amana life no 46

Keeping you informed of AmAnA Living news, views And events no 46 winter 2013

amanaliving.com.au

Satisfaction RisesAt Amana Living, we aim not just to provide quality care and services, but to excel at doing this. That’s why we invite and act on feedback that helps us to improve continually. CEO Ray Glickman shares results from the latest Customer Satisfaction Survey.

Our sixth Customer Satisfaction Survey, conducted in 2012, has brought some pleasing results. An overall satisfaction rating of almost 97% tells us we’re doing well, and that staff deserve a pat on the back.

However, there is room for improvement, and we are now working on priorities and actions for the next two to three years, to achieve an even better result next time.

All our residents and clients, or their representatives, were invited to complete the survey. We asked questions about 56 aspects of our care and services – from the care provided by our staff, to resident involvement in activities, to social and spiritual support.

The improvement process begins with individual results being passed on to each of our facilities, showing how they compare to others and to the results they achieved in our 2010 survey.

When we analyse the results, we don’t just look at how satisfied our respondents are; we also look at what’s important to them. This helps us to make meaningful decisions when it comes to taking action. Any area that scores low on satisfaction and high on importance becomes an area for improvement. We then monitor those areas with mini surveys and compare scores over time.

For example, in 2010 our residents told us that it is particularly important to

ContentsTalking about Your Generation ............2

Reflections on Sundowner ...................3

Remote Consultations Improve Access ............4

Enriching Art ................4

Coming Soon … Our New Front Door ......4

It’s Amazing What 50 Can Do! ...................5

Business Class Meals at Home .......................5

Wii World Cup Goes National ...............6

Staying out of Hospital ...6

Excellence in Care .........7

What to Do? .................8

Recognising Our Volunteers ....................8

100? No Big Deal for Nellie ......................9

Keeping Couples Together ......................9

Staff Profile ................10

Hospital Chief Joins Board ................11

Bequest to Grow Dementia Service ........11

A publication of AMANA LIVING 541 Hay Street, Subiaco WA 6008P 1300 26 26 26 F (08) 9388 3142 ABN 45 582 438 433

AmAnA Life

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Maurice and Leonie Ackley are among Amana Living’s greatest fans, recently starring in a new video promoting our housing. As residents at Moline Villagem, Karrinyup, they enjoy the security, social life, facilities, location and being able to keep a pet – their new puppy, Chloe. “We fell in love with the villa because it is beautifully designed, comfortable and easy to live in,” said Leonie. “We’re very happy.”

Keeping you informed of AmAnA Living news, views And eventsAmAnA Life

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them to be involved in weekend and evening activities, but they felt this aspect of their lives wasn’t receiving enough attention. We drilled down to look at the results in this area for each centre and the comments made by individual respondents before devising strategies to improve.

Other challenges we set ourselves after analysing the 2010 survey were to maintain the satisfaction with staff, to place a strong emphasis on involvement and feedback, and to continue the focus on our meals service.

We saw an improvement in satisfaction in all but one of these areas, and an overall improvement in most centres that were scoring below average satisfaction (the average being 94.6%), and we intend to keep on improving in all these areas and centres.

One of the most telling results is the percentage of our respondents who would recommend us to others: this is up by 1% since 2010, at 95%.

An exceptional result came in from our Residential Care sites. At six of the 15 sites, 99% of respondents were ‘satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’ with the care and services (the average being 96%). This result included our dementia-specific centres – a continued focus for Amana Living.

Among our Housing (independent living) residents, 95.7% said they were satisfied or very satisfied, especially with the homes they live in and the village environment.

On the other hand, the survey told us that all our residents need more opportunities to socialise and be involved. We are already working on this through our Enrichment Program, which has led to an increase in satisfaction since 2010.

Home Care clients who attend our dementia-specific day clubs were particularly happy, with a 98.9% satisfaction rate, the average for Home Care being 94.8%. For those receiving services at home, care by staff brought the highest result, with room for improvement in social support and consistency of care. Strategies will now be put in place to address these concerns.

Thanks to all who took the trouble to complete the survey, which enables us to focus our energies on continual improvement in areas that are important to you.

