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October marks Queensland Seniors Month. This year’s theme is Social Connections and will provide opportunities for people to discover local programs, services, and volunteering opportunities which may assist in reducing social isolation.

For information or to attend local activities visit www.qldseniorsmonth.org.au

Are you happy with your Jubilee Community Care services and the way our staff look after you or your loved ones?

Whether you have been a Jubilee client a few months or many years we would encourage you to share your positive reviews online on Google.

By sharing your reviews you help us stand out from the crowd and build Jubilee’s position of authority, trust and respect.

To leave a review, open your internet browser and type bit.ly/3OTKDrs into the website address bar. You will find a white box pop up on your screen and in the top right corner you can click on ‘’Write a review’’.

If you are not sure how to leave a review and would like some help contact our office on 3871 3220 and our communications officer Lisa can assist.

There will be changes to Jubilee services with the upcoming public holidays. These will fall on Monday, October 2 (King’s Birthday); from 6pm on Sunday, December 24 (Christmas Eve); Monday, December 25 (Christmas Day); and Tuesday, December 26 (Boxing Day).

On these days essential services of personal care, meal preparation, and medication assistance will be provided while domestic assistance, social support, respite and shopping services will not be. Also, please note that your services supplied on these public holidays may not be with a known support worker and may not be at your preferred time due to staffing limitations.

To reschedule or cancel other regular services over the Christmas/New Year period please have requests to the Jubilee office by Friday, December 8.

The office will be closed on all public holidays. For more information phone the Jubilee office on 3871 3220.

A dementia diagnosis comes with many challenges – one of which is how to make your house safe to ensure a better quality of life for a person with the disease.

Dementia Australia advises ‘’the fundamental purpose of a dementia-friendly home is to compensate for the effects of dementia and to support retained function and skills’’.

The national organisation has help sheets to assist you to know what changes can be effective in creating a dementia-friendly home.

Helpful tips include using large light switches that contrast with the wall; having plain, non-patterned carpet or tiles and furniture; using contrasting colours for floors, walls and furnishings to help identify them; placing frequently used items in the line of sight and at an accessible height; grouping common items together (eg tea, coffee, mugs, sugar); making rooms homely with family furniture, photos, books and memorabilia; and using whiteboards and calendar clocks for orientation and important reminders.

These tips below are courtesy of Dementia Australia at www.dementia.org.au

A SAFE DEMENTIA-FRIENDLY HOME

* Remove trip hazards such as loose electrical cords or rugs, to allow sufficient space to move around.
* Remove clutter such as chairs, tables, clothes, shoes and rugs to ensure clear pathways.
* Install a smoke alarm.
* Install thermostat or hot water cut-off devices to regulate and monitor hot water temperature.
* Ensure drainage holes are clear and use anti-flood devices, such as for releasing excessive water in the bath.
* Use floor and fall detectors.

A DEMENTIA-FRIENDLY BEDROOM

* Use block-out curtains or blinds to regulate sleeping patterns and prevent shadows on windows from trees and shrubs outside.
* If helpful, use labels to identify items in drawers and cupboards.
* Consider using contrasting top and bottom bed sheets, to assist with getting into bed.
* Ask a family member or friend to display a selection of daily clothing and shoes on a stand or a section of the wardrobe, to help decision-making and support independence.

A DEMENTIA-FRIENDLY BATHROOM

* Consider warmer colour tones for floors and walls.
* Use contrasting colours to highlight items such as bath rails, door handles and toilet seats.
* Ensure the room temperature is comfortable.
* Use taps that are familiar and easy to use.
* Consider covering or removing mirrors. Dementia can cause some people to not recognise their reflection in the mirror or understand what a reflection is.

A DEMENTIA-FRIENDLY KITCHEN

* Make the kitchen functional. Consider creating areas for cooking, preparation, washing, supplies and storage.
* Ensure there is sufficient bench space and lighting (such as overhead and under-cupboard lighting) to perform tasks.
* Use labels on cupboards or replace solid doors with transparent ones to view items easily. Use transparent canisters and label them.
* When replacing appliances, get ones with a similar design so they are familiar.
* Use taps that are familiar and easy to use.

A DEMENTIA-FRIENDLY LOUNGE ROOM AND DINING ROOM

* Arrange a quiet space to sit, relax or read with a sturdy table and raised comfortable chair that is easy to stand up from and sit in.
* Have games, jigsaw puzzles and photo albums available and set up areas for meaningful activities, favourite hobbies or pastimes.
* Use different textures and colours for sensory engagement such as knitted rugs and soft cushions.
* Keep table settings simple.
* Turn on lights or open curtains at meal times.
* Consider using contrasting colours for items in table settings (such as placemats, plates, tablecloths and glassware) to help identify them.
* Ensure plates are plain: it can be difficult to distinguish between a pattern on a plate and the food.
* Where needed, consider specialised cutlery and tableware developed to assist people during mealtimes.

Building client-caregiver relationships with Jubilee Community Care support workers during services is vital to our clients’ wellbeing and happiness.

Consistency of care of a client can have several benefits including greater connection and trust, better communication, early identification of subtle changes in emotional and physical health, and peace of mind.

It has been a longstanding practice at Jubilee, as much as is possible, to match clients with suitable support workers – people who may have common interests or backgrounds, and for whom the relationship will be mutually positive and rewarding.

However, Jubilee also aims to match two or three support workers to an individual client – people the client will see regularly and with whom they can build trust, routine and connection with.

This practice allows Jubilee to build flexibility into a client’s services, allowing our team to roster a known support worker to a client when their other regular support workers may not be available for a service due to annual or personal leave, illness, or other reasons.

But this practice also has other benefits – helping support workers and their clients to maintain professional boundaries. Our support workers should be respected by clients as employees first. A client’s home is their workplace. This practice means a client does not potentially rely solely on one particular support worker for their needs to be met and does not become too ‘’attached’’ to one individual. It also means a support worker does not become overly involved in a client’s life, potentially hindering their ability to provide professional and objective support, and sometimes leading to high stress or burnout.

If, as a client or family member of a client, this is something you would like to discuss further, please phone Jubilee’s office on 3871 3220.