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October Edition

Spring is the hopeful season! It brings

transformation and changes, the air is

warmer and the garden bursting into flower

with new growth and life. Lambs frolicking

in the paddocks and it’s a good time to

spring clean the house.

But spring also brings allergies and hay fever,

when plants release pollen into the air and you

start sneezing and your throat tickles. Spring

also brings the return of flies and bugs attacking

the garden. Birds love all the new growth on the

plants and bushes.

Mainly though spring brings back the sunshine

after the cold and gloomy winter, lighting fires

becomes a thing of the past and instead we

contemplate dusting off the outdoor chairs for

those warm evenings. Sunset is later and the

garden is alive with flowers.

Last week we had some beautiful purple irises

brought into the office and it was like having a

little bit of spring inside. For me spring is

always the lead up to summer, when we can

enjoy the balmy days before the heat of summer

hits.

A chance to recharge after a long winter inside,

get some exercise, some vitamin D from the sun

and enjoy all that nature has to offer.

So enjoy these few weeks or months until

nature changes again, and if you’re a keen

gardener like me, start planting those spring and

summer vegetables.

Spring is in the Air

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Aged Care News Home Care Packages

The current wait time for a home care package

is up to 12 months with more people requesting

packages than are being released. Clients can

still access Commonwealth Homecare Services

whilst they wait for a package and here at

Homecare we work hard to make sure you are

well supported.

Being Home For Your Services

Where possible we ask all our clients to be

home for their Domestic Assistance services,

our staff are there to help you with your

housework. If you are unable to be home for

any reason please call the office and let us know

so we can arrange another time.

Compliments and Complaints

If you have any concerns about your services

then we encourage you to talk to us. We ask you

to fill out a form so we can track your concerns

and deal with issues as they arise.

We also love to get positive feedback, so if you

feel someone is doing a good job please let us

know so we can tell them about it.

If you have any ideas for how we can improve

our services, we would also like to hear about

that.

Transport Services

We provide transport for approved clients to go

to medical appointments and social events or

shopping.

We need you to give us at least 24 hours notice

of your intention to use our transport services,

otherwise we may not be able to help you if we

don’t have a staff member available.

Clients are asked to be ready and waiting 15

minutes before the pick up time and if you

cancel less than 24 hours before the service you

may be charged depending on your

circumstances.

Looking for Volunteers

We are currently looking for volunteers to help in

our cottage on Wednesdays and Fridays to help

with activities and engage with our clients. We

provide morning tea and lunch and it’s a great

way to meet new people and have some fun.

We are also looking for some volunteer

gardeners for our cottage grounds. If you enjoy

some light gardening, please come and see us

as we always have plenty that needs doing.

Wood Chopping

Now that winter has moved on, we will no longer

be offering wood chopping to clients. Next year

we will be reviewing our wood chopping

practices, and we ask when ordering your

wood that you ask the supplier to cut it into

smaller pieces so that it fits in your fire.

Charter of Rights

Just a reminder that if you haven't sent back

your signed Charter of Rights, can you please

do so and return in the supplied self addressed

envelope. Thank you to all the clients who have

returned the forms. We appreciate your support.

If you would like a copy of the Charter of Rights,

please ask one of our friendly staff to help you.

Aged Care Standards

This month we are focusing on Standard 1 of the

new Aged Care Standards: Consumer Dignity

and Choice.

I am treated with dignity

and respect, and can

maintain my identify.

I can make informed

choices about my care

and services, and live the

life I choose.

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From Wendy Hi everyone, introducing our office team, from

left to right, Melissa, Beverley, Mereana, Jhodi

and Wendy. Drop into the office and say hello,

we are here everyday and always happy to

help.

Here at Homecare we are all enjoying the

warmer days and Brodie has been kept busy

with all the spring growth in the lawns and

gardens.

We have a new staff member Lisa, who some of

you may have already met? Melissa has been

permanently appointed to the role of Client

Services Officer and is a welcome addition to

the team. We said goodbye to Rebecca who

has left to take a new job and we are currently

advertising for a replacement.

