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Doutta Galla Voice | Issue 1

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Inside this edition

Celebrating Our Aged Care Heroes

Retiring & Thriving in Moonee Ponds

Increased Nursing Care Improves Lives at

Doutta Galla

James Serves Up Superior Aged Care Cuisine

and more

The Doutta Galla

Voice

September 2024 | Issue One

September 2024 | Issue One

The quarterly newsletter of

Doutta Galla Aged Services

Welcome to the

Doutta Galla Voice

Meet one of our skilled chefs at Avondale

Heights James, known for delighting residents

with his culinary expertise, and discover the

advantages of retirement living at our Queens

Park apartments through the perspective of

resident Elizabeth.

I hope you enjoy the inaugural edition of the

Doutta Galla Voice. Your feedback is crucial as

we shape future publications.

Before I go, I would like to remind you that the

Victorian Seniors Festival is taking place from 1

to 31 October. I encourage everyone to explore

the wide array of events available and take part.

Warm regards,

“From nurses, care attendants, support staff to volunteers,

everyone at Doutta Galla contributes to a warm, supportive

environment.”

Glenn Rappensberg

CEO, Doutta Galla Aged Services

It is with great pleasure that I introduce to you

our new publication, The Doutta Galla Voice.

The Doutta Galla Voice aims to shine a light on

the remarkable work happening across our

organisation. From the dedication of our staff

to the meaningful contributions of our

residents, this magazine will give us a ‘voice’

to share with you everything that makes

Doutta Galla such a special place.

On 7 August, we celebrated Aged Care

Employee Day, honouring the hard work of the

370,000 aged care workers nationwide

supporting over 1.5 million older Australians.

Our staff at Doutta Galla exemplify this

commitment. I especially thank our staff and

volunteers who are celebrating employment

milestones this year - read more about this on

the following page.

We are also proud to share in this edition that

Doutta Galla has demonstrated exceptional

performance in meeting and exceeding

national care standards. In the fourth quarter

of 2024, we surpassed national averages in

both total care minutes and RN care minutes

per resident per day.

Read how we do it inside.

Our Service Awards recognised

the impressive milestones of

63 staff members who had

achieved 25, 20, 15, 10, and 5

years of service. Their long-

term commitment and devotion

epitomised the spirit of Doutta

Galla. Special mention goes to

Theresa Cummins, a personal

care assistant at our Grantham

Green Home, who has given

Doutta Galla an incredible 25

years of service.

The past year brought

unprecedented changes and

challenges, requiring extra

learning, professional

development, and new

daily tasks. The complexity

of working in a sector

undergoing significant

reform like aged care

was acknowledged,

and the efforts to

embrace this change

did not go unnoticed.

On 7 August, Doutta Galla joined

the nation in recognising Aged

Care Employee Day (ACED), a

day dedicated to shining a

spotlight on the tireless efforts

of aged care staff.

Led by CEO Glenn Rappensberg,

the organisation recognised the

contributions of some 370,000

care workers across the

country, expressing sincere

gratitude for their positive

impact on the lives of 1.5 million

people. Nurses, personal care

workers, allied health

professionals, case managers,

community workers, chefs,

cleaners, leisure and lifestyle

coordinators, catering staff,

maintenance teams,

administration, human

resource, finance, rostering and

payroll staff, volunteers and

more – each role is integral to

providing essential care for

older Australians.

On this special day, Doutta Galla

also celebrated the dedication of

its own 750 person-strong

workforce.

Doutta Galla Celebrates Our

Aged Care Heroes

Their amazing efforts in

supporting older Australians

and their families through the

ageing journey deserved

commendation, and were duly

thanked for making a

difference in people’s lives

every day.

Grantham Green Manager

Anju Newa presents

Theresa with her certificate

of 25 years of service.

Wise words from a dear friend

guided Elizabeth. "Think about

it," she advised, "make the

decision yourself, not someone

else." This resonated, ensuring

Elizabeth's move on her own

terms. Another factor: her

beloved, ageing cat. "I couldn’t

move without him," Elizabeth

explained. "He was old, but I

needed him by my side."

