Entertain your residents

An aged care facility is not a prison – it is a residents’ home, according to TriCare’s Port Vernon Aged Care facility manager, Korrie Greenway.

“There is a mistaken perception in the community which suggests when a resident enters a high care facility, the door is locked behind them and they are not allowed to leave,” she tells DPS News.

“The reality is very different. While residents are in here because they have high or special care needs, they are able to lead a normal life as their care needs allow,” Ms Greenway adds.

She believes entertainment in aged care is vitally important – and Port Vernon Aged Care does not fall short when it comes to keeping its residents active and interested.

With bingo games, circus visits, dinner dates and belly dancing, Ms Greenway says residents are engaged by the facility’s active lifestyle program.

Adding to the program this year will be the formation of a fishing group where residents will head down to the local pier to do a spot of fishing on a monthly basis.

A Men’s Club will also be created where men in the facility will meet every Friday to have lunch and discuss ‘secret men’s business’. Ladies will not miss out, with their get-together scheduled every Monday.

“You need to be able to offer residents a lifestyle program that is both entertaining and stimulating. It can be very simple activities such as bingo or craft quizzes.

“It’s quite often the case that their bodies are ageing… they’re still intelligent and we need to keep that in mind,” Ms Greenway says.

If you work at an aged care facility, how do you keep your residents engaged? Share your thoughts on this topic by commenting in the box below.