Wherever Ngaire goes, her cuddly and fashionable cavoodle Bella goes too. And the four-legged bundle of fur has brought loads of joy and melted hearts since she first started accompanying Ngaire to work 18 months ago, becoming a regular – and welcome – sight ever since. Ngaire is the ECH Rental Property Officer managing our rental unit portfolio and she says when she is out at inspections and client interviews, Bella tags along in her latest outfit – anything from puffer jackets, overalls and t-shirts.   ECH Rental Property Officer Ngaire “People love to see the different outfits she wears everyday – it’s a topic of conversation,” Ngaire laughs. “Bella likes to be around people, but it needs to be on her terms, but with clients, she senses they need a cuddle and that people need a bit of love – they get so much from her. “Even if someone in the office is having a challenging day, they make a beeline for Bella, give her a cuddle and a bit of a play and they feel calmer. Bella brings people together.” Ngaire, who has been with ECH for 31 years, says she is grateful her workplace has been welcoming of her seven-year-old “baby”. “I appreciate the fact that I can bring her to work, it means the world to me. She’s a good little dog who brings joy and those around just love her,” Ngaire says. If you would like to learn more about ECH Independent Retirement…

Small changes made to ECH client Michael’s house and circumstances have had the biggest, positive impact on his life. A stairlift installed at his back door, grab rails on walls throughout his house, a shower mat to ensure he doesn’t slip, an electric adjustable bed and a recliner chair, are the safety and comfort features that have been added to his Goolwa unit. ECH client Michael  Then there are his two scooters – a standard size for his daily travel needs and a smaller one capable of fitting into a taxi when he wants to go further afield. Both keep him active in the community and enable him to attend appointments on his own. Lastly, there’s the three days a week of domestic assistance, such as hanging out laundry or vacuuming floors, he receives from ECH. All combined ensure that Michael feels safe, secure and able to continue living independently. “The modifications are very necessary, and I’m absolutely delighted to be able to be independent. I had this fear of being housebound, but I can get out and about,” Michael says. ECH Occupational Therapist Chelsea And it’s all thanks to his ECH Occupational Therapist Chelsea, who has been the driving force especially in securing the modifications to his unit. Chelsea first started working with Michael five years ago, and while her visits have been intermittent – only when he needs new equipment – she has seen the joy added to Michael’s life. “Every time there is…

Who loves surrounding themselves with flowers? It’s a joy when we receive flowers as a gift, however it can be even more rewarding when we have flowers in our own home or garden. Those delicate blooms have the power to uplift us and those around us. The act of gifting flowers and plants goes beyond being a mere physical gesture; it holds the potential to offer emotional support and strengthen connections. Colourful blooms evoke positive emotions and lift our spirits and infuse joy and happiness into our living spaces*. ECH Social and Therapeutic Horticulturist, Dean presents three compelling reasons why the presence of flowers brings about a sense of wellbeing. By incorporating flowers and plants into our lives, we can easily enhance our overall state of happiness and contentment. 1. Dopamine is triggered by an unexpected reward, such as a rare bloom, a gift of flowers. 2. Oxytocin creates a feeling of trust and group solidarity i.e. feeling friendship when receiving a lovely bunch of flowers. 3. Serotonin can stimulate a sense of pride in the vision before us of our own efforts by growing flowers. The act of caring and receiving gifts can create a sense of belonging, reminding us that we are cherished and not forgotten. Nature’s beauty can be calming and tending to plants encourages a simple daily routine in your life. Easy flowers to grow in pots • Petunias • Pansies • Marigolds Easy flowers to grown in the garden…

As our winter turns to spring, the desire to embrace the outdoors grows, but so do our pollen allergies! There are ways to stay active and exercise without exposing yourself to pollen. ECH Exercise Physiologist Bridget highlights some of her simple indoor exercises that allow you to make the most of the season while avoiding pollen discomfort. So, shed those winter coats and get moving inside for a pollen-free spring experience. The following exercises are all designed for you to do in your own home and will help you stay fit and healthy. Remember, incorporating movement into your daily routine doesn’t have to be complicated or time consuming! If you start your day with a simple routine well before daily plans get in the way, you are sure to get more out of life from the healthy benefits. Prepare your environment  Before you dive into exercises, start by making sure your indoor environment is suitable. It’s a good idea to clear some space in where you can comfortably move around. A big stretch  Kickstart your mornings with a gentle stretching routine. Stretching helps improve flexibility, releases muscle tension, and enhances blood circulation. Move with simple exercises Sit to stand from a dining chair or seated recliner Side stepping at kitchen bench High knee marching at kitchen bench Shoulder rolls MEET BRIDGET ECH Exercise Physiologist, Bridget graduated from Flinders University in 2019 with a specialisation in Sports Science. She enjoys seeing her clients reach their goals…

