embracia.com.au

Summer Newsletter 2015

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Message from our FoundersPeter & Dawn MacKenzie

Read more about Embracia

This is our last article to you because as you all know by now,, from April 1st 2015, McKenzie Aged Care Group will be your new business owner with the exception of the homes we mention and also Clarinda (Embracia on the Park). Clarinda is not part of the sales process to McKenzie Aged Care Group, but will be sold separately to another buyer, hopefully within the settlement time frame by end March 2015. Once details and discussions are finalised, we will let you know and keep you informed of the progress.

We wish you all a happy marriage in providing continuing quality aged care, good communication, happiness and business success.

We would like to thank the staff most sincerely for the dedication, support and passion that you have provided to the residents and us.

To our suppliers, we are grateful for the long-standing relationship that we have developed and wish you all continued success.

To the residents and families, a heartfelt thank you for the honour and privilege to provide quality holistic care and support.

To our executive team, a huge thank you too; it has been wonderful working with great people who are like minded and who also desire to contribute in a meaningful way to improve the lives of everyone and make an impact on the standard of aged care.

The last couple of months have been particularly difficult for us as we have operated our business nearly 30 years and now it is time to pass our ‘baby’ onto someone else. On reflection, we are exceptionally blessed to have had the opportunity to make a differ-ence in the lives of so many people. We have also had the unique opportunity to work with our family at various times, to share our passion. Not many people are able to enjoy this lifelong satisfaction.

We wish to publicly thank our daughters, Jo, Kate and Sarah for sharing and supporting us on this most wonderful journey. Our girls wish to thank everyone for the love and support that they too have received from you over the years.

Jo and her husband now operate two childcare centres in the City of Casey, (King Kids).

Sarah has a desire to continue her passion in aged care and will do so in operating Embracia in Reservoir and also develop Embracia in Moonee Valley.

Kate will be taking a break from aged care and will ponder her future. Who knows where Kate will pop up next?

We will continue to complete and operate Embracia in Woodford and Embracia in Burpengary on a part time basis. Now it is time for us to step back, enjoy our eight beautiful grandchildren and ‘smell the roses.’ Thank you to everyone and best wishes to you for good health and happiness in the future.

We’d love to see you online! Follow Embracia on social media to keep updated on our news, events, read insightsinto our aged care homes and retirement villages, career information and new job opportunities.

Our social media is managed during regular business hours, Monday to Friday and is often not on-site at our homes and villages.If you need to contact a resident, we encourage you to call the home directly or speak with a member of our team.

facebook.com/Embracia

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Embracia Aged Care and Retirement Villages

Embracia Aged Care and Retirement Villages

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Message from our CEOWally Bourdelov

Team Finnan’s Gift

We’d love to hear from you

Improving the lives of others Hello everyone. I trust that whether you have been caring for our residents or have had the opportunity of some time off, you have had a most wonderful festive season and managed to spend

some quality time with your family and loved ones.

The last few months have been a highly challenging time but one which has been very fulfilling. We have a great team of people who pride themselves on providing wonderful, personalised care to our residents. It is this sincere, personalised approach which is one of the most wonderful things which sets Embracia and the Embracia Team apart from the general aged care industry and one of the reasons why you and the company are held in such high regard and respect. My congratulations to you and my profound thanks for the work that you do and the genuine care that you take. You truly do make a difference to so many – thank you.

I take this opportunity to thank you all for your support of Embracia and to wish you all a very safe and successful 2015 as we continue to move Embracia in an ever developing and successful direction and commence working with McKenzie Aged Care Group from the April settlement date.

With thanks and good wishes,Wally.

In our previous issue we put the call out to our Embracia community to join us in our support of Finnan’s Gift – the foundation established by Olympic medallist Alisa Camplin-Warner and her husband Oliver Warner to honour their son Finnan who passed away from congenital heart disease at The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH). Learn more about Finnan’s Gift at finnansgift.gofundraise.com.au

On Sunday 12 October , our inaugural team of 80 participated in the Melbourne Marathon Festival event as ‘Team Finnan’s Gift’. Led by Alisa and Oliver Camplin-Warner and their daughter, Florence, groups of employees from our Victorian homes enjoyed a day of healthy, spirited teamwork by completing either the 3km, 5km or 10km walk or run. We were amazed to learn that one Embracia staff member completed his 10km run, in a personal best time, and then joined his work mates in a 3km walk later in the day.

