Home & Lifestyle Winter 2022

Central Coast Retirement Lifest yle

Make the Central Coast your forever home today! With our beautiful natural environments and traditionally relaxed lifestyle, the Central Coast is home to many older residents who are vibrant, active and valued members of our local community. This has contributed positively to our identity and is something to be celebrated and appreciated. There are many reasons why you might move into a retirement village. You can enjoy tailored services, including assisted and independent living. Meet new people and find companionship in the village and wider community. The Central Coast has a number of 50+ Leisure and Learning Centres and Senior Centres which provide opportunities for social, educational, cultural and physical development. Our lifestyle encourages older residents to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle with easy access to shopping centres and health services. The perfect place to enjoy a relaxing and fulfilling retirement, where you can enjoy freedom and have easy access to the many services at hand to make your life easier and happier...

Embracing Life’s Next Chapter at Woodport Aged Care Centre M oving into residential aged care means embarking on a new chapter in life, as the residents of Woodport Aged Care Centre experience first-hand. “This is a new adventure with new opportunities, where you can meet new people. It’s a chance for you to learn more and share your story,” Woodport Aged Care Centre’s Chaplain, Cynthia, says of The Salvation Army Aged Care’s Erina Centre. With a koi pond and teahouse onsite, Woodport Aged Care Centre provides a sanctuary for older Australians in the Central Coast community. The staff aim to create a sense of belonging, to support that transition to residential aged care and thereafter maintain their long-termwellbeing. Woodport’s Chaplains and Lifestyle team also collaborate to find the best personalised solution for everyone, varying from emotional support to creative projects.

says. “Just even a smile. Genuinely smiling at someone and showing some interest. I think that that is the main thing.” For resident Marg, who is in her 90s, it took her a while to accept living in aged care, but now she loves it. “She’s more active now than she was out in the community,” Linda says, “before she had to depend on her care worker and family. Now she has people coming by all the time who are familiar faces.” Janice is a thriving member of the Centre’s resident community. “She loves it and wishes she could’ve done it sooner,” Linda says. “The group setting is better, and it’s helped her improve her independence. It’s made her life a

Lifestyle Coordinator Linda places a lot of importance on meeting residents for the first time and introducing them to the Centre as well as building trust. “It's how we make them feel, you know, and even if they're down, we just walk up and say, would you like a hug?” Residents are encouraged to have lunch together in the communal dining room, which helps themget toknowoneanother. Often, staff initially accompany residents to activities and introduce them to other residents with similar personalities, allowing them to build up their confidence. Monthly surveys and quarterly meetings are also conducted to incorporate resident feedback into the Lifestyle program. Cynthia creates a spiritual care plan to learn how she and fellow Chaplain Richard can help new residents during their first three months at the Centre, and then reassesses upon seeing how they are settling in. In her day to-day, Cynthia prioritises resident visits and holds regular discussion groups for residents to share their thoughts and stories. “I appreciate the opportunity to be there for them and it’s important to let them know someone’s there to help them,” Cynthia

bit more complete.” The staff have her involved as much as possible, with Janice even acting as a welcome committee to new residents. “Janice has that empathy to help the new residents and her social personality helps with this too.”

Chaplain Cynthia

Woodport Retirement Village Phone: 4365 9373

21 Home & Lifestyle Magazine | Winter 2022