Ray Glickman, CEO

Talking about Your GenerationDuring May, CEO Ray Glickman had the opportunity to speak publicly to both industry and general audiences in WA about aged care issues.

In a conference presentation on 9 May, Ray gave a thought-provoking presentation on the contribution made by older people to society – and what might happen if they went on strike!

The keynote speech at ‘Talkin’ About Your Generation’, a two-day conference presented by Aged & Community Services WA and Alzheimer’s Australia WA, was a ‘mockumentary’ called Geriatric Strike!

The downtrodden and neglected older folk of Australia can take only so much before they decide to down tools, withdraw their capital and send the grandchildren back home. Ray identified the assets and contributions that older people make to society, and demonstrated what might happen if they weren’t there, supporting the system for the overall social good.

“My aim is to provoke people into linking arms with our older people in solidarity, until the Government sits up and takes notice,” said Ray.

The following week, he was invited to participate in a weeklong series on 720 ABC morning radio, which brought together the stories of older people and those with the power to influence their wellbeing.

Host John McGlue presented talkback each morning on a different aspect of aged care. Ray was interviewed on the final day, fielding questions on a variety of issues alongside Greg Mahney from Advocare, an advocacy service for older people.

We hope these opportunities have helped to give our older people a louder voice and greater recognition of the contribution they make and the services they deserve.

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Reflections on SundownerIn 1970, a hotel was built on Stirling Highway, fondly remembered by many as ‘the Sundowner’. Four years later, Anglican Homes (now Amana Living) began to transform the property into a many-faceted aged care and community facility.

In April this year, Amana Living, along with many former residents and others with connections to this historic site, joined together to mark the imminent closure of the Sundowner Hostel and Village.

When Anglican Homes bought Sundowner, the intention of the facility was ‘to promote personal self-respect, support greater independence and more purpose in life for all participants’.

It certainly achieved that, developing a thriving residential community, plus a workshop for people with disabilities, and later on, a community Painting Group, and the popular Sundowner Club (under-50s need not apply). Facilities included a chapel, library, craft area, coffee shop, doctor’s surgery, podiatry clinic, hairdresser and better disabled access – as well as two bars retained from the original hotel.

The site was also home to Amana Living headquarters until the Subiaco office opened in 2010, and the Sundowner Centre still houses our Home Care office and Information and Service Centre. These areas will remain open for the foreseeable future as they are not affected detrimentally by the deterioration of the building.

Continuing remedial works have been carried out to keep the Hostel functioning for as long as possible, and Amana Living had hoped to maintain the building for a few more years while planning for the future. However, irresolvable problems meant that the facility could no longer provide the standard of accommodation we would want for our residents, and the decision to close was brought forward.

CEO Ray Glickman said: “Amana Living remains committed to excellence in care. That’s why we felt it was in the best interests of our residents to close the site and help them find more suitable accommodation.”

Amana Living staff have helped residents find new homes that fit their needs as closely as possible, and care staff have received assistance in finding alternative, comparable positions within the organisation.

“We value all our staff highly and appreciate their dedication to caring for residents at Sundowner,” said COO Suzi Cowcher. “The decision to close is a reflection of the standard of the buildings, not the care residents receive.

“There are no firm plans for the site, as closure has come sooner than expected,” she added. “Amana Living is now moving forward in considering the various options.”

At Reflections on Sundowner, held at sundown on Tuesday 23 April, Chairman Steve Scudamore said: “This celebration is not just about one door closing; it is also about another opening up. The Sundowner site remains at the centre of Amana Living’s planning for the future and the Board and senior staff will be giving careful consideration as to how best to use the Sundowner site to open a new and glorious chapter in Amana Living’s history.”

The event was attended by around 100 former staff, residents and others with connections to the site. After a deconsecration service in the Chapel, presided over by the Most Reverend Roger Herft, Archbishop of Perth, former Board Member Brenda Mazzuchelli and others shared their personal memories of Sundowner.

Chief Operating Officer Suzi Cowcher (left) with former Board Member Brenda Mazzuchelli and former Chairman Peter Dawes.