Having a little patch of earth to call his own has always been the key to happiness for ECH resident David. No matter where he has lived – from a Stirling house with an expansive garden, to a courtyard home in Frewville, and now at ECH Clutterbuck Lodge, in Lockleys, with “a little patch” – David has maintained his avid interest in gardening since his early 20s. “I’ve always had a range of vegetables, and I’m a keen fan of European and North Asian plants, camellias and hydrangeas,” David says. “When I lived in Stirling, I had more than 70 azalea plants. They like acidic soil, so the soil in Stirling was perfect for them. “Now at Clutterbuck Lodge, I have a little patch; it’s small but manageable and I have that all to myself. I have a mixture of plants such as annuals, three different groundcovers that flower and new miniature Bougainvilleas climbing on the brush fence, and I plan to experiment with baby tomatoes.” David’s love for gardening has extended beyond his little patch in Lockleys to the Henley Beach Community Garden, which he stumbled across in an edition of Keep Connected. The Community Garden is located at the front of ECH Day Program Henley Beach, 1/11 Laidlaw St, Henley Beach. ECH Clutterbuck Lodge resident David at the Henley Beach Community Garden “I’m learning so much from the team who tend to the garden; I pick up all kinds of information,” David says. The community garden…

Barbara and Jeannette’s contribution has seen them nominated and recognised by an Australian Government Volunteer Award. Here is their story: It is with their generosity of time and effort that ECH can deliver activities such as art, crafts, music, cooking and recreational pursuits such as indoor bowls. And it is as beneficial for the volunteers as it is for the recipients – they get just as much joy out of the experience. So say ECH volunteers Barbara and Jeannette. A few years after Barbara moved into her unit at ECH Lewis Court, in 2007, she wanted to give something back. “With ECH, I’m very grateful for being accepted into the village and I felt I wanted to do something for ECH because they have done so much for me” says Barbara. ECH Lewis Court resident and volunteer Barbara Barbara joined a program, where for two years she took clients out for a weekly coffee or walk at the beach, providing them with company and a friendly face. Four years ago, she became involved in the weekly activities at the Cumberland Park Community Centre – or life, and I think if you’re reasonably lucky in life, you should give back to the community. Being at The Cumby every week has become part of my routine, it feels like a family atmosphere,” she says. Just like Barbara, Jeannette feels a sense of purpose and community spirit when she volunteers for the Life Stories as it is affectionately known…

We celebrated Senior Care Coordinator Constance’s 20th anniversary in July – marking an incredible achievement. Keep Connected sat down with Constance to learn more about her two-decade career at ECH. Tell us about your career at ECH  In 2003, I started working at the Henley Beach Wellness Centre as a receptionist on a part-time basis. At the time, my youngest son was a toddler and now he works with ECH in our call centre, Member Connect. Over time, I increased my hours and took on occasional projects, helping our home services and day program teams. Then I moved to the role of Senior Administration Officer overseeing administration services across five wellness centres, before spending a year in Retirement Living selling ECH units. My next role was in the Member Connect team, in early 2017, where I progressed to a Member Connect lead role. Most recently, I moved to be a Home Care Packages Care Coordinator in 2021 and I am now a Senior Care Coordinator. What does your job entail as a Senior Care Coordinator?  I provide support to my manager and I have a team of five Care Coordinators who I oversee. Our role is to coordinate the services that meet each client’s needs and goals. I also provide induction for new Care Coordinators, including training, mentoring and coaching. I support the team in ensuring our clients are receiving the support they need to continue to live safely and as independently as they can in their own…

