Calvary Retirement Communities in Cowandilla | Medical and health

Calvary Retirement Communities

Locality: Cowandilla

Phone: +61 8 8159 7000

Address: 206 Sir Donald Bradman Drive 5033 Cowandilla, SA, Australia

Website: www.calvarycare.org.au/retirement

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25.01.2022 Congratulations to Professor Liz Lobb of Calvary Health Care Kogarah. Professor Lobb and her team of investigators, including researchers from Calvary’s Palliative and End of Life Care Research Institute at Calvary Health Care Bethlehem, Clare Holland House at Calvary Public Hospital Bruce and Calvary Mater Newcastle have been awarded a grant under the Medical Research Future Fund. This research will track the mental health outcomes and service needs of over 2,000 Australia...ns bereaved during the COVID-19 pandemic. Four discrete but linked studies will be conducted utilising mixed methodologies. Findings will inform the development of a National Bereavement Action Plan. Find out more at https://bit.ly/37FdHNR

25.01.2022 In good times and in bad, pastoral carers in Calvary’s hospitals, retirement communities and aged care services quietly go about their mission to care for patients’ and residents’ spiritual needs. It’s been especially challenging this year and never more important to find hope and meaning in daily life. The men and women in our pastoral care teams across the country are an important part of our holistic and interdisciplinary approach to care and during Pastoral Care Week (2...5-31 October) we celebrate their significant contribution. Glen Renton is an integral part of the care team at Calvary Ryde Retirement Community and shares a special connection with residents. It’s my job to make sure that their spiritual needs are met. I just want to make sure everyone’s okay, and they are enjoying life as they should. If I can make them smile for the day, I’ve done my job. You can read more about Glen’s story at https://bit.ly/2TkPcPg

24.01.2022 COVID-19 has called for flexibility and innovation in palliative care. Last Friday, Calvary Health Care Kogarah's Professor Liz Lobb, Professor of Palliative Care (Allied Health) and Deputy Chair of Calvary's Palliative and End of Life Care Research Institute joined a panel of experts including Dr Norman Swan and Professor Meera Agar, addressing the Parliamentary Friends of Palliative Care. Hosted by Palliative Care Australia, the discussion focused on COVID-19 and Palliative Care: Lessons and learnings to build back better. Watch the webcast at https://bit.ly/39Peu1o

20.01.2022 Today is Global Handwashing Day and this year’s theme, Hand Hygiene for All highlights the importance of handwashing. The COVID-19 pandemic provides a stark reminder that one of the most effective ways to stop the spread of viruses is also one of the simplest: hand hygiene, especially handwashing with soap and warm water for 20 seconds. Don’t forget to wash your hands today with soap and water to stop the spread of viruses.... #GlobalHandWashingDay #HandHygieneforAll

19.01.2022 During NAIDOC Week 2020 (8-15 November) celebrations are held across Australia each year to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, who have occupied and cared for this continent for over 65,000 years. NAIDOC originally stood for ‘National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee’. The 2020 NAIDOC Week theme Always Was, Always Will Be acknowledges that hundreds of Nations and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islan...der cultures covered this continent. All were managing the land - the biggest estate on earth - to sustainably provide for their future. As part of Calvary’s own journey of reconciliation, we commissioned Thomas Croft, a Barngarla man, born in Whyalla, South Australia, to create a design to remind us of the centrality of the importance of reconciliation, community and care. The image reminds us that we heal when we celebrate our First Peoples as a river offering life to our communities.

17.01.2022 Pupils from St Charles Primary School at Ryde put pen to paper recently to reach out and support residents at Calvary Ryde Retirement Community during the pandemic. Residents enjoyed reading the hundreds of letters, and one resident got to meet their caring young pen pal. Read all about it in The Catholic Weekly at https://bit.ly/3qlPjJu

