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Facility Manager

Don’t forget about Mum!

“A mother is she who can take the place of all others but whose place no one else can take.” – Cardinal Mermillod 

As we approach Mother’s Day next weekend (that’s the 14th  May), let’s take a moment to reflect on the importance of this special day for our residents. For many of them, it’s a chance to celebrate their moms and remember the love and joy they’ve brought our lives. 

As retirement village managers and staff, we have the opportunity to make this day extra special for our residents. From organizing a Mother’s Day brunch or lunch to hosting a craft session, there are many ways to encourage family participation and help our residents feel loved and valued. 

For those residents who may not have family nearby, we can still make the day special by organizing community events and providing opportunities for them to connect with loved ones through video calls or letters. And let’s not forget the power of simple gestures, like a heartfelt card or a small bouquet of flowers, to make our residents feel appreciated. 

Have some fun with Mother’s Day and celebrate the extraordinary women in our lives and our communities. Happy Mother’s Day to all the amazing mothers out there! 

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Facility Manager Key things to help you everyday

Psychosocial Safety in the Workplace: A case for being pro-active

Over the past few years, the Work Health Safety (WHS) landscape has undergone several changes that affect the way we deal with psychosocial safety in the workplace.

As defined by SafeWork Australia, a psychosocial hazard is anything that could cause psychological harm. In June 2022, SafeWork Australia published a set of changes to the national WHS Act (2011), including clearer definitions of psychosocial hazards and risks and clarification of the control measures that employers must put in place to reduce risk.

The legislative change led to the publication of a Model Code of Practice: Managing Psychosocial Hazards in the Workplace, which has been adopted in most states. It provides a higher level of clarity on the prevention of psychological harm for both employers and regulators.

While some states have not yet adopted the Model Code of Practice or equivalent provisions, it is essential to note that a court may refer to the Model Act, Regulations, and Codes of Practice in reviewing a case.

In light of these changes, DCM Institute’s partner Jo Marshall of Culturise suggests that employers should evaluate their current policies, procedures, and behavioural guides to determine whether any psychosocial risks are present.

“SafeWork Australia and the various State Regulating bodies have a range of educational information and templates to help you carry out a Psychosocial Risk Assessment,” Jo said.

“Issues dealt with previously under the Anti-harassment, Bullying and Discrimination laws are now also addressed clearly in the Codes of Practice and Regulations under WHS”.

Employers should focus on providing training and development to staff to ensure they are self-aware of their own mental health as a proactive measure to address the changes in the WHS Act. This includes creating awareness about psychosocial hazards and risks and training staff to recognize signs of psychological harm. It is also essential to establish a reporting system for employees to report any incidents of psychological harm.

In the month of May, DCM Institute will be partnering with Culturise to provide a master class on mental health. This master class, referred to as “Hand Me the Oxygen Mask” is designed to help participants in DCM Institute’s professional development program improve their ability to manage their own mental health so that they can perform at a high performance with managing their team, and delivering improved outcomes for their residents.

“Every single thing about achieving a psychosocially safe workplace has a direct impact on creating a healthier culture.  A healthier culture means a more successful business.  Taking time out to focus on how psychologically safe your workplace is a worthwhile investment,” Jo concluded.

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Facility Manager Latest industry developments Village Operator

Retirement living operators’ confidence double the three-year average

The latest ANZ/Property Council Survey states the nation’s retirement living sector has strong confidence around capital value growth and construction activity levels over the next 12 months.

Operators are more confident about 12-month construction activity levels than the residential, office, industrial, retail and hotel sectors.

Confidence levels in capital growth (22.9 points) are almost double the three-year average since COVID-19 hit Australia’s shores in March 2020 (12.0). Construction activity sentiment currently sits at 46.3 points, up 10.6 points in the same period.

Retirement Living Council Executive Director Daniel Gannon warned operators state government reform processes could hurt the positivity.

“Industry confidence around Australia has improved over the past 12 months, but various state legislative reviews loom large on the horizon,” Daniel said.

