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Resthaven Executive Manager Community Services retires after 18 years in role

Sue McKechnie said it was her family role models who actively sought out leadership roles in their local communities that led her to a career at South Australian Not for Profit operator Resthaven.

“My background in health, paired with my interest in helping people be the best they can be, set me on the path to a leadership role with Resthaven,” said Sue, who has retired .

“I started at Resthaven in 2004 with an interest in people and community. I wanted to take the opportunity to assist Resthaven to develop its community services and further realise its commitment to quality in service.”

“Since then, Resthaven Community Services has grown from a small metropolitan-based operation to be the largest home care service provider for older people in South Australia, delivering a broad range of services across the entire continuum, employing more than 1,000 staff.”

Sue said she had been encouraged by the lives of Nelson Mandela, Winston Churchill, and Florence Nightingale as she pursued her leadership skills.

Sue chatting with a Western Community Services client, December 2022

“Encouraged by their stories, I realised that by taking up policy roles and championing new initiatives, I could influence better outcomes for more people.,” she said.

She recognises that being a woman in a leadership role is a vital role model.

“Every female leader brings their own style, models and pathways to teach younger women. The ability to support others has made my role hugely rewarding,” Sue added.

“Resthaven’s purpose, and values of ‘Trust Dignity Choice,’ closely align with my personal philosophy.”

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Budget Process: Professionalism + Partnership = Success

Retirement village residents on fixed incomes can be particularly sensitive to changes in the cost of living. The recent announcement of a 7.8% increase in the consumer price index to the December quarter nationally is a timely reminder for Village and Community Managers to prepare for the 2023-24 Budget cycle. This year, negotiating with residents and committees will require professionalism, respect, and care to successfully navigate their concerns with the increased costs of living. 

To guide managers through the budget process, here are some tips to consider: 

Transparency is key. It’s important to be open and clear about the costs involved in running the retirement village, including maintenance, insurance, rates, utilities, and staffing. Be prepared to answer questions about line items and explain any increases or decreases in costs from the previous year. Involve residents in the process through formal meetings and feedback sessions to create a sense of partnership and collaboration. 

Be prepared for budget requirements that continue to increase each year due to legislative changes and reforms. Have Quantity Surveyor Reports, Asset Management Plans, and quotes on hand to justify maintenance of capital items before consulting and negotiating with residents. 

Set clear goals and priorities for the year ahead, allocating funds accordingly. Be realistic about what the retirement village can afford and ensure that the budget reflects the needs and priorities of the residents. Consider how cost allocations are managed between operating and capital funds, and be open to compromise to find a balance between the needs and priorities of residents and the financial constraints of the retirement village. 

Summarise key points throughout the discussions with residents and committees, and follow up with a written document that outlines the agreed way forward. This will help ensure that both parties have a clear understanding of the outcome of the negotiation. 

Allow time for consultation and negotiation with residents and communicate the final budget clearly as per the requirements in your state or territory of operations. 

In conclusion, handling the budget process with care and professionalism, while taking into account the unique needs and concerns of residents, is critical. Success will come to managers who are well-prepared, effectively communicate, collaborate and negotiate with residents.  

The DCM Institute offers resources in its Knowledge Centre to help Village and Community Managers prepare for this year’s Budget cycle. 

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Latest industry developments Village Operator

And finally, a top of the morning to you

St. Patrick’s Day is a time to celebrate all things Irish, but did you know that it can also be a time to celebrate life in a retirement village?

One of the great things about retirement villages is the sense of community on offer. On St. Patrick’s Day, residents come together to celebrate this special holiday with friends and neighbours, creating a warm and festive atmosphere. This can be especially important for seniors who may have lost loved ones or who live far away from their families.

From traditional Irish music and dance performances to green-themed parties and afternoon teas, many retirement communities find a way to celebrate this special day with a variety of events and activities.

