Celebrating community, capturing stories and keeping connected
Celebrating community, capturing stories and keeping connected. The Coorparoo Chronicle
Autumn
Contents
Message from Facility Manager, Debbie
3
Message from the Lifestyle Team
4
Community Happenings
5 - 7
Message from the Clinical Nursing Team
8 9
Meet the Team, Kathy Mc
Chefs Corner, Karl
10 - 11
Meet the Resident, Margaret McG
12 13
Quality Corner, Janet
Autumn Highlights
14 - 16
Noticeboard
17
Games Corner
18 - 19
Games Corner answer
20 - 21
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Debbie
Facility Manager
It continues to be a busy and eventful time for our community, marked by the arrival of new residents and the farewell of others. We are already in June, and it is hard to believe how quickly the year is passing.
As discussed with residents, we have experienced several bathroom issues in some rooms. Builders have already completed a full bathroom renovation in one room and will continue working through the remaining rooms requiring upgrades. These improvements will help ensure that all bathrooms are safe, fresh, and visually appealing. While every effort will be made to minimise disruption, residents have been advised that some construction noise will be unavoidable during these works. We will continue to work closely with those affected to ensure any inconvenience is kept to a minimum. We are also proud to have three residents who are now over 100 years old, with another six residents expected to reach this remarkable milestone next year. This is a wonderful achievement and something truly worth celebrating. We look forward to recognising and celebrating these special occasions with our residents, families, and staff. We celebrated International Nurses Day, on May 12th and I would like to sincerely thank all of our registered and clinical nurses in the aged care facility for the compassion, professionalism and dedication you show every day. Your care, kindness and clinical expertise make an enormous difference in the lives of our residents and bring great comfort to their families, sometimes under very trying circumstances. We are deeply grateful for everything you do and proudly recognise the incredible contribution you make each day. Thank you to everyone who continues to contribute to making our community such a welcoming and vibrant place to live. Debbie Facility Manager
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Message from the Lifestyle Team
Dining and Social Outings Our outings to the Village Bistro and Fish and Chips takeaway evenings on the rooftop continue to be a great success. These events remain extremely popular, with large groups of residents coming together to enjoy the beautiful views, good company, and fish and chips.
Some residents also prefer to share their meals in the comfort of their rooms, often joined by family members for a special dining experience. Creative Activities The Stitch and Chat group recently featured a display of knitted toys created by one of our talented residents. Everyone admired the exceptional quality and craftsmanship of each piece. The toys will be donated to a local charity, which is still to be selected. Games and Mental Stimulation Word Games continue to be a favourite activity for many residents. Some challenges involve creating as many words as possible from a 13- to 15-letter word, which often calls for extra time and concentration. Many residents enjoy continuing these challenges in their rooms or working together with others who were unable to attend the session. Resident Services The weekly shopping trolley, stocked with a wide range of treats and convenience items, continues to be very popular. Residents can also request additional items through a member of the Lifestyle Team, who will be happy to arrange purchases as needed. Residents are regularly invited to suggest new stock items; however, few suggestions have been received, indicating strong satisfaction with the current range. Community Support and Companionship We are fortunate to have a wonderful support network through visits from Our Lady of Mt Carmel Church and Community Visitor Schemes. Many residents benefit from individual social visits, with volunteers spending time each week chatting and providing companionship.
The Lifestyle Team
Community Happenings Autumn
Celebrating milestones together Autumn gave us plenty of reasons to gather around a birthday cake. We sang for Jenny after the morning exercise class, celebrated Shirley with laughter and lovely memories, and surprised Daisy with a big group singalong after her morning activities with friends. A truly special occasion was Kath’s 104th birthday, which she marked on the rooftop with her closest family and friends and a beautiful spread we were delighted to share in. It reflected a life well lived and the connections that span generations. The season closed with our dear Doreen turning 98, celebrated first over the weekend and then again with her family and all of us here. Doreen, you are an inspiration to every one of us.
Armchair travel and shared discovery Armchair travel remains a favourite among us, and this season we set our sights on Spain. From the architecture of Barcelona to the sunlit Andalusian countryside, we explored somewhere new without leaving the building. We’re already deliberating over where to head next. The world, it seems, is still very much open to us. Fellowship and spiritual care Our spiritual life was well nourished this season. We gathered on the rooftop for Communion with our volunteers from Our Lady of Mt Carmel, and Deacon Paul blessed us with a beautiful Sunday morning service on Level 5. Later in the season we welcomed Rev Catherine from St Stephen’s Anglican Church, assisted by Lyn from the Village, for a lovely service of hymns and fellowship that stayed with us well beyond the hour. For many of us, these services offer a lasting sense of peace, connection and spiritual grounding, and we’re grateful to each of them for their ongoing care.
