flourish issue 1 - print

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SUMMER 2016 | 1 S SUM M S MER MER 20 0 2 20 20 2016 16 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 16 6 16 16 16 16 16 16 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 1 1 1 MAGAZINE VOL 1 | ISSUE 1 | SUMMER 2016 I’M FREE YOURS TO KEEP CARE | HEALTH | WELLBEING Keeping cool this summer Creating great herb gardens The Path to Independence: a carer’s perspective Bite size recipe Creative uses for home care packages

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Page 1: Flourish Issue 1 - print

SUMMER 2016 | 1SSUMMS MERMER 2002202020161666666666166161616161616 ||||||||||||||||||||||||| 1111

MAGAZINE

VOL 1 | ISSUE 1 | SUMMER 2016

I’M FREEYOURS TO KEEP

CARE | HEALTH | WELLBEING

Keeping cool this summer

Creating great herb gardens

The Path to Independence:a carer’s perspective

Bite size recipe

Creative usesfor home care packages

Page 2: Flourish Issue 1 - print

SUMMER 2016 | 32 | ISSUE 1

Home Care Shor tsA word fromour CEO

It is with great pleasure that we bring you our fi rst edition of Flourish, a

magazine for and about those people choosing to enjoy life to the absolute

fullest as they get older.

We look forward to bringing you a variety of entertaining and educational

stories and great tips on lifestyle, health, technology, food, home life, current

affairs and wellbeing. We will also endeavor to keep you updated with

the latest changes and improvements in home care, and news for older

Australians that may impact you.

Flourish aims to showcase the positive ways we are ageing in our

community, to shine the spotlight on the very different ways we all choose

to live independent and self-determined lives, and to share the many stories

from you, our clients, that inspire and remind us that age is but a number.

MichelleChief Executive Offi cer, St Ives Care

Keep up to date with St Ives Home Care

You can keep up to date with everything that is happening across the

organisation, plus view lots of helpful articles, great videos and resources.

Visit stiveshomecare.com.au

facebook.com/StIvesHomeCare

twitter.com/StIvesHomeCare

linkedin.com/company/StIvesHomeCare

youtube.com (search for ‘St Ives Home Care’)

FLOURISH MAGAZINE

Let it shineHuge congratulations to

Leanne Brennan, Case

Manager Coordinator

in WA, who beat off

competition from across

Australia to take out the

prestigious Shining Star

of the Year Award 2016 in

our annual staff recognition

program. Leanne was

recognised for her passion

for providing outstanding

care. Home care goes smartIf you’ve seen your

support worker staring at

their phone, don’t worry,

they are working! All St

Ives Home Care support

workers are now using

a nifty little smartphone

app called Home Care

Connect that lets them

see everything they need

to know about their

clients, and they can

communicate instantly

with offi ce teams too.

This is saving them time,

keeping them safe, and

also making sure you get

your service on time. Now

that’s what we call smart.

Happy holidaysWith the festive season

just around the corner,

now’s our chance to wish

you a fantastic, safe and

relaxing holiday period.

All our services will run

as usual throughout the

holidays. If you’re going

away anywhere, want

extra transport, or need

to make changes to your

services, don’t forget to

let us know. You can fi nd

all our contact details on

the back of this magazine.

Have a Go DayCongratulations to

Barbara from South

Fremantle who won this

beautiful gourmet hamper

in our raffl e at Have a Go

Day in November as part

of WA Seniors Week. SHORTS CONTINUE

Page 3: Flourish Issue 1 - print

SUMMER 2016 | 54 | ISSUE 1

FLOURISH MAGAZINE

ST IVES SHORTS CONTINUED

Get surfi ngOur new website launched in

September and is full of great videos

and resources you might enjoy. Check

it out at stiveshomecare.com.au

Did you know we’re also on social media? You can keep in touch via

Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and

YouTube.

Tell us what you thinkWe really value your feedback. It lets

us know what’s going well and what

we could do better, and it means we

can adjust your service to give you

the best possible experience.

There’s nothing we love more than

hearing about staff who’ve gone

the extra mile. If you’ve had a great

experience with a support worker,

your case manager or even with a staff

member on the phone – tell us and

we will recognise and reward them!

If you’ve got something you’d like to

say, we’re listening. Contact your local

St Ives Home Care offi ce (phone

numbers on the back of this magazine)

or email [email protected]

Making community connectionsOur new Community

Connections program

has kicked off in WA

and QLD, aiming to

help people develop

social connections,

make friends and

enjoy a great day

out visiting iconic

locations and venues.

