Community and Oral Health

This week our Gannet House residents travelled to Croatia without even leaving the dining room! ✈️

Recreational Officer Julie explains how the team at our Brighton residential aged care facility plan different activities each week such as cultural days and happy hour to keep their residents engaged socially.

"We do a different country every month; either places our residents may come from or where they have always wanted to go but never have," said Julie.

"We have activities like armchair travel and cultural day, and our kitchen always hops on board to do a cultural dish."

Gannet House resident Janine says that these activities always ensure the house stays in good spirits.

"We have happy hour every fortnight where we all get together as friends, have a few drinks, play some music, and have a laugh together," she says.

"We go on bus trips, shopping outings, and they also get entertainment brought in as well.

"The important thing is to join in if you can, not to stay in your room. [The residents] become our family and such good friends." ... See MoreSee Less

Don't let a drop in temperature mean a drop in your mood - there are things you can do to look after yourself! 🥶❤️

Clinical Psychologist Henry talks us through the impact of weather on mood, and the importance of maintaining exercise and social routines, despite the feeling of wanting to 'hibernate' in the cooler months.

"I think getting out as much as possible, especially in the sunlight during these shorter days helps. If you have a long commute or you're indoors for so long, it can get hard to be more in sync with the natural light," he says.

"We find that other lifestyle factors impact as well. On colder days we feel less inclined to exercise, we may want to sleep in later, but it's important to find a movement that works for you, and it doesn’t have to be the gym, it can be walking, dancing, whatever you enjoy.

"My day to day at the moment is supporting patients in the GEMS ward which are patients 65 and over. I always try and get patients on the balcony in the sunlight as much as possible, the consistent ward lighting can throw you out of whack." 🌞 ... See MoreSee Less

"I was diagnosed with cancer about two years ago. The staff are awesome here and I’m cancer free now, I was doing ice machine rentals, but now just enjoying some time off. I love fishing, but I'm a single dad to a daughter so spend lots of time at dance and gymnastics. I say do what you want to do and don't hesitate. If it turns out bad, then it turns out bad but if you just give it a crack. it might turn out good."

💭 Monday Mantra, Dane, Bribie Island Satellite Health Centre Cancer Care Patient ... See MoreSee Less