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Community Happenings Autumn
Keeping active every morning We’ve been turning up in great numbers for our morning exercise sessions on Level 4, and there is something uplifting about moving together and encouraging one another to start the week. Scout, our four-legged friend, even dropped in before an afternoon Strength and Balance class and we happily gave him all the pats before getting to work. That energy carried into our games sessions too, where Target Master, ping pong, Connect 4 and dice games brought out some serious contenders among us. The competition was real, but the laughter always won out.
Food that brings us together Our rooftop came alive for St Patrick’s Day with fish and chips, cool drinks and Irish music. In the lead-up we made our own felt shamrocks, cutting, sewing and pinning them ourselves, and almost every one of us managed to finish our own, which made wearing them on the day all the sweeter. We also welcomed a new tradition with our first buffet breakfast on Level 5, where we enjoyed being served from a generous spread prepared by Chef Karl and his team. It made for a social start to the day, with conversation flowing as freely as the coffee. Greek was our pick for the Resident Choice dinner, and the compliments flowed around the table. An outing later in the season took a happy detour when the Village Bistro couldn’t fit us in, so we headed to the fish and chip shop across the way instead. No one regretted the change of plans. Good company makes any meal memorable.
Community Happenings Autumn
Honouring those who served We paused on ANZAC Day for a ceremony that meant a great deal to all of us. Together with our families and the staff who care for us, we honoured the courage and sacrifice of our servicemen and women through shared stories, quiet reflection and a moving moment of silence. It reminded us of what this day represents, not just history but the living memory some of us carry ourselves, or grew up shaped by. Lest we forget. The quiet moments that matter Some of the most meaningful parts of the season were the smallest. Sendy diligently tended our succulents, making sure each one received just the right amount of water, and our shared spaces continued to thrive because of the care we all put into them. Whether it was a chat over morning tea or a pat for a visiting dachshund, autumn reminded us that connection is found as much in the everyday as it is on the big occasions.
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Message from the Clinical Nursing Team
Thank you for the privilege of caring for and supporting every resident entrusted to us. As a team, we are committed to ensuring that each resident receives compassionate, high-quality care and support every day. We are proud of our strong, stable, and dedicated nursing team. Working collaboratively toward shared goals, we are united in our commitment to delivering the highest standard of resident-centred care. Each team member brings unique strengths, skills, and experience, and we value the mutual respect, trust, and teamwork that enable us to achieve positive outcomes for those in our care. Together, we strive to create a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment where residents feel valued,
respected, and cared for. Clinical Focus: Skin Care
We take great care to protect and maintain residents’ skin health. Our team completes regular skin checks and uses gentle cleansing and moisturising to keep skin healthy and hydrated. We focus strongly on preventing issues by: • Repositioning residents with an assessed need, regularly to avoid or reduce the risk of pressure injuries • We have a continence management program to keep their skin clean and dry • We have specialised equipment, such as special foam mattresses and other pressure relieving devices • We also support good nutrition and hydration, which are essential for healthy skin. We aim to identify any changes in skin integrity early to manage it promptly and to reduce the risk of complications. Our goal is to keep every resident’s skin healthy, comfortable, and protected Clinical Nursing Team
Meet the Team Kathy Mc Kath commenced at Coorparoo Aged Care in June 2019, joining the team just a few weeks before the home officially opened. Alongside manager Debbie and the rest of the initial team, they spent the first two weeks unpacking equipment, preparing resident rooms, and helping ensure everything was ready to welcome the first residents in July 2019. Since then, Kath says that she has thoroughly enjoyed her time at Coorparoo Aged Care. She values the opportunity to meet and support residents and work alongside dedicated colleagues, many of whom have become close friends. Her greatest satisfaction comes from providing care, assistance, and companionship to those who can no longer fully care for themselves, helping them maintain dignity, comfort, and quality of life. Outside of work, Kath loves spending time with her five grandchildren and their families. She and her partner, Dave, also enjoy exploring the great outdoors, particularly travelling around Australia in their caravan and discovering new places together. Kath would love to travel to the UK but so far has not had the chance to do so. It remains on her bucket list.