Sundowner Centre Operations Manager Deborah Worth (left) and Care Manager Chris Smith with CEO Ray Glickman.


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Coming Soon…Our New Front DoorFor some time now, we at Amana Living have recognised that it is not easy navigating aged and community services. In fact it’s a bit of a maze – particularly if you don’t know what you need to know!

Even for an organisation like Amana Living, which offers a comprehensive range of services, these can appear to be somewhat disconnected and less customer focused than we would like.

“To help people find their way, we are running a project to rejuvenate all aspects of service entry into Amana Living’s housing and care options,” said Chief Operating Officer Suzi Cowcher.

“To begin with, we have been examining how people connect with us online, by phone and face to face, our site tours, and our approach to sales of retirement living villas and apartments.

“We have also been grappling with how to assist people to plan ahead from the financial, wellness and social perspectives.

“We are now in the throes of designing an integrated ‘front door’ to Amana Living. This means that when people contact us, they may not know what they are looking for, but they can be assured that we will make a potentially confusing process as seamless and simple as possible.”

The objective is to create an even more informative, positive and customer focused experience, via all our communication channels.

Over the coming months you will begin to see significant changes, including a new, easy-to-navigate online environment reflecting the new approach. Soon it will be much easier to find out what services and housing best suit each individual, and to access planning tools to help prepare for, and really live, the second half of life.

We will run an update on this project in our next newsletter.

Welcome to

Amana Living is installing Telehealth equipment into four of our larger Residential Care facilities.

Telehealth, a program funded by the Department of Health and Ageing, aims to improve access to medical services for people who have difficulty getting to a specialist. Instead, the appointment takes place via a video conferencing link.

A general practitioner or nurse practitioner treating a resident will be able to refer them to a specialist for a consultation using video conferencing technology. The GP

or nurse can also be with the resident during the Telehealth consultation to provide clinical support.

A range of specialists can participate in Telehealth, including consultant physicians and psychiatrists, medical practitioners, and nurse practitioners. A system is in place to ensure health records are shared in a secure manner.

The first Amana Living facilities to enjoy the convenience of Telehealth are Lady McCusker, St George’s, Edward Collick and Peter Arney Homes.

Remote Consultations Improve Access

In July 2012, the inaugural Project Picasso Exhibition of works by Amana Living residents and clients living with dementia was a huge success – raising over $1500 from the sale of artworks, which is helping to fund this year’s program.

Once again, residents and clients with dementia will be producing artworks with the help of staff and volunteers. Many will be brought together for an exhibition on 11, 12 and 13 July from 10.00am to 12.00 noon, at Christ Church Grammar School.

Artworks will be available for sale by donation. Don’t miss it!

Enriching Art


In May, 50 over-60s – the oldest over 90 – banded together to pull a 13-tonne truck through Murray Street Mall with a banner on the side declaring: It’s Amazing What 50 Can Do!

The staged media event marked the start of a month-long Give 50 campaign, supported by 6PR, to raise funds for iPad Connect – Amana Living’s next enrichment project.

During a trial project, staff explored the potential of iPads to connect residents and clients with others through conversation, with themselves through sensory activities, or with their original cultures, languages and histories.

“Older people need so much more than physical care – they need to stay connected with the world and people around them,” said CEO Ray Glickman. “Amana Living places an emphasis on enriching the lives of our residents and clients, so that they can remain as healthy and active as possible, physically and mentally.

“With this in mind, we decided to carry out an experiment, to see whether iPads could be useful tools in reconnecting older people in ways that traditional activities can’t.

“Initial results were very encouraging, and we now see great value in expanding this initiative into a wider program with more comprehensive measurements in place to gauge success.”

iPad Connect will now be launched as a pilot project involving student interns – another aspect of connection arising from the project. Youngsters who have grown up with iPads will have the chance to share their expertise, while learning about the lives and skills of older people.

Amana Living doesn’t receive government support for its Enrichment Program, and so funds are being raised to run the pilot project in 2014. Throughout June, Amana Living and 6PR appealed to the Perth community to give 50c when they buy a coffee at a Caffissimo cafe, to help raise $50,000 for the exciting new project.