The annual Melbourne Marathon Festival unites fundraisers towards their goal of $250,000, The Embracia community has wholeheartedly supported them to improve the lives of others by fundraising to purchase tangible gifts for the RCH – a challenge they have set themselves every year since Finnan Maximus passed away in 2011. Every year on his birthday a grant will be made to a different department at the RCM who had cared for him in his ten days of life.

This year’s fundraising goal is to purchase four new centrifugal pumps for an oxygenation machine. These pumps move re-oxygenated blood around the body for children who have recently been in cardiac surgery.

As we go to print Embracia has raised $11,098.00 towards their total of over $191,000.

"The whole experience was fantastic .It was a great sense of pride to all be together from Embracia for this fabulous cause." - a Team Finnan's Gift participant.

We want to thank everyone who has gone above and beyond to positively impact the lives of our aged care and retirement village residents. One way of doing this is by making sure that our aged care staff members are properly acknowledged for their efforts.

We would greatly appreciate your time in sharing your Embracia experience by completing theCompliments, Complaints, Hazards and Suggestions Form located in the reception areas of each of our homes.

All feedback is encouraged at Embracia.

Alternatively, we invite you to share your comments confidentially at people@embracia.com.au

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Support for others Upcycling at the Men’s ShedThe Dementia Support Group of Bribie Island meets on the third Monday of every month in the clubhouse of the Embracia on Bribie retirement village. Independently coordinated by Jan Donaldson and her mother, the group of carers or people living with dementia sharing their knowledge and provide support for each other. The group was originally started by Bribie resident Gay O’Connor, and Embracia’s Michael Isaac before Jan took over eight years ago.

Jan, who has cared for many family members with dementia, explains that the group enables carers to come along and have the freedom to laugh and cry, feel angry and learn more about helping their loved one, whether that is about keeping their loved ones at home , or transitioning into residential aged care.

“Our focus is on support and giving people enough information to make decisions. We regularly have guest speakers from Alzheimer’s Australia, and local health professionals to share their expertise and enable the next steps to .”

“We’re here to support all the emotional rollercoaster rides group members experience. “

Embracia has been invited to give presentations on transitioning into aged care and we encourage families who have loved ones with dementia to reach out to the group.

Roy and Colin of Embracia in Glasshouse Country retirement village have been active members of the village’s Men’s Shed. Working part time for three weeks, they have upcycled wheels from an old lift, timber and a stainless steel frame to create a trolley cart for village resident barbecues. The gentlemen finished it off with a top they personally donated and a coat of paint. This summer’s barbecues at Beerwah village will benefit from their craftsmanship.

Trick or treat at Deception BayHalloween was a family affair at Embracia on the Avenue at Deception Bay in November. Grandchildren and staff got ghoulish with costumes and ‘trick or treated’ throughout the home’s communities.

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Embracia’s 107 year old residentEmbracia in Templestowe recently celebrated the birthday of one of its oldest residents and at a rough guess, is likely to be one of the oldest people in Melbourne, Victoria

Rita Gillick turned 107 in January 2015.

Born in Inverleigh, Rita was the third youngest of ten children and moved to Melbourne with her family. The Robur Tea Building was the location of Rita’s first job, as the Manageress, in the now heritage-listed Southbank, Melbourne premises. Raising her son Noel was combined with work exercising her love of numbers in roles at the taxation department and then at an insurance company. She lived independently until five years ago when she moved into Embracia in Templestowe.

A keen and accomplished ballroom dancer, Rita is always the first to the floor. And it was her skill that was noticed by the Melbourne Fred Astaire Dance School who invited her to become a teacher. A fanatical Geelong Football Club supporter and a keen punter on the races, Rita has won the footy tipping

competition twice and is regularly called upon by family and friends to share her knowledge of the trainers, jockeys and horses of the Melbourne Cup.

When asked Rita what she thought was the secret to her long life she replied that she’s sure that her ‘no smoking, no drinking’ policy has helped!

We wish Rita and her family a wonderful celebration.

Fashions on the FieldThere was more upcycling at Embracia on Bribie aged care home to celebrate the race that stops the nation, the Melbourne Cup.

Recycled materials were crafted into dresses, hats, fascinators and handbags when staff were issued with the challenge to get dressed up in the two week lead up to Cup Day.