This month some of our clients went on an

overnight trip to Perth where they visited the

Zoo, rode the zebra train and then up to Kings

Park for their annual festival. A good time was

had by all who went and they even bought

pizza’s for tea on the way home.

Its been a busy month with new clients joining

us and changes to our activity program

including a fun day full of teddy bears and

singing at the piano, played by our lovely

volunteers.

.

Wendy le Bechee

Homecare Manager

Introducing... Hi everyone, my name is Brodie and I am the

Maintenance Officer for Narrogin Regional

Homecare.

I have lived in the country all my life and grew

up in Nyabing until I was 12 when we moved to

Wagin with my parents and brother. We live on

a farm and I enjoy the freedom that comes with

living in the country and having lots of space to

build, rebuild and restore old things.

I play hockey and like swimming and mucking

around with my two dogs Rosie the Border

Collie and Brandy the German Shepard.

I have been with Homecare for the past two

years and enjoy the gardening and making

lawns beautiful. My favourite part of the job is

cleaning up gardens, having the clients help me

and having a bit of a chat while we are doing it.

My least favourite part of the job is pulling

weeds.

It’s a pretty good job and I enjoy working for

Homecare and helping clients and being part of

the Homecare team.

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Group News

Welcome to our Group News section. Each

month we will tell you what’s happening and

what’s coming up at Narrogin Homecare located

at 30 Clayton Road between the Rec Centre

and the Hockey fields.

Tuesday Pension Week—Tuart Group

Every Tuesday, on Pension week, a group of

clients get together and go out for lunch at a

local café. We meet at 11.30 and have a lovely

couple of hours together talking, laughing and

enjoying each others company. New people are

always welcome.

Tuesday Non-Pension Week—Rivergum

On non pension week Tuesday’s clients meet at

Narrogin Homecare for a hot roast lunch and

scrumptious dessert. The smells coming out of

the kitchen alone should be enough to tempt

you to join us. We meet at 11am til 2pm and all

you have to bring is your appetite.

Wednesday—Sheoak Group

2nd October—Decorate and Delight—Today

we get creative with food, colouring and icing

and best of all you get to take your work home

and eat it.

* * *

9th October—Memorable Musicals — Let’s

revisit some of the better known musicals that

have enchanted us over the years. The Sound

of Music, Phantom of the Opera, HMS Pinafore,

bring your singing voice!!

* * * 16th October— Cartoons and Comics—What

did you watch or read as a child, do you

remember Alston, Goscinny, Schultz, Joliffe,

Murray Ball?

* * * 23rd October—Picnic and Bingo

Today we are having a picnic lunch outside with

all sorts of yummy picnic food, followed by some

Bingo. Come along and win a chocolate

surprise.

* * *

30th October—Mind, Body and Soul—what is

one without the other, today we learn to relax,

maybe a foot massage, manicure and

pampering while listening to some good music.

Friday—Redgum

4th October—Collectors Corner—Bring in your

old? Today it’s collectors day, share your

collections, stories and we’ll look at some

serious collections from around the world.

Stamps, coins, tins, matchbox cars, bottles we

would love to see it all.

* * * 11th October—Wagin Homecare are coming to

visit—Clients from Wagin homecare will be

joining us for lunch and activities for the day.

* * * 18th October—Take me to? —Where are we

visiting this month, as we continue our armchair

travels around the world.

25th October—Creative spaces—Try your

hand at some art and get creative, if you have

some UFO’s ( unfinished objects) bring them

along.

* * * AND… of course we have our puzzle table set

up, quizzes and exercises every morning and

the newspaper to read and discuss. Our cook

Marika makes delicious morning tea, fresh out

of the oven and her desserts are becoming

legendary.

Not sure if you want to join us, come down for a

day as our guest and check it out. Just call the

office on 9890 0700 to arrange a day.

Walk and Talk—Every Friday

Join us down by the creek for a walk around

and chat with fellow walkers, followed by a hot

cuppa and biscuit at the Community Gardens.

