes lets me know if he feels people have spiritual care needs we can help with.“He is a super caring man. Just one of the best.”
- 13 Feb 2024
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Don McLennan stays healthy in mind, body and spirit at Amberlea
Acknowledging that ageing lifestyles are diverse and that agency and individualised experiences are important is the philosophy that underpins Baptcare’s Living Well Together model of care. It is also exemplified in Don McLennan’s individual and meaningful lifestyle at Amberlea.
- 01 Feb 2024
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Meet Colleen and Nigel
Meet Colleen and Nigel Linnell, partners in life - and in the workplace - at our Hedley Sutton residential aged care community. Colleen works part-time in reception and Nigel is a volunteer. They are both dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of our residents, families and staff.Read on to learn more about how Colleen and Nigel came to work and volunteer at Baptcare, and why they love being a part of our Hedley Sutton community.Meet ColleenHow long have you been working at Baptcare? Have you always worked in frontline customer service and administration?I’ve worked at Baptcare for 14 years. I’ve always worked on the front desk in a customer service role.Tell us about a typical day at work – if there is one?Every day is different – I could be dealing with admissions, discharges, meet and greeting, invoices and ordering. It can be very busy – sometimes even a bit frantic! But there’s a rhythm you get used to – it keeps me on my toes.The type of demand we’re seeing for aged care services has changed over time. People are coming into aged care with more complex needs now – perhaps they’ve stayed at home for longer and are only entering care when they can no longer reasonably be looked after at home.We offer respite care at Hedley Sutton now, which was something we didn’t offer when I first started working here. I’m very lucky to be job sharing with Vanessa Hall. I work two days a week and Vanessa works three days. The flexibility is good and works well for us both. We each provide the other with a detailed handover with comprehensive notes at the end of our shifts to make sure that the Hedley front desk operates efficiently.Growing up, what job did you want to do?I’ve been sewing since the age of five – my mother was a dressmaker. I always wanted to do fashion design but in Hobart, where I lived at the time, there weren’t the opportunities to study fashion back then, so I studied shorthand and typing instead and moved into reception/secretarial work. To this day I still take the Minutes of the staff meetings using Pitmans Shorthand.I still sew at home and modify clothes that I buy off the rack. I’m always busy with my sewing machine and have the same Bernina machine that I bought a year after we married!What are some of the most important qualities for someone working as a receptionist in an aged care community?You really need to enjoy the job and be comfortable with the pace – it can get extremely busy at times. Vanessa and I have each other’s backs when the pressure is on. You’ve got to appreciate that the front reception desk works for the nursing staff, Office Manager and residents.Why do you love working at Baptcare?I felt instantly comfortable when I started working here 14 years ago. I love the people and the job – it just feels like family here. The three Directors of Nursing I’ve worked with over my time here at Hedley have been lovely to work for and I get along really well with our Office Manager too. They’ve all been wonderful, confident and competent people to work with.Meet NigelWhat inspired you to become a volunteer at Hedley Sutton?I’d previously volunteered for the RSL and then Colleen nominated me for volunteering at Baptcare.I took over the footy tipping activity from another volunteer who had left the job suddenly with an unexpected illness. It was close to the end of the footy season, and I had to quickly come to terms with another person’s record system that I knew nothing about! But with a bit of hard work and determination, I was able to work through things and finish up that first season.Prior to volunteering, I’d worked in the Finance/Banking industry and finished my career in financial planning, investment portfolios and superannuation. I’m also ex-Army, having completed National Service and served in Vietnam in the late 1960s. I retired at the age of 65 and there was a bit of role reversal at home – I became the domestic manager at home (instead of Colleen) and decided to start volunteering a few days a week.What are some of the volunteer activities you participate in?I run the footy tipping program during the season, volunteering for a couple of days a week, just to catch all the residents and staff who want to participate. It’s a fun topic to talk about with everyone and creates conversation. We have a lovely presentation after the finals – there’s prizes for first, second and third position. Everyone has a lot of fun – and it’s great interaction and conversation for the residents. Most people like talking about footy!What do you think are the most important qualities for a volunteer in aged care?Empathy is important. As a volunteer, you must understand that our residents want to be listened to, recognised and understood. They have amazing back stories to tell about their rich and varied lives. It’s important to take the time to learn more about them. Don’t rush things and don’t be brash – listen to them on their level. Being patient is key – just take the time to sit down and have a chat with them and a cup of tea.What do you do in your spare time?I do quite a bit of home maintenance. We still live in a large home and there is lots to do. I also enjoy going to the gym three days a week. Previously, I was Vice President of the Waverley RSL, and I still have some strong ties there. Colleen and I like to travel a fair bit as well. We’ve been overseas once every two years since 1997, on average. Our last trip was to the UK and Italy. We love to walk everywhere – some days we’d walk up to 15 kilometres. We also like to get away to the Sunshine Coast about 2-3 times a year.Thank you Colleen and Nigel for your dedication to our Hedley Sutton community. We truly appreciate everything you do to make Hedley such a warm and welcoming place for our residents, their families and staff.If you’re interested to know more about working or volunteering at Baptcare, click here for more information on how to join us and share your passion and commitment to supporting people in need.
- 01 Feb 2024