17.01.2022 If you want to know the key to a long and happy marriage, best ask a loving couple who have been together for an incredible 64 years. Laurence and Margaret Lonergan celebrated their anniversary this month with champagne and lunch at home at Calvary St Joseph’s Retirement Community at Sandgate. There’s got to be compromise, offers Laurence.... And Margaret? My recipe has always been that if you care about someone else more than you care about yourself, well it comes back a hundred fold. Everything in our lives we discussed. Laurie’s really logical, I’m the one who gets really emotional about things. We’ve never had a big row; we get to the problem, he puts his spin on it, I put mine and we work out what’s the best way to deal with it. Oh, and never, ever argue in front of the children, because you are their example. If you don’t agree, tell the other in private. The couple have called Calvary St Joseph’s Retirement Community home for the past few years. Laurence, now 90 and living with Parkinson’s disease, lives in the residential care home. Margaret, a spritely 87, lives close by in an independent living unit, her window visible from his. It means the world to them that they can still be together, as best they can, after all this time. It was pretty much love at first sight for Laurence when he met a then young trainee nurse. Margaret was quick to notice the good-looking fellow in the broad-brimmed hat when she stepped off a sooty steam train from Sydney to spend the holidays on her roommate’s family farm. Although clearly meant to be, their romance might never have happened. She was intent on her studies, marriage not high on her list, and he was a man of so few words that nearly a year went by before she knew he was interested You can read more of Margaret and Laurence’s story at https://bit.ly/2M12j83

16.01.2022 What do you see when you plunge the depths of Stuart Clues’ moody depiction of Lake Mackintosh, in Tasmania’s rugged west? The artwork means many different things to the mental health consumers who chose it. Art has the ability to ease anxiety, stress and depression, and to distract and quiet the mind. The large acrylic canvass is the end result of a project that began with a family donation, and then enlisted the generous support of the landscape artist, who essentially gif...ted his talent and time to the cause. Find out more about the story and the artwork at https://bit.ly/35ln7N0

16.01.2022 Congratulations to all of the winners from the 2020 InnovAGEING National Awards. Held last night, the awards showcase the accomplishments of many organisations who are focused on making lives better for Australia’s older population. And congratulations also to Calvary’s Dementia and Wellbeing Consultant Colin McDonnell, who was a finalist in the inaugural Innovator of the Year Award. Colin partnered with independent living solutions company Leef to trial new evidence-based ac...tivities that use smart technology to encourage participation and enhance the wellbeing of Calvary’s aged care residents. The activities included a virtual cycling tour of places near and far to promote reminiscing and an interactive games table, and were trialled in Calvary retirement communities in NSW, the ACT and South Australia to great effect. You can read more about the awards here https://lasa.asn.au//2020-innovageing-national-awards-win/

14.01.2022 Today is International Allied Health Professional's Day and a chance to celebrate the wonderful contribution Calvary’s hard working allied health professionals make to the care and support of our patients, residents and clients. At Calvary we are fortunate to benefit from the skills and talents of hundreds of allied health professionals across our varied services. They go above and beyond to provide the best of care and make a difference in the lives of many. Thank you. From arts therapy and audiology to social work and speech pathology, the roles of allied health professionals is extremely diverse. You can find out more at https://ahpa.com.au/allied-health-professions/

14.01.2022 An initiative to connect some of Calvary’s Newcastle aged care residents to pen pals at a local primary school during the Covid-19 lockdown won hearts and minds when it featured on The Project on Sunday night. The targeted letter writing initiative prompted the residents, many of whom have dementia, to reminisce and re-engage fine motor skills. Importantly, it also gave them purpose. Residents from Calvary Nazareth Retirement Community at Belmont, where part of the program wa...s filmed, and Calvary St Joseph’s Retirement Community at Sandgate participated in the Pen Pals program, which was run by the University of Newcastle’s Department of Occupational Therapy. Clinical Nurse Consultant with Calvary Retirement Communities Colin McDonnell helped create the program in a collaboration with the University and Lecturer Dr Kylie Wales. Watch The Project’s Feel Good Sunday segment at https://bit.ly/3cLFy0P Find out more about benefits for Calvary’s aged care residents at https://bit.ly/30dZ

11.01.2022 It was a long journey in 1885 from the dark slums of nineteenth century industrial England to the sunny shores and oppressive heat of Sydney. Six pioneering Sisters immediately set to work nursing the sick, running a soup kitchen, a night refuge, a school for the visually impaired, a parish school and providing social services to those in need. Soon they would establish the first of many hospitals on our shores. These were the indomitable women of the Sisters of the Little Co...mpany of Mary who’s pioneering spirit of being for others started an approach to caring for the sick, the dying and those in need that was to grow and expand across the country. We are Calvary Health Care. Today, we celebrate 135 years since the Sisters sailed into Sydney, and the legacy they have left us all.

