General News
30 March, 2023
Local Aged Care advantages to come
A range of exciting new initiatives at Rural Northwest Health are set to enhance the Aged Care residential experiences at both the Warracknabeal and Hopetoun campuses. Utilising modern technology and traditional activities, residents will experience...
A range of exciting new initiatives at Rural Northwest Health are set to enhance the Aged Care residential experiences at both the Warracknabeal and Hopetoun campuses.
Utilising modern technology and traditional activities, residents will experience a range of personalised and collaborative experiences that will provide new interests, while still maintaining a connection to the past.
Interactive technology
Warracknabeal campus’ Leisure and Lifestyle team leader Bronwyn McIntyre will be introducing Obie Projection Interactive Technology to residents.
Obie responds to the movements of hands, feet and other body parts - all without the need for any computer gaming skills - and can be adapted to individual visual, cognitive and auditory capacities.
The games and activities can be safely projected onto many everyday surfaces, and provide many opportunities for multiple residents to play together.
From painting or passing a ball, to jigsaws and traditional games like Mahjong, the highly interactive activities assist social isolation, loneliness and cognitive and motor skills.
Where previously, digital technology seemed to have been avoided in the Aged Care sector, Obie will encourage a great deal of interaction between residents and their tech-savvy grandchildren.
Ms McIntyre said Rural Northwest Health will also be seeking to encourage a connection between school children and residents.
Obie projectors have been purchased, and will be installed soon.
Virtual Reality
The Aged Care program has also purchased Virtual Reality goggles in preparation for another innovative experience for residents.
The goggles transform the natural environment into a seamless virtual reality world, allowing residents to achieve goals, experience adventures, and explore environments from the comfort of the chair.
One resident spoke about a lifelong aspiration to go parachuting, and with virtual reality, will soon be able to do so.
Jacqueline Johnston at Yarriambiack Lodge is developing the VR goggles project, and said it will soon be operational..
Easter
Aged Care residents in Warracknabeal will be out celebrating with the community this Easter on a specially-decorated bus which will feature in the traditional main street Easter Parade.
ANZAC Day
This year, many Aged Care residents at the Warracknabeal campus are looking forward to observing ANZAC Day with a Big Breakfast on campus, prior to attending the traditional town ceremony at Anzac Park with family and friends.
Kitchen Garden
The vivid memories of lockdown and isolation linger, and have highlighted the importance of outdoor experiences and working together.
The Aged Care program will be applying for funding to establish at least one,
possibly two, kitchen gardens at the Warracknabeal facility, with likely location choices being the Wattle and Yarriambiack Lodge.
The kitchen gardens will grow plants for onsite use in the preparation of meals, however the program will also have broader opportunities for encouraging physical activity, improving diet, maintaining previous life skills and reducing social isolation.
The funding round closes on April 21 2023.