To draw attention to the cause, Amana Living invited 50 older people – almost all of them residents at Amana Living residential care centres or retirement villages – to pull the 13-tonne truck. The event was supported by 6PR, Chess Moving, Proactive Advertising, Caffissimo and the City of Perth.

Business Class Meals at HomeLucky residents at Amana Living’s Moline Village are the first to sample a new meals service that replicates Business Class catering.

Amana Living’s catering business, Total Catering Solutions, is now supplying premium quality meals to Independent Living and Extra Service residents, which are based on their experience in producing high end airline meals.

“We have found that many people looking to move into independent living, particularly in our lease-for-life villages, want a fuller service all round,” said Maria Davison, GM Home Care and Housing. “We have responded to demand by providing what we believe is a quality catering service.”

The service was launched in April and is now up and running at Moline Village in Karrinyup, much to the delight of residents.

“The meal service was great and the meal was very satisfying,” said Mrs Verna Day after sampling her first Business Class style meal at Moline Village.

Residents can order any combination of breakfast, lunch and dinner two days in advance, and the meals can be delivered to their door, ready for the oven, or served in the dining room by a staff member. As the service is provided at cost, it isn’t expensive.

“So far, the service is getting very positive feedback,” said Maria Davison. “We are therefore looking to extend it to other Amana Living villages.

Rona Panos, aged almost-90, a resident at Amana Living Wearne Village, added her muscle power to the stunt, which attracted media attention to the cause. She is pictured with Jan Fairclough, OTA at Amana Living Moline Hostel.

Pulling the truck in Murray Street Mall – the 50 participants caused quite a stir!

It’s Amazing What 50 Can Do!


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Registrations open in July for the fourth annual Amana Living Wii World Cup – a virtual bowling competition among aged care and retirement living facilities.

The Wii World Cup has proved so popular that a number of other organisations are now putting up teams. The games are open to all aged care centres and retirement living villages that can source a Wii and Wii Sports Resort game, pull together a team of around eight participants, and coach them to become the world’s greatest over-55 virtual ten-pin bowling crew!

“This is a great way to get older people up, moving, excited, socialising and generally having fun,” said Amana Living Enrichment Coach Kylie Mathieson.

“As part of a wider Enrichment Program at Amana Living, it has been extremely successful, attracting support from the Department of Sport and Recreation last year, who provided an ‘Exergaming’ officer to assist staff and residents at our sites.”

Launched with a Lotterywest-funded pilot program in 2010, the initiative is driven by Amana Living’s Enrichment Coach, Kylie Mathieson.

Following the pilot, Kylie refined the rules to create a sustainable competition with a resource kit for each team. Participants are assisted by staff, who send their team’s score to Kylie each week by SMS. A scoreboard is kept and circulated back to teams throughout the two-month season.

By 2012, 38 teams were competing, totalling around 300 seniors getting up and active. Along with 25 of Amana Living’s care facilities and retirement living villages, several

other teams had joined in: eight from Brightwater Care Group and three from Southern Cross Care in WA, one from Chesalon in Victoria and one from Carrington Aged Care in New South Wales.

Amana Living is now looking for a sponsor to help sustain and grow the initiative even further, and/or to provide cash prizes for the facilities putting up the winning teams. Prizes are awarded in three divisions – Residential Care, Day Clubs and Retirement Living – at the conclusion of the games, which take place during September and October.

To register a team for the 2013 Wii World Cup, or to discuss sponsorship, please contact Kylie Mathieson:

[email protected](08) 9424 6335

Staying out of HospitalA report released early this year revealed that more than three-quarters of injury hospitalisations for people aged 65 and over occur as the result of a fall.

According to Amana Living’s Nurse Practitioner, Pam Deans, hospital stays often lead to deterioration in general health, and it is challenging for older people to return to their previous state of health once this has happened.

“You could say that one thing leads to another, with reduced mobility from one accident leading to potential for another,” said Pam. “Older people lose their confidence quickly after an accident such as a fall, and this in turn reduces their quality of life and increases their vulnerability.”