As The Weekly SOURCE stated in an Opinion Article “Act or face the Consequences” last Tuesday, the reviews to the Retirement Village Acts in QLD, SA, VIC and WA focus on changes to Exit Entitlements.

 “This comes at a precarious time given the country is facing challenges around housing supply, affordability, cost and supply chain constraints. If these reforms make it harder for operators to build and operate age-friendly communities, it could place a handbrake on supply and dampen confidence at the worst possible time,” Daniel said.

“Importantly, our industry offers a trifecta of opportunity – superior housing outcomes for senior Australians, more housing supply, while delivering significant efficiencies for State, Territory and Federal Governments.

“However, investment conditions and confidence can be strengthened or eroded by legislative frameworks around the country.”

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Facility Manager

Forging strong ties between the village and the wider community

Sue Dundas, Village Manager of the Year in 2018, has a dynamic team at Blue Care’s Carlyle Gardens in Townsville, QLD.

Creating strong ties for her residents with the wider community on the state’s north-eastern coast is vital.

The Senior Village Manager, who has been with UnitingCare for five-and-half years, literally has the Townsville Mayor and Townsville Bulletin editor’s direct numbers.

She has also been instrumental in connecting residents to local charities like Kate’s Campaign for Change and Hear and Say, and residents to Annandale State School and Townsville City Council on the 3B’s campaign (Birds, Bees, Butterflies) to plant trees encouraging the growth of those animals.

See also works closely with the residents to organise the monthly Arts & Craft Market, which is open to the public and has a strong following in Townsville.

“We have a lot of residents here, and many diverse and eclectic personalities, and every single person makes a difference here in some way, whether they’re 90 or 60. There’s a difference made by every team member and every resident,” said Sue.

“When you have a dynamic team, the job really isn’t a job. And when you have a client-base, my whole life I have worked in client-focused industries, and when your client-base care about you as much as you care about them, that’s an added bonus. As I say to the residents, ‘I don’t live here, but I call you MY residents’.”

One the highlights, for Sue, is the experience of when people first become residents, particularly those who are unsure.

“Then seeing them six months after they’ve been here saying it is the best decision they’ve made in their life.”

What makes a successful retirement village manager?

“If you’ve got people skills, you are already 80% there. You can learn the financial and operational side of things, but if you understand people, the job is wonderful,” she said.

“Naturally in this environment, people go. This is the last port of call in life for many people who come here. When you’ve got people skills, you’ve got a heart. So, when we lose a resident, it can make it very challenging.”

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Facility Manager Latest industry developments

The Royce Ambassador Royce Simmons starts “Big Walk” from BaptistCare Kintyre Living

BaptistCare Kintyre Living in Dubbo, in NSW’s Central West, laid on a BBQ and serenaded The Royce Ambassador Royce Simmons and fellow rugby league greats Brad Fittler and Andrew Farrer on the former Penrith Panthers’ captain’s 313km walk to Bathurst. 

Royce, a resident at the Tulich Family village The Royce, which is named after the former rugby league player, is for the second successive year raising funds for dementia research and supporting local junior rugby league clubs. 

Royce will complete his walk in 12 days, and will finish prior to the Royce Simmons Cup to be played between the Panthers and Wests Tigers at Carrington Park, Bathurst on Saturday, 29 April. 

DCM Group, owner of the DCM Institute, paid a visit to The Royce last month and met Royce after he had walked to the Blue Mountains and back. 

Click HERE to support Royce’s Big Walk.

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Facility Manager Latest industry developments

RSL LifeCare Lifestyle Manager Sarah Phillips coordinates four centres for ANZAC Day

ANZAC Day, Tuesday 25 April, is a very important and special day for many people in retirement living and aged care, their families and staff.

Behind the scenes making the national day of remembrance for all Australians and New Zealanders “who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations”, special is Sarah Phillips, Lifestyle Manager for Residential Aged Care at RSL LifeCare Narrabeen on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.

Sarah coordinates RSL LifeCare’s four residential aged care homes on site to ensure that the residents can attend the activities and services.

