More than 360,000 aged care staff support 1.3 million older Australians receiving home care or residential care services.
As Aged Care Employee Day approaches on August 7, Carinity is recognising its employees who care for Queensland seniors living across 12 residential aged care communities and those supported through in-home care services.
Kathy Nicholls, Deni Cocciolone, Amanda Marshall and Jack Teepa are four of around 1,200 dedicated Carinity employees who work to support Queensland seniors.
Kathy, a Carinity Aged Care regional manager, has worked in the aged care industry for 24 years. She loves “forming relationships with our residents and learning their stories” – something she has done since she was young.
“My mum worked in aged care when I was growing up and I always loved watching the connections she had with the residents. I pretty much grew up in my mum’s aged care home and would go there before and after school, spending time talking to the residents. I loved it,” Kathy says.
Deni tailors and runs activities for residents of the Carinity Fairfield Grange aged care community in Townsville. She says working in aged care can be “challenging but rewarding.”
“We hope to fulfil residents’ days with enriching activities that resonate with their likes and hobbies, help achieve their goals or even try something new. It brings feelings of great satisfaction and accomplishment knowing that we helped make their day,” Deni said.
Carinity Home Care Sunshine Coast Lifestyle Coordinator, Amanda Marshall gave up her banking career to support seniors who wish to remain living in their own home.
“In banking there were always changes which were difficult for the seniors to understand, so they needed support. It is the same with aged care.”
“Seniors don’t want you to take their independence away, but they want support to help them live their best life,” Amanda said.
“I believe in treating our clients as if they are my family. I care for them just as I would want someone to care for my mother or my grandmother.”
For Jack Teepa the best thing about his role as chaplain at the Carinity Colthup Manor aged care community in Ipswich is is “contributing to making it a happy and safe place.”
“Aged care chaplaincy is particularly important because older people need to be heard, listened to, acknowledged, respected and valued. They need reassurance that they are still loved and appreciated,” he said.
Carinity CEO, Jon Campbell expressed his gratitude for Carinity’s aged care and home care employees who “display selfless determination to care for our most vulnerable”.
“On Aged Care Employee Day, we take time to reflect on the compassionate care they give to our valued seniors every minute of every hour of every day,” John said.
