On this special occasion of Aged Care Employee Day, we celebrate Australia’s residential, home and community aged care workers. This year’s theme #ThanksForCaring recognises everyone involved in caring for older Australians. This year, we asked our wonderful Personal Care Assistant, Tashi Dema, to share her aged care journey and what working at Coorparoo Aged Care means to her.

Why did you want to pursue a career in aged care?

I have always wanted to be around elderly people and help them to live their best life. I find it very rewarding to work as an aged care assistant. I moved from my country Bhutan in 2022 to find a better life. I was lucky to get a job in the housekeeping department of Coorparoo Aged Care and while I worked and studied a Certificate III in Aged Care. I was lucky to do my placement at Coorparoo and was then offered a job as a Personal Care worker.

What do you like most about your role and working at Coorparoo?

I like the opportunity to build relationships with the residents and provide companionship, support and assistance to those who may be vulnerable and in need of the extra care I can provide for them.

What is most challenging about working in aged care?

The most challenging aspect of the job is managing the emotional toll that comes with witnessing the decline or loss of independence and mobility of the residents. It can be challenging to see people you have formed a connection with struggle with their health and pass away.

What is a special memory you have from working at Coorparoo?

Meeting and connecting with residents from varied walks of life and sharing conversations, laughs and moments of personal connections.

For many of us, enjoying our food is more than just fulfilling our hunger, it’s about the experience, the joy, and the relaxing comfort we feel when we eat. For residents at Coorparoo Aged Care, not only do they get to enjoy the delicious and nutritious food from the menu as created by Head Chef, Karl, and the kitchen team, but they also get to help craft the menu so that every meal is catered to their preferences.

Chef Karl is assisted by Chef Ramesh and a fabulous team of kitchen staff. All food is cooked fresh on the premises daily. Along with a choice of different meal options every day, the menu rotates every four weeks, so that there is a variety for residents. Feedback is also welcomed at resident meetings at which Chef Karl attends so that residents can enjoy the best quality food every day.

The menu is annually reviewed by a dietician to ensure that there is a variety of meals with different colours, textures, and flavours.

For Coorparoo Aged Care resident, Marion Henzel, having freshly cooked meals which are also prepared onsite was a large factor is choosing to live at Coorparoo. ‘There is fresh fruit salad available each evening. It is important to ensure we all keep healthy and enjoy our meals,’ says Marion.

‘I find all the meals enjoyable, but my favourites are the barramundi and vegetables and the corned beef with parsley sauce,’ she says. ‘The kitchen also provides lovely high teas and food for special events which are organised by the lifestyle team.’

To find out more about nutritional wellness at our home, please speak to our friendly team on 07 3153 6000.

On International Nurses Day we recognise the wonderful work of our caring, professional, and compassionate nurses and thank them for their endless dedication to the care of our residents.

Leonie O’Brien is the Clinical Care Coordinator at Coorparoo Aged Care and she shares what inspired her to enter nursing and what drives her in her career.

Why did you choose to do nursing as your chosen career and what does it mean to you?

I chose to do nursing because I wanted to be equipped to provide comfort and support to people, especially older people, when they are unwell or palliating.

What do you enjoy most about working as a Clinical Care Coordinator at the home?

It feels great to be part of the nursing management team here at Coorparoo. We have a supportive team who care about the residents and the quality of the care that is provided.

What is the most challenging about being a nurse?

Constantly keeping up with the changes to legislation and the standards to ensure we remain compliant and continue to provide the best care available.

What is a special memory you have so far from your nursing career?

Working as a young nurse in South Africa, I worked as a community health palliative care nurse, based at a Hospice, and practiced as a private nurse practitioner for a while. These roles demanded a lot of travel and people support. I thoroughly enjoyed working in these capacities. I needed to build up trust with the doctors and oncologists so that I could call them at any time for permission to implement pain and symptom control strategies to ensure patient comfort. Unlike conditions in Australia there was no government support. The hospice I worked at was totally dependent on donations from the public. Patients and families relied on me for everything, including call outs during the night (even when it was unsafe to do so), consultation, advice and equipment.

