201-2015€¦ · Our youth services work with issues of homelessness or potential homelessness, family conflict and disengagement from schooling. Services work within an early intervention

Lutheran Community Care services

The year in review

2014

-201

5

May 2015

© Copyright LCC 20152 2

ContentsIntroduction .......................................................................................................3

Our community services ...................................................................................4

Graceville Centre, Nambour ......................................................................... 5-6

Intercept Youth and Family Service, Caboolture ......................................... 7-9

Keystone Services and Bridges Reconnect, Woodridge........................ 10-12

Mary and Martha’s Refuge ...................................................................... 13-15

Somerset Community Services, Fernvale ................................................ 16-17

Trinity Disability Support Service, Ashmore ............................................ 18-19

Emergency Relief ..........................................................................................20

Our services for seniors ..................................................................................21

Immanuel Gardens Retirement Village, Buderim .................................... 22-23

Orana Lutheran Complex, Kingaroy ......................................................... 24-25

Salem Lutheran Rest Home and Northridge Salem, Toowoomba ......... 26-27

St Andrew’s Lutheran Aged Care, Tallebudgera ...................................... 28-30

St Paul’s Lutheran Aged Care Village, Caboolture .................................. 31-33

Tabeel Lutheran Home, Laidley ................................................................ 34-35

Trinder Park, Logan .................................................................................. 36-37

Wahroonga Retirement Village, Biloela ................................................... 38-40

Zion Lutheran Home, Nundah .................................................................. 41-42

Standalone retirement villages: .................................................................. 43-46

Teviot Villas, Boonah and Zion, Gympie

Acknowledgements .........................................................................................47

33

Jacqueline Kelly Chief Executive Officer

Introduction

Welcome to the fourth edition of The year in review, which is a companion piece to our report to the 2015 Convention of Synod. This publication illustrates the ways in which LCC puts the gospel into action, and shows how we respond to the call to serve.

Our ministry can be difficult to explain in words. Often, the most important experiences of this type of ministry are characterised by fleeting moments, or individual perceptions of ‘quality of life’. That is why, in addition to providing an update from each of our services, The year in review includes a selection of stories about our residents, clients and their loved ones. These stories capture the joy that we feel every day working alongside the people we serve. These accounts are often touching and intensely personal; they remind us of the purpose of our ministry, and highlight why we feel honoured and privileged to be doing the work that we do.

The reports and stories contained within are a wonderful testament to our residents, clients and staff. However, we also know that nurturing and growing this ministry requires the efforts and assistance of many people; not just those who live and work at our services. It is the sum of the things we collectively do — both large and small — that make the difference in people’s lives, and create a sense of hope and fulfilment. In reading this publication, we hope you will see the contribution that you have made as a funding body, member of a congregation, volunteer, family member, friend, donor, Committee of Service member, supplier of goods or services, or community member.

Thank you for your support. We hope you enjoy The year in review.


Our community services

Our community services support a wide range of people including individuals living with disability, families, young people and seniors.

Our services for people with intellectual and psychiatric disabilities help each individual to live as independently as possible, and offer support in finding accommodation, managing work and navigating social interactions. Our disability services also offer activity programs and life skills training that respond to each client’s individual needs.

Our family services offer support in a range of situations, from violence in the home through to simply providing clients with help to manage life more effectively. The range of services offered varies from location to location and may include referral, counselling, mediation, emotional and practical support, anger management, parenting skills, financial management and a range of other life skills programs. Many programs run by our family services have been recognised for taking a fresh and effective approach.

Our youth services work with issues of homelessness or potential homelessness, family conflict and disengagement from schooling. Services work within an early intervention and prevention framework and are responsive to the needs of each individual’s situation.

Our programs for seniors are designed to assist clients to reduce social isolation and continue to live independently in the community.

55

Graceville Centre

GracevilleNambour

Description of our serviceWe provide a range of support to people with mental health issues and other complex needs. Services are provided onsite at our Nambour centre and through outreach in the community, and include:

• Supported accommodation and assistance to develop life skills (Strengthen Our Unique Lives – SOUL; Growth Recovery And Client Empowerment – GRACE; Transitional Recovery Program; Daliya House; and Purpose Designed Housing programs).

• Coordination with other service providers, to ensure individuals can access seamless support that effectively meets their needs (Partners in Recovery Consortium).

The service is funded by:

• Queensland Government, Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services,

• Queensland Health,

• Australian Government, Department of Social Services (Medicare Local).

AchievementsWe have experienced a year of both consolidation and extension of services. At the time of writing, staff were preparing to move back into the newly refurbished Graceville Centre. This refurbishment has created opportunities to support more people and expand programs.

This year we started providing support to children and their parents. This offers an exciting opportunity to tackle intergenerational issues and support families as they take the journey to mental health recovery.

Building and maintaining strong partnerships has been key to our success over the past year. An example of this can be found in Daliya House. This accommodation supports eight individuals for up to four weeks at a time. The target group is people who are exiting from mental health hospital wards and have no residence to return to. Providing coordinated support to access these services assists people with severe mental illness to return to the community, and reduces the likelihood that they will require re-hospitalisation. It also relieves the pressure on high demand in-patient mental health services. This initiative is the result of many years of planning with local partners Coast2Bay (a housing provider), Health and Hospital Service and Partners in Recovery. This innovative program has been receiving significant statewide and national attention. It is hoped the three-year trial will be the catalyst for other similarly innovative solutions elsewhere.

ChallengesWith the imminent introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) we are preparing to operate differently. Funding will no longer be funnelled though service providers to individuals, but through individuals to service providers of their choice. This means we need to continue to raise awareness of our services in the wider community.


Plans for the future• Complete the renovations of the old Graceville House and the upgrading of our

onsite client units.

• Work alongside other organisations and build on current arrangements to deliver high quality, relevant and innovative services to our community.

Client story

Levi first came into contact with our Transitional Recovery Program (TRP) when he was being treated for acute psychosis in the Nambour General Hospital psychiatric ward. Initially, Levi found it very difficult to leave the ward because he was experiencing hallucinations. His mental state eventually improved after a course of electroconvulsive therapy, and he was then able to start engaging actively with outreach support.

Levi began to go out on leave with our TRP outreach worker and became more comfortable socialising with others and being in public. After a hospital stay of approximately 12 months, Levi was discharged into TRP housing. Levi engaged well with TRP housing staff and began planning and working towards improving his physical health. He also worked towards recovery milestones that would enable him to return to the community.

After a year in the housing program, Levi established a routine for self-care and daily living, including healthy nutrition and exercise. Most importantly, his insight into his mental illness improved dramatically. Levi is now able to identify his triggers, independently manage his medication and identify the causes of his previous psychotic episodes.

Levi exited the program and went to live with his parents. He was able to maintain his health routine and created several social contacts in the community, including regularly attending groups at a local neighbourhood centre. TRP and Adult Mental Health staff worked closely with Levi’s family to inform them how to best encourage his independence. Levi’s family has maintained the support plan and are keeping him accountable for his own wellbeing. He continues to live in the community with his family and regularly socialises with friends. Levi and another former TRP client plan to move into their own property in the future.

77

Intercept Youth and Family Service

InterceptCaboolture

Description of our serviceWe provide a range of services for young people and their families/carers in the Moreton Bay Regional Council area. Our purpose is to empower and provide opportunities to young people who are looking for a hand up, not a hand out. We are passionate, non-judgmental, understanding and inclusive. We have six programs that provide various types of support to young people and their families. Our clients range in age from 10-25 and are:

• at risk of disengaging from education,

• experiencing homeless or at risk of homelessness,

• at risk of entering the Child Protection system,

• requiring youth-specific disability support,

• in need of ongoing mentoring with a positive adult role model,

• in long-term care with Caboolture Child Safety Service Centre, or

• substantially disengaged from school and involved in our flexible learning program.

We also facilitate two Youth At Risk Networks, incorporating a variety of community agencies and government departments, that aim to prevent young people from entering the youth justice system. We offer a number of targeted group programs and workshops which are delivered in school and community settings across the region.

We employ 16 support workers, in addition to a service manager and an operations coordinator. Additionally, we have more than 12 volunteers who assist with our youth mentoring program, administration and community events. We also regularly host TAFE and university students on placement.

We are funded by:


• Queensland Government, Department of Education, Training and Employment,

• Australian Government, Department of Social Services,

• Queensland Government, Department of Justice and Attorney General (July-December 2014).


Achievements• Commencing a youth mentoring program in partnership with Suncare Community

Services (The Hand Up Program) to provide positive role models, one-on-one mentoring and support to young people who are going through a difficult time with mental health concerns or other challenges. Through this program, we have supported 11 clients within a five month period.

• Expanding our program to support young people at risk of disengaging from high school – we now have partnerships with 10 local high schools in the region.