For those who love to cook, St. Patrick’s Day is a great opportunity to show off their culinary skills. Many retirement villages host potluck dinners, where residents can bring their favourite Irish-themed dishes to share with others. From hearty stews and potatoes to sweet soda bread, there’s sure to be something for everyone.

In addition to these activities, many retirement villages also offer educational opportunities on St. Patrick’s Day.

St Patrick’s Day falls on Friday 17 March. Be sure to have it included in your community’s event calendar for next month to enjoy a day of liveliness, delicious food, and a strong sense of community.

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Key things to help you everyday Latest industry developments Village Operator

When Zoe Prime went for an interview at a retirement village she felt at “home”

Zoe Prime, who had worked in administration for two fishing companies in Port Lincoln, SA, was looking for a career change when she decided to go back to work after having two children.

“After returning to the workforce I became a Disability Support Worker. I worked for Home Care Plus and also worked privately. I looked after a pair of beautiful twin girls who are toddlers with a rare condition, with only 600 people diagnosed with this disease. I got immense joy out of looking after these girls,” said Zoe.

“I then saw a village manager job advertised for Lincoln Grove and I thought wow this opportunity would be amazing. I can use my administrative skills learned at the fishing companies but also get to be a part of a community and still be social with the residents.”

RetireAustralia thought Zoe could be a good fit for the role and asked her to attend an interview

“As soon as I walked into the village on for my interview I knew it felt like home. It’s absolutely beautiful here,” Zoe said.

“I have met such wonderful residents who inspire me to become the best person I can be. I have found my motivation and passion again for work. There are 125 residents in our village. 24 serviced apartments in the community centre and 89 independent units!”

RetireAustralia is very keen on mentoring new recruits.

“I started on 8 August on 20 hours a week in reception, then moved into higher duties on 17 October. Then I became the relieving manager then I was appointed to the permanent position on 16 January,” she said.

“I have had such wonderful mentors in my journey.  Harish Bastain, Leonie Karlsson and Debra Green, my managers, have been amazing. There has been no hesitation from them when I need support.

“I have had wonderful support from fellow Village Managers Lee Ann Alejeo, when she came to Port Lincoln for a week to offer me support, and also Kathy Brazher-De Laine who stayed for 3 weeks!”

It’s the variety of life as a village manager that excites Zoe.

“Every day is different. I am kept on my toes with all the residents’ different personalities. I feel good in my heart knowing that I am here to put their needs first and I am their advocate.

“My advice is always work and stay in your personal values and the values of RetireAustralia (this way you know you are doing the best you can for yourself and residents). Never feel alone and always reach out when you need advice and support Enjoy what you do and also have fun with the residents.”

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Key things to help you everyday Village Operator

49 Aveo communities go pink annually and have raised over $1.2M for breast cancer research

Aveo, one of the nation’s largest retirement village operators, has a great workforce.

Every October, an increasing number of staff and residents go pink, to raise money for breast cancer research.

49 of its communities took part last year and 46 funding raising events took place, raising $94,487.32.

You name it the Aveo teams have done it: pink breakfasts, morning and high teas, BBQs/sausage sizzles; pink champagne dinners, themed events with live entertainment, trivia nights, cakes decorating competitions and sampling, bra pink pong, plastic duck fishing, chopstick hunting, and many more.

The PA Research Foundation CEO Damian Topp has even attended some of the fund raising events.

In total the workers and residents at Aveo have collected more than $1.2 million for Project Pink since starting fundraising in 2016 to support The University of Queensland Frazer Institute (formerly UQ Diamantina Institute) Group Leader Associate Professor Fiona Simpson and her team to progress their breast cancer research.

The Frazer Institute has commenced their phase two safety trial for HER2-positive breast cancer patients.

Pictured are the Pink team at Aveo Bayview Gardens on Sydney’s Northern Beaches: Alison Bennett, Melinda Akehurst, Adam Vesey, Glenn Hayes, Kirsty Cooke, Haydar Mohsin and Omar Al-Safadi.