11.01.2022 Today on the 11th day at the 11th hour we honour the memory of those who died or who were injured in wars and armed conflicts. On this day 11 November 1918, the guns of the Western Front fell silent after four years of continuous warfare. More than 330,000 Australians served overseas during this time and more than 60,000 died. One of the first flowers to bloom on the devastated battlefields of Flanders was the Red Poppy. Its bright red colour symbolised the blood shed duri...ng the horrific conflict, but also the hope of new life. The presence of these resilient bright red blooms on broken ground lead to the poppy becoming the symbol of remembrance day. Lest we forget.

09.01.2022 Across Australia, an estimated 2.65 million Australians provide a staggering 42 million hours of unpaid care each week. National Carers Week, from October 11 to 17, is a time to recognise the enormous contribution made by the army of unpaid carers who provide care and support to a family member or friend with disability, mental health condition, chronic condition, terminal illness, an issue with alcohol or other drugs, or who are frail aged. Importantly, National Carer’s We...ek also gives carers a voice to be recognised and supported in what is often a role that is not always a choice. We applaud the commitment, courage and selflessness, and the spirit of being for others of carers everywhere. You can read carer’s stories on the National Carers Week 2020 website at https://carersweek.com.au/your-stories/

09.01.2022 This week is Dementia Action Week 21-27 September. Did you know that dementia affects close to half a million Australians and that number is set to double in the next 25 years? Dementia Action Week seeks to raise awareness of the discrimination and associated impacts experienced by people living with dementia, their families and carers. The right kind of support can make a lot of difference. For more information visit https://www.dementia.org.au/dementia-action-week or call the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500.

04.01.2022 An official site blessing of the new Calvary St Catherine’s Retirement Community occurred last Thursday. Located in Berri, South Australia, the development will deliver a new 50-bed aged care residence to replace the existing facility. Sharon Kendall, Calvary’s SA Regional Chief Executive Officer, said It makes my heart glad to know that those who have devoted so many years of hard work and faithful attentiveness to their families and communities, can enjoy their retirement in comfort, in beautiful surroundings and with the amenities and services they need to help them lead as full, active and sociable lives as possible. This is what our mission is all about." Visit https://bit.ly/2FDQ7XA to find out more about the Calvary St Catherine's Retirement Community redevelopment.

04.01.2022 Are you visiting a loved one at Calvary? Please be sure to check the latest visitor restrictions at https://bit.ly/3iPyfrZ

03.01.2022 1 in 5 Australians are effected by mental illness annually, yet many don't seek help due to the stigma. During the COVID-19 pandemic, prioritising your mental health and wellbeing is more important than ever. Today is World Mental Health Day and the message is simple: "Look after your Mental Health Australia." Visit lookafteryourmentalhealthaustralia.org.au to make a mental health promise and to access useful information and resources.... #LookAfterYourMentalHealthAustralia

03.01.2022 Calvary Flora McDonald Retirement Community will be stopping all general visitation from 11.59 p.m. on 15 November 2020, in response to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) situation in South Australia. We have made this change to effectively manage the risk of infection and protect the health of residents, their family members and staff. Calvary does not take this decision lightly. With SA Health reporting growing instances of community transmission of COVID-19 in Adelaide, we must in...troduce this measure to ensure the safest possible environment for the vulnerable people in our care. What does this mean for residents and their families? Calvary will be stopping all general visitation from 11.59 p.m. on 15 November 2020. This means that from midnight tonight no general visitation will be permitted at the facility until further notice. Special exceptions to visitation rules. Exceptions may apply for visitors of residents at end of life, or who may be experiencing distress, or where a care and support role is provided by a visitor. Please speak with the manager to discuss arrangements. Our staff will be wearing facemasks. Due to heightened risk, our staff will be required to wear a surgical facemask at all times. Any visitor who is permitted entry as a special exception will be required to wear a facemask at all times. Any person entering will be required to have their temperature checked by staff before entry. Fever is one of the symptoms of COVID-19 and any person with a temperature (greater than 37.5 degrees Celsius) presents a potential risk of transmitting the virus to others. To protect patients and staff from COVID-19 infection, we have had to act quickly. The cooperation of residents and family members in helping our staff manage the risk of infection to the people in our care has been excellent. We will continue to keep you updated as the COVID-19 situation evolves. For up-to-date information for all patients and their loved ones, please visit Calvary’s COVID-19 updates site regularly at: www.calvarycoronavirusupdates.org.au Please don’t hesitate to contact the us should you have any questions or would like more information. Thank you for your continued cooperation and understanding in this difficult time.