• Holding community events to acknowledge and/or commemorate significant dates in the calendar, such as National Youth Week, Child Protection Week and Transition to Independence Month.

• Establishing a partnership with Child and Youth Mental Health Service to facilitate therapeutic workshops for young people who have entered, or are at risk of entering, the Child Protection system.

• Holding regular meetings with the Chairperson of the Social Services Board (under the previous state government) and other government departmental representatives, to discuss for the needs of young people across the region.

ChallengesThe most significant challenge for Intercept this year has been in relation to funding for several programs. In general, there has been considerable uncertainty within the sector, with some services reducing service delivery or even shutting their doors. This has added pressure to Intercept’s program capacity, with increased referrals of young people and families with complex and high needs, but less staff and funding to meet these needs. We have started looking at alternative means of funding, including social entrepreneurship, to further support the local community. This method of business recognises a social problem and uses entrepreneurial principles to organise, create and manage a venture to achieve social change.

Plans for the future• In response to the Queensland Government’s child and family reforms, we

will continue to explore and apply for funding available within the Caboolture/Pine Rivers/ Redcliffe regions to address community needs and gaps in service delivery.

• With the introduction of National Disability Insurance Scheme in the near future, we will continue to develop our youth disability program to meet the specific needs of young people.

• We will explore and extend current government and non-government collaborative partnerships to address youth issues within the Caboolture/ Pine Rivers/ Redcliffe region.

• We will continue to build our relationships with external organisations, such as local state high schools, to expand our service delivery through new and creative initiatives.

99Intercept Youth and Family Service, Caboolture

Client story

One of the programs Intercept provides is called Transitions. This program supports young people aged 10-18, who have been living in foster care, to develop skills to help them successfully move to living independently in the community.

As part of this program, a group of participants helped build vegetable beds at the nearby St Paul’s Lutheran Aged Care Village last year. After construction was completed, another 20 young people got involved in maintaining the raised beds, keeping them weed-free and tending to the plants.

The work experience project gave the young people a taste of the landscaping, horticulture and construction sectors. In the first phase of construction, the activities were specifically designed to give the students an idea of what working life is about. The project then turned into an ongoing activity for a larger group, giving them hands-on experience.

One of the participants, a 14 year old, said the project had planted the seed of future job opportunities. “I’m good with my hands, so maybe I’ll do building in the future,’’ he said. Another, aged 16, said he was considering a carpentry apprenticeship as a result of the experience.


Keystone Services and Bridges Reconnect

KeystoneBridgesWoodridge

Description of our serviceWe provide a range of support, with the aim of helping our clients to live independent lives in our local community and build social connections.

We provide programs for:

• 16- to 65-year-olds with intellectual or physical disabilities,

• seniors (through a social and activity program at our centre to reduce isolation and prevent early entry to residential age care),

• adults with a disability who are transitioning from living with their parents to independent living or supported accommodation, through the Queensland Government’s Elderly Parent Carer Innovation Trial (EPCIT), and

• young people aged 12-18 (through Bridges Reconnect)• this program helps prevent and address youth homelessness through

supporting clients to access services and re-engage with their families where appropriate; and engage with education, employment, training and the community.

We are funded by the Queensland Government, Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services; and the Australian Government, Department of Social Services.

AchievementsIn October 2014, stage one of LCC’s Karawatha Community — a group of four refurbished units for adults with disabilities — was officially opened by the former Queensland Premier Campbell Newman and former Minister for Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services Tracy Davis. The units’ refurbishment was funded by the EPCIT project, which is designed to help adults with disabilities who are living with ageing parents to transition into supported rental accommodation. Keystone provides support to the residents of Karawatha Community, which is co-located with LCC aged care and retirement village Trinder Park. The second stage of the project, a new house providing fully-assisted accommodation, is expected to be completed in mid-2015.

We have forged a partnership with Mercy Community Services Employment and Training, which operates an aged care and disability vocational training course from the Keystone site. As part of the partnership, we provide placements for their students, which gives us access to a potential pool of future employees. We are also continuing to build our relationship with Trinder Park. This relationship offers opportunities for our clients to access some of Trinder Park’s programs and to do volunteer work, such as gardening.

The Bridges Reconnect team has been recognised with two community awards. One team member was presented with a ‘Local Legends Award’ by our local federal MP Jim Chalmers during a ceremony in January; the entire team was recognised by the Queensland Police Service (QPS) for their service to the community and QPS throughout 2014. The Bridges Reconnect team also hosted a very successful Christmas dinner for 23 homeless young women. This event included all the trimmings of a Christmas dinner, presents and a visit from Santa.

1111Keystone Services and Bridges Reconnect, Woodridge

ChallengesA lack of available funding for new programs is a major challenge. We will continue to work with the LCC Support Centre to find the right funding for our service.

The Bridges Reconnect team has seen an increase in the number of referrals for young people under the age of 16. This presents a number of challenges, especially around finding accommodation and financial support, as that age group often does not fit the criteria for assistance. The team is currently collecting statistics on this situation. Increasing our pool of available accommodation for clients generally is an ongoing challenge. Being able to accommodate young people for a short period of time while we help them and their families work through issues can make a massive difference. These young people may otherwise end up totally disengaged from their families when a crisis occurs.

Plans for the future We look forward to continuing our existing partnership with Mercy Community Services Employment and Training.

With the introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme in July 2016, Keystone will be offering a range of different support services. This will offer clients a wider range of services and greater flexibility in meeting their needs.

The Bridges team will be concentrating on the early intervention and prevention aspect of its work in the year ahead. The team has started advertising its service in local papers and school newsletters. Connecting with people who are in need of assistance prior to a crisis point often allows us to keep young people engaged with home and family. The team has also completed training in running a bullying workshop and are now delivering this six-week program onsite and in schools. A young men’s group will be launched later in the year to provide positive male role models. A 10-week Connecting Families Program for young people and their parents/guardians will also start in mid-2015.


Client story

Justin is a 38 year old man with an intellectual disability. He has had this disability since birth. For his entire life he has lived with, and been in the care of, his parents. He also has two younger sisters.

Justin is the type of guy who doesn’t ask for much and goes about his business. He holds down a job he enjoys, and he likes to go bowling with his friends each Saturday. He is able to drive a car short distances and drives to work.

It became apparent to his parents that they had to start thinking about where Justin was going to live when they are no longer able to look after him. They are both aged in their late sixties. Justin’s father has significant health issues, which has made attending to Justin’s needs more of a challenge. His sister informed Keystone that she was worried about her parents’ health and their quality of life, as much as Justin’s.

When Justin was approved for one of the Karawatha Community units, his mother received a phone call from Keystone’s manager to let her know the good news. Justin’s mother nearly fell out of her chair! For Justin’s family it is an opportunity to focus on his father’s health, and to enjoy their remaining years with less direct pressure regarding Justin’s wellbeing (which they are still actively involved in).

Justin’s sister sees his move to Karawatha Community as a massive opportunity for Justin. Previously, his only social outlet was going bowling once a week and doing a part-time job. Now he is living next to three other men who have similar circumstances. The opportunity for him to become completely independent is something that his sister says the whole family (including Justin) is extremely excited about.

The family is now devoting its energy to attending to Justin’s father’s health, and acquiring social support funding for Justin. Future plans include enrolling in a program like Keystone’s to learn cooking skills, where Justin can make more friends and take the next important step to achieving full independence.

1313

Mary and Martha’s Refuge

Mary and Martha’sDescription of our serviceWe work with women and accompanying children who are homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless, due to family violence. We are committed to supporting women to recognise their rights, identify their strengths, make informed decisions, and actively plan their goals for creating a better, independent future for themselves and their children. We provide two types of accommodation:

• supported crisis accommodation for up to five women and their children in a unit-style refuge,

• short-to-medium-term supported accommodation for a further five women and their children in properties located around Brisbane.

All clients who stay at Mary & Martha’s are provided with a high level of support based on their individual needs and are offered the opportunity to participate in life a range of life programs.

Our service is funded by the:


• Queensland Government, Department of Housing and Public Works.

AchievementsFrom June 2014 to March 2015 we worked with 46 women and 71 children. 35% of these clients were from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Below are some of our notable achievements from the last year:

• Installing a children’s playground at our service.

• Reducing vacant nights at the refuge, and ensuring the units became available again for new clients more quickly.

• Delivering an eight-week positive parenting course three times since June 2014.

• Introducing a Male Mentor Sports Program one afternoon per week.

• Offering arts and music therapy during school terms to enhance parent/child relationships through creative activities.

• Conducting an eight-week Empowerment/Self Esteem Program for mothers.

• Running client-led group cooking activities to share knowledge about specific meals that are affordable and easy to prepare.

• Successfully networking to obtain free tickets for children to attend a live show (Yo Gabba Gabba) at the Powerhouse Theatre. Some of the children also attended The Voice Finalist Concert at Brisbane Entertainment Centre.


