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S S O G R E H T N GU Issue 10 August 2009

CONTENTS Page 1 ∗ Message from the Executive Manager Page 2 ∗ Activities News ∗ Education for August ∗ Meetings Page 3 ∗ Welcome to Gunther! New Staff ∗ Getting to Know our Staff Page 4 ∗ Quality Corner ∗ Policy of the Month Page 5 ∗ Mega Find-a-Word Page 6 ∗ What’s Happening August 2009 Attached ∗ Comments, Compliments & Concerns Form

MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE MANAGER.

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Quote for the month

“Quality is not just a chart, or a standard, or a specification. It is a state of mind, a commitment, a responsibility, a spirit. It’s a way of doing, being and living!” As we prepare for our Accreditation visit on the 4th and 5th, I thought the above quote was appropriate. Our commitment to quality and the process of Continuous Improvement, which in essence is how we ensure compliance, should be a way of life. Of course leading up to something as significant as an Accreditation Audit, we are all going to busy ourselves making sure we have our ‘bits & pieces’ in the right place, that our ‘T’s are crossed and our I’s are dotted! However, it is important to remember that the things we do and the changes we make are not , “for Accreditation” .We are doing it, because

we want the best for our residents and the staff that care for them. If we lose sight of that, we are not providing quality services, we are merely ticking the boxes! And that, I can assure you, is not sustainable and is very transparent. It is not about ‘having it all right’, it is about demonstrating that we have systems that alert us that an area needs improvement. With that in mind, an Accreditation site visit can be a rewarding experience. It is our opportunity to promote our facility, which is a home that we should be very proud to be a part of.

Treasure Chest WEEK 21 JACKPOT: $357

No one would ever dispute the fact that the vast majority of people working in aged care are dedicated, work hard, and look forward to the opportunity of having that fact formally recognised.

Jo Bailey

Gunther Goss— Issue 10—August 09 Gunther Goss—Issue 10 - August 09

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Activities News On the 16th July we held the official opening of the Gunther Gumnuts, the day was a huge success. Well over 30 mothers and children attended which was a lot more than we had anticipated. Some of our residents joined in the festivities on the day and thoroughly enjoyed watching the small children play. A Huge thanks must be said for all those people who volunteered their time to install and concrete our play equipment which arrived late Wednesday afternoon. We all worked late into Wednesday night so that we could open Thursday Morning. “ Back yard Blitz” has nothing on the Gunther group who participated. Local artist & Gunther employee Joy Spry painted a huge mural on the wall adjoining the sand pit which depicts The Gunther Gumnuts, castles and mushrooms, it is truly an eye catcher. The residents now have situated in the front foyer a stall where they have their Arts & Crafts on display for sale. The proceeds from this stall will go directly back to our residents Lifestyle program. Our walk-in Bird Avery is now complete. It has really complimented our Allawah Wing courtyard. Monday Marmalade is becoming increasingly popular with the addition of Passionfruit and Lemon Butter as well as Green Tomato Jam. As fast as we have them bottled, they are sold! Faye Brydon, a Gunther employee, has kindly donated a solid timber 2 seater outdoor chair for the Gunther Village to raffle. Tickets are on sale now in the foyer for $2.00 for those who are interested.

EDUCATION FOR AUGUST Since the last issue, the staff have been busy little vegemites, attending various education sessions, both in-house and external. Jenny Eckart and Di Messer attended a course on Workplace Health & Safety. They were put through their paces of knowledge and achieved their qualification. CONGRATULATIONS! To both Jenny and Di, who now join Betty Seales as Work Place Health & Safety Officers (WHSOs) Any issues of concern, that staff or residents have in regards to Workplace Health & Safety, should be documented and reported to one of our WHSOs who will assist them in keeping our home as safe as possible. Staff attended a very informative session, “Secret Men’s Business”. The aim of the program was to discuss issues that effect older men and share ideas on how to improve their quality of life. Topics covered were men’s physical and mental health, meaningful activities and understanding their behaviours. Most of the

female staff left the session thinking “So men really are from MARS, and women from Venus”. A lot of our newer staff attended an in-house education session and have learnt new skills about manual handling, while some of our longer standing staff attended to brush up on skills already acquired. It introduced the importance of safe and effective manual handling techniques to be used to assist people to move more independently. Also in July, Mercy Aged Care Pharmacist, Sue Wright delivered a session about complementary Medicines and their benefits. Staff are also reminded, August 20th is COMPULSORY EDUCATION and it is a requirement that you attend at least one of these sessions yearly. If you have any questions regarding this, please ask Rose

MEETINGS August 3—Resident Meeting in the Hub 10.00am—11.00am 3 August 12— 12—Staff Meeting—Accreditation Feedback 2.30pm Gunther Goss— Issue 10—August 09

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Welcome to Gunther! New Staff

Naomi Rice—Trainee Assistant Nurse

Ani Seruvatu—Assistant Nurse

Marama Waterhouse— Support Staff

Getting to Know Our Staff Name: Aileen Mankofski Position: Administration Assistant & Payroll Officer Time worked at Gunther: 14 months Best thing about working at Gunther: Learn something new everyday. Family: Married with a son and daughter Favourite Food: Roast dinner Best Holiday: Going to Perth

LEFT: Some of the Christmas decorations created by the residents from activiBarb showing off two of the many Melties last year. bourne cup hats that the residents have created .

