South Eastern

Connect Seniors

Independence, Well-being and Quality of Life.

The Seniors Newsletter of South Eastern Community Connect

Oct-Dec

2016

2

In this issue

The Cottage

Volunteering

Food Services

Playgroup

Transport

News & Services

Calendar

Impressum:

South Eastern Community Connect

senc@senc.org.au

Shop 84 - Eastlakes Shopping Cen-

tre, Eastlakes NSW 2018

Content, copy & design : Carmen Welss,

Communications Manager

Editor: Catherine Fraser

Proof reading: Priscilla Bonham-Carter

Contact us

02 8338 8506

Mon-Fri 9AM - 4:30PM

secc@secc.sydney

If you would like to read up on

Clients Rights and

Responsibilities you can do so

online at www.secc.sydney,

phone the office for a copy or

speak to our staff next time you

see them for your copy.

strive to improve our services for our existing clients.

We always welcome your feedback – call us on 8338 8506 or use our contact form at http://www.secc.sydney/contact.html

Enjoy the issue! Catherine Fraser, Editor

Welcome to the Septem-ber issue of Seniors Connect.

South Eastern Community Connect has been very busy over the past few months with so many activities happening in and out of the centre so we have a number of updates for you this issue.

Firstly, the arrival of My Aged Care continues to be a challenge to staff and clients as they learn this new system, and we are hoping for a smoother process for the New Year.

Secondly, our food service is expanding! It now includes the areas of Redfern, Waterloo and the Inner West of Sydney, and we do have capacity for new clients.

And thirdly, your medical appointments can be hard to get to but now SECC offers flexible transport to help clients attend their medical appointments.

As always our doors are always open to new clients and we constantly

Our member Priscilla Bonham Carter

narrowly escaped a scam. “I got a call

from a man who said he was calling from

the ATO. He said I had not handed in my

tax return form and that I was about to

be arrested. I am not easily frightened,

but this man could have won the lead in

any horror movie. He spoke with the

most sinister voice, and if I get frightened, other people will, too.”

The caller spoke with an educated Australian accent, and it took a

few moments before Priscilla’s alarm bells went off. She hung up

the phone, but the menacing call had shaken her. Priscilla called

the police who put her onto Crime Stoppers and Scam Watch. “It is

most important that these scams get reported.

If you get a frightening call, hang up and call Crime Stoppers on

1800 333 000 or Scam Watch on 1300 795 995.

3

these activities we go for walks along the harbour

side, engage in music or painting or do

crosswords together. Some days can be highly

energised and clients will play piano or show old

dance moves to certain songs; some days are

quiet and companionable. Feeling safe and in

warm company is so important, and I can give

reassurance simply by listening, engaging and

stimulating clients.”

Many people with dementia spend long stretches

of time alone in front of the TV, so at 'The

Cottage', screen time is used sparingly and

purposefully.

“We use tablets and computers to look up

pictures to match our trivia answers or we have a

movie afternoon with popcorn - but our activities

are based around creating a social environment

and games and activities that support that.”

'The Cottage' is for people who have been

When the bus arrives with the clients in the

morning, Amy Drewe and her staff have already

finished hours of preparation for the day at The

Cottage. South Eastern Community Connect has

been running the dementia day centre 'The

Cottage' since 2014, providing quality care for up

to 12 clients each day.

“Unlike other day centres, 'The Cottage' has a

smaller client group. Our clients struggle with

memory loss, and fewer faces can mean more

intimate interactions and deeper friendships,”

explains Amy Drewe, the Cottage Coordinator.

Many day centres have 40-50 people per day and

whilst they provide some similar activities, many

people living with dementia become agitated in

such large groups. At 'The Cottage' numbers are up

to 12 clients per day, and they nearly always sit in

the same seats and near friends they have made."

“The warm and inviting space allows us all to chat

as a large yet cosy group, rather than a bombard-

ment of noise in a hall or function room. Clients

may not always remember each others names, but

they remember faces and relationships,” Amy

explains.

Social interaction is certainly a key feature of life at

'The Cottage', but there are also a variety of

carefully chosen activities to engage with.