9
Chef’s Corner Our dining program continues to receive very positive feedback from residents and families. We offer a flexible approach to dining and are happy to follow up directly with any resident if a meal is not to a your liking, ensuring individual preferences and needs are accommodated wherever possible. Karl
Food Focus meetings are held every two months, providing residents with the opportunity to share feedback and suggestions regarding menus, dining processes, and other food-related matters. This collaborative approach helps us continually improve the dining experience and we get some good feedback most times. Recently, two of our monthly Resident Choice evenings featured an Italian-inspired dinner and a Japanese-themed meal. Both events were enthusiastically received and enjoyed by residents, generating excellent feedback. Our buffet breakfasts have continued throughout May and June, with residents from all levels participating. Residents on Level 1 will enjoy their breakfast event at the end of June. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with each breakfast proving to be a great success, offering plenty of delicious food and enjoyable conversation. As head chef I am always available to speak with residents and family members to discuss ideas and opportunities to further enhance the dining experience at Coorparoo Aged Care.
Karl Head Chef
Chef’s Corner
600g puff pastry 2kg diced beef - lean - fat trimmed 2 cups red wine 500g mushrooms 2 onions, raw 2 teaspoons beef stock powder 1 litre water ½ cup plain flour Individual Beef & Burgundy Pies Makes approximately 8-10 individual pies
2 tablespoons olive oil 2 eggs, raw - whisked ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon pepper
1. Coat the beef in plain flour, then brown in small batches. 2. Mix 1 litre of water with the beef stock powder and red wine, and pour into a deep ovenproof dish. 3. As the meat is browned, add it to the dish. 4. Brown the onions and mushrooms, then add to the dish. 5. Cover and place in a moderate oven for at least two hours. 6. Remove from the oven, check the seasonings and cool slightly. 7. Spoon the mixture into individual ramekins and cover with puff pastry. 8. Brush the pastry with the whisked egg mix. 9. Increase the oven temperature to hot (190 degrees) and bake for a further 15 minutes (approx.), until golden brown. 10. Serve hot.
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Meet the Resident I grew up in Atherton, a country town inland from Cairns in Far North Queensland. It was a small town and a wonderful place to grow up, helping to shape the person I am today. I was fortunate to be surrounded by people who shared many of the same interests from a young age. Looking back, this was a great advantage. Together with the experience of growing up in North Queensland, it played an important role in my life. My favourite place has always been North Queensland, and it will always feel like home. I have travelled the world with my late husband.
Margaret McG
I have many photo albums of our travels over many years. I have lived in Brisbane most of my adult life. The most memorable holidays were taking my sons, partner of our eldest and grandsons to New York, a cruise on the QE2 from New York to London and time in London in 2018. and a family holiday for 4 weeks around Australia camping mostly with Cobb & Co Coaches. I volunteered as a Gallery Guide at the QLD Gallery of Modern Art for over 40 years and was one of the first volunteers enrolled. This involved an immense amount of time learning about artists and the exhibitions and was informing others about these. This involvement has been very important for me as I love art in all its forms creativity and beauty along with visiting art museums and galleries. The biggest change in the world during my lifetime was the war reaching Australia and the impact it had on everyday life. I was not yet 10 years old, but I could sense the tension around me. My mother welcomed many Australian troops stationed in Atherton into our home, helping to feed and care for them. It was a very different time, with men away from their families and women taking on new roles and responsibilities in the workforce.
My parents have had the greatest influence on my life, especially my mother, who was a nurse. Patients would often ask for her by name, and I am very proud to have called her my mum. I have also been inspired by many leaders throughout my life, including those in the Girl Guides and other organisations with which I have been involved. My three boys always make me smile and have brought great joy and support to my life. I also find happiness in listening to other people’s stories and learning from their experiences.