Our Residential Service Manager Vicki Gilbert shared that the staff loved the challenge as much as the residents who were audience to the Fashions on the Field parade hosted at the home. A resident and Lauren Caplick, the Clinical Care Coordinator were the judges of the competitive field and judged a 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize.

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Hawaii DayIt was Hawaii 5-0 for the residents at Embracia on the Peninsula aged care. Although our residents’ home is nestled amongst greenery yet not too far from the beaches of Melbourne’s Mornington Peninsula, it was transformed to resemble the Hawaii of more than 8,000 kilometres away.

Palm trees, coconuts and grass skirts, themed food and decorations were created by the home’s residents during their art and craft group classes. On the day the aromas of barbequing snapper was evident and the already bright and cheery home to 90 residents was filled with tropical sounds of Hawaiian music.

The lunch was accompanied by sharing of cultural history of the American state and the home’s Lifestyle team demonstrated traditional Hawaiian dance styles.

Residents keen to keep the Hawaiian vibe, were invited to join in the Hawaiian dance lessons held the following Sunday at the home.

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Carol is part of theEmbracia family

Thank you

Caroline Bell has been a volunteer at Embracia on the Peninsula for more than two years. Following a career supporting patients in hospitals, both in Victoria and in Queensland, Carol’s love of chatting with patients did not fade once she retired.

A move to the Peninsula and many visits to Embracia with her new neighbour to see his wife, Carol approached the management team at the home to enquire about volunteering one day a week.

Carol’s infectious positivity and warm personality has supported many resident and their families.

“ I feel proud to be a part of the wonderful, caring staff at Embracia and feel that we are all part of abig family doing our best for our residents and their families.”

“When I first came to Embracia, it felt friendly and like a big family.”

All of our homes and villages wish to thank each of our volunteers who donate their precious time and make a difference to our residents’ lives. We wish to thank you for all your support from our residents, familyand staff.

“I know when I go home that I have achieved what I set out to do – to put a smile on everyones face.” - Carol Bell

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Volunteer profile

The cliché is that dogs are a man’s best friend. In Ron Simpson’s case, his two and a half year old dog Max, went above and beyond being a great mate – his daily walk led to a new life as a volunteer at Embracia.

Ron lives within walking distance from the Embracia in Reservoir aged care home and daily treks around the neighbourhood with Max coincided with resident strolls. It’s clear that Ron’s had a career in hospitality before he retired as he easily chats to everyone.

“I thought I’m walking my dog, why not offer to escort residents on their walk?” says Ron. That was seven months ago and Ron’s volunteering now extends to driving the home’s bus, taking the residents for outings or via the drive through at Maccas to get an ice cream, or to accompany residents to the shops.

“It absolutely brightens my day”, explains Ron of his time spent every day at Embracia in Reservoir.

He also helps art therapist, Alexandra Leti, with her art classes for residents. Alex has recently painted Max in a stunning portrait to thank Ron for his generosity and support of Embracia residents.

Ron Simpson, volunteer, Embracia in ReservoirBecome an Embracia VolunteerCan you contribute to the wellbeing of our residents?

There are many opportunities to support theEmbracia community. Choose activities that match your skills, interest and at a time that suits you.

Consider volunteering for bingo calling, playing an instrument, singing, assisting at art and craft activities, gardening, reading the daily paper or providing companionship to our residents.

Find out more at www.embracia.com.au/careers/volunteer

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Art AuctionMoving in to an Embracia home can mean theopportunity to ignite old hobbies or in the case of Embracia in Reservoir, Fred Hayes, start a new one.In his 86 years living in nearby Preston, Fred has been active member of the community contributing to sporting associations. The artist in him didn’t appear until recently, when, encouraged by the home’s art therapist and talented artist, Alexandra Leti, he put paint to canvas in the home’s weekly art therapy classes.

With guidance and encouragement from Alex and his fellow resident artists, Fred has been inspired to create in the painterly styles of the Impressionists. His work was awarded in the accessible art division of the City of Whittlesea art exhibition. Click here to see more of the home’s resident artists’ works.

Fred and his fellow award-winning artists Helen Besley and Freddo Gilson are featured in this week’s Preston Leader, promoting the Art Auction that will be held in the home’s theatre this Sunday afternoon 23 November from 1.30 – 4pm.

In its seventh year, the Art Auction enables the program to be continued as it raises funds for canvases, paintbrushes and paint.