“People living with dementia like stimulation,

socialisation and routine. We play several games

every day to reinforce cognitive balance

and reduce the risk of deterioration. On top of

The Cottage

4

diagnosed with low-medium level dementia. Amy

assesses new clients with a loved one or carer of

a prospective client, to see if 'The Cottage' is a

suitable environment for the person’s medical

needs and personal interests. “Where possible I

match them with clients that they share common

interests or histories.

Unfortunately, the set-up of the Cottage sets

limits to who Amy’s team can care for at the

centre. “We cannot accept for people living with

challenging physical or verbal behaviours or assist

with personal care. Clients must also be able to

feed and toilet themselves,” she explains.

Amy not only runs the daily operations at the

Centre, she is also the facility’s Diversional

Therapist in charge of the therapy program at 'The

Cottage', and her results speak for themselves.

Amy recently reassessed her clients, and for most

of them deterioration has clearly slowed down

during their time at 'The Cottage.' Five of her

clients returned the same or even slightly better

results, and one client went from a 16/30 score to

a 24/30 score on a particular cognitive test. 25 and

above are considered 'normal in the general

population'.

For those who find a suitable day centre in 'The

Cottage', the benefits are clear. It is, however, not

her clinical expertise that lies at the heart of Amy’s

success. Amy and her staff form very

close relationships with the families of the clients.

Amy recently assessed a new client who was a lawyer, and after discussing his interests with his wife Amy

thought she had a great match with another lawyer who also attends the Cottage. “I am usually pretty

good with my matches but even I was surprised when it turned out that they actually knew each other but

hadn’t caught up in several years. They are now having a wonderful time swapping notes about what they

have been up to in those years and doing crosswords together,” says Amy.

5

“I make sure I tell the families of achievements,

for example a client remembering that they like

cross stitch or remembering they can play piano.

In turn, many families and partners ring me for

tips or advice. Caring for someone with dementia

can be very isolating, and it is rewarding to know

that I can help the whole family.”

Solace and empathy are what makes The Cottage

a haven for both clients and families, but every

now and again there is a client who brings joy

and optimism to the centre just through their

own infectious personality.

“Christine is 92 and has the most wonderful,

mischievous sense of humour. She is very bright

and interested in reading and the arts. We have

in depth conversations about latest release

fiction and shows that are on at the art gallery,

but she mostly doesn't know what day it is. 'The

Cottage' gives her a sense of independence and

provides mental challenges. Her scores on cognitive

tests have remained the same for two years, and I

know 'The Cottage' is playing a large role in that,”

Amy explains.

"In a job that is mentally and emotionally

challenging, I always admire her optimistic spirit

and positive view on the challenges she faces. She

reminds me to look at the brighter side and has

taught me that your inherent personality and love

of life can survive, despite living with dementia." Things can get better.

Tim is 75 and one of the clients who have

remained stable in his scores in all cognitive

tests, and has actually improved in several of

them. He attends five days a week and is still

able to read and retain information about

things that interest him in the newspapers.

They might be sport and fishing related only,

but before beginning at 'The Cottage', his

wife had reported that he was getting

frustrated and upset at his local surf club as

he was forgetting names and sport

information that he relied upon for

socialising. Within a month of coming to the

centre, Tim began to develop better retention

of information and started catching the bus

again by himself - something he hadn't done

for the six months prior.

Other Dementia Services

The Discovery Bus offers excursions suitable for

people living with dementia. It runs as a door to

door service every second Wednesday with

morning tea and lunch outings.

Our In home respite offers five hour blocks of

qualified care in your home to relieve carers and

allow them to attend to appointments and other

commitments.

For more information on

The Cottage Dementia Centre

Call Amy

8971 9012

For more information on Respite or the Discovery Bus

Call Lili

8338 8506

Stay Safe! When out and about

always carry ID and a phone number of who to contact in case of an emergency.

6

They are the life blood of any

charity and the beating heart of

the community.

Volunteers at South Eastern

Community Connect assist staff

with an extraordinary wide range

of tasks, including;

Children activities at play-

group and during parenting

classes

Cleaning and fixing toy library

toys

Visiting elderly people at

home to keep them company

Help clients do their shopping

Pack fruit and vegetable

“It never ceases to amaze me

how many people give their time

for so many years,” says Sue,

“Some of our volunteers have

been with us for more than 20

years,” says Sue Ohanian,

Volunteer Coordinator, who

started as a volunteer at South

Eastern Community Connect

herself. There are many reasons

why people volunteer. “I most

commonly hear ‘to give back to

the community’ or ‘to help

others’,” Sue recalls.“

Volunteers generally do not

speak of the benefits to them—

only what they can do for others.