There’s also been

a night-time canal

cruise taking in the

colourful refl ections

of festive lights in

Mandurah, and Perth

clients have enjoyed

the sights and sounds

of aquatic creatures

at AQWA in Hillarys.

Refer a friend and go shopping on us!If you’re happy with your services and enjoy telling

people you know about home care, why not enjoy

a free shopping voucher for your efforts?

Are you inthe draw to win this

great hamper?We recently sent all our clients a letter with

updated terms and conditions ahead of the changes

in the way home care works coming next February.

Everyone who returns their forms by 21 December

will be entered into a draw, with fi ve lucky people

winning a hamper of delicious goodies.

So make sure you’re in it to win it!

Simply tell your friend to mention your name when they contact us and you could be shopping on us!

If you refer someone you know for services with either St Ives Home Care

or HomeCare Options and they sign up, you’ll be rewarded with a

$100 voucher to spend how you wish.

Across the country in QLD, clients

have enjoyed a traditional lunch

of fi sh and chips overlooking the

spectacular Broadwater, as well

as an afternoon exploring the fl ora

and fauna of the tranquil Botanic

Gardens.

Community Connections now offers

a regular calendar of events that

you may be able to access through

your home care package or privately.

Speak to your case manager to

see if you might be able to access

this program or other events and

activities in your area.

Page 4: Flourish Issue 1 - print

SUMMER 2016 | 76 | ISSUE 1

FLOURISH MAGAZINE

Creating a great herb garden in containersGardening can be such an enjoyable way to spend your time, and never more so than when your efforts produce delicious and nutritious ways to add a punch of fresh fl avour to your cooking.

There are so many varieties of fresh herbs that you can grow in a small space that thrive in

pots or containers. Small pots can take the heavy lifting out of gardening and bring fresh

colours and fragrances close to your kitchen for easy access and maintenance.

Here are some great tips for growing a variety of herbs all year around:

• Lots of sun: Most herbs

need full sun for best

performance. Place

your containers or pots

in locations that receive

at least eight hours of

direct sun a day. There

are some varieties like

tarragon that enjoy a little

more shade.

• Treat them mean and keep them keen: Don’t give your herbs

too much love and avoid

fertilizers. Most herbs will

give you the strongest

fragrance and fl avour if

they’re grown in lean soil.

• Water wisely: Herbs tend to prefer dry

conditions. Make sure

you don’t over-water

your herbs and allow

them to dry a little before

watering again.

• Good drainage: Most herbs prefer good

drainage. Try a soil-less

potting mix or raising

your pots off the ground.

Here are some great, hardy little herbs that perform really well in a container or pot:

Basil is a much

loved Italian herb

that goes great

with pasta dishes

and fresh tomato.

It grows best from

seed in full sun and

fertile, moist soil. A

good hint to get the

most out of a basil

plant is to pull off the

fl ower spikes, which

will encourage leaf

growth, and harvest

the leaves when

the stems become

woody.

Tarragon is a

classic French herb

that goes beautifully

with fi sh, pork, and

in sauces. Plant it in

full sun and a well-

drained potting mix.

It tolerates drought

well and shouldn’t

be overwatered,

but it doesn’t like

windy conditions.

French tarragon is

easy to grow but

rarely sets seeds.

It’s propagated by

division, or from

cuttings.

Lavender offers

a lovely fragrance

around the house.

It’s a bushy perennial

shrub that does

best in full sun

and a well-drained

potting mix. Keep it

on the dry side and

avoid fertilizer. Use a

terracotta pot as it’s

porous and dries out

quickly. A great tip is

to position lavender

near a wall or fence

in winter. These

surfaces retain heat

and release after

dark, which lavender

loves.

Lemon balm

is an old-fashioned

favourite that can

be used in herb

teas or added to

a fruit punch or

stewed fruit, and

has a lovely ‘lemony’

fl avour. It can be

grown from seeds or

cuttings and self-

sows readily. Lemon

balm is perfect for

container gardens so

it doesn’t take over

the yard. It enjoys

partial shade or full

sun and a moist,

rich, well-drained

potting mix.

Top tipIf you have a home care

package, why not ask your

case manager about help

with shopping for supplies

and setting up your own

herb garden?