• Engaging three volunteers over the Christmas school holidays to run a six-week children’s activity program, three times per week. This program was very successful and will be an ongoing initiative for future festive seasons.

• Working with a consulting psychologist to provide onsite services to women and their children.

Our Committee of Service members continue to offer valuable support and ideas for the refuge. Staff have worked closely with the congregations that have supported the Christmas appeal and client Christmas party. We are very grateful for the donations and support from Lutheran congregations around Queensland and the difference they make to people’s lives.

ChallengesOne of our greatest challenges is being able to help secure affordable, long-term housing for our clients when they leave the refuge. Clients with larger families particularly struggle to obtain suitable housing. The inability to get specific feedback from housing suppliers as to why a client was not successful in their application makes this situation more difficult. Our staff continue to work closely with housing suppliers to form positive relationships.

We work with women who are sometimes not eligible for any Centrelink income, housing assistance or legal aid due to their visa status. This presents many challenges. We strongly advocate for all clients, and explore all possible avenues to find effective solutions.

Plans for the futureWe are exploring opportunities to expand the footprint of our service. This could take the form of managing additional properties to house women and their children, and/or providing support to other housing providers who are also connecting with women and children survivors of family violence. We also hope to expand our existing playground facilities.

In addition, we will be offering a resilience-building course to complement the suite of programs our clients can access.

1515Mary and Martha’s Refuge

Client story

‘X’ and her three children came to Mary & Martha’s to escape domestic violence. X moved to Australia on a two-year visa with her partner. She is from a culturally and linguistically diverse background. She was supported to lodge a Domestic Violence Order at the Magistrates Court. She was not eligible to receive Centrelink income due to her visa status and was put on a bridging visa. We supported X and her three children for some time. She was educated about her entitlements for healthcare and she was successfully supported by her case worker to explore other income streams.

X and her children have participated in all programs delivered at Mary & Martha’s. She has reported better health and wellbeing as a result of the support received while at our refuge. She and her children are in the final stages of visa processing to allow them the right to stay and live in Australia and to be eligible for the associated social and financial support. She would not have achieved these outcomes without receiving the high level of support provided through our service. If she had not been able to take refuge with us, she would have more than likely returned to her home country and been persecuted as a result.


Somerset Community Services

SomersetFernvale

Description of our service We provide support to seniors, younger adults with a disability, and their carers. A variety of respite and social activities are offered from our centre in Fernvale, in clients’ homes, and out in the wider community. We aim to promote independence and enhance quality of life, and assist clients and carers to achieve their individual goals.

We are funded by the Australian Government, Department of Social Services; and the Queensland Government, Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services.

AchievementsOver the past 12 months, we have implemented a wide variety of initiatives focused on helping each and every client and carer to achieve their personal goals.

We have continued to be the driving force behind the formation of a group called Access 4 Wheels. The group was formed to address the issues of accessibility in the Somerset region for people with mobility issues. With government support, the group has achieved great success in making the Somerset region a better place to live for people with a disability.

We have also maintained links with local schools to provide school-based apprenticeships, in order to connect with young people who wish to move forward with a career in the aged care or disability sector. We have had one of these young people complete her training with us and stay on as a casual staff member; she will embark on nursing studies later in 2015.

We have been active participants in local council initiatives to promote our services to potential clients in the region.

We have had two of our staff complete their certificate qualifications in Home and Community Care. We have also welcomed several new staff to the service who have fitted in with the existing team and clients with ease and professionalism.

ChallengesOur greatest challenge of the past 12 months has also been our greatest achievement. In late 2014 we had to move out of our premises at Lowood. This proved to be exceptionally challenging for clients and staff. Although there has been a disjointed feel to the service over the past few months due to the relocation, the team and clients have rallied and maintained a positive attitude. We now have a new space in Fernvale that provides a place where everyone can feel like they belong once more. We are looking forward to partnering with other service providers in the region to provide support to people with unmet needs, ranging from youth to seniors.

We had several community information sessions booked for early this year that

1717Somerset Community Services, Fernvale

needed to be cancelled until we settled in one location. We have now begun the job of rescheduling these sessions.

We have also been sad to say goodbye to several clients this year, either through moving into assisted living services or passing away.

Our service also faces a challenge as we assist our clients aged under 65 to navigate the changes that will come with the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Serving numerous rural communities with limited resources continues to pose problems. Restricted options in rural areas for purchases including food, fuel and contractors contribute to high operating costs, as does the vast range of clients we support (both in terms of time and distance).

Plans for the futureOur immediate plans are to renew our sense of connectedness. Bringing our clients and staff back to a central service centre where everyone feels safe, secure and has a sense of belonging has been a big step towards achieving this goal.

We have embarked on a community awareness drive throughout the Somerset region. The aim is to develop connections with the wider community and provide information of the services that we provide.

We are also focused on providing ongoing professional development for staff to ensure that they continue to be well-skilled to support our clients’ needs.

Client story

Mr A has a variety of health concerns, including severe depression. He is also confined to a wheelchair. For the past four years, he has been challenged by a lack of confidence when away from the security of his wheelchair. Our service support workers added a weekly swimming session to his program. The pool is very inclusive, with ramps and water-accessible wheelchairs. Mr A attended the first time to observe, and agreed to attend the following week and give it ago. That was many weeks ago; Mr A now attends weekly and participates with very little assistance – without the security of a chair.

This activity has allowed Mr A to grow in confidence, which in turn supports him in dealing with his depression. It also allows him the opportunity to develop confidence in his physical abilities.


Trinity Disability Support Service

TrinityAshmore

Description of our serviceWe provide lifestyle support to adults living with an intellectual disability. Our objective is to support our clients to live as independently as possible. The vast majority of our clients live fulfilling lives in their own homes. Currently we are supporting more than 30 clients, including two teenagers living with family. Daily activities are determined by our clients’ needs and preferences, and focus on assistance to live independently. Typical support includes helping people to plan their budgets, prepare shopping lists, attend healthcare appointments, monitor their nutrition or link in with other community organisations for social activities.

We are funded by the Queensland Government, Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services.

AchievementsThree women with disabilities are living independently in the community for the first time in their lives, thanks to a new social housing project. The trio, two of whom have significant physical needs, moved into the four-bedroom, purpose-built home on the Gold Coast in May 2014. They each receive 24/7 live-in personal care support from our service. These women are now experiencing a level of independence that was previously not considered possible. The project is the result of five years of collaboration between Trinity, Horizon Housing, the Queensland Goverment Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services, family members, and the Baillie Henderson Hospital in Toowoomba. The positive impact on the three individuals and their families can not be overstated. For one resident, who was institutionalised as a child and resided in the Baillie Henderson Hospital in Toowoomba since the age of 11, the move to the house means she can live close to family and also represents the end of institutional care. For the other two ladies, it marks the first time they have lived independently of their parents. The significance of this achievement was celebrated at the launch of the project with guests including the (former) Minister for Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services Tracy Davis and other Department representatives, local councillors, and family and friends.

Trinity’s annual Disability Action Week dinner was another outstanding success. Jane Buckley, who worked with the Special Olympics, performed the role of guest speaker for the evening and shared some amazing stories. Thanks goes to the Queensland Government, Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services which provided significant funding for the event.

We have continued our partnership with Griffith University in providing placement opportunities for students to help them build their knowledge and experience in the disability sector. Psychology and social work students are now completing 50-hour placements within the service and, ultimately, are leaving better equipped to provide appropriate and meaningful services to people with disabilities.

1919Trinity Disability Support Service, Ashmore

ChallengesA subject of considerable focus has been the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). The NDIS will profoundly change the sector as a whole, with the Australian Government becoming responsible for funding support for people living with a disability. LCC’s experience managing government funding agreements will assist in making this transition. In order to prepare for the new system, we are continuing to network, collaborate with other organisations and raise the profile of what our service has to offer.

The NDIS is expected to double the number of individuals who will be able to access support. With this situation comes the challenge of ensuring we can continue to attract and retain support staff. We have sought to turn this challenge into an opportunity through recruiting high-quality staff through student placements and other avenues.

Our clients and families, some who have been associated with us for a significant portion of our 40-year history, are facing the challenges that come with ageing. We have not only sought to adapt to these needs, but have supported significant numbers of clients to engage with the government to secure additional funded support.

Plans for the futureGrappling with the increasing needs of clients, in conjunction with preparation for the transition to the NDIS, will see the service focus on growth. This may involve relocating to larger premises in order to be able to support more people.

Client story

‘John’ has been homeless for more than 10 years. During that time he has continually ‘bounced’ between temporary rental accommodation and living on the street. This nomadic lifestyle has prevented John from establishing a job and friends, and has significantly interfered with his health care. Over the past five years, our staff have developed a relationship with John and have become a trusted, stable presence in his life. This has enabled us to petition the State of Queensland, through the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal, to place John under the responsibility of the Public Guardian. Now the real work of supporting John to enter safe and stable accommodation and establish daily routines can begin…


Emergency relief

Our emergency relief services are funded by the Australian Government, Department of Social Services, as well as the Queensland Government, Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services. They are run by dedicated staff and volunteers who provide a frontline ministry to vulnerable people in their local communities. These services provide food and petrol (gift cards) and assist with emergency bill payment and pharmaceutical purchases.