Yet there are many benefits

from volunteering”, she says.

“It is good for you physically and

mentally, it helps you build

social connections, and for

many people it is a great first

step to rebuild confidence and

networks after a break from

their careers,” she explains. “We

have a number of international

students from UNSW who miss

their parents and grandparents

and who now enjoy being able

to support an elderly client in

their local community here,”

Sue explains.

The greatest benefit of

volunteering is perhaps the

personal satisfaction of being

useful and being able to support

others.

If you are interested

in volunteering or in

having a volunteer

visit you at home

Call Sue today :

02 8338 8506

Volunteering

7

We now deliver our produce bags beyond South Eastern Sydney to Water-loo, Redfern and the Inner West.

On September 30, 2016 the Food Distribution Network FDN delivered its last boxes of fresh produce to its elderly clients and those living with disabilities.

After 34 years of service to the community, the not-for-profit organisation was forced to close its doors, due to funding cuts.

“Charities are facing tough times with funding models changing, and it is disappointing to see organisations like FDN being forced out of business after decades of providing vital services to the community,” says Kate Melhopt, Executive Officer

of South Eastern Community Connect.

For an anxious two weeks FDN clients were uncertain as to if and how their services would continue.

“Our organisation is delivering a similar service, and we immediately started investigating how we can close the gap and get food to the people impacted by FDNs closure”, Kate explains.

It’s been a frantic time of talking to funding bodies and discussing the hows and whens with FDN but we have found a way for South Eastern Community Connect to step up and provide continuing service for the clients of the Food Distribution Network in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs and

in the Inner West.

“I am so pleased that we will be able to carry out deliveries without a gap in services to all FDN clients including the elderly and the disabled.

We will, however, see this as an opportunity to pool our resources, streamline services and improve how we support the community of Eastern Sydney,” she said.

One of the new things that FDN clients can access through us is a food preparation service. Not only can you have your fruit and vegetables delivered to your door, you can also have one of our staff members prepare the food with you.

Expanding across Sydney

Food Deliveries

If you would like to hear more about our

food services call LiLi on

02 8338 8506

Volunteers needed to help

pack produce boxes!

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Intergenerational Playgroup

Lets Play

deliveries or regulars of our seniors

bus excursions. They are people

whom we have known for a long

time and with whom we have

wonderful relationships.”

“South Eastern Community

Connect runs programs for young

families, for the elderly and for

people living with disabilities, and

we cater to all different needs,”

Bronwynn explains, “but we are all

part of the same community, and

that’s what makes this playgroup

so important. Our people are more

than their needs and services - we

belong together as a community,

and this playgroup is one small but

important drop of the glue that

keeps us all connected.”

The intergenerational playgroup

runs every second Monday at

Gardeners Road Public School . We

provide door-to-door transport for

our volunteers.

Modern families come in all

shapes and sizes, and many

children are growing up

without the extra special bond

with a grandparent. At the

same time, many seniors have

spare time on their hands and

enough love and energy for

some extra children in their

lives.

Our new intergenerational

playgroup at brings together

young children, their parents

and senior volunteers to join in

the fun of playing, reading and

If you would like to get involved with our

Intergenerational Playgroup call Bronwynn on

02 8338 8506

singing and sharing stories of

three generations.

“It is really lovely to see these

new friendships grow deeper

with each session. The children

and parents look as much

forward to the next week as do

our seniors”, says Bronwynn

Jursik, who coordinates the

intergenerational playgroup.

“Our senior friends who visit

playgroup are all clients of our

other programs,” Bronwynn

explains. “They might be

people who receive our food

9

Getting out on the town is just as important when you are 86 as when you are 26.

An active lifestyle, exercise options, participating in community events, doing your own shopping, visiting friends or appointments often require some type of transport. And when walking is difficult and you no longer drive, getting around town can become a real challenge.

Medical appointments are perhaps the most important of these commitments, and for many elderly clients and those with disabilities, especially those on a pension, securing

affordable, reliable transport to get to the doctors can be stressful.

