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ECH volunteer Malcolm Levy Keeping busy and making new friends are among the reasons Malcolm Levy enjoys giving up his time to help others. Malcolm Levy, 85, of Lockleys, has lived at ECH independent retirement living village David Read Lodge with his wife June, for 10 years, and is the organisation’s oldest volunteer. The aged care service provider is celebrating its volunteers with a special thank you event on May 19, coinciding with National Volunteer Week. ECH has 117 volunteers, who assist with tasks including arts, gardening, music and social groups, but more are needed. Malcolm started volunteering for the organisation by accident. In his working life he worked as an accountant, financial planner and a tax agent and retired in 2003, when he was about 65 years old. In 1999 he attended what was called a ‘conversation café’. “We were set up in tables of four and the host initiated a subject which we would discuss on our tables. Later the host would welcome someone from each table to stand up and present to the wider group what had been discussed. This really appealed to me,” he said. Fast forward to 2012, he moved into the Lodge, had a conversation with an ECH staff member, started volunteering with ECH, and introduced the café concept. “I delivered about 400 brochures in letterboxes, promoting the conversation café and then I started to welcome participants. I had always been willing to do my…

ECH volunteer Ros Werner Like many organisations, home care and independent retirement living provider ECH would not be able to make the same difference in the lives of many without the support of its team of dedicated volunteers. Arts, gardening, music and social groups are just some of the ECH (Enabling Confidence at Home) community engagement activities that volunteers are on hand to assist with. ECH general manager of client experience Carolyn Dawkins said the significance of the programs were far greater than just spending an hour or two participating in an activity – it was about the friendships and fun forged along the way. “The importance of social connections is two-way – we are providing volunteers with a sense of purpose,” Ms Dawkins said on the eve of National Volunteers Week, which runs until May 22. “They enjoy serving the community, and they experience so much personal growth too, and the clients and members of the ECH community gain so much knowledge, skills and friendship. “Volunteering brings real joy and shared benefit. It provides meaningful outcome, so we are extremely grateful for the kind generosity from all our volunteers.” ECH presently has 117 volunteers but is always calling on others who are interested in giving back to the community. Current opportunities include volunteer bus drivers, friendly pet-visiting (for people who have a furry friend and would like to bring them on client visits) and walking group leaders. A new opportunity also exists in the Walking Footy program…

Leading home care and independent retirement living provider ECH (Enabling Confidence at Home) has today announced an innovative partnership with smart clothing brand Goldilocks and The University of Adelaide to develop a range of smart garments that will support older people to remain living independently in their own home. The three leading experts joined forces to secure funding through the South Australian Innovation Challenge which aims to create new solutions that propel the health, aged care and disability sectors. Goldilocks – one of South Australia’s leading start-ups in smart clothing and neural networks – originally designed a smart singlet which tracked an infant’s sleep, temperature and breathing, giving parents peace of mind. Now, working collaboratively, the three leading experts are looking at ways to design a similar product for older people, using cutting-edge technology. ECH Chair of the Board Rosina Hislop said that ECH is committed to making significant progress that will benefit the way older people live and give reassurance to their families. “This partnership with Goldilocks and The University of Adelaide will allow us to build on the current knowledge and adapt the technology to meet the needs of older people,” said Mrs Hislop. “Our aim is to develop a product based on market research that will measure skin temperature, breathing and even location to build a personalised view of an individual’s habits. This provides reassurance that daily routines are being undertaken, providing peace of mind for our clients and their support network.” Goldilocks founder Shem Richards said…

Leading South Australian home care and retirement living provider ECH (Enabling Confidence at Home) has officially opened the doors to its state-of-the-art $42.5 million vertical village - Encore Apartments in Modbury.

Active Ageing Australia is proud to present Active Ageing Week 2021, to be held from Monday 4 October – Sunday 10 October. Active Ageing Australia’s national ‘Move Your Way’ campaign challenges society’s expectations of ageing by highlighting that regardless of age, people can live life as fully as possible by staying active. Active ageing includes staying both physically and mentally active, as well as staying socially connected with your community. Laura Perdue, Chair of Active Ageing Australia, says evidence shows that the loss of function and muscle mass associated with ageing can be slowed with regular physical activity – including strength, balance and flexibility training. However according to COTA’s State of the Older Nation 2021 Report, 54 per cent of Australians aged 60 and over do not do the recommended minimum two hours of moderate or vigorous physical activity per week. This cohort has significantly grown since 2018. ‘By increasing moderate physical activity by just 15 minutes, five times a week, older people aged 65 and over who are ‘at risk’ of disease can improve their overall health and wellbeing while reducing future disease by 19 per cent,’ said Ms Perdue. Although people are often challenged by major life events including illness, surgery, loss of social connections and now the COVID-19 pandemic, Active Ageing Australia is hopeful that this campaign will inspire them to find new ways to get outdoors and be active. “While major life events may be seen by some people as obstacles, they also provide…

Leading South Australian home care provider ECH (Enabling Confidence at Home) has today announced the launch of a new proof-of-concept Care Hotel, aimed at providing a range of ground-breaking solutions for short term care and respite needs.