Page 5: Flourish Issue 1 - print

SUMMER 2016 | 98 | ISSUE 1

FLOURISH MAGAZINE

As Jack’s primary carer, Kim

recognises that she needs to

make sure she takes time for

herself now and then.

“I think it’s important that we

carers do have time out and

refresh the mind, the body,

see new sites, catch up with

friends,” she says. That’s

why she’s arranged a system

of care for her dad, which

includes home care, friends,

family, and the community.

“We’ve set up a network of

care with friends and even

the local shop. If Dad wants

something during the day,

they’ll bring it round. Same

with the pharmacist.”

For Jack and Kim, they’ve

got the balance just right.

“I’d say to any older person,

they should always (if they’re

on their own particularly)

have a think about having

programs which make life

much easier and removes

the anxiety that you tend to

get,” Jack says.

Kim agrees. “I think it’s

really important for people

to know that these services

are available and that there’s

a range of things that they

can mould to their own

needs. It’s just a matter of

discussion.”

Our new podcast series, the Path to Independence, explores the lives of everyday people choosing to age at home and the different and unique situations they’ve created that work well for them. First up is Jack and Kim’s story as host Joanna Maxwell explores home care from the carer’s perspective.

Jack is 91 years old and still

lives in the family home that

he built over 60 years ago.

An active member of the

community, for many years

he was a volunteer with the

Rural Fire Service (RFS),

where was the deputy

captain and trained a

number of volunteers.

But that’s not all. As

well as sitting on the

Progress Association, Jack

volunteered at the library

and helped with bush

regeneration.

With a rich and fulfi lling life

in his local area, as Jack got

older it was important to him

to stay in his home.

“I just felt that I was part of

the general community and

certainly didn’t want to leave

it,” Jack says.

So since 2008, his daughter

Kim has been helping look

after Jack’s needs, and she

recently moved back into the

family home so she could

support him more.

“It’s been a delight being

with Dad,” Kim says. “It’s

taken a lot of angst away

because I know he’s ok.”

Though Kim looks

after the day to

day needs of

her father, she

recently arranged

extra help through

daily home care.

“I particularly had

noted that Dad had

been becoming a

little despondent, if not

depressed,” Kim explains.

“So I thought [getting home

care] would set a rhythm to

the day and start the day

in a bright fashion. And a

special bonus was that he’d

get the breakfast cooked

that he wanted.

“They only come in for an

hour, but they also make his

bed and they put washing

out for him or bring it in.”

It might only be

small, but having

someone else there

to help Kim in her

care duties makes

a big difference.

“Having St Ives Home Care

help with issues puts my

mind at ease. It makes me

feel that I’m not working all

the time and it can free me

to literally go to work. I know

that Dad has the confi dence

to deal with a lot of things

then.”

Hom e car e fr om the car er ’s per spective

podcast A free radio show that is

stored in a digital form

that you can download

from the internet and play

on a computer or on an

MP3 player.

Cambridge English Dictionary

Have a listenListen to the full Path to

Independence podcast

series on our website at

stiveshomecare.com.au/

path-to-independence-

podcast

Take partWould you like to appear in our next issue? Let us know by emailing

[email protected]

Host Joanna Maxwell met Jack and Kim in episode one of the

Path to Independence

Page 6: Flourish Issue 1 - print

SUMMER 2016 | 1110 | ISSUE 1

FLOURISH MAGAZINE

Do you know there are so many ways to add a bit of spice to life with your home care package budget?

As well as the care services you might expect, some of our clients are discovering some of the creative ways to add value at home while putting excess surplus funds in their budget to good use.

Emma Brierty, General Manager for Home Care in WA, says it’s good to have a little in your

surplus for that rainy day. But leaving too much to build up means those government funds

are not being put to their best use.

“I really encourage people to spend their budget on things that matter to them. Keep

enough aside for those unforeseen events, but really this money is there for you to use and

add value in your life now.”

Creative waysto use your home care package

These are just a few examples of how to get creative with your home care package. Accessing

any of these great services when you have extra budget is just a phone call away - simply speak

to your case manager or call your local offi ce (numbers on the back

of this magazine).

Organise a spring cleanin the house or the garden

The holiday season is fast approaching so

now’s the perfect time to have someone

go through and give the house a good

scrub out from top to bottom, or the

garden a thorough tidy up. Yes, you can

get a whole day of cleaning and more

with your home care package if you have

the budget.