Your own driver for $10

South Eastern Community Connect is now offering new flexible transport with a door to door service for those in need. For $10 flat fee per return trip, clients can book a car and driver as they need them, on a casual basis.

“We offer this service with great flexibility, but we do need a little more notice than a taxi company. It’s best to book your transport a few days ahead”, says Kate Melhopt, Executive

Officer of South Eastern Community Connect.

More than just wheels

“What really sets our service apart from other transport organisations is that we also offer what we call medical companions. These are volunteers who attend your medical appointments with you and support you in what may be a worrying situation”, Kate explains.

“With our service you can book not only the vehicle and driver but also that extra support person, and many of our clients have formed a meaningful, long-term relationship with their medical companion.

“We don’t want to simply provide a cheap taxi. We want to improve our clients’ independence, well-being and quality of life. And while a set

Out on the Town With new transport options

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The Year That Was 2016

A new name and new colours:

Your South East Neighbourhood Centre became South Eastern Community Connect with a new name and logo, reflecting our growing services and role in building a vibrant community.

A new office space:

With our work expanding we needed more space. South Eastern Community Connect now occupies four shops at Eastlakes Shopping Cen-tre, up the stairs from the ATM exit.

A new framework:

The arrival of My Aged Care and the NDIS have caused some confusion among services provid-ers and clients across Australia, and we are no exception. As the new framework overcomes its teething problems, we are benefiting from our close-knit relationships with our clients as we navigate the system together. We will be ready for many new clients in the new year.

Yes, we can take on new clients!

Many of our programs still have capacity and it is our new challenge to get the word out to those in need of some extra support. Respite, transport, food deliveries—if you or someone you know could benefit from any of our pro-grams, please do give us a call . We would love to help!

02 8338 8506

of wheels is a necessity, the personal friendships we form are what really matters,” she says.

There have been a lot of requests for the new transport service, which just confirms the great need for this kind of support in the community.

Flexible Transport completes the range of transport options that South Eastern Community Connect provides. There are already bus trips and a shopping bus to give access to social outings and to help people do their weekly shopping.

“Our buses and cars are on the road from Monday to Friday, taking people on all sorts of excursions. Once a month we have the Popcorn Club Movie Bus, we have the shopping bus every fortnight, and we have special bus outings for members of specific cultural groups, like our Russian, Spanish, Greek, Turkish and Italian trips”, Kate explains.

There is even a regular bus outing just for the men. The bus trips visit places like the botanical gardens, lunch at a club or the markets, depending on the abilities and interests of the group.

“I look at all those vehicles in our car park and see the mobility they offer many of our clients, but transport is just a means to an end,” says Kate, “It is about staying connected with the community, participating in life, stimulation and sometimes it’s just getting some fresh air.”

There is a special bus for clients participating in the WAVES hydrotherapy program at the pool.

11

Support Services Bills & Banking help

Volunteer home visits

Medical Companions

Tax Help

Resume Support

Legal Support

Form support

Justice of The Peace

South Eastern Community Connect can help with

these services free of charge for those needing

support. Call us today to make a booking.

Social Groups Beaco Lunch Club - every Tuesday, morning tea, lunch

and bingo, Beaconsfield Community Centre.

Spanish Seniors Social Group - once per month at

Beaconsfield

Seniors Social Group - once per month at

Beaconsfield

Italian Group every Wednesday 10am–12pm at

Eastlakes Scout Hall.

Greek Carers' Group - First Friday of each month

12:30pm–2:30pm at our office

Alegria Spanish Women's Group - every Wednesday,

9:30am–12pm at Beaconsfield.

Primavera Spanish Group - every Thursday

1.30pm– 4pm

Beaconsfield.

Classes Nothing will lift your spirits like getting busy

with what you love. Join one of our many

classes and learn some new tricks!

Sewing

Tai Chi

English & Spanish

IT & Computers

Tours & Excursions Time to get out of the house? Feel like a

change of scenery in good company?

Join us for one of our many excursions. We’ll

pick you up and drop you back home, and

look after everything in between.

Check our calendar for what is coming up and

give us a call to book. $10

$2-15 $0 - 10.50

$ FREE

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