It has been a wonderful 12 months at ECH and it has been a privilege to meet many of our clients, residents and team whilst visiting our sites and hosting ECH events. What is evident across the entire organisation is the passion, purpose and commitment that drives us all. Since commencing, I have been focused on listening to your feedback and ensuring that as a team we are responding. Our home care client survey, which was recently distributed, ensures that we are celebrating the wonderful work our team does as well as focus on improving areas like our responsiveness and call wait times. We are implementing a number of solutions to address this and your feedback is greatly valued. To coincide with National Reconciliation Week and as part of ECH’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) we launched our Bush Tucker Garden at Encore Apartments in Modbury. The garden and event gave our clients and residents the opportunity to explore the garden, learn about edible native flora and the importance of these plants. ECH designed the garden with Leanne Williams, local Aboriginal woman and horticulturist, to ensure that we are learning and walking beside Aboriginal people. You can view photos of the garden in our Community News. In July, our team members gathered for the first time in several years at our Employee End of Year Dinner, to celebrate the achievements of our team. As I was also marking my first year as Chief Executive, it was the perfect time…

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…

Our body is our temple, but we still need to fill it with the colours of the rainbow to make sure it receives the nutrition for good health that it needs – even more importantly as we age. Good nutrition is especially helpful for people who have specific dietary restrictions or requirements. For example, people with diabetes or food allergies. Telling signs for you to know when your body isn’t receiving enough nutrients include when you have a reduced appetite, unintentional weight loss, or you are feeling tired. This may lead to getting ill often, and taking a long time to recover, poor concentration or feeling cold most of the time (even in a warmed sunny winter room). ECH Dietitian Deepti frequently works with people to help them select and eat the foods they need. Deepti shares that it may be that a person loses their appetite, finds it hard to swallow, or may have chronic diseases or take medications that affects their diet. Being isolated and lonely, with failing health, depression and grief can all affect people’s diets too. You can encourage someone (including yourself) to eat by adding herbs and spices to bland food or by exercising to boost appetite. If the cost of food is an issue, you could consider drawing up a budget, buying food on sale, or splitting the cost of bulk purchases with a friend or neighbour. The key to eating well is to enjoy a variety of nutritious foods from each of the…

For a few years, Helen had lacked confidence in her mobility due to her fibromyalgia – a condition that causes chronic pain and fatigue – and experienced low blood pressure and dizzy spells, leading to unexpected falls. Helen also hadn’t gone shopping, walked the beautiful grounds of the Elliot Gardens Retirement Village where she lives, nor attended the hydrotherapy pool, which she previously loved! But after referral from her Care Coordinator, Joanne in April last year, Helen met Chelsea an ECH Occupational Therapist, who has since given her a new lease on life. Working together, Helen and Chelsea set a number of goals. They started small, and gradually built to regain her confidence in doing the activities she once loved. “My first goal was to walk around the house. Chelsea set me achievable exercises to complete each day, including chair exercises and to practise walking up and down my hallway. She would check on me weekly, and having that contact, really made a difference,” Helen says. “Chelsea is an absolute sweetheart and very empathetic. I feel like she is my granddaughter – she is just so bright and encouraging.”   Helen practiced walking around the village gardens for the first time in 13 years, and she has returned to the hydrotherapy pool. Chelsea says: “We practised walking through Woolworths, which she hadn’t been to for two years. Helen was so happy the first time we went. Seeing her face enjoying life and doing things she once was able to do…

In a heart-warming collaboration of young minds and experienced individuals, Year 5/6 Mitcham Primary STEM extension students connected with ECH Community Day Program participants in a bid to bridge generational gaps. The students connected with participants at the Cumberland Park Community Centre to breathe life into Augmented Reality games. Affectionately known as “The Cumby Crew”, the Community Centre is a partnership between ECH and the City of Mitcham, where activities are held weekly to engage older members of the community. At the centre of this transformative journey, a captivating STEM project was born with students creating games with older people in mind, over two terms. The students got to showcase their creations to the individuals who will benefit from their ingenuity in the future. ECH Chief Executive Claire Scapinello said creating these meaningful connections within the local community was essential to overall health and wellbeing. “Each week, the ECH Community Connections Team ensures bonds are built and friendships are formed to encourage participants to try new activities such as craft, macramé, art, sewing, cooking, gardening, or even music and dance,” Ms Scapinello said. “The significance of this STEM primary school project extends beyond the classroom. It underscores the potential of education not only as a means of individual advancement but also as a vehicle for cultivating empathy, understanding, and cooperation.   “The collaboration between young minds and seasoned individuals underscores the invaluable exchange of knowledge and experience that takes place when generations come together with a common goal.” The…