Avonlea Dementia Care
What's new
Stay up to date with what is going on at Admatha via our facebook page and articles from our newsletter below.
If you would like to receive our newsletters please talk to the managers to get added to the list.
Magic moments from our homes
During our walking exercise, one of the residents stopped by her room and recognised the picture outside her door. She pointed to it and said, “Lovely photo, that’s my man.” Her eyes were glowing as she smiled and gazed at the picture.
I was cleaning one of the lounges when a resident came to me and announced that it was going to be her birthday this coming Saturday. I said, “That’s great! That's very timely because we are having an entertainer that day!” She was very happy to hear this and she's looking forward to it! She also added that she’s thankful to all the staff for looking after her well. She said that she really appreciates that her choices and food preferences are well respected and that the team is really listening and she feels heard.
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Greetings from the Avonlea Team! - July newsletter
As we embrace the cooler months of winter, our activities and menu have been thoughtfully adapted to reflect the season. Our winter menu has been a hit with residents, offering comforting and nourishing meals perfect for the chilly weather.
We’re delighted to continue hosting a wonderful lineup of entertainers - something our residents always look forward to. Our regular performers include a number of entertainers who do singing and guitar: Lito de Torres, Rod, Siona Glassey and Dave Trent; Neville, who does singing, guitar and a touch of magic; and Chris Williams who does a mix of Māori and English songs. We love the unique approach that they each bring to our home.
We continue to enjoy regular visits from Paddington, our beloved furry friend. Paddington never fails to bring joy to our residents - there are always smiles and cuddles when he’s around!
Recently, students from Sacred Heart School visited and performed action songs for our residents. It was a heartwarming experience that brought joy to all.
Our commitment to providing the best possible care means our staff regularly participate in comprehensive training. Since our last newsletter, our team has completed training in Palliative Care; Critical Thinking; Infection Control; Falls Minimisation; Restraint Minimisation; Medication Management; Dementia, Delirium, and Depression; Airway Obstruction Management; Nutrition; Wound Care; Pressure Area Management & Skin Tears; Health and Safety; and Manual Handling. These ongoing trainings ensure our team is equipped with the latest knowledge and skills to provide exceptional, person-centred care.
In our continuous effort to enhance our care environment, Aroha, one of our wings is currently closed for refurbishment. We look forward to enjoying a refreshed and improved space and we will communicate further about this in the near future.
We’re excited about our upcoming Mid-Winter Gathering and look forward to spending a warm and festive time together with residents, families, and staff.
Stay warm and well.
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Thank you for your feedback
At each of our rest homes around the country we have a regular family focus group. These groups are facilitated by Peter Hume who works for Dementia Care NZ from Christchurch. The sessions are aimed at getting some feedback from family members who visit often about how we can improve.
We ask questions like: How can we make life better for your loved one here? How can we make life easier for you? How can we support you more? At these meetings we often receive a gem of an idea that we take forward and put into action.
This year we had two sessions at Avonlea. Family members commented positively about the care, saying that staff live up to the vision and that there is a lot of openness between staff and families.
The attendees also raised several issues which we are following up:
• Maintenance of furniture such as side table and chairs.
• Giving further notice around GP visits that are scheduled.
• Cleaning windows in one wing.
• Reviewing clinical events to ensure they are followed up well.
• Providing education resources and support to family members as needed.
• Staff engagement with residents particularly during activities.
We would like to thank everyone who was able to come to the family focus group. We really appreciate your time providing us with this feedback. We will continue to update you as we make progress with the issues raised in the focus groups.
If you have some feedback for us please do get in touch, and we also appreciate hearing your thoughts through the EPOA survey. -
Warmest greetings from the Avonlea team
As the leaves begin to change and a gentle crispness fills the air, we at Avonlea Dementia Care are embracing the beauty of autumn. It's a time for reflection, gratitude, and preparing for the cosy months ahead.
We can't help but smile as we recall the moments shared during our December Family Gatherings. We played games and enjoyed the melodies of family members performing songs and playing instruments. We shared delicious food with friends and loved ones. Thank you to those of you who were able to come to help make this a special time.
Summer's golden days have brought their own delights. Our residents enjoyed the sunshine with barbecues and ice cream outdoors.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to our incredible volunteers, who bring so much joy to Avonlea. The members of Hope Presbyterian Church continue to be a constant source of comfort and companionship, and Dave Perry, with his adorable dog Paddington, never fails to brighten our residents' days. Thank you for your dedication and kindness.
We're delighted to welcome three new members to our dedicated team: Alias joins us as a Duty Cook, Daljeet joins us as a Caregiver, and Greeshma Anthony joins us as a Registered Nurse. Their passion and expertise are valuable additions to our Avonlea family.
We have our Certification Audit in June. An audit allows us to demonstrate our commitment to upholding the highest standards of care. We are proud of our Vision and Values, which are reflected in the dedication and compassion of our staff.
At Avonlea, we strive to create a warm, loving, and supportive environment where our residents feel at home. We believe in celebrating every moment and creating meaningful experiences.
Thank you for being a part of the Avonlea family.