RUOK? Today is the National Day of Action which reminds us that every day is the day to ask, ‘are you OK?’, and start a meaningful conversation whenever you spot the signs that someone YOU care about might be struggling with life.   On this day, let’s acknowledge the many benefits that exercise brings to supporting your well-being and reducing stress. Let’s consider walking footy as one idea which can help you connect with new people and have those conversations. It’s perfectly okay if you’re not already a budding Matilda’s soccer star or basketball enthusiast. There exists a variety of exercise groups and “social” sports leagues that prioritise social interaction over intense competition. The SANFL & ECH Walking Footy game, is a modified version of Australian Rules Football that prioritises enjoyment, safety, and inclusivity. This could be the perfect activity for you to take part in or simply attend from the sidelines, offering both a chance to play and a chance to socialise! Claire, ECH CE says, “While it remains valuable for our staff to grasp the advantages of the game, comprehending the social benefits of encouraging our clients to engage in a casual ball-kicking session holds equal importance.”   Matt, ECH Head of People and Culture, says, “We want everyone who works at ECH to feel they can talk about life’s ups and downs and access support if they need it.” If you’d like to learn more visit www.ruok.org.au/ James, ECH’s…

Today, as we mark Aged Care Employee Day, it presents us with a great opportunity to begin a different discussion about what is aged care and what carers do? Given the extensive media coverage of the Aged Care Royal Commission over the past few years, the average person can be forgiven for thinking that aged care and how we live as we get older comes down to one thing: a nursing home, or residential aged care. This means aged care workers who are registered nurses, chefs, lifestyle advisors, and personal carers, just to name a few, all do an incredible job, however, there is a whole other world beyond residential aged care. Aged Care Employee Day presents us with an opportune moment to look at the people who work to support older Australians as they reach different stages of their lives – not age. This means how we change our lifestyle depending on what we need to help us continue living our best lives. Older people can continue to live fulfilling lives with the aid of the caring efforts of wellness workers and care support workers. We need to shift the mindset of getting older to focus on ‘stage’ rather than ‘age’ in an individual’s journey. We know from feedback received by the Royal Commission that most Australians want to stay living in their own homes as they get older. We aim to ‘think outside the square’ and innovate to support our clients at different stages of their lives.