Both emergency relief services anticipate increased demand for support in response to continuing increases in unemployment and other issues that contribute to financial stress for families.

Bethania Emergency Relief (this will soon be renamed to reflect its new service area) works out of the Keystone centre at Woodridge, and is overseen by Keystone staff. The service received additional funding from the Australian Government at the beginning of 2015 and has been able to expand its support area to encompass Logan and Beenleigh. The service has an average of 622 face-to-face contacts each year, comprising 161 new clients and 461 returning clients.

Good Shepherd Emergency Relief is based at Wynnum and continues to operate smoothly under the guiding hand of its coordinator. The service supported 279 new clients and 1,068 returning clients over the past year.

2121

Our services for seniors

We have 10 services providing residential aged care, and two standalone retirement villages. Several of our residential aged care services are also co-located with retirement villages, offering the ability for clients to stay within the same service as their support needs change.

Our residential aged care services provide dementia support, respite services, assistance with tasks like getting dressed and showering, and more intensive assistance for people with higher support and health needs. Three of our aged care services (Salem in Toowoomba, Orana in Kingaroy and Immanuel Gardens in Buderim) are licensed to provide support in people’s homes to help them live independently in the community. This service is set to expand in coming years.

Our retirement villages offer affordable one, two or three bedroom units. They are designed to suit independent people aged over 70 years and offer the security and reassurance of a supportive community.

Diverse and dynamic recreational and pastoral care programs include arts and creative activities, gardening, online learning courses, and chaplaincy to support residents’ spiritual needs.

All of our residential aged care services are funded by the Australian Government, Department of Social Services. This funding is gratefully acknowledged. Each residential aged care service is accredited by the Aged Care Quality Agency and undergoes regular audits and other cyclical monitoring activities. All services are fully compliant with the national standards.


Immanuel Gardens Retirement Village

Immanuel GardensBuderim

Description of our serviceOur beautiful Sunshine Coast location offers ocean and sub-tropical rainforest views. We are co-located with Immanuel Lutheran College and the Lutheran Church. We provide a range of accommodation options and services, including:

• residential aged care (care and services for 145 people),

• 93 retirement village units, and

• 31 Home Care Packages (available to retirement village residents and people living in the wider community).

AchievementsOver the last year we have sold 11 retirement village units, leaving only seven vacancies as of March 2015. We are continuing to refurbish units throughout the village to ensure we can continue to provide the types of homes people are seeking in the crowded Sunshine Coast retirement village/aged care landscape. Building and maintenance projects have been a major focus throughout this year. Recent upgrades and additions include an illuminated site map at the village’s entrance, ducted airconditioning in the main kitchen, a sound system for the community hall, a new indoor bowls mat and two new boules courts. Our residential aged care area has also undergone a significant ‘facelift’ and now features beautiful tropical garden beds, wooden benches and bamboo screens. This tropical theme has also been extended into the entrance to the community hall and swimming pool area. Significant fire safety work (including sprinklers and fire safety panels) has been completed to ensure the ongoing safety and peace of mind of our residents. The hostel section of our residential aged care service achieved its three year accreditation in December 2014, and we are now in preparation mode for the nursing home accreditation in September 2015.

The LCC Creative Arts and Activities Program has been warmly welcomed at Immanuel Gardens and already we are seeing active and meaningful engagement by a number of residents who historically have declined to be involved in activities.

We are also fortunate to have a full-time and part-time chaplain, who are available six days per week for residents, family members, volunteers and staff. Weekly worship services are offered, and over 50 sacramental care volunteers provide spiritual care to individual residents who request visits. Our relationship with the co-located Lutheran school continues to strengthen and, thanks to the work of our chaplain and the school chaplain, some of our residents were involved in an ‘intergenerational debate’ with Year 11 students. A bowls/boules challenge was also held, and weekly events are now in the planning stages. The Sunday services held in both our hostel and nursing home are the highest attended events and reflect the fact that our Christian environment is appreciated and respected.

Our strong partnership with the University of the Sunshine Coast carries on. We have continued to offer student placements for nursing, occupational therapy and paramedic students, which offers great benefit to both the students and our residents.

2323Immanuel Gardens Retirement Village, Buderim

Client stories

Meet the scarecrow family...

The scarecrow family was crafted by our aged care residents. The scarecrows will oversee the newly renovated Garden Club. The club members gather every Friday morning to socialise, share a cuppa and a gardening story as they plant vegetable and flower seedlings, and re-pot old plants into new arrangements. The residents’ competitive natures are blossoming alongside the plants they have potted as part of a contest to see whose will be the tallest and most productive in the garden.

Celebrating a 70th wedding anniversary...

Rita and Gordon Robinson celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary surrounded by loved ones, balloons and flowers. Some relatives travelled from overseas to join the celebration. Rita and Gordon continue to spend every day together in our nursing home, side by side.

ChallengesOur ongoing challenge is maintaining our ageing buildings to ensure we continue to offer attractive options in a local area that features several more modern aged care/retirement village sites.

Another challenge is adapting our residential aged care service for ‘ageing in place’ (where residents can remain in the same accommodation for their entire stay at Immanuel Gardens). While the notion of ‘ageing in place’ is not new, our residential aged care service has historically catered for residents with lower needs; adapting our model and accommodation to suit higher needs is an ongoing priority.

Plans for the futureWe will continue to foster our strong relationship with the University of the Sunshine Coast. Our student placement program will soon expand to include students who are training to becoming dieticians.

Our focus moving forward will be to stabilise our valued workforce to ensure staff and residents can get to know each other and develop strong relationships.


Orana Lutheran Complex

OranaKingaroy

Description of our serviceWe are a fully-integrated aged care and retirement community situated in Kingaroy, a two and a half hour drive north-west of Brisbane. We offer 94 residential aged care places, 16 of which are in our secure dementia environment, as well as 25 retirement village units. We also offer Home Care Packages to members of the community who wish to remain in their homes but require additional support. We are the largest aged care and retirement living provider in the South Burnett region.

Around 100 staff and 15 volunteers serve our residents. We also host services for the community in our ‘Community Hub’ which is located in our administration building.

AchievementsOur Home Care Packages are a relatively new addition to our services, and our client numbers are steadily increasing. We have been receiving wonderful feedback from our Home Care clients (as documented below under ‘Client story’).

We enjoy a strong relationship with the wider Kingaroy community and we have continued to build on this with a number of new projects. We have been working with two of our local education providers, TAFE and Queensland Rural Medical Education, to provide work placements for students. Over the past year this has included five enrolled nurses conducting their practical training with us, and two medical students doing weekly placements. Funding from the Medicare Local last year has also enabled us to bring in two local general practitioners to provide regular training sessions for staff. This training has been very well received by our team and has assisted in upskilling them to provide the best possible care to our residents. Many community groups continue to make use of our Community Hub. This includes the South Burnett Computer Group, Parkinson’s Group, and the Anxiety Support Group. The Dementia Support Group meets monthly, with the carers attending the support group sessions while their family members/friends join in with our activities.

Our pastoral care and chaplaincy program is another strong focus. We are fortunate to have a full-time ordained pastor running this program at Orana. He conducts the weekly services on Sunday in our onsite chapel, as well as the services, devotions and prayer group meetings throughout the week. Recently, one of Orana’s residents asked to be baptised and this was a very special event that was held on site.

2525Orana Lutheran Complex, Kingaroy

ChallengesOur biggest challenge is upgrading our buildings and equipment to accommodate the changing and increasing needs of our residents. In the past, people typically transitioned to aged care when they were younger and more independent, but this trend has shifted in recent years. Often, by the time people arrive at Orana, their care needs are high. We will be purchasing equipment and as and when required to continue to address our residents’ care needs.

Another challenge is maintaining our buildings as they age. We will continue to work at this.

Plans for the futureWe will continue to strengthen our links with the community and will seek the further assistance of our Committee of Service and our local congregation to do this. We want to ensure our long history of caring for seniors is known throughout the region.

Client story

With the introduction of Home Care Packages to our suite of services, many people have been able to stay in their homes longer. Throughout the year, our Home Care clients have had many positive things to say about how they are enjoying our service and what a difference it has made to them. Here is some feedback we have received from clients and their families:

“I don’t know why I dreaded having home help- it’s marvellous.”

“Everything is going along good – Brian (my Home Care worker) can fix anything.”

“Sherry (my Home Care worker) is better than a bottle of pills.”

“Even the dog is much happier – we tell her Sherry is coming and she waits at the front gate for her.”

