NATIONALAWARD FORCARE & INNOVATION C anterbury Close, our aged care facility at Elizabeth East, has been awarded a national Better Practice Award by the Australian Aged Care Quality Agency (AACQA) for its Positive Interactive Engagement (PIE) program. These awards recognise programs that demonstrate best practice for other aged care service providers around Australia. PIE is a structured after hours activity program developed by Canterbury Close staff to provide connection, stimulation, routine and positive triggers for residents with dementia in the Memory Support Unit. It is based on Alzheimer’s Association research and Montessori principles and increases interaction and engagement and reduces unsettled behaviour in the evenings and at times of reduced activities.
Virginia Matthews, AACQA Acting State Director SA/ NT, presented Canterbury Close Manager Stephanie Brown and her team with the prestigious award at a special afternoon tea event to celebrate the win. Bruce Linn, AnglicareSA Board Chair, praised the team for their innovation, care and creativity. Congratulations to all those involved in the design and successful implementation of such a valuable and innovative program. AACQA is the independent body responsible for managing the accreditation and ongoing supervision of Commonwealth funded aged care homes.
A nglicareSA’s Intergenerational IT Connect Program aims to engage people, both young and old,through technology. The program focuses on building confidence and self-esteem in young people through the teaching of technology and interacting with older people, and in conjunction with this, increase older people’s confidence with the use of technology. AnglicareSA provides training and support for the young people on how to teach an older person technology skills which could include general computing skills, the world of social media – including Facebook and Skype, and how to effectively operate an iPad. Some older people use the program to get assistance with the use of their own devices. The program operates in a group setting, but provides
one-on-one teaching, and generally operates from either an aged care facility or community centre. In one particular group, AnglicareSA partnered with Wiltja Secondary College and the Aboriginal Elders Village where students visit the elders and are able to learn more about their country, story and family, as well as have a focus on teaching elders new technology skills. It’s a really positive experience for both generations and it’s been great to see some of the relationships formed between young and old.
The Supporter Summer 2016 — page 5
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