Doutta Galla Retirement Living

in Moonee Ponds offered peace

of mind. Stepping outside,

Elizabeth is greeted by the

serene beauty of Queens Park.

"It's beautifully green here,"

Elizabeth smiles, "even the

streets are very green."

Years of varied work, from kitchens

to textiles, had built a rich life for

Elizabeth. Her journey began in

wartime Britain, shaping her

resilience through the tough

post-war years.

The key for Elizabeth is the

balance. Independence is

preserved while support is

readily available. Affordability

was crucial, and Doutta Galla

ticked all the boxes.

"Everything's within walking

distance," she shares, referring

to the convenient location near

shops and her frequently visited

Clocktower Theatre.

Elizabeth’s move wasn't just

practical; it was about

embracing a new chapter with

dignity and grace, surrounded

by a supportive community. "I'm

so glad I made this decision,"

Elizabeth concludes. "It's a

lovely place to live."

For Elizabeth, the decision to

embrace retirement living wasn't

impulsive.

Seeking stability, she arrived in

Australia in the 1950s, finding

work and eventually a small

haven in West Brunswick.

Elizabeth's life was built on

hard work, often physical.

Independence, a value instilled

young, was paramount.

Marriage, after initial

hesitation, brought

companionship with a man she

met at a friend's party.

"We had a little house in West

Brunswick," Elizabeth

reminisces. "Not much, but it

was home." Sadly, her

husband's passing left her

facing her later years alone.

Then with age came health

concerns. Unstable on her feet,

a change was needed.

Call us on 0407 367 118 or email admissions@dgas.org.au to book a tour of Queens Park Retirement Living

Grantham Green Home resident Antinina

and her husband enjoying Valentines Day

festivities earlier this year

With a background spanning

the vibrant restaurants of

England to the bustling

kitchens of corporate caterer

BaxterStorey, James’s journey

is one of passion and

adaptability. Now, in service of

aged care cuisine, he crafts

menus tailored to the needs

and preferences of the elderly

residents.

One of the pivotal aspects of

James’s culinary approach in

aged care revolves around

IDDSI, or the International

Dysphagia Diet Standardisation

Initiative.

At Doutta Galla Aged Care’s Avondale

Heights Home, Chef James Erskine-Nartey

brings nearly two decades of culinary

expertise to the table.

This framework categorises

food and drink textures into

different levels, ensuring safety

and ease of eating for

individuals with dysphagia, a

swallowing disorder common

among the elderly. From easy-

to-chew to pureed options,

James navigates these levels

to ensure each meal is not only

delicious, but also accessible.

Mindful of resident satisfaction,

James supports a bi-monthly

Food Focus Group where

residents actively participate in

shaping the menu. “It’s just

time to talk and tell us if

they’re happy with the food or

not,” he explains.

This collaborative approach

ensures that resident

preferences are at the

forefront of menu planning,

fostering a sense of community

and inclusivity within the dining

experience. “So far, I’ve been

hitting the mark with

everyone’s tastes.” he notes,

balancing the flavours of both

Greek and Italian cuisines

which reflect the cultural

make-up of the home.

When it comes to crowd

favorites, James notes a

penchant for pastas among the

residents.

“It’s funny, I come from an

Italian background, so I’m

trying to get to know all the

taste there myself and share it

in my cooking.”

Beyond the kitchen, James is

passionate about fresh

produce, evident in his initiative

to cultivate herb and vegetable

gardens within the facility with

resident Alfred. “We’re trying

to get something fresh so we

can use that in the Home,” he

explains, highlighting a

commitment to quality and

sustainability.

Outside of work, James’

culinary interests extend to

grilling and smoking meats,

although the constraints of the

aged care setting limit these

options.

Nonetheless, his creativity and

adaptability shine through as

he continues to plan nourishing

meals that bring joy to the

residents of Doutta Galla

Avondale Heights. “There’ll be

a new menu coming out end of

this month” he says. “I’ve

listened to all the residents,

what they said, and hopefully

we can hit it off.”