“Thank you so much, Mum is a different person –she is so much happier.”

“Everything is going great.”

“The meals Janice (my Home Care worker) cooks are delicious.”

“(The) Home Care Package is good for my husband as he is getting mental stimulation and he has improved greatly in this aspect. The best thing we have ever done!”

“I no longer worry about the cats getting fed.”

“I couldn’t be more happier – I am able to stay at home.”

“We get on great – she does a wonderful job.”

“Jim (my Home Care worker is wonderful) – he can do anything we ask.”


Salem and Northridge Salem

SalemNorthridgeToowoomba

Description of our serviceSalem is located in Hume Street and Northridge Salem is located in Holberton Street. Both services focus on person-centred care. This means we respond to each person as an individual and address all dimensions of their needs, including physical, social, emotional and spiritual. The name Salem as derived from Biblical Hebrew means ‘whole’ or ‘complete’, in the sense of being ‘at peace’. This concept underpins everything we do.

Across the two Toowoomba sites we provide accommodation and care to 143 residents. This includes our 14-room secure dementia area, which is located at Northridge Salem. Northridge operates an onsite GP clinic which means residents can receive medical attention from their doctor without leaving the service. Salem also provides services to people living in the community through 28 Home Care Packages.

We focus on social living and offer shared recreation spaces, including a community hall at Northridge Salem. We offer a wide range of activities that encourage resident interaction and participation, and contribute to their emotional and spiritual wellbeing.

Salem employs approximately 185 staff which includes specialists in nursing and personal care, chaplaincy, physiotherapy, lifestyle and leisure, maintenance, hotel services and finance.

AchievementsDuring the past year we have continued to partner with local organisations such as the University of Southern Queensland, TAFE Queensland Southwest and local registered training organisations. These partnerships have assisted Salem and Northridge to become workplaces of choice and be recognised as innovative and forward thinking.

We continue to regularly visit the congregations in our area alongside our dedicated Committee of Service (CoS) members. The purpose of these visits is to network and promote our aged care services as places where seniors can enjoy living within a Christian environment. These visits are also used to raise awareness of our Home Care packages, which are used by clients living in Toowoomba as well as the outlying towns of Pittsworth and Highfields. CoS members actively seek to create and maintain communication channels within our community and congregations. Salem’s Chaplain is integral to the congregation visits and shares updates about LCC’s chaplaincy program with our local parishes.

ChallengesWe are challenged by our ageing infrastructure. Some of our accommodation is reaching a point where it is not desirable to prospective clients, who are expecting large private rooms with ensuites. Reputation alone is not enough to ensure high occupancy. In response, we are making substantial progress on plans to redevelop our service.

2727Salem and Northridge Salem, Toowoomba

Plans for the futureSalem has short-term plans to refurbish parts of the Hume Street service, including relocating the administration area to the ground floor. Currently visitors, residents and employees have to climb a stairway or access the lift. We also intend to convert 10 of our older accommodation rooms to single rooms with ensuites.

Longer term plans remain in place to extend the services at Northridge Salem in Holberton Street. Considerations will include ‘apartments for life’ with support, care and services available as well as shopping access and an allied health clinic. The possibilities are numerous and are focussed on enhancing our residents’ lives in a safe and enjoyable environment.

Our pastoral care and chaplaincy program remains a focus. We employ a full-time ordained Lutheran pastor to lead the program, supported by a team of qualified pastoral care volunteers. We are committed to growing the pastoral care and chaplaincy program, which is well regarded by residents, their loved ones and staff.

Client story

Salem has recently become home for Mrs Hilda Wilks. This is not an uncommon situation for a lady approaching her 97th year. However, what is special about this story is that Hilda has been associated with Salem for more than 47 years. During this time, Hilda has offered her services as a volunteer to Salem in many and varied ways. She was a member of the Salem Committee of Service in her younger years. Later, Hilda became a long-term volunteer organising and providing activities for residents, as well as coordinating fundraising for her beloved Salem.

Over the years, Hilda has been instrumental in raising thousands of dollars that enabled us to purchase linen, curtains, hoists, electric beds and many other much-needed items to enhance the lives of the residents and staff.

Now it is time for Lutheran Community Care to honour Hilda by providing her with care, comfort, and love.

We feel proud and privileged to have Hilda as a resident.


St Andrews Lutheran Aged Care

St AndrewsTallebudgera

Description of our serviceWe are located in the beautiful Gold Coast hinterland suburb of Tallebudgera. We offer residents the peace of mind of a range of accommodation options, including independent living in one and two-bedroom retirement village units, and a range of support in single rooms with ensuites. Our vision is to enhance the lives of residents in a supportive, loving environment. We are assisted in this aim through our close ties with the co-located St Andrews Lutheran College and congregation.

AchievementsOur much anticipated 20th anniversary celebration was a great success, with St Andrews looking its best for an evening of fine dining on Saturday 22 November 2014. We welcomed dignitaries including Bishop Noel Noack, past General Managers John Howard and Garry Pankhurst, and other friends, supporters and well-wishers to enjoy an evening of thanksgiving, celebration and reflection.

There is a palpable feeling of welcome and belonging when you walk through the doors of St Andrews. You will hear the sounds of laughter and enjoyment and may be greeted by our resident cats, Neil and Mischka; or our visiting maltese terriers, Buster and Dexter. That warm ambiance has recently been enhanced by an extensive refurbishment. Tasteful neutral tones with splashes of colour meld seamlessly with nature’s palette in our beautiful, leafy surroundings. The overall effect is pleasing to the eye and soothing to the soul.

St Andrews’ reputation for excellent care and service means that we are a favoured choice for potential residents and families when the time comes to consider supported care. This is reflected in our lengthy waiting lists for both residential care and retirement living.

Both our residential care service and retirement village have once again enjoyed occupancy close to 100%, which makes for a thriving and integrated community. This further enhances quality of life for our residents. Positive feedback from residents, families and staff attest to this.

The LCC Creative Arts and Activities Program has been embraced at St Andrews, with the bi-weekly Poetry Corner sessions continuing to draw enthusiastic support from residents. Other forums for the enjoyment of creative expression include weekly art classes and visits from Dr Martin Blogg. The newly-invigorated volunteer program has allowed for a rotating program of hand and foot massages to bring comfort to the most disadvantaged and incapacitated residents. No-one is left out at St Andrews. We live the ideal of our vision: ‘your extended family’.

Current initiatives to increase opportunities for individualised service through building strong relationships between staff and residents offer boundless exciting opportunities. We look forward to further reshaping and enlivening the experience of living and working at St Andrews.

2929St Andrews Lutheran Aged Care, Tallebudgera

Client story

Faye and Barry Lindsay, proud parents to two fine sons and four grandchildren, lived happily in Sydney for 40 years before moving 90 minutes away to Gerringong (near the famous Kiama blow-hole). There they settled for a further 15 years.

In February 1997, Barry underwent the first of several major head and neck surgeries for cancer. Although the treatment saved his life, he suffered several micro-strokes while under anaesthetic. Afterwards, his concerned wife began to notice that he was experiencing a gradual decline in memory. Three years after his first surgery, Barry was diagnosed with vascular dementia.

This diagnosis came as a cruel blow, particularly as Barry was, amongst other things, an avid bushwalker, mountain climber, conversationalist and pianist. Faye recalls the feeling of devastation that this wonderful man, husband and father had developed this destructive disease.

continued on next page...

ChallengesOnce again there are major changes facing the entire aged care sector. In July 2015, significant industry reforms will be introduced. These reforms are intended to create a system that is easier to use and provide greater choice and control for consumers. It includes further expansion of the My Aged Care website, establishment of the streamlined Commonwealth Home Support Program and the conversion of all Home Care Packages to be delivered on a Consumer Directed Care basis. The process of entry to aged care services, including St Andrews, will be revolutionised and automated. Our challenge is to adapt quickly and minimise impact on our service. With LCC’s robust systems, and assistance readily available from the LCC Support Centre, St Andrews is well positioned to meet these challenges.

Plans for the futureIn a pleasing coup, and reflecting many hours of work by the LCC Support Centre, St Andrews has sought pre-approval for a significant refurbishment. This is the result of a Commonwealth Government funding initiative to encourage aged care providers to revitalise their buildings. The realisation of this project is likely to take place over a number of months spanning 2015 and 2016. It will involve the concerted efforts of many individuals, including the management team and dedicated staff of St Andrews.


Client story (continued)

Things came to a head when Barry fractured his ribs in a fall whilst visiting his older son Steven and family in New Zealand in October 2013. With his memory loss accelerating, Barry and Faye were faced with a big decision.