It’s a big job as Sarah has to work out how many volunteers are needed and what transport is involved (buggy and buses).

RSL LifeCare holds four major events to mark ANZAC Day:

  • RSL ANZAC Village, Narrabeen Service on Wednesday 19 April, with speaker General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK AC(Mil) CVO MC (Retd);
  • Field of Remembrance Dedication and Anzac Service, El Alamein Village, Lyneham, ACT, on Friday 21 April, with speaker Matt Anderson, Director of the Australian War Memorial.
  • Dawn Service on Anzac Day, 25 April, at RSL ANZAC Village, Narrabeen, with speaker Rear Admiral Lee Goddard RAN CSC (Retd).

Kerry Morris, RSL LifeCare’s Manager of Events and Community Engagement, manages the Narrabeen and Canberra events. The Canberra event is in partnership with the Australian War Widows ACT.

“I work closely with Sarah and the Retirement Living Team at Narrabeen including maintenance, landscaping, transport and catering. It really does take a ‘village’ to pull it all together,” Kerry said.

David Deller, Fundraising & Events Manager RSL LifeCare Veteran Services, is managing the annual BridgeClimb.

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Key things to help you everyday Village Operator

Retirement Visionary: A Journey of Personal Growth and Community Impact

Picture: Caroline Henning (R), Village Manager, with resident volunteers and Chef Extraordinaire, Margaret (L)
Picture: Caroline Henning (R), Village Manager, with resident volunteers and Chef Extraordinaire, Margaret (L)

Retirement Visionary: A Journey of Personal Growth and Community Impact 

Caroline Henning is a woman who wears many hats. Along with being the Village Manager at Erskine Grove, a RAAFA retirement village in Mandurah on the southwest coast of WA, she also has a music side hustle. Always seeking new challenges and opportunities for personal growth, Caroline’s passion for development led her to take on the role of Village Manager at Erskine Grove after leaving local government. 

For the past three years, Caroline has worked tirelessly to get to know the 300 residents of Erskine Grove on a personal level. She believes that understanding their individual goals and aspirations for retirement is key to ensuring their happiness and well-being. To help residents clarify their desires and focus on achieving their goals, Caroline introduced the concept of a Vision Board, a visual representation of one’s goals and aspirations. 

Caroline’s love of music inspired her to host her first “Vision and Beers” session at a local microbrewery. The event was a hit and ended with an impromptu jam session that Caroline says was “no accident,” as she is a muso herself. The success of this event inspired Caroline to explore the benefits of group sessions with residents and staff at Erskine Village. She believes that a Vision Board can be a useful tool for creating a fulfilling and purposeful retirement. 

“Taking time out to develop a personal purpose and vision in a group session is not only beneficial to the residents,” Caroline says. “But I’m also learning more about the residents and their passions and desires.” 

Caroline’s approach has been well-received by the residents of Erskine Grove, and they appreciate her efforts to get to know them on a personal level. “Caroline is always there to lend an ear and help us figure out what we really want,” said one resident. “She’s become more like a friend than a manager.” 

Caroline’s dedication to the personal development of others has not gone unnoticed. In fact, she recently shared her experience with the process and her residents with DCM Institute. Here are a few of her lessons learned thus far: 

  • Joining in to help someone else bring their vision to life can be fun and challenging. After personally attending a series of introductory silks acrobatic classes, helping a friend to achieve her goal to fly through the sky like the singer Pink, Caroline says she will definitely not be joining the circus. 
  • Seniors understand how to self-analyse and create S.M.A.R.T goals, reflecting on the past while staying in the present. 
  • Adjusting the time of the sessions to suit the group is important, as this work can be exhausting for resident participants. One hour is enough for these guys. 
  • Taking time out to decompress and reflect afterward is vital. 

Caroline’s passion for personal development and dedication to the residents of Erskine Grove make her a valuable asset to the retirement community. Through her use of Vision Boards, Caroline is helping residents achieve their goals and find purpose in their retirement years. 

Vision Boards: Can I complete this activity at home?  