Amana Living is collaborating with other aged care organisations, supported by the Wicking Trust, on a study that aims to improve quality of life for people living in residential care by providing care co-ordination that can ultimately prevent unnecessary hospitalisations.

The study’s chief investigator is Dr Glenn Arendt, Senior Lecturer, UWA, and Emergency Department Consultant at Royal Perth Hospital. Dr Arendt’s team offers support and upskilling for staff taking part in the project.

Potential benefits for both residents and staff at Amana Living are significant, as the team develops care plans that manage actual and potential health problems before they lead to hospitalisation.

A spin-off from the project is the opportunity for Pam Deans, who is coordinating Amana Living’s participation, to spend time upskilling our nurses during the study, with findings from the project informing practice at all Amana Living sites. This includes a resource folder developed by Dr Arendt’s team with assistance from participating nurse practitioners and palliative care experts. This resource has care pathways which can be used by nurses in assessment and delivery of care.

The project commenced in May 2012 and is scheduled to run until September 2014.

Wii World Cup Goes National

Amana Living resident Margaret Platt enjoys a triumphant moment during the Wii World Cup.


Excellence in CareAmana Living topped the Employee category and won two high commendations at this year’s ACSWA (Aged & Community Services WA) ‘Excellence in Care’ Awards.

WINNER in the Employee Category: Rev’d Deborah Joyce

Deborah Joyce provides pastoral care to residents of five Amana Living facilities, to 690 clients who receive Amana Living Home Care services, to families and to staff. She is also coordinator and trainer for our Volunteer Pastoral Care program.

As a result of her previous experience in mental health in a hospital environment, Deborah has an understanding of complex behaviours, support for end-of-life situations and caring for people through difficult times.

Deborah has gained a reputation at Amana Living as a diligent and caring person, who will always go the extra mile, no matter what the situation.

High Commendation in the Volunteer Category: Gary Heatly

For 18 years, 71-year-old Gary Heatly has been serenading the residents of Amana Living’s Thomas Scott Hostel every week. He first started singing when his wife had cancer and they joined a choir together to ease her breathing difficulties.

“Just before she died, my wife asked me to keep singing,” said Gary.

He started singing at Thomas Scott Hostel and other venues with a group but eventually decided to go solo. Now Gary averages 250 shows a year at seniors’ centres, residential care facilities, day clubs and at Alzheimer’s Australia events, sometimes performing as many as three times in one day.

If he is paid for a performance, Gary donates it all to Armadale Home Help. Over eight years he raised more than $27,000.

High Commendation in the New Projects Category: Life Stories

We reported on the Life Stories Project in the last issue of Amana Life. The project, which involves researching and recording the life stories of people living with dementia and embedding this into care planning, is attracting attention within the aged care industry.

“The outcomes of this project will feed into our three-day dementia care training package for all staff,” said Amana Living Dementia Specialist Louise Jones.

“The first six months have been very rewarding, laying the foundations for developing an integrated approach to the use and development of life stories. This initiative will play a significant role in offering truly individualised care to people living their second half of life in the presence of dementia.”

Congratulations to Louise, Gary and Deb, whose dedication has been deservedly recognised by the ACSWA judges.

Amana Living Chaplain Deborah Joyce with Sarah Baldwin, Business Development Manager of Awards Sponsor, Health Super.

Amana Living Dementia Specialist Louise Jones (centre) with the other ‘New Projects’ Finalists, and Peter Psuj, Senior Account Executive from category sponsor Western United Financial Services.


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A message from our Senior Chaplain, the Reverend David Atkinson

Right decisions generally mean things work well – and we are grateful. Then again, right decisions are not always the easiest ones! Some choices take us along hard paths with great difficulties and costs. We may wish we had never taken that decision – but it was right!

Some wrong decisions start off being easy – that is why we made them – but turn out to be the opposite. Some wrong decisions are not recognised as such until many years later.

Sometimes we have a good sense about where we are going in life, and sometimes we are quite lost or uncertain about life in general or about a particular matter. We may be filled with expectation and excitement or with foreboding and pessimism. Then again it may be that we do not even bother to think about our direction.

There are two pictures on the wall of the Chaplaincy Office. Set above a landscape is a massive hand pointing into the distance. Below are figures of people trying by ropes attached to the fingers of the hand to change its direction but clearly they are not able.