Heeding the urgings of their younger son Glenn (whose sons Nathan and Aaron are students at St Andrews Lutheran College) Faye and Barry visited St Andrews Lutheran Aged Care. They were shown through a vacant retirement village unit by Lisa Thorne, General Manager. As soon as Faye laid eyes on the unit and saw the view overlooking the college sports field, she felt a sense of peace. She knew they had found their new home. From that moment, recalls Faye, everything just fell into place. The house in New South Wales sold rapidly and the move interstate was arranged.

Barry and Faye moved into the St Andrews retirement village in the first week of March 2014. After a difficult Easter long weekend in their new home, Faye realised that Barry’s condition had deteriorated to the extent that it was time to access the peace of mind offered by the St Andrews secure dementia unit. On that grief-filled day of 22 April, Faye recalls standing with tears streaming down her face while being held and comforted by Chaplain Kathy Friebel.

One year later, on the eve of Easter 2015, the picture is very different. Barry has settled into his new home and is being cared for by the loving and capable St Andrews staff. Faye is now an active member of the St Andrews Lutheran Church congregation and has made new friends. She has recently started volunteering at the St Andrews aged care service, which brings back happy associations of other, similar work at the Mayflower Nursing Home in Sydney. She is finding renewed satisfaction in ‘giving back’; spending time with other residents and, of course, with Barry.

Standing on her balcony in the afternoon sunshine, Faye can see her grandsons making their way across the St Andrews College playing fields, coming to visit. In her own words, she is “very, very happy” and feels “very, very blessed”.

3131

St Paul’s Lutheran Aged Care Village

St Paul’sCaboolture

Description of our serviceOur service is located on 12 quiet and picturesque acres close to the Caboolture town centre. Even though it is bordered by residential suburbs, St Paul’s has been able to retain a genuine country atmosphere. The St Paul’s community is home to both residential aged care and retirement living residents who all enjoy our beautiful landscaped gardens.

Residents of our aged care village enjoy 61 large, well appointed, single ensuited rooms and the assistance of professional care and lifestyle support staff when required. We also offer a diverse Creative Arts and Activities program which – along with many other programs including exercise classes, bus outings, regular church services and visiting concert artists – provides both social and interactive outlets for our residents. Our fully stocked library is available for those who wish to have quiet time with a book.

Our retirement village residents live in 37 two-bedroom villas with various floorplans. The majority of these villas are standalone cottages. Each villa has secure parking and is located in a private corner of the village. Villa residents are invited to participate in St Paul’s activities and are also encouraged to maintain their links to their broader communities and families.

AchievementsWe welcome feedback from our residents and visitors to help us continually improve our service. Over the last year we have implemented some excellent new initiatives and processes. These have included:

• Introducing our Creative Arts and Activities program, including additional afternoon events, music therapy and Silver Memories radio service.

• Responding to resident requests to purchase CD players for each lodge to provide the availability of music across all hours of the day.

• Installing new locks and codes to enable families and visitors to access Cassia Lodge (the secure section of our accommodation) when they wish.

• Improving communication links between staff.

• Improving processes that provide important care information to our staff while maintaining our residents’ privacy and dignity.

• Enhancing the ambiance of the environment by removing all unnecessary signage and providing a much quieter, responsive and more effective way of communicating with staff and volunteers across the site.


Our outdoor garden areas continue to develop as a result of our ongoing intergenerational partnership with neighbouring LCC service Intercept Youth and Family Service at Caboolture. As part of the project, a group of young people (Intercept clients) have helped us construct a vegetable garden and seating areas which residents and families can access at any time.

St Paul’s three-year aged care accreditation visit was conducted in February 2015. This process was a great opportunity for us to be able to showcase our achievements.

This year has also seen the appointment of a new Service Manager and Care Coordinator as part of the new leadership team at St Paul’s. The support of volunteers is also important to us, and this year has seen our ‘official’ volunteer numbers increase to 15, with others expressing interest in joining our volunteer ranks in coming months.

We have also benefited from the pastoral care services of Ms Helen Williams over the last 12 months. Her wonderful, supportive presence for our residents, family and staff is extremely valued. Their acceptance of Helen is shown by their willingness to share their stories, feelings and wounds — both emotional and spiritual. Her impact is exemplified by a resident’s recent request for Helen to be with her, hold her hand and pray with her when she passed away. This was an extreme privilege for Helen and one that she will always treasure.

We celebrated our 20th anniversary of our ministry in October 2014. This was a major milestone and source of great joy for our service.

Challenges While our 20th birthday milestone is a cause for celebration, it also means that the maintenance requirements for our buildings continue to increase.

Over the next 12 months, two major private aged care providers will introduce a further 160 aged care places in the Caboolture area. These residences will be within five kilometres of St Paul’s. This challenge further underlines the need to update our buildings.

Further re-organisation of our support systems will also provide challenges into the next year.

Plans for the futureMajor works currently underway or being considered include updating and expanding the service laundry, continued refurbishment of ensuites, and widening of doorways when possible to allow for larger pieces of care equipment to be used.

We will also continue to fully refurbish any of the retirement village units as they become vacant.

3333

Client story

We would like to acknowledge our longest-term resident, Mrs Evelyn Vonhoff. Originally a country girl from Crows Nest, Mrs Vonhoff entered St Paul’s Aged Care Village on 17 January 1994. She can remember the time when she did her own washing and was always keeping busy and enjoying her gardening. She has made many friends during her time at St Paul’s and has witnessed many changes along the way. “I love it here and I feel very happy and safe and have made all of my closest friends here at St Paul’s,” Mrs Vonhoff said.

When we were deciding who would cut the cake for St Paul’s 20th anniversary celebration last October, we couldn’t go past Mrs Vonhoff. She ‘did the honours’ with the assistance of one of our original personal care staff, Mrs Onorina Tellan, who worked at St Paul’s for 20 years before retiring in 2014. It was a wonderful moment to witness.

St Paul’s Lutheran Aged Care Village, Caboolture


Tabeel Lutheran Home

TabeelLaidley

Description of our serviceOur service is located in the centre of the historic village of Laidley, in the beautiful Lockyer Valley. We have been serving the local community for 60 years and continue to meet a diverse range of needs for seniors. Our services include residential care, respite accommodation, serviced apartments, affordable housing, retirement living and a lively day therapy program.

The ‘Eden Model’ which encourages the creation of a home-like environment, was introduced to Tabeel in 2000. This approach is now deeply embedded in the heart and soul of our service. Our residents enjoy our beautifully maintained gardens, spiritual support, a diverse range of activities, the regular presence of visiting children, and a variety of live-in pets. An onsite GP clinic also offers residents the convenience of easy access to medical attention.

AchievementsCelebrations this year focused on Tabeel’s 60 years of service to the community. One of the special initiatives was creating a calendar which featured beautiful portrait photographs of our residents in recreated scenes from their lives. The photograph themes were decided in consultation with each resident and involved motorbikes, horses, poddy calves and army vehicles.

Once again, our annual Spring Fair was a wonderful success, achieved through the ongoing support of members of the West Moreton congregations, local community groups, residents, families and staff. The Committee of Service remains a strong and robust support to our service and plays an integral role in organising the Spring Fair and many other events.

Tabeel’s gardens have continued to receive accolades this past year, winning first place in the Lockyer Valley Garden Competition Business/Community Group Section, and taking out third place in the Toowoomba Chronicle Garden Competition.

A regional management approach is creating increased opportunities for us to network with Salem at Toowoomba, Wahroonga at Biloela and Orana at Kingaroy in order to share skills and resources across our organisation. Tabeel is also working closely with Southern Cross Care and West Moreton-Oxley Medicare Local in supporting an interdisciplinary palliative care initiative. This initiative assists our staff to provide the best support and service options for residents.

This year also saw the retirement of Tabeel’s manager of 23 years, Roland Weier. Roland’s dedication and service to Tabeel was recognised with special farewell services.

Families are encouraged to be actively involved in the lives of our residents. Our long-established volunteer program continues to be an integral part of our service, assisting residents and staff in many ways. We applaud our 50 dedicated volunteers, who this year provided 8,568 hours of generous support in all areas of the day-to-day running of our service.

3535

ChallengesMost not-for-profit and volunteer agencies are experiencing a decline in volunteer participation, and Tabeel is not immune to this challenge. We are currently working on a variety of initiatives to attract volunteers and give young people confidence to visit and interact with our residents.

We are also challenged by an ageing workforce and are to countering this by encouraging younger employees to participate in upskilling through education and mentoring programs.

Plans for the futureWith a new service still in the major development feasibility stage, refurbishing the existing buildings will ensure we maintain occupancy levels and service standards in the interim.

We are looking forward to the implementation of the graduate program for registered nurses, which will support these staff to provide the best support possible to our residents.

Client story

Lost and found - a journey of pain and joy...

Kerry came to Tabeel in mid 2014; a quiet and unassuming resident aged just 52 years old. Often distant and tearful, no one knew that Kerry’s deepest desire was to find and reconnect with her family. It was only after a bond of trust had been formed with staff that she acknowledged her emotional pain and terrible feeling of loss.