Special Interests: Craft work, Choir, grandchildren

Gunther Goss— Issue 10—August 09

Aileen Mankofski— Administration Assistant & Payroll Officer

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Quality Corner! We have decided to include in our Quality Corner section, a ‘Comments, Compliments & Concerns’ feedback section. The addition to our Newsletter, of our Comments, Compliments & Concerns form has been positive. In addition to some positive verbal feedback, we had one form returned via post last month, by a relative complimenting us on the fact that the newsletter is received in the post each month, with the account. For those relatives that are away and not able to visit as often as they would like, it is a way of staying in touch. Just a reminder that the Newsletter is also available online. www.cubdha.org.au We are also able to facilitate email addresses for those residents (or relatives) that wish to communicate with family via email. If you would like to have an email set up for a resident, please advise the staff at administration who will organize this for you. In the time poor world of today, I am sure it would be much more convenient for some to send a letter or photos via email, than trying to find the time to do it via post. The staff will be only too happy to assist residents in checking their emails, sending a quick reply or printing of a photo. I thought we would share with you, an exercise that was carried out at our recent staff meeting. Staff present were asked one at a time, to name something that they believed has improved the home in some way over the last year. In a very short few minutes, the following list was compiled; Environment & Lifestyle, having pets in the home! Friendlier staff! Plasma TV’s! Support Staff/Cleaner in each wing! Improved Uniforms! New Toaster in Burnett Wing! (no more fire alarms) Better maintained gardens! Friendlier atmosphere! Allocated Study days! Care Staff and Support Staff working together more – improved team work! Education program! BBQ’s! No odour since some carpets have been removed! No locked doors! Quieter phones! Being able to ask questions! New Timesheets! Refurbishment of Gunther Wing! Increased Resident participation in daily chores! iCafe (internet café) Allawah Courtyard & Aviary! New Computers – Computer & IT Education! Gunther Gumnuts! Re-arranging of Admin offices! More staff! Residents Breakfasts being prepared in the Wings! As we go about our work and lives on a daily basis, it is easy to forget the number of positive things that have been achieved. The list of things above is certainly not all, but it is enough to say, that if you are feeling a bit ‘worn out’ at times, you probably deserve to be!

Policy of the Month! Information Management Gunther Village employees will gather, store, disseminate and access information—electronic or otherwise—as authorized and/or instructed by the Executive Manager, within legislative requirements and guidelines.

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ALBATROSS ALPACA ANACONDA ARMADILLO ASP BADGER CARIBOU CHAMELEON CONDOR COUGAR COW CROCODILE DINGO

EGRET ERMINE FALCON FERRET FINCH GERBIL GIBBON GROUSE GULL HARE HYENA IGUANA LEMUR

Gunther Goss— Issue 10—August 09

LIZARD LOON MARMOSET MARTEN MOLE MONGOOSE MULE MUSKOX OCELOT OSTRICH PANDA PHEASANT POSSUM

PUFFIN PYTHON SHARK SKUNK SNAKE SQUIRREL SWALLOW VULTURE WARTHOG WILDEBEEST WOLF

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11 Jing o with Re spite

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25 Jing o 10.00— 11.00am O utdoor Bar be que for Gunther Wing

24 Marmalade Monday

31 Marmalade Monday

18 Jing o 10.00— 11.00am O utdoor Bar be que for Allawah Wing

17 Marmalade Monday

Make-up with We ndy

4 Jing o 10.00am—11.00am Make-up with We ndy

3 Re side nt’s Mee ting in the Hub 10.00am—11.00am Af te rnoon te a in hub &

S how Holiday

Tue

Mon

Re side nt O uting

Triv ial P ursuit 10.00—11.00am

Music with Jack 10.00-11.00am My stery Outing & Af te rnoon Te a 26

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12 Music with Be ssie & Dawn Thai Chi 10.00—11.00am

5 Music with Mar ie & Edith Thai Chi Mare e P or ter Te ddy Be ar s & Af ternoon te a

Wed

Happy Hour 3.30—5.00pm

L unch at the Or ange

S pe cial Re que sts

21 Cooking up a ‘S tor m’

28 Cooking up a ‘S tor m’

20

Pe t Ther apy

14 Cooking up a ‘S tor m’

7 Cooking up a ‘S tor m’

Fri

27 Visit fr om S t. Josephs

Compulsory Education

Visit to the Big Or ang e

13 Visit fr om S t. Josephs

6 O utdoor Bar be que for Bur ne tt Wing

Thu

August 2009

What’s Happening…

Car ds with Ed Ne wmann

Car ds with Ed Ne wmann

Car ds with Ed Ne wmann

Car ds with Ed Ne wmann

Car ds with Ed Ne wmann

Sat

29

22

15

8

1

Sun

30

23

16

9

2

Gunther Village

Comments, Compliments & Concerns As part of our commitment to Continuous Quality Improvement, we genuinely value your ideas and suggestions. Whether you have a concern you would like to raise, make a suggestion that may improve services or simply acknowledge the good things we do, we encourage you to tell us. I am very aware that due to the fact that we promote a culture of open and transparent communication, many suggestions or issues raised, are done so verbally. However, it is important that we have options and that there is a system that enables people to put something forward anonymously, should they wish to do so. (keeping in mind that this will prohibit feedback at a personal level)

Regards, Jo Bailey Executive Manager

Comment 

Compliment 

Concern 

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Name: …………………………………………………..

Date: …………………………………………..

FEEDBACK In line with our policy, we are committed to providing feedback in relation to issues raised within 10 working days, however please do not hesitate to contact me if further information is required, following reply.

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Signed: ………………………….

Date: ………………………………..

Please attention completed forms to – Executive Manager, Gunther Village P.O. Box 134 GAYNDAH, 4625 Gunther Goss— Issue 10—August 09