View the Preston Leader article and all the photos on Google + /Embracia Aged Care and Retirement Villages.

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5,000 Poppies project

Mavis Bloss, a resident at Embracia in Glasshouse Country aged care home in Queensland remembered the 11th November in a particularly special way this year with an invitation to Remembrance Day at Beerwah LIbrary.

Accompanied by the home’s Lifestyle Coordinator, Trina Haylock, Mavis attended a very moving Remembrance Day Service at the local Beerwah Library. Mavis had been invited to participate in the service this year, as she had crafted 20 of the 581 poppies that hung along the wall of the library. These will be on display at the library before joining more than 100,000 more as part of the Australia-wide 5,000 Poppies project for the ANZAC Centenary on ANZAC Day 2015.

Mavis created the poppies in honour of her family members who served in both world wars.

The Project has been established by two creative Victo-rian women to mark the 100 years since Australia’s involvement in the First World War – by putting their considerable crafting talents to good use.

Residents at our adjacent Retirement Village are equally working hard to contribute to the project. Read about their work here.

Learn more about the 5,000 Poppy project at 5000poppies.wordpress.com

A special Remembrance Day at BeerwahLibrary this year

75 quilts for 75 Woodford Residents

As the construction of Embracia in Woodford, Queensland nears its completion date, so to is a community initiative that’s bringing the Woodford crafting groups together in their creation of a “75 Quilts for 75 Beds” Project. Launched early in 2014, knitting, quilting, crochet and craft groups atWoodford and nearby Kilcoy have embraced the project while others in the community are donating yarn and fleece.

Local volunteer coordinator Rhonda Affoo, has encouraged the community to make it their feel-good project for 2014 and the quota of 75 quilts, blankets or rugs has already been reached. Some of the crafters had their work exhibited at the Wood-ford Show last year.

Rhonda is pictured here with some of the craftwork and with Embracia National Operations Manager, Suzanne Hoey.

Embracia in Woodford is scheduled to open our 75-bed aged care door in March/April this year. For more information, visit embraciainwoodford.com.au or email Woodford@embracia.com.au

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Community Picnic and Paws DayEmbracia in Lynbrook celebrate Victorian Seniors Festival each year with a Community Picnic and Paws Day. This year the home opened it’s doors to the community and their pets on Saturday 11 October. With activities spilling out from the theatre, the home’s grand entrance and into the car park, the day was packed with fun and entertainment for everyone.

The dog show started the day and brought many entrants from both the surrounding Lynbrookcommunity and the furry friends who reside with their owners at the Olive Road, Lynbrook home. With too many gorgeous pups to judge a clear winner, each owner was presented with a Certificate of Participation.

With the guidance of volunteer of seven years, Hazel, the resident’s craft group created an abundance of gifts for the festive season. The group meets weekly throughout the year to produce Christmas decorations, gifts and toys for visiting members of the community, and families of residents. All proceeds from the sales on the day go towards supplying craft supplies for the following year.

Face painting, chicklet hatchlings and small reptiles kept the children happy and everyone enjoyed the sausage sizzle in the sunshine. Inside, in the theatre that was transformed with colourful saris andbejewelled accessories, guests chose from an array of Indian cuisine.

Visitors and residents of the home viewed the vintage car display that was organised by an aged care student who’d recently completed her 120 hour placement at Embracia in Lynbrook.

Each of our homes held an event for their localcommunity that reflected this year’s theme of Taking Good Care of Yourself. Read more about each of the homes’ events on our blog at embracia.com.au/blog

View all the photos on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Embracia

Embracia in Lynbrook will open two new households in March – including 16-room community for people living with dementia. Contact the home for more details.www.embraciainlynbrook.com.au

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5 Minutes with ...Albina Iaconis

Albi – and both of her teenage sons - work at Embracia in Reservoir aged care home. After starting her working life as a hairdresser in Melbourne , she decided to take on fulltime duties caring for her children for several years. A return to the workplace, saw her combine her passion and obvious talent for cooking into the career she has today.

How did you find yourself working with Embracia?

Albi was recently selected to work in the kitchens at the Melbourne Cup 2014. She was selected from a field of hundreds of cookery student entrants

What are your interests outside of work?

There are many Italian residents at Embracia in Reservoir and Albi enjoys preparing traditional Italian dishes for them. “ I have one resident who loves creamed rice for dessert – I enjoy making it the way he likes it.”