Sometimes the circumstances of our lives are out of our control, and Kerry found herself estranged from her family for many years. Not knowing the whereabouts of her only son and her two brothers had become a burden that was sometimes unbearable for her.

With Kerry’s consent, staff assisted her to make contact with Births, Deaths and Marriages and also with The Salvation Army’s missing persons department.

One month later, Kerry received a call from one of her brothers, and then reconnected with her second brother. It was an emotional day when Kerry was advised that her son Dane had also been located. It was with great joy, bouquets of flowers, tears and warm hearts that Dane visited his mother just recently. Little did anyone know that Dane had been searching for his mother for the past two years.

Tabeel Lutheran Home, Laidley


Trinder ParkLogan

Trinder ParkDescription of our serviceWe are nestled among 52 acres of bushland in the heart of the City of Logan, midway between Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Our service is home to more than 200 residents and has provided residential aged care (including dementia support) and retirement living services for 46 years.

We enjoy a reputation for high-quality care and for providing a tranquil environment for our residents. We offer an onsite allied health clinic providing physiotherapy, podiatry and massage services to our residents and the wider community. We are also now co-located with accommodation for adults with a disability.

AchievementsA significant achievement for us this year has been the successful completion of phase one of the Elderly Parent Carer Innovation Trial (EPCIT) project, which was funded by the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services through a capital grant. Four one-bedroom retirement units were converted into accommodation for people with a disability, and are now providing a home to four men who were previously being cared for at home by their ageing parents.

Phase two of this project, the construction of a purpose-built house to accommodate three people with a disability and a carer, is well underway and will welcome its first residents in mid-2015.

Another innovative activity that Trinder Park has been involved in is the South East Health Pathways Alliance (SEHPA). Its vision is to provide senior high school students with information about pathways into the health industry and exposure to the world of health and aged care, to assist them in making career choices. The SEHPA is an alliance between the Queensland Government, Regional Development Australia, employment services, local secondary schools, tertiary institutions, hospitals, and health care providers.

As part of this alliance, we hosted a number of ‘Health Inspiration’ days, where students spent a day at Trinder Park and were able to see firsthand how an aged care service functions. As well as receiving information about career pathways, students also heard from staff members talking about their personal career journeys. The students also toured the service and interacted with residents. Feedback from residents and students indicates this interaction was the most enjoyable part of the event. As a result, some students have become regular volunteers. One resident in particular looks forward to the weekly visit by students from one of the high schools, who are assisting her to write her life story.

Pastoral care is a strong focus area. Our Chaplain is responsible for ministering to 156 residents in aged care as well as their families, over 50 residents in the retirement village, and around 200 employees. Such a workload could be quite daunting. However, through collaboration between our Chaplain and Coordinator of Volunteers, we have been able to secure the services of a small team of Spiritual Care Volunteers. These volunteers are overseen by the Chaplain and share the load to ensure residents’ spiritual needs are met. In the coming year, Trinder Park will enhance its chaplaincy services even further by recruiting an Assistant Chaplain.

3737

ChallengesOur ageing infrastructure and the distances between buildings presents both a challenge and an opportunity. The acreage creates a sense of spaciousness and serenity, but at the same time can lead to some inefficiency in delivering services.

Master planning for redevelopment of our site is currently underway. The focus of this master planning is to modernise the service and meet changing community expectations. Any plans will include provisions to maintain the ambiance of the site, which few, if any, aged care services in the area can match.

We continue to play to our strengths by promoting our beautiful bushland environment, a reputation for high quality care and lifestyle, as well as the affordable options we provide.

Plans for the futureRedevelopment and expansion of Trinder Park, making full use of the 52 acres and magnificent surroundings, will ensure that we can continue to provide services to the Logan community in a way that will ensure the sustainability of this ministry into the future.

Redevelopment proposals may include more community-focussed activities, such as a larger allied health service, youth facilities, childcare and further expansion into disability services. Whilst these plans are in the early stages of development and analysis, there is great potential for Trinder Park to become a vital intergenerational centre in the City of Logan.

Client story

Trinder Park residents come from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds, and it is important to meet their social and linguistic needs. Residents with dementia will often revert to their native tongues, and even those unaffected by the disease will often yearn for contact that is culturally authentic.

Vesna, Dobrilla and Manda are three residents with Serbian and Croatian backgrounds. Fitting into a predominantly English-speaking environment was a challenge; they could exchange greetings, but ongoing conversation and interaction presented difficulties. However, it was discovered that one of Trinder Park’s wonderful volunteers had a similar background. These three residents now enjoy visits with this volunteer twice each week. They attend regular activities and enjoy spending time with her surfing the internet, speaking their native language, and reminiscing about their homelands.

Trinder Park, Trinder Park


Wahroonga Retirement VillageBiloela

WahroongaDescription of our serviceWe are situated on 24 acres in the rural community of Biloela, and support the communities within the Callide and Dawson Valleys in Central Queensland. Our service was established over 30 years ago by members of the Lutheran Church, and continues to enjoy strong ties with the original members of the founding committee.

Our service is home to 65 residents who are accommodated across residential aged care (including a dementia-specific unit) and retirement village units. We also run a successful day therapy program which offers activities and allied health services to Wahroonga residents and the wider Biloela community.

Approximately 85 staff are supported by 80 volunteers and a very enthusiastic and highly valued Auxiliary group that tirelessly fundraises througout the year.

AchievementsWe are continuing to support our most valuable asset – our staff – by supporting them to upskill in their chosen career paths. We have also continued our ties with Central Queensland University and Central Queensland TAFE to offer vocational places to students studying nursing. Students of Biloela High School also continue to be supported with work experience placements.

A donation gratefully received from the CFMEU Skinny Ninness fund was used to partially pay for the purchase of a call system for residents.

The day therapy program has been expanded to reach further into the community and now includes the local Croquet Club which has recently moved onto our grounds. Residents now enjoy either watching or participating in an afternoon game of croquet. A recent grant from the Gambling Community Benefit Fund has facilitated top-dressing the croquet grounds, building a storage shed and adding new furniture and a barbeque to the seating area.

This year, several guest speakers came in to present to residents, staff and the community through the day therapy program. The speakers included a dietician discussing diabetes management and a representative from the Stroke Foundation speaking about identifying stroke and stroke survival.

3939

ChallengesThis year we welcomed three new nurses. We are grateful for the excellent mentoring support these new staff have received from the LCC Support Centre and other LCC aged care services.

In March 2015, our service was affected by the floods that devastated parts of Biloela and the surrounding communities. The support we received from emergency services and community volunteers with cleanup and other activities was truly humbling.

Plans for the futureWe are preparing for accreditation in the second half of 2015, so there will be a focus on continuing to ensure systems are reliable and accurate and creating a positive outcome.

There will also be a focus on staff training this year. A vibrant education calendar has been developed with the support of local clinical services and assistance from LCC’s Learning and Development team.

Wahroonga Retirement Village, Biloela


Client story

Auxillary making a difference in the lives of residents...

Wahroonga’s Auxillary is made up of a wonderful group of community members who have been tirelessly fundraising for our service for approximately 30 years. The group of around 13 members runs a very popular cake stall in Biloela four times each year, and a cent sale twice each year. Together, these events raise tens of thousands of dollars annually for Wahroonga. These funds allow us to buy much-needed equipment that enhances residents’ comfort. The Auxiliary’s efforts were acknowledged at this year’s Banana Shire Council Australia Day Awards, when members received the Community Group Award. We would like to thank Auxillary members past and present for their dedication to our residents.

4141

Zion Lutheran HomeNundah

ZionDescription of our serviceWe provide a range of high-quality residential aged care services to 100 individuals. Our service offers residents the opportunity to ‘age in place’; providing them with the individualised care they need, whilst staying in the room they have chosen and surrounded by the friends and staff they have come to know well. We promote an environment that encourages all residents to maintain their independence for as long as possible and enjoy a life that is personally meaningful.

Achievements We are continuing to grow and develop our resident-focused ‘wellness’ approach. The service’s lifestyle program forms the hub of day-to-day life. This program offers a wide range of interests for residents to embrace if they wish, including hydrotherapy, bus outings, sailing, Tai Chi, relaxation classes, pamper sessions, art, music and dance programs, regular concerts and entertainment, and a knitting group. It is not unusual to overhear residents grappling with the dilemma of just which activity they would like to attend that day.

We have a chaplaincy team of three, which provides for a presence nearly every day of the week. Regular worship services and Bible studies are offered. The team offers pastoral support to the entire community – residents, families and staff. Special focus is given to visiting residents during potentially distressing times such as entry into aged care, periods of illness, experiences of loss and grief, and nearing the end of life. A special support group is also run regularly during the year for next-of-kin who are struggling with the experience of a loved one moving into aged care. This past year the chaplaincy team also facilitated a special palliative care training day for all staff where both the medical and spiritual dimensions were explored.

