Loving your later life events

March 28, 2023 1:45 am

It’s hard to believe we are already in Autumn and the change of the weather has arrived!

There’s alot to talk about this month as we commence our 70th Anniversary celebrations, important changes that impact aged care workers and how to keep healthy and well during the colder months of the year.

Industry News
You may be following the media on the Fair Work Commission who has recently awarded a 15% pay raise for aged care workers from June 30, 2023, which is great news for direct care workers including Head Chefs, Recreational and Lifestyle Officers.

While I certainly welcome the move to increase wages, there are still other aged care workers including support and administration staff, and other food services workers, who are not included in the wage increase. You know from firsthand experience, all of our support workers are central to the provision of safe, person-centred care and their work should be properly valued.

As the CEO of McLean Care I will continue to strongly advocate for wage increases across the board and ensure that all of our workers are valued for their hard work and contributions to providing safe, person-centred care. It’s a complex issue to manage and one we will continue to monitor and share industry updates as they happen.

Change of Seasons
The change of seasons, particularly from Summer to Autumn, can have a significant impact on the health and overall wellbeing of our loved ones.

The cooler weather can impact on physical activity as the colder, wetter months leads to a reduction in time spent exercising and getting out and about, which can then lead to reduced mobility. The cooler weather can also impact mental health as social isolation may occur when its more difficult to get out and about.

It can also increase the risk of falls with higher chance of rain and autumn leaves on the ground. Making sure you have the right footwear is so important during these months.

Vitamin D is a crucial to maintain strong healthy bones and immune systems. It’s important to be aware that Vitamin D levels may reduce during winter months with less natural light, so try and find the sunshine wherever you can.

70th Anniversary Celebrations
As mentioned in our previous newsletter, this year, McLean Care celebrates 70 years of service.

We have developed some beautiful 70 Year commemorative pins which will be available for purchase at each of our offices in a location near you.

We will also be holding various celebratory events throughout the year, including our Loving Your Later Life Expo on 18th & 19th May at the Tamworth Town Hall in regional NSW.

This two-day event will showcase a range of lifestyle exhibitors from travel, food, financial planning, home improvements to fashion and wellbeing.

Special guest Julie Goodwin, MasterChef’s very first winner, will provide an entertaining Q&A session and cooking presentation of the Thursday, sharing her love affair with food, her career, and tips on cooking as we age. This will be a free event and we welcome everyone.

On Saturday October 21st we will be hosting a Spring Fair with the Millmerran community just outside of Toowoomba. This event is planned to be held annually taking us back to the traditional local Spring fairs our smaller regional communities use to hold.

For a gold coin donation you’ll enjoy a fun filled day of entertainment, food, local stalls and produce to raise money for the Millmerran community.

We hope to see you there and at our other community events throughout the year.

Sue Thomson – Chief Executive Officer