Quality Corner
Janet
Winter Vaccinations Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to protect against serious illness caused by respiratory viruses such as influenza (flu), COVID-19 and RSV. These illnesses can be severe in otherwise healthy people. In Australia, RSV and influenza seasons can start as early as March, with activity usually peaking between June
and September. Receiving the vaccination before winter gives you the best protection during this high risk period. Please speak with a member of staff for more information regarding the vaccination clinics. Code of Conduct for Aged Care The Code of Conduct for Aged Care describes how aged care providers and the people providing your care must behave and how you should be treated. People who provide care, supporters and services in the aged care sector must: a. act with respect for people’s rights to freedom of expression, self- determination and decision-making in accordance with applicable laws and conventions b. act in a way that treats people with dignity and respect, and values their diversity c. act with respect for the privacy of people d. provide care, supports and services in a safe and competent manner, with care and skill e. act with integrity, honesty and transparency f. promptly take steps to raise and act on concerns about matters that may impact the quality and safety of care, supports and services g. provide care, supports and services free from: (i) all forms of violence, discrimination, exploitation, neglect and abuse (ii) sexual misconduct h. take all reasonable steps to prevent and respond to: (i) all forms of violence, discrimination, exploitation, neglect and abuse (ii) sexual misconduct. The Code applies to approved providers of residential, home care and flexible care funded by the Australian Government, as well as aged care workers and governing persons of approved providers. An introductory video is available to give older people, their representatives, families and registered supporters an overview of the Aged Care Code of Conduct. View it here. https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au/resource-library/aged-care- code-conduct-introductory-video-older-people Kind regards, Janet State Quality Manager
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Autumn Highlights March 2026 March gave us plenty to smile about. We started our mornings with exercise on Level 4, then tested our aim at Target Master, cheering on our winners with a well-earned shoutout. Scout, our four-legged friend, dropped in before an afternoon Strength and Balance class and we happily gave him all the pats before getting to work.Birthdays kept the cake coming. We sang for Jenny after morning exercise, celebrated Shirley with plenty of laughter, and surprised Daisy with a big group singalong. The standout was Kath’s 104th, which she marked on the rooftop with her closest family and friends and a beautiful spread. What a milestone to share.We gathered for Communion with our volunteers from Our Lady of Mt Carmel, including a lovely Sunday service led by Deacon Paul on Level 5. In the lead-up to St Patrick’s Day we cut, sewed and pinned our own felt shamrocks, then wore them proudly to rooftop fish and chips with cool drinks and Irish music.Our first buffet breakfast on Level 5 saw us served from a generous spread by Chef Karl and his team, Greek was our pick for Resident Choice dinner, and Sendy kept our succulents thriving.
Autumn Highlights
April 2026
We kept ourselves moving through April, turning up in great numbers for morning exercise and carrying that energy into our games sessions. Ping pong, Connect 4 and dice games brought out some serious contenders among us, and while the competition was real, the laughter always won. Armchair travel remained one of our favourites, and this time we set our sights on Spain. From Barcelona’s architecture to the sunlit Andalusian countryside, we explored it all without leaving the building, and we’re already deliberating over where to head next. The world, it seems, is still very much open to us. We also paused to honour the courage and sacrifice of our servicemen and women at our ANZAC ceremony.
15
Autumn Highlights May 2026 May brought two occasions that meant a great deal to us. We celebrated our dear Doreen’s 98th birthday, first over the weekend and then again with her family and all of us here gathered around her. Doreen, you are a joy and an inspiration to everyone who knows you, and we hope your celebrations were everything you deserved. We also welcomed Rev Catherine from St Stephen’s Anglican Church, assisted by Lyn from the Village, for a really beautiful service. We sang hymns together and enjoyed the fellowship, and for many of us these services offer something that lasts well beyond the hour: a sense of peace and spiritual grounding. We’re grateful to Rev Catherine and Lyn for the warmth they bring each time they visit. Alongside these special moments, our familiar rhythm carried on, with morning exercise, games and time spent together in our shared spaces. As autumn drew to a close, we were reminded that connection is found as much in the everyday as on the big occasions.
Noticeboard
In Memoriam We offer our sincere condolences to the families and friends of our late residents. Every cherished member of our community who leaves us, is sadly missed and fondly remembered.
A very warm welcome to our new residents. This Autumn we have had the pleasure of welcoming new faces to our community and what a wonderful addition you’ve all been! From sharing laughs at mealtimes to joining in activities and making new friendships, you’ve already brought fresh energy and joy to our home. We’re so glad you’re here. Daily Health and fitness Join us each daily for a dose of gentle exercise and seated games.
Library Service We have a mobile library service that picks up and delivers library books to residents’ rooms. We also have our fully stocked library. If you would like to use this service, please speak to one of our friendly team. Monthly Zumba – Move to Your Own Beat! Join us each month for a fun and gentle Zumba session designed especially for our residents. It’s a great way to get moving, enjoy the music, and have a laugh together.
If you have any questions or need assistance settling in, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We are here for you If you’d like more information on the above services, please contact the Lifestyle team: caclifestyle@coorparooagedcare.com.au
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Games Corner 1
www.qualityaging.com.au
Games Corner 2
19
Games Corner Answers 1
www.qualityaging.com.au
Games Corner Answers 2
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Stay tuned for Winter
Thank you We would like to issue a heartfelt thank you to relatives and volunteers who support us day in and day out. You make such a difference and we very much appreciate your time and energy. Can you contribute? Contributions to our newsletter are encouaged and appreciated. Articles, photos, reports on community outings, staff news, trivia, poems and stories relating to residents and staff are most welcome. Please hand in your submission to reception.
388 Cavendish Road, Coorparoo, QLD 4151 07 3153 6000 coorparooagedcare.com.au
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