ChallengesThere are challenges and rewards in continuing to grow and develop a model of resident-directed care. When systems change, people are required to be innovative in their approach to identified resident needs. Staff are regularly taken out of their comfort zone during this process, which sometimes creates stress as well as excitement. Taking families on the journey can also create some challenges; many people are very traditional in their expectations of approaches to care and also fearful of the changes until they fully understand them. We are tackling this challenge by providing high levels of support and open communication channels to staff, residents and families.

Plans for the futureZion will continue to develop its services so that residents can continue to direct, control and manage their own care and life choices with as much support as each person needs. The service will continue to enhance opportunities for each resident to continue to embrace life and all it has to offer. An example of our approach in action is included in the ‘client story’ below.


Client story

The little things can often make the biggest difference...

When a new resident arrives at Zion we are meeting a person with a lifetime of memories and experiences. It is a great privilege when a resident chooses to share these memories with us.

We have found a very simple and effective way to tap into this information. When a resident arrives, and during regular visits that are part of the ‘settling in’ process, one of the questions we ask is “What particularly interests you?” and “If you could have a picture with your name on your door to depict that, what would it be?”

Following such a conversation with resident Bob Boyce, he disclosed that he loved England and something historical would be good.

After printing the usual London Bridge and a castle, we printed out a picture of Stonehenge. It seemed to be the right thing at the time. Bob was thrilled and instantly chose the Stonehenge picture, proceeding to tell us how he was stationed in a camp on Salisbury Plain during World War II. He recounted that he would open his tent each morning and gaze in awe at Stonehenge. Every time Bob was assisted to his room he would make reference to the picture with

great pride. When he relocated to a different room, he made sure that his door sign went with him.

This simple activity has made a huge difference in the lives of many residents. For example, Ernie, who has been living at Zion for a very long time, had a picture of a milk truck on his door. This was related to his former occupation as a milkman. It turned out Ernie hated that picture. He then showed us a photo in his room that he would like on his door. It depicted Ernie playing backyard cricket, which he loved. None of us knew that. Once the picture was on his door he told others about it and invited them to come and have a look.

Now when we ask residents what picture they would like to represent them, they really think about it, instead of saying “Oh anything will do”. This is assisting all staff to recognise each resident as a unique person with a great deal to offer, and it also opens up an avenue of conversation.

4343

Description of our serviceWe are a 19-unit retirement village located in the heart of the beautiful Scenic Rim region. We offer privacy for our residents in a quiet, relaxed and caring environment. We support our residents to maintain their independence for as long as possible.

AchievementsWhile continuing to provide quality independent living options, we are exploring additional ways to help our residents to ‘age in place’ at our service. Many of our residents receive the ongoing support they require and have no need to move to residential aged care. Management frequently checks in with individual residents to see how they are going; giving them regular opportunities to discuss any changing needs and explore new options together.

Onsite community activities include weekly cards and scrabble, devotion, patchwork, celebratory parties, health information sessions, sing-alongs and Tai Chi classes. Residents are encouraged to join our special bus trips to destinations such as Toowoomba, historical villages, Wivenhoe Dam, local nurseries and cafés. Creative arts classes are being considered in the near future, along with a pin board for residents to contribute photos from their various activities, celebrations and milestones as a conversation point.

ChallengesOther local services are co-located with residential aged care, while we are a standalone retirement village. We continue to promote our service’s distinct advantages of being within walking distance to town, providing residents with personalised service, and offering very affordable prices.

Plans for the futureTeviot Villas is a small, intimate community, with potential for gradual expansion and the possibility of further services to meet the needs of seniors in our community. Our plans for further development, currently being considered, may include building on adjoining land already owned by LCC with a further three or four state-of-the-art retirement units.

Teviot VillasBoonahTeviot

Standalone retirement villages


Client story

No barriers...

Shirley Roach has been a Teviot Villas resident for 20 years. She has lived with the debilitating effects of polio since she was 18 years old, which led to her being confined to a wheelchair. Despite this unexpected setback at an early age, Shirley worked as a successful legal secretary in Sydney. She has travelled through several countries and has overcome many physical barriers and ongoing health problems to retain her independence.

At 82 years of age, Shirley was experiencing further deterioration due to her polio and issues associated with ageing. Having managed in her unit remarkably well, with minimal care services, Shirley came to a crossroads in late 2014. She knew she needed to make some decisions about her future and consider further care options. She did not like the thought of moving from her long-established home.

Site management made some enquiries, tossed several ideas around with Shirley, and were delighted with the LCC Support Centre’s enthusiasm for this project. It was decided her unit (particularly the bathroom/laundry) would be promoted as disability specific, for both Shirley and other residents in the future — a state-of-the art advantage for this small village. The bathroom was fully modified, including a wheelchair-accessible shower, specialised toilet with stability arm rests, lowered vanity and laundry basin, safety rails and extra-wide doorways.

Shirley is no longer considering the upheaval of moving. She is confident she will be able to age with dignity and independence in the home she loves. The new disability features allow greater flexibility for her changing needs as she continues to enjoy the comfort of her unit.

4545

Description of our serviceWe are located in the heart of Gympie, nestled amongst beautiful gardens overlooking the mountains and the Mary River.

We have 28 units providing independent accommodation for residents aged 70 years and above. The village also offers seven rental units that provide secure, long-term affordable accommodation for seniors with limited financial means.

The most obvious characteristic of the Zion Village is its caring, supportive community spirit.

AchievementsWe have recently been able to sell units that have previously been vacant for significant periods of time. This has been achieved by forging new relationships in the local community and strengthening existing relationships, along with increased marketing activities.

These sales have led to an increase in occupancy within the retirement village units. These relationship-building and promotional activities have also ensured the rental units are vacant for shorter periods.

ChallengesManagement of the village changed during this financial year. Previous management had been caring for the village for many years. It was important that residents and the wider community felt confident that Zion Gympie was in safe hands, and this involved a focus on getting to know people in the community.

Major internal refurbishment of retirement units is becoming increasingly necessary, given the age of the village. There is also a general expectation in the community that the units need to be updated to give them a contemporary look and feel.

We have been challenged with maintaining our occupancy rate. Approaches have been made to doctors’ surgeries, hospitals, local aged care services and other health outlets, to raise awareness of our service. This approach has proven successful.

Because of the sloping terrain on the site, ease of access to the upper-level units is being achieved with stair lifts. This means the residents in these units can continue to enjoy the magnificent views in comfort.

Plans for the futureIn the short term, our focus will be on raising the village’s profile in the community, as well as providing services and accommodation that are in line with community expectations.

Zion Retirement VillageGympieZion




Call us to talk to one of our professional, friendly staff.

Nine locations throughout Queensland

– Brisbane, country, Gold and Sunshine coasts.

1800 AGE WELL(1800 243 935)

Let usget to know you

W lccqld.org.au E [email protected]

Retirement living Home support Respite

Residential aged care

and so much more…

79315_DPSGuideLCC.indd 1 19/03/2015 11:16:43 AM

Client story

This year, Zion Gympie was the ‘face’ of LCC in its annual advertisement in the DPS Guide. This high-profile statewide publication is one of the main promotional campaigns LCC conducts for its aged care and retirement villages. The photograph of a Zion Gympie resident and Service Manager Yvonne Oliver captures the quality relationships we strive to create in each of our services.

4747

Acknowledgements

In addition to the bodies that provide our services’ recurrent government funding (listed throughout this report) we would like to thank the following organisations and government departments for their one-off support:

The Allan “Skinny” Ninness Community Fund (Callide Valley Lodge of CFMEU)

Wahroonga Retirement Village resident call system

Bounce Trampoline park passes for children staying at Mary & Martha’s refuge

Animal Welfare League Pet doors for Zion Lutheran Home

Second Chance ProgrammeMary & Martha’s support for ‘no income clients’

Queensland Government, Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services

Elderly Parent Carer Innovation Trial capital grant (Karawatha Community)

Gambling Community Benefit Fund

• Wahroonga Retirement Village croquet facilities

• Trinder Park – furniture for Karawatha Community purpose-built house

Caboolture Rotary Club Intercept – lunches for Youth Justice Education and Training (YJET) program

Mary and Martha’s Committee of Service

Christmas hampers and other gifts for women and children at the refuge

Second bite Mary & Martha’s - food supplies

Zephyr foundation Mary & Martha’s - school supplies, books, uniforms, bags etc

Commonwealth Carers Respite Centre

Trinity - the fishing program

Level 1, 24 McDougall Street, PO Box 1535 Milton Q 4064

P 07 3858 3000F 07 3858 3030 E [email protected] W lccqld.org.au© Lutheran Community Care 2015

Documents

201-2015€¦ · Our youth services work with issues of homelessness or potential homelessness, family conflict and disengagement from schooling. Services work within an early intervention