(R) James in Avondale Heights’

veggie garden with resident Alfred

Doutta Galla

exceeds care

benchmarks

Doutta Galla has consistently demonstrated exceptional

performance in meeting national care standards. In the

fourth quarter of 2024, Doutta Galla achieved an impressive

average of 211.65 total care minutes and 40.81 RN care

minutes per resident per day. These figures represent

96.31% and 101.50% compliance against targets,

respectively, surpassing the national averages of 204.2 total

care minutes and 40.2 RN care minutes per resident per day.

Care minutes refer to the time staff, including RNs, spend

directly caring for residents. This encompasses activities

like administering medication, conducting health

assessments, and providing personal care. Higher care

minutes mean residents receive more personalised

attention, leading to better health outcomes and improved

quality of life.

Glenn Rappensberg, CEO of Doutta Galla Aged Services and

a former nurse, emphasises the significance of this

achievement: “Having RNs available 24/7 is a game-changer

for aged care. Doutta Galla’s ability to surpass national

benchmarks demonstrates our dedication to providing top-

quality care for our residents.”

At the core of Australia’s aged care system, registered nurses (RNs)

play a vital role in delivering high-quality aged care. The recent Aged

Care Royal Commission highlighted the need for increased staffing

and better support for aged care workers.

In this context, Doutta Galla Aged Services stands out as a beacon of

care excellence.

Schmierer also highlights the

importance of coordination and

collaboration: “Registered

Nurses liaise and collaborate

with GPs, allied health, and

other specialties, so our

residents receive best practice,

coordinated and integrated

care. It is envisaged that there

will be fewer resident transfers

to hospital due to the

Registered Nurse’s timely

assessment and intervention in

those with a declining health

status.”

The StewartBrown Aged Care

Financial Performance Survey

Participants Report (March

2024) further underscores the

value of RNs in aged care

settings. Facilities with higher

RN staffing levels generally

show better care outcomes and

resident satisfaction.

“The presence of skilled

nurses in aged care homes is

indispensable,” says

Rappensberg. “They are at the

forefront of providing

exceptional care, ensuring that

our residents live with dignity

and comfort.”

One of the most significant

changes following the Royal

Commission’s

recommendations is the

introduction of 24/7 RN

coverage in aged care homes.

As of July 2024, approximately

92% of aged care homes report

having an RN on-site around

the clock, up from 86% the

previous year. This ensures

residents receive professional

medical attention whenever

needed, enhancing their overall

care and well-being.

“The increase in care minutes

directly enhances the well-

being of our residents,” says

Rappensberg. “It means more

personalised attention and

better health outcomes. These

improvements are vital for

addressing the complex health

needs of aged care residents,

many of whom require regular

medical assessments and

interventions.”

Claire Schmierer, Executive

Manager of Clinical

Governance at Doutta Galla,

adds, “Our highly skilled

registered nurses supervise

newer graduates and other

direct and non-direct care

staff, ensuring ‘out-of-hours’

care and service are equal to

those provided during regular

business hours.”

We're proud to share the

progress of our "My Voice

Matters" Consumer Advisory

Groups across our eight Homes.

Informed by the Royal

Commission into Aged Care

Quality and Safety to ensure an

industry-wide mechanism to

foster dialogue and empower

residents, our rollout of the

"My Voice Matters" initiative

stands as a testament to

Doutta Galla’s dedication to

resident-centred care.

Hearing our residents loud and clear

The insights gathered from our

initial pilot have been

instrumental in shaping the

framework and processes for

subsequent groups.

Since November, we have seen

the formation of groups across

all eight Homes, with residents

taking the lead in representing

their communities.

The work continues with Board

Members attending the

meetings to ensure residents

have a clear line to

communicate their issues to

the highest levels of the

organisation.

Some of the notable outcomes

across the Homes have

included new electronic menu

boards, the introduction of

weekend activity programs,

and the creation of vegetable

garden beds for residents.

Board Member Kirstin Fox listening in to residents at Footscray.

Since commencing in 2023 at

our Lynch’s Bridge Home, our

dedicated resident committee

members and Home Managers

have been working together to

amplify resident voices and

enhance our services.

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