This Group meets from 9.00am to 11am every

Friday and new walkers are welcome to join.

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Did you know……. Did you know that that if you have been

approved for Social Support Group activities that

you can join any of our groups!

Not sure what you would like to join, give us a

ring or drop in for a chat. This month our Wattle

Group went on an overnight trip to Perth, visiting

Kings Park and the Perth Zoo, a great time was

had by all, as you can see from the photos.

Craft Group

Elder Craft Group is restarting—from

February 2020 we will be restarting our craft

group. If you are interested in joining please ring

us or drop in to put down your name on the

waitlist.

We have sewing machines that you are

welcome to use and will be starting with a group

project making “Knitted Knockers” for women

recovering from breast cancer.

Client Survey

Thanks everyone who has sent in their client

survey, we have had a great response. If you

still haven't sent yours in, don’t worry, you still

have time. Your feedback is invaluable and

helps us to improve our services.

Happy Birthday to Clients Born in October

Happy Birthday to all our clients born in October,

you are in great company with the likes of

Queen Elizabeth, Agatha Christie, Lauren Bacall

and Greta Garbo also being born in October.

I hope you all had a wonderful day celebrating

your birthdays.

Fire and Safety Afternoon.

Date: 30th October, 2019

Time: 1.00pm—4pm, afternoon tea provided

A joint project between Narrogin Regional

Homecare and Karinya. Come and join us at the

Senior Citizens to talk about fire safety and

safety in the home.

Our local police will be coming along to talk

about fire safety and some other guest

speakers. Afternoon tea is provided and we can

arrange transport if you wish. As we come into

summer it’s a great time to talk about fire and

home safety.

Call the office on 9890 0700 to book transport.

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NARROGIN REGIONAL HOMECARE

Narrogin Homecare, Clayton Road, Narrogin

(between the Leisure Centre and the Hockey Field)

PH: 9890 0700

Email: mccs@narrogin.wa.gov.au

Wattle Group Outings Melbourne Cup Lunch

Date: Tuesday 5th November, 2019

Depart time: 9.15am

Return time: Approx. 3.00pm

Cost: $55.00

Come and join in the fun and excitement of the

race that stops a nation, enjoy a delicious two

course home cooked lunch with a glass of bubbly

on arrival. Mystery bets will be available to

purchase if you choose. Our friends from Wagin

Homecare will be joining us for the day.

Seniors Week—Treetops Restaurant

Date: Friday 15th November, 2019

Depart time: 10.30am

Return time: Approx. 3.00pm

Cost: $20.00 (lunch only) $25.00 (includes

transport).

This week we celebrate Seniors Week with a lunch

at the Treetops Restaurant at Narrogin Senior High

School. Enjoy a delicious lunch and see Narrogin

as viewed from a Drone alongside images from

Narrogin in times gone by.

Limited numbers so book soon, so you don’t miss

out. All money to be paid to the Homecare office

by Thursday 7th November.

Manjimup Cherry Festival

Date: Friday 13th and Saturday 14th December,

2019

Cost: $190.00 per person

We leave Narrogin on the Friday morning taking

the scenic route to Manjimup and stop for morning

tea at the famous Harvey Dickson’s Country Music

Centre.

Our accommodation for the night is at the

Quinniniup Tourist Park, Saturday morning we

head to Manjimup for a fun day at the Cherry

Festival. All names and monies to be paid to the

office by the 28th of November, 2019.

Future Events and Public Holidays

29th October,2019—Sports Day at Karinya

Start training, we are going to Karinya to bring back

the gold. Today is all about fun, team work and

meeting old friends with a little bit of sport thrown

in. Call the office on 9890 0700 to book your place

* * *

14th of November, 2019—Spring Dance

We have been invited down to Wagin for an

afternoon tea dance, come and join us and bring

your dancing shoes. Afternoon tea is provided

* * *

17th December,2019—Christmas Luncheon

Narrogin Regional Homecare Christmas Lunch is

on again, this year bigger and better. More details

to follow next month.