We’ve pulled together just a few ideas on how you can use surplus funds and get your home care package working for you.

Get ou t and abou tand socialise

Getting socially active is a great way to reduce feelings of isolation, pick up your

mood and recharge the batteries. Consider going to a family or community event,

taking in a movie or a concert, going out for lunch or a walk, or going to the end

of year sales.

The St Ives Home Care Community Connections program (currently available in

WA and QLD) offers a calendar of group excursions for people looking for a little

social connection. Find out more about the program on page four of this edition of

Flourish, or speak to your case manager to see if you might be eligible.

Get coo kingFancy company to cook with now

and then, or an extra pair of hands

to help you prepare a special meal?

Depending on your budget, your

support worker can stay on for a

couple of extra hours a week to cook

a meal or bake a cake with you.

Buy som e equipment like an iPad

Some equipment is designed to make

life a little easier, so why not consider

learning something new?

One St Ives Home Care client used his

budget to purchase an iPad and learn

how to use it. He’s now enjoying the

new device to keep in touch with the

grandchildren. Another client made use of

her budget to purchase a much-needed

fridge to safely store food and drink.

Con sider other ser vicesWe have a number of other services

that you can access from your

budget, either by dipping in and out

of them, or by adding them to your

routine in the longer-term.

Allied health is a great example

of an extra service that can have

far-reaching benefi ts in all aspects

of your life, particularly around

improved mobility and fl exibility.

cake with you.

Page 7: Flourish Issue 1 - print

SUMMER 2016 | 1312 | ISSUE 1

FLOURISH MAGAZINE

They might be small, but these little bites really pack a punch. Each ball is full of

super ingredients that help raise your energy levels and deliver a whole host of

important nutrients. What’s more is they don’t require any cooking, and they can

last in the fridge for a whole fortnight. You can even freeze them, meaning you’ve

got a supply of nutritious energy snacks for whenever you need a delicious,

healthy boost or a sweet treat to share with friends or family over the holidays.

The benefi ts

These little super balls contain

cinnamon that may help to regulate

blood sugar levels, and dates which are

a great source of fi bre.

Cocoa is the highest known anti-

oxidant on the planet and frequent

consumption may reduce the risk of

heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

Almonds are rich in Vitamin E, an anti-

oxidant that helps protect against

damaging free radicals and are also

high in monounsaturated fats, which are

benefi cial for heart health.

Coconut oil increases the energy

content of these little balls making

them perfect for small appetites, not

to mention how perfect they are as a

sweet fi nger food option!

They’re also soft enough to be enjoyed

by those who have diffi culty eating

fi rmer foods, and light enough to take

with you when you go out.

A sweet but healthy tr eatDate and almond bliss balls

Ingredients

• 125g raw or toasted silvered almonds

• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

• Pinch sea salt

• 1 tablespoon pure cocoa powder

• ½ tsp vanilla bean paste or extract

• 1 tablespoon skim milk powder

• 1 tablespoon coconut oil

• 70g dates, soaked in boiling water for

20 minutes, drained, reserve some

liquid (Medjool dates are best)

• ¾ teaspoon orange zest (micro plane)

• Milo, desiccated coconut,

or sesame seeds, to roll.

Method

1. Place ¾ of the toasted almonds in

the food processor with cinnamon,

salt, cocoa powder, vanilla bean

paste, skim milk powder and melted

coconut oil. Blitz until it resembles a

fi ne crumb.

2. Add the dates and pulse to bring

together.

3. Pulse in the remaining almonds and

orange zest until you get an ever

so slightly sticky consistency. You

may need to add a little of the date

soaking liquid to get the required

texture.

4. Roll into 16g balls and toss in Milo,

desiccated coconut, or sesame

seeds. Refrigerate and serve.

Nutritional information

Per 16g ball Per 100g

Energy (kJ) 182 1135

Protein (g) 1.2 7.2

Fat (g) 3.3 20.4

- Saturated (g) 0.8 5.0

Carbohydrate (g) 2.2 13.5

- Sugar (g) 2.1 12.9

Fibre (g) 0.8 4.7

Sodium (mg) 2.6 16.0

Date and almond bliss balls

Source: maggiebeerfoundation.org.au

Not suitable for people with nut allergies.

Each ball is full

of super ingredients

that help raise your

energy levels and

deliver a whole host of

important nutrients.