It does not take much imagination to get the message. God is pointing to something and the people for whom he is concerned are not even looking but trying to direct his attention to their purpose. It does not mean of course that God is not loving and does not hear us in our need when we make wrong decisions and are heading down the wrong roads. That is the whole point of the Gospel. God is the one who hears, forgives and saves despite all.

The second picture is of the same people, the same hand pointing to the distance but with the people relaxed, upon the hand, looking at where it is pointing. The caption reads: “…faith is not getting God to give his attention to what we are focusing on but giving our attention to what he is focusing on”.

We don’t get it right all the time – in other words, we don’t always know where the hand is pointing – but when it is our desire to know, we are more likely to get it right.

What to Do?On Wednesday 8 May, around 80 of our volunteers gathered at Karalee Tavern in Como for morning tea and a movie at Cygnet Cinema – Amana Living’s way of saying thanks for making such a difference to the lives of our residents and clients.

Recognising our Volunteers

Heather, Hale Hostel and Eddi, Parry Hostel.

Lynda, Frederick Guest and Lefroy Hostels.

Linda and Soma, St George’s Home.

Margot and Christine, Dorothy Genders Hostel, with Ken, Moline Hostel.

Peta, Julie, Jean and Kath, Wearne Home.

Una, Irena and Jetti, Frederick Guest Hostel.


Turning 100 used to be something to shout about – but with the number of centenarians in Australia topping 4,250 late last year, the club isn’t quite as exclusive as it used to be. In fact, if Amana Living resident, Nellie Whitby, is anything to go by, 100 is arguably the new 70!

What’s remarkable about Nellie is that she continues to live an independent life at Wearne Village in Mandurah, despite turning 100 on Friday 26 April.

What’s even more surprising is that she chooses to live in a first floor unit – with stair access only – and until only a few years ago, Nellie says she was striding over to the local Woolworths. Could this be the secret to her good health and longevity?

Village residents held a morning tea to celebrate with Nellie and her family.

Other residents who have joined the centenarian club recently are Mrs Beryl Golding, a resident at Moline Hostel in Karrinyup, who celebrated her special day on Wednesday 8 May. Beryl refused to let anyone make a fuss, and even turned down her message from the Queen!

Mrs Heather Stewart, a resident at Frederick Guest Village, turned 100 on Monday 25 February. Like Nellie, Heather continues to live independently and is keeping well.

CEO Ray Glickman makes a point of sending his personal birthday wishes to all residents turning 100. Amana Life sends additional good wishes to Nellie, Beryl, Heather and all 2013 centenarians!

100? No Big Deal for Nellie

As couples age, many face separation due to their differing care needs. Not so for one couple, who are still together after 70 years of marriage, despite one living with dementia.

When Phyllis Hodges was hit by a car while out walking, it was ‘touch and go’ as to whether she would survive her injuries, and she was hospitalised for three months. During this time, her husband John, who lives with dementia, was left without a carer, and so he moved into residential care at Amana Living’s Lesmurdie facility (Parry House).

Thankfully, Phyllis made a good recovery and, after being discharged, her care needs were assessed. It was determined that she required low level care, and so she was also accepted into Parry House.

“Amana Living takes the needs of couples seriously, and whenever possible, we will help them to stay together in their own home or accommodate them at the same residential site,” said CEO Ray Glickman.

“Phyllis’s son was keen for her to be admitted to Amana Living’s Lesmurdie facility to be close to her husband after the trauma of the car accident. Her care needs are few, but emotionally she is benefiting from being with John.”

Amana Living offers both residential care and independent living units on many of its sites, allowing couples to be accommodated at the same location, if space is available, whatever their care needs might be.

Alternatively, couples may take advantage of the organisation’s range of home care supports so that they can continue to live well in their own homes.

John and Phyllis Hodges are just one example of a couple who are staying together, despite the onset of dementia. The couple celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary with family at Parry House on Wednesday 23 January.

Keeping Couples Together

Nellie Whitby celebrated her 100th with friends and family at Wearne Village.