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Two more Village Managers Recognised by the DCM Institute

Anna Wilson (L) Village Manager of Strathfield Gardens, with Tiffany Folbigg (R), Operations Manager for DCM Institute
Anna Wilson (L) Village Manager of Strathfield Gardens, with Tiffany Folbigg (R), Operations Manager for DCM Institute

Last week, the DCM Institute acknowledged two more Village Manager participants in their Professional Development program for reaching 1,000 PD Points. These two individuals, Anna Wilson and Robyn Parry-Lyons, have been dedicated Village Managers for over 15 years and have shown a strong commitment to their professional growth and development.

Anna Wilson has been the Village Manager of Strathfield Gardens, a retirement village located in Sydney’s Inner West, for over a decade and a half. During a tour of the village with Anna, the DCM Institute team was amazed by the rich history of the retirement village, which is situated within a 1870’s homestead.

Anna was full of enthusiasm as she shared the history of the village and how it has maintained much of its original gardens for the residents’ peaceful enjoyment. Anna was humbled by the award and as an advocate for the networking opportunities offered by the DCM Institute, hopes to attend the Professional Development Days to be held during the year.

Robyn Parry-Lyons (L) Village Manager of Fernbank Retirement Village, with Tiffany Folbigg (R), Operations Manager for DCM Institute

Similarly, Robyn Parry-Lyons has been the Village Manager of Fernbank Retirement Village, located in Sydney’s Northern Suburbs, for over 15 years. Fernbank is part of the Aveo portfolio and has more than 140 strata-titled independent living units co-located alongside 40 leasehold serviced apartments.

During a tour with Robyn, she shared complexities of managing a strata titled village and how she finds the DCM Institute’s Professional Development Program helps her stay updated with the latest trends in the sector and further develop her knowledge.

The recognition of Anna Wilson and Robyn Parry-Lyons is a testament to the hard work and dedication they have put into their careers as Village Managers. Well done.

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Key things to help you everyday Village Operator

Reflections on ‘Renovate or Detonate’

“The conversation has to start very early.”

That is according to David Cowdery, General Manager of Property at BaptistCare NSW & ACT. Speaking at the ‘Renovate or Detonate’ webinar hosted by The WEEKLY SOURCE and facilitated by Christopher Baynes, CEO of DCM Group, David noted the key to a successful redevelopment project is to start communicating with residents early.

David emphasized that building trust with residents can take a year of consultation, and transparency is crucial in showing that the operator has their best interests in mind.

Callum Ross, Head of Developments at Levande shared his own experience, stressing the importance of being transparent and upfront about the project from start to finish, and putting strategies in place to minimize any disruptions, such as providing areas of respite, organizing bus trips, and communicating construction schedules.

Jeff Ross from Total Construction added to this by sharing how they put viewing platforms in place to allow residents to inspect the construction process and feel engaged with the project.

Callum noted that renewing communities is a big opportunity for the industry, and as professionals, it is our responsibility to ensure its success. Whether it be a renovation, renewal, or full community redevelopment, engaging residents and bringing them along for the journey is crucial.

To achieve this, the following tips can be considered:

  1. Be proactive: Start communicating with the residents as early as possible to ensure that everyone has ample time to ask questions and provide input.
  2. Use clear, simple language: Avoid technical jargon and use clear, simple language to communicate the details of the project, including scale, scope and timeframes.
  3. Utilise multiple channels: To reach as many people as possible, consider using multiple communication channels, such as email, newsletters, social media, and public meetings.
  4. Be transparent: Be transparent about the goals and process of the project, being honest about any challenges or limitations you may face.
  5. Address concerns: Address any concerns that residents may have about the project, providing clear and concise answers.
  6. Highlight the benefits: Highlight the benefits of the project, such enhancement to resident experiences through improved amenities, and desirability of the community for future residents.
  7. Encourage participation: Encourage residents to participate in the process and provide feedback. This can be done through resident meetings, online surveys, or other engagement methods.

