Childers aged care facilities unique approach improving quality of life

A Bundaberg region aged care centre’s unique approach to its residents is proving to be a boon for all involved, with the latest challenge involving a town-wide scavenger hunt.

Forest View Childers has launched their hide-and-seek rock program across Childers, Buxton and Cordalba.

A unique approach to aged care living is proving successful for a Childers aged care facility, the latest piece of which is a novel game of hide and seek.

Small rocks painted with colourful images by the residents have been hidden around Childers for locals to find and return to Forest View Childers in exchange for a coffee or hot chocolate voucher at its cafe, which is open to the public.

No rocks have been returned yet, but successful keen-eyed rock hunters are encouraged to make their way to Forest View and possibly meet with the artists themselves.

It was a part of the centre’s approach to care which CEO Julie Mayer said had resulted in reduced agitation, medication rates and boosted engagement for all residents, even those with higher level cognitive impairments.

“Typically in nursing homes, when someone is agitated they just give them medicine to calm them down,” said Ms Mayer said.

“We’re finding that by doing things the way we are people are not as distressed, and they are actively engaging with others.”

The facility has monthly open days which are themed and aim to engage the broader community which resulted in a clearer understanding of how to support its residents.

“The residents feel like their activities have a purpose,” Ms Mayer said.

Ms Mayer said the facility has a three pronged approach to supporting residents.

Small rocks painted with colourful images by the residents have been hidden around Childers for locals to find and return to Forest View Childers in exchange for a coffee or hot chocolate voucher at its cafe, which is open to the public.

“One is we look after our residents in our care facilities and we do activities that extend their capabilities,” she said.

“The second prong is we engage with the community for them to understand that the people who come into the aged care facility don’t come here to die, they come here to live the next chapter of their life.”

“The third prong is partnering with our community.”

Perhaps the most vital and alternative approach the facility took was not one of an aged care mentality, Ms Mayer said, but one of ability and disability.

“The way we achieve that is to recognise that on any given day a resident will have capability and they will have a lack of capability in certain areas, our role is to encourage them to achieve their capability whenever possible,” Ms Mayer said.

“We have lots of things that engage the community, and what we have found is that people who were frightened to come into aged care because ‘that’s where you go to die’ are now coming in to engage in activities, fun days, open days, so they feel comfortable here for when they do need to come in.”