John and Phyllis Hodges – staying together at Parry Hostel.


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Change brings satisfied clients and residents

Louise Hancock was appointed to the newly created position of Manager, Dementia and Restorative Services in April this year to lead and develop Amana Living’s allied health, dementia and restorative services. Amana Life talked to Louise about her new role.

Louise, can you describe the job you do at Amana Living?

I provide leadership and professional support for Amana Living’s allied health services – that includes occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, physiotherapists, physiotherapy assistants and podiatry. I also lead our dementia care team and manage the three day clubs.

The day clubs provide person-centred lifestyle, pain management, rehabilitation and dementia services programs to help residents, and clients living in the community, to enjoy a satisfying lifestyle.

The lifestyle program aims for activities that are meaningful to the individual and will uplift them, be emotionally and spiritually rewarding, and help them to be as physically active as possible.

I am currently reviewing our allied health and dementia services and in doing so I’m looking for ways to continually improve on what we do and how we do it. My role is to look for improvements to systems and programs, and use best practice evidence to set up new services and grow existing ones.

Amana Living provides a range of lifestyle programs catered to meet the needs of residents and clients, including a range of person-centred dementia and restorative programs. However, we are always looking for ways to provide better occupational therapy and physiotherapy and other allied health services.

The work I do in this space will build on Amana Living’s person-centred approach. This means we learn as much as we can about the individual, so that what we do with them fits as closely as possible with their personal taste, style, life history and preferences.

What do you like about your work?

I love the interaction with people. I am a physiotherapist by profession and have worked as an allied health manager for the last 15 years. Lifestyle and rehabilitation programs make a difference to people, and I find that very satisfying.

I am really enjoying the culture at Amana Living too. The leadership team is a very empowering group. They really walk the talk of their mission and values, demonstrating them in the way they do things, and I see that flowing through to staff.

What are the challenges?

To meet the changing needs of residents and clients we need to be agile and receptive to change. This may mean working differently, working smarter and working with other groups and organisations to determine the best way forward. This is especially important as we grow existing services and develop new programs involving people living with dementia and their families.

What are the rewards?

The rewards are mostly at the emotional level, seeing people having fun and enjoying their lifestyle. Smiles on residents’, clients’ and staff faces always motivate me.

What is the achievement you are proudest of, in your career so far?

In all my jobs, it’s been the change I have achieved, introducing new systems and new ways of doing things, with satisfied clients and residents at the end of it.

I have introduced change at Blue Care in Queensland, where I worked for six years, and again at Regis day therapy centres in Perth, where I worked for four years before coming to Amana Living.

Staff Profile

Louise Hancock.


A recent bequest will help Amana Living to expand its unique, award-winning McCusker Nurse Service, which aims to reduce the stress for people caring for someone with dementia.

As there is no government funding available to support the service, Amana Living seeks to source funds privately.

The McCusker Charitable Foundation generously funded the first McCusker Nurse, and the service was launched in June 2011. The take-up was far greater than expected, with the target of 100 clients within a year being reached in just five months. Since then, demand has continued to grow, and more nurses are desperately needed.

Now a bequest made to the Amana Living Anglican Foundation, to be used to assist people with dementia, will help Amana Living to expand the service with the addition of a second nurse.

“The McCusker Nurse Service fills a vacuum where there is a huge and growing community need,” said Amana Living GM Clinical Services, Zenith Zeeman.

“We have proven the value of the McCusker Nurse and are grateful for this timely bequest which will help us to extend the service to more people. This shows the power of bequests – a way to leave a lasting legacy that can make a real difference to the lives of others.”

The McCusker Nurse Service is offered free to carers of those living with dementia. It offers them a single point of contact with a dementia expert, to help them understand the condition and navigate the support options available to them at any stage in the illness.

Not everyone is in a position to make a significant bequest; however, any amount can make a difference to the lives of our residents and clients.

If you’d like to include a bequest to the Amana Living Anglican Foundation in your will, please talk to your legal adviser. If you would like to discuss how Amana Living could apply a gift to enrich the lives of people in the second half of life, please call Jane Hammond on (08) 9424 6330 or [email protected]

Hospital Chief Joins BoardDr Robyn Lawrence, Executive Director of Sir Charles Gairdner and Osborne Park Hospitals, has been welcomed onto the Board of Amana Living.