The WEEKLY SOURCE’s ‘Renovate or Detonate’ webinar looked at the tough choice between renovating and extending the life of a building asset, or demolishing and building a repositioned village. Lead by DCM Group CEO, Chris Baynes, panel discusses what to consider, the potential challenges, and the outcomes you can hope to achieve through an architecture and design, construction, project management and operator lens.

Panellists:

  • Mahi Lau | Principal, Stanton Dahl Architects
  • David Cowdery | General Manager Property, BaptistCare NSW & ACT
  • Jeff Jones | CEO, Total Construction
  • Calum Ross | Head of Development, Levande 
  • Anthony Felice | Sector Lead, Aged Care and Retirement Living NSW, TSA
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Exercise is Medicine

Image:  HUR Australia 
Image:  HUR Australia 

While the importance of exercise as we age has been well documented and discussed. Over the past few years, we have seen the conversation shifted from being reactive with care to being proactive in wellness.

Last edition, we wrote about the role of nutrition in maintaining wellbeing as we age. Poor nutrition coupled with insufficient and excess sedentary behaviours are potent risk factors for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, obesity, sarcopenia, frailty, and disability, among other chronic diseases associated with ageing.

This week we thought we’d share research which doesn’t just talk to the role exercise plays in maintaining quality of life as we age, but provides guidelines of what physical activity and exercise looks like for older adults.

The Expert Consensus Guidelines, published in 2021, recommends that older adults should include at least 30 minutes of daily endurance exercise in bouts of 10 minutes, with a total 150 – 300 minutes of weekly activity. The paper recommends progressive resistance training at least twice a week, with balance and flexibility exercises also to be included.

Interestingly, combining these types of training with simple physical activity such as Tai Chi or dance programs have been shown to reduce falls in older adults.

“Exercise is medicine”, the research paper concludes, ending with the final note that one of the main challenges for the future is for exercise to become as a mandatory part of someone’s care plan as the age.

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Village Operator

Professional Development the Key to Improving Culture and Staff Retention.

Talent retention strategies have been widely discussed this past year. At VILLAGE SUMMIT2022 we heard Phil Preston discuss the emergence of ‘stay interviews’ to get in front of the impact staff leaving can have on a business.

Interestingly, the 2022 LinkedIn Global Talent Trends Report found that employees believe professional development is the number-one way to improve company culture. with the consequences of neglecting development being significant.

According to a report by The Execu|Search Group, 86% of professionals said that they would change jobs if a new company offered them more opportunities for professional development.

An employee development program which offers true professional development is shown to not only improve skills and hone behaviours in the workplace, but it also demonstrates the value placed in that employees through investing in their future. This is an investment which will benefit the business by retaining talent and, importantly in our case, the benefit of our residents who report wanting professionalism and consistency in their Village Manager (singular).

Have you spoken to your manager about investing in your professional development in 2023? 

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Village Operator

Recognition of Achievement in Professional Development

It wouldn’t be VILLAGE SUMMIT 2022 without DCM Institute taking a moment to recognise achievement in professional development. It was only fitting that the largest event of the year, recognised the greatest number of Village Managers.

In presenting the awards, Tiffany Folbigg, National DCM Institute Administrator, said “it is always a pleasure to stand up here and recognise the achievement of Village Managers who have reached a milestone of 1,000 Professional Development Points.”

Recognised on the day was Leanne McPherson (Adventist Senior Living), Kerrie Smile (Australian Unity), Anna Wilson Golden Lifestyles), Tony Lieschke (Kensington Gardens), Robyn Parry-Lyons (Aveo) and Lisa Ciantar, Jennifer Ward, Sonia Lechner, Donna Hollingsworth, Doug Read, and Jovica Sumenic who are all from Uniting.

Congratulations to all. Professional development starts with a commitment from the individual, with the support of who you work for. The DCM Institute is committed to recognising excellence in 2023 and looks forward to sharing this journey with more than 500 Village Manager and Head Office staff participants across the country.