What do you like about your job?

Expression through poetryMolly Wiles has been writing poetry since she was a young girl in Yorkshire, England, We share one of her recent poems as we celebrate Victorian Seniors Festival 2014.

Now and Then highlights the changes in daily life from then until now.

Now and ThenI remember, in the long ago, we used to bake our bread

A stone of flour, two ounce of yeast made sure we all were fed;And when the loaves were in the tins we’d roll the bits of dough

And fashion currant faces and bake them in a row.

My Mum made apple dumplings with suet from the meatAnd lots of sticky custard – all smooth and hot and sweet;

But stews were her specialty – whatever came to handAn infinite variety – but it always tasted grand.

And if we had to buy a loaf – the choice was brown or white

And the butcher carved our cuts of meat on the counter in our sight;The fish shop cooked unfrozen fish in crispy, golden batter

And we waited as we watched it fry – and had a little natter.

And we’d never heard of plastic bags-we hand-picked fruit & vegiesAnd cheese and butter came in tubs – we bought it in large wedges;

Not many men had steady jobs- they were mostly on the doleAnd over time they watched their dreams just sucked into a hole.

As a child I learned that poverty makes losers into sinners

As families felt the dull despair of more dinner times than dinner;And the men would slink off to the pub to numb their sense of guilt

Knowing wives and children had had it to the hilt.

Today we ape the bower birds – we never have enough

We must have this- we must have that – it’s all expensive stuff;Our pensions and our wages are never quite our own,

The rent, the car, the tele, the VCR, the phone.

Then food and clothes – the credit cards – the odd big celebration,And keeping up with the Jones’ –with fierce determination;Yet who would choose the yesteryears– the poverty and pain

The family devastation – dear heavens, never again!

We never should forget the days when only life was cheap,When children worked in sweat shops

and in coal mines, dank and deep;When men were paid a pittance — until they found their voice

And clawed their way, until today — all free men have a choice.

The changes came but slowly– and many paid the price,But the eight-hour day and a living wage was not a throw of the dice;

A fighting band of brothers combined with thinking menTo open up the future– to give us Now for Then

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Aged Care Homes

Our Missionis to do more, for more people, more often.

Our Goalis to improve the lives of all those who have contactwith Embracia. Our people are the heart of what we do.

Our Guiding PrinciplesPersonalised Service. Family. TeamworkEmpowerment. Fun. Success.

Embracia on Ashley17-21 Ashley Street, ReservoirVictoria 3073 AustraliaP 03 9469 4900embraciaonashley.com.au

Retirement Villages

Embracia in Lynbrook42 Olive Road, LynbrookVictoria 3975 AustraliaP 03 8795 5777embraciainlynbrook.com.au

Embracia on Bribie199-213 Goodwin Drive, BongareeBribie Island Queensland 4507P 07 3400 1000embraciaonbribie.com.au

Embracia in Glasshouse Country96-104 Peachester Road, BeerwahQueensland 4519 AustraliaP 07 5436 5444embraciainglasshouse.com.au

Embracia on Bribie199-213 Goodwin Drive, BongareeBribie Island Queensland 4507P 07 3400 1050 or 1800 014 619 (Qld only)embraciaonbribie.com.au

Embracia in Glasshouse Country96-104 Peachester Road, BeerwahQueensland 4519 AustraliaP 07 54390511 or 1800 885 053 (Qld only)embraciainglasshousecountry.com.au

Support Centres

Embracia on the Park21-25 Inverness Street, ClarindaVictoria 3169 AustraliaP 03 9545 5960embraciaonthepark.com.au

Embracia on the Peninsula441 Waterfall Gully Road, RosebudVictoria 3939 AustraliaP 03 5982 9200embraciaonthepeninsula.com.au

Embracia in Reservoir65a Glasgow Avenue, ReservoirVictoria 3073 AustraliaP 03 9469 5555embraciainreservoir.com.au

Embracia in Templestowe1 Innisfallen Avenue, TemplestoweVictoria 3106 AustraliaP 03 9846 6077embraciaintemplestowe.com.au

Embracia on the Avenue15-29 Bonton Avenue, Deception BayQueensland 4508P 07 3293 5400embraciaontheavenue.com.au

Victorian Head OfficeP 1800 281 274

Queensland Head OfficeP 07 3400 1050