Dr Lawrence is highly respected for her experience and innovation in health systems and reform.

“We are thrilled to welcome someone with the calibre of Dr Lawrence to the Amana Living Board, and very much look forward to working with her,” said Chairman Steve Scudamore.

“Amana Living has grown considerably with Mr Ray Glickman at the helm and the support of our highly skilled Board Members. However, we are living in challenging times, and need to continue to innovate through change. Dr Lawrence’s expertise and energy will be invaluable to that process.”

Dr Robyn Lawrence MBBS MBA FRACMA GAICD trained at the University of Western Australia and worked as a clinician at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital before commencing training in Medical Administration in 1997. She was awarded a Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators (FRACMA) in 2003.

Prior to her current position, she was the Executive Director of Innovation and Health System Reform within the WA Department of Health. In this role she had oversight of all major system reform initiatives in WA, including elective surgery, acute demand (4 Hour Rule Program) and ambulatory care, and was WA’s representative on the Health Policy Priorities Principal

Committee. This role also had responsibility for the Aged Care Directorate in WA Health.

“I was honoured to be invited to join the Amana Living Board, a group of individuals who are not only highly skilled in their areas of expertise, but also truly dedicated to making the world a better place for older people,” said Dr Lawrence.

“I am very much looking forward to working alongside them and the Amana Living Executive in developing the strategies that will help the organisation’s vision for the future of aged care to be realised.”

Bequest to Grow Dementia Service

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Return this slip with your donation to Amana Living Anglican Foundation, PO Box 933, Subiaco WA 6904. Donations of $2 and above are tax deductible. Thank you!

Give 50 to iPad Connect

Give 50 to help us raise $50,000 – whether it be 50c or $50, your 50 can make a world of difference to our residents!

iPad Connect is an exciting project connecting older people with a fascinating virtual world.

Amana Living has seen amazing results from using iPads with residents. They can help older people with dementia and other cognitive difficulties, by connecting them in new ways with carers, families, and their own stories and cultures.

iPad Connect is a new Enrichment Project, set to expand across all our residential care sites in early 2014.

We don’t receive government funding for activities that go beyond quality care to help people live a rewarding and meaningful life. So we need your help.

To Give 50 now – or any other amount …

1. visit www.amanaliving.com.au and look for the donation tab under ‘All About Us’,2. fill out and return the form below to donate by credit card or cheque (made out to the Amana Living Anglican Foundation), OR3. call us to make a credit card donation by phone: (08) 9424 6800.

Name .................................................................................................

Address ..............................................................................................

............................................................... P/Code ..............................

Email ..................................................................................................

Telephone ...........................................................................................


Amount ......................................... Expiry date ..................................

Cardholder’s Name ...............................................................................

Signature ....................................................................................................................................................


Give 50 to iPad Connect

Give 50 to help us raise $50,000 – whether it be 50c or $50, your 50 can make a world of difference to our residents!

iPad Connect is an exciting project connecting older people with a fascinating virtual world.

Amana Living has seen amazing results from using iPads with residents. They can help older people with dementia and other cognitive difficulties, by connecting them in new ways with carers, families, and their own stories and cultures.

iPad Connect is a new Enrichment Project, set to expand across all our residential care sites in early 2014.

We don’t receive government funding for activities that go beyond quality care to help people live a rewarding and meaningful life. So we need your help.

To Give 50 now – or any other amount …

1. visit www.amanaliving.com.au and look for the donation tab under ‘All About Us’,2. fill out and return the form below to donate by credit card or cheque (made out to the Amana Living Anglican Foundation), OR3. call us to make a credit card donation by phone: (08) 9424 6800.

Name .................................................................................................

Address ..............................................................................................

............................................................... P/Code ..............................

Email ..................................................................................................

Telephone ...........................................................................................


Amount ......................................... Expiry date ..................................

Cardholder’s Name ...............................................................................

Signature ....................................................................................................................................................


amana life no 46

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