Page 8: Flourish Issue 1 - print

SUMMER 2016 | 1514 | ISSUE 1

FLOURISH MAGAZINE FLOURISH MAGAZINE

4 Get fruity If you’re having trouble drinking your

recommended eight glasses of water

a day, try freezing pureed fruit or whole

berries in your ice cube tray and adding

them to a glass of water to give it a

great fruity twist.

5 Cut the caffeine and alcohol

While it’s good to drink a variety of

water and fruit and vegetable juices,

stay away from drinks that contain

caffeine and alcohol. As refreshing as

they might feel at the time, caffeine

and alcohol actually dehydrate you,

reducing the liquid your body so

desperately needs when it’s hot.

6 Keep it long and loose

Although the tendency is to strip off in

the summer, it’s actually much better

to wear long sleeves and trousers. As

well as protecting your skin from the

sun, loose, lightweight cotton helps

keep tiny droplets of sweat close to

your skin. As the sweat evaporates, it

cools you down, meaning you can feel

the benefi t of your body’s own natural

cooling system for longer.

7 Layer up

Going in and out of full blown summer

heat and cool air conditioning can

leave you too hot one minute and

too cold the next. Wear layers of light

clothing so you can add and remove

items according to your comfort.

8 Cool quickly If you’re feeling overheated, move

to a cooler place straight away and

lie down if you need to. Applying

ice packs or a damp fl annel to your

wrists, neck, armpits and ankles will

cool you down fast.

9 Have a tepid dip Having regular tepid baths or showers

throughout the day is a fantastic way

to cool down and keep your body

temperature steady. Make sure the

water’s not too cold though – it will

only have the desired effect if it feels

pleasant rather than shocking.

10 Ask for help Friends, family, neighbours and

support workers can all help you

when temperatures are high. Everyone

struggles in the heat, so people are

usually very willing and able to share

things like bags of ice or spare fans

if you ask them. If you have a home

care package, your case manager can

arrange for special services or more

regular check ins on the hottest days

to make sure you stay happy, healthy

and hydrated throughout the summer.

Summer is many people’s favourite time of year. The days are longer, some of the most delicious fruits are in season, and who can forget the anticipation of fun, family and friends during the holiday season.

The downside, of course, is that summer can get hot – overwhelmingly so at times.

As we head into high temperatures and dry weather, here are our top ten tips for

beating the heat and staying hydrated this summer.

1 Use your air conditioning

Nothing can keep your

temperature regulated as well

as air conditioning can. If you’re

lucky enough to have an air

conditioning unit, make sure you

use it. It’s there for a reason, and

the benefi ts of staying cool far

outweigh any negatives.

Setting the air conditioning to a

room temperature of 25°C/77°F

and cleaning or replacing the fi lter

every six months will help keep the

unit running at its most effi cient.

Some energy providers also offer

discounts to seniors to reduce

the cost of air conditioning, so do

check in with your provider to see

what you might be eligible for, or

ask your case manager.

2 Use someone else’s air conditioning

If you don’t have air conditioning

at home, how about going

somewhere that does? It’s a great

excuse to get out and socialise,

and almost all public spaces

nowadays are air conditioned.

A stroll around the shopping

centre or reading a book at the

local library gives you a change

of scene and lets your body cool

down for a while too.

3 Reinvent your fans

Rather than cooling you down,

electric fans tend to circulate hot

air – but turn them around and

they can actually blow hot air out

of your house. Try pointing them

out of windows, which will push

hot air outside and help circulate

cooler air from other rooms. And

if you’ve got ceiling fans, set them

to spin anticlockwise (clockwise

when you look up at them) so

they pull hot air up instead of

pushing it down into the room.

10 totally cool ways to beat the heat this summer

If you experience any of these

symptoms, contact a medical

professional immediately.

Heat strokeHeat stroke can be a serious condition.

Symptoms include:• headache

• dizziness

• confusion

• rapid pulse

• nausea &

vomiting

Page 9: Flourish Issue 1 - print

WA 1300 20 20 03

VIC 1300 20 20 04

NSW 1300 20 20 05

QLD 1300 20 20 06

NT 1300 20 20 07

ACT 1300 20 20 08

Email [email protected]

www.stiveshomecare.com.au

HomeCare Options is a member of

the St Ives Care group of brands.

We are proud to offer clients this

complimentary magazine.

Phone 1300 60 60 01

Email [email protected]

www.homecareoptions.com.au