Yes, you can work on this at home and create your own vision board: Theme ideas:  Health, Family, Love and Friendship, Spiritual & Knowledge, Service & Generosity, Travel, Prosperity. The most important thing to note for this entire process is there is no right or wrong way to create a vision board. There is also no such thing as a bad vision or goal. This process is entirely personal. Envisioning your future and your goals allows you to answer the question “What do I want?” Let yourself listen to what you want, not what they want.  

For more information on Vision Boards, click here.

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Facility Manager Key things to help you everyday

A Fairer, Healthier World

World Health Day is a day dedicated to raising awareness about global health and promoting healthy living. This year, the theme for World Health Day is “Building a Fairer, Healthier World”. As we reflect on this year’s theme, it is important to consider the needs of seniors and the importance of having conversations about their health and wellbeing.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), seniors are at a higher risk of developing health problems due to a variety of factors, including age-related changes, chronic health conditions, and lifestyle factors. This makes it crucial for retirement village managers and seniors living communities to create and uphold a supportive and open environment for their residents to have health-related conversations with each other, their families, and from time to time, with the management.

As a retirement village manager, it is essential to promote early detection and treatment of health problems, encourage healthy behaviours and lifestyle choices, and provide an opportunity for seniors to share their concerns and experiences. By simply being there for someone and creating an environment that allows for open conversations, we can help our residents navigate their changing health and wellbeing needs leading to a better quality of and a happier retirement community overall.

In honour of World Health Day, it is important to take a moment to reflect on the need to promote good health and wellbeing for everyone, regardless of age or background. As Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the WHO, stated, “Health is a fundamental human right, and building a fairer, healthier world requires a concerted and collaborative effort from all sectors of society.”

On this World Health Day, let us all commit to taking action towards building a fairer, healthier world by prioritizing the health and wellbeing of seniors in our communities.

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Facility Manager Key things to help you everyday Village Operator

Sign of the times: ACT Government to be first to appoint Retirement Village Ombudsman

In a precursor for retirement village operators and residents in each state, the ACT Government is investigating setting up the first independent Ombudsman to help resolve disputes between residents and operators. 

The new Labor Party-controlled NSW Government, when in Opposition, also promised to create a Retirement Village Ombudsman.

The Labor Party-led ACT Government said it is advocating for a national retirement village and aged care ombudsman, after the Legislative Assembly unanimously voted to support Labor backbencher Michael Pettersson’s motion.

Michael told the Legislative Assembly the current arrangements, which rely on internal retirement village disputes committee and the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal, did not always offer the pathway to justice seniors deserve.

“Despite being the first port of call for when a dispute arises, the internal village disputes committee often fails to generate tangible outcomes for residents since the decision is not binding,” he said in a statement.

“If a resident subsequently chooses to escalate the matter to the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal or the ACT Supreme Court for enforcement, they often find themselves bogged down in a costly, arduous, administrative nightmare.

“As a result, very few seniors pursue the justice they deserve and give up altogether.”

He added seniors deserved access to a binding and enforceable mechanism to resolve disputes with the operators of retirement villages.

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Facility Manager Key things to help you everyday Village Operator

LEADERS SUMMIT SATURDAY special issue: The increasing area of risk for retirement village and aged care operators

With new laws being enacted across every State and Territory aimed at tackling psychosocial safety in the workplace, operators need to prepare now to ensure they are not caught out, the LEADERS SUMMIT has heard.

MinterEllison Partners Deanna McMaster, Penelope Eden and Tammy Berghofer appeared in a panel session to discuss the legal challenges around retirement living and aged care, particularly in relation to workforce and approaches to risk mitigation.

Deanna (pictured above) told the room that MinterEllison expects that there will be more activity in the seniors living space over the next 12 months because of a range of new workplace health and safety laws coming into play.

“Once upon a time, safety laws and the work I do was all about heavy industry mining and construction and physical accidents. But that time has gone. Seniors living environment are of real interest to safety regulators because of the psychological.”

Full story in the LEADERS SUMMIT special issue of SATURDAY – subscribe here.