I had some carers on my books and would arrange a fee consultation between the parties that would suit both the patient and the carer. Some patients were very poor but needed care support and some carers were desperate to provide food for their families, so a low acceptable fee was arranged between them. If a minimal wage applied (like in Australia), both the patient and carer would have suffered. I often had to improvise and carried items in my car such as old clean sheets, black plastic bags, spare food, soap, spare unused donated medications, and medical equipment (sometimes very old but usable, e.g. enemas etc.) to ensure patient comfort and support. Some could not even afford simple items such as food to have with their medication, bus fare to collect or pay for medication, a change of linen when it is soiled – a cut up black plastic bag with a cover sheet assisted with keeping under sheets clean and helped when desperate families needed to turn or slide a loved one into a comfortable position. It was sad but very rewarding to be able to help, without restrictions.

This was 20 years ago, and things may have changed but I value the knowledge I gained and the experiences I had. I moved to Queensland and then worked for a large Aged Care provider for 17 years in various clinical roles, including Management and Quality and Compliance roles. Three years ago I made the move to Coorparoo Aged Care after a short stint in a contracted Quality Support Role. I so enjoyed working at Coorparoo that when the Clinical Care Coordinator Role became available, I did not hesitate to apply. The entire team at Coorparoo work well together to provide a caring and supportive working environment.

On ANZAC Day, we take this time to remember all who have served for our country. This year, we share the story of Coorparoo Aged Care resident, Les, who reflected on his experience with the army.

In January 1955, at the age of 18, Les was conscripted to the Australian Army in a ballot and completed three months training in preparation to be sent to Malaya. The overseas post never eventuated and instead, he completed service training in Gunnedah in the Transport Unit where he learnt to drive lorries and jeeps. Les recalls that his time in the army reserve took precedence over work and was required to work on certain days or weekends. He would also attend fortnightly camps at Gunnedah where he would stay in a marquee with 20 other soldiers while others would stay in huts. Les recalls that training was strict and says that if you did not fold your sheets, blankets and mattress away correctly, it was then tipped onto the floor, and you had to start again.

During one of his training camps, Les met fellow serviceman, Carl. They became lifelong friends and would catch up frequently at trainings and ongoing camps. Carl was Les’ best man at his wedding and said that their families were always close. Sadly, Carl passed away three years ago; however, Les still remains in contact with Carl’s family.

Les said that overall, he enjoyed national service. A distinct memory he recalls was one training session during the hot summer months. The training involved bayonet drills where Les had to walk a mile in the heat between two soldiers, remembering to lift his rifle above his shoulder, so that no one got stabbed. Les forgot and said the sergeant made him run to the other side of the training field as punishment, and then made all the troops do it again with him. On returning to camp, Les said he did not feel like eating the meal provided and made do with a milkshake instead. Later he endured terrible cramps through his body and legs, which took most of the night to alleviate. He said he never made that mistake again.

Les says that being in the army taught him to follow orders which prompted him to lead a disciplined lifestyle and always do the right thing. Since moving into Coorparoo Aged Care, Les has maintained his self-discipline and still hangs his clothes up in the wardrobe and puts his shoes away neatly every day.

Bob and Lyn Reading first met at the Wharf Street ANZ branch where they both worked for a number of years. They later resigned from working in the bank, then owned and ran three news agencies over 25 years. ‘We worked long hours and hard but worked together’ they said. ‘We created a stable loving family and make a good team.’

Bob and Lyn are very family oriented and spoke very fondly of their family. When asked who the greatest loves of their lives were, Bob said his grandchildren, whilst Lyn said that Bob is the greatest love of her life. ‘Thanks to my wife, I have a lovely family,’ said Bob. The couple will celebrate their 57^th wedding anniversary in March 2023.

When asked how they shape who each other are today, they replied, ‘We have always had mutual ambitions, qualities and way of life. We communicate with, respect, and support each other. These have been the things that have built our marriage and family. We have a great family support network.’ Lyn and Bob have one son who lives in Brisbane with his family, and their other son lives in London with his family but will come out to Australia to visit them soon.

Bob and Lyn are both residents at Coorparoo. Lyn lives at The Village and Bob lives at Coorparoo Aged Care which allows them to spend lots of time together.

‘We have been lucky enough to have lots of nice trips and been able to travel. But the best thing we did was move to The Village at Coorparoo.’