Adding Years to Life and Life to Years

Resident Engagement

Our residents’ quality of life is just as important as their clinical care needs.

At RSL LifeCare we offer a wide range of activities to ensure our residents are engaged in the things that add meaning and enjoyment to their lives. We provide opportunities for our residents to continue with the hobbies and passions they love, as well as the chance to try something new. Our care homes provide a combination of the following activities, according to the needs and interest of our residents:

Creative: art classes; choirs; music therapy; craft activities; life-story writing; creative writing; cooking biscuits and other simple foods from the comfort of a chair; Book Clubs; gardening and photography

Spiritual: Chaplain visits; bible studies and church services; chair yoga; meditation

Family-orientated: Family-fun days; Family Christmas dinners; opportunities for family to be involved in special events such as ANZAC Day and for families to have use of our facilities

Community-orientated: Every week our care homes take excursions to enjoy the local community such as a gallery visit, walks, shopping or a drive in the local area for a trip down memory lane. In addition, we welcome local groups and organisations to visit us, for example Rotary, CWA, Church groups, craft groups, drama clubs and local performers.

Inter-generational: Mums and Bubs playgroups held in care homes; regular visits from our local school children to talk, enjoy activities together, perform dances, sing songs and some on-site child care.

Simply comforting: pet therapy; music therapy, art therapy. Every care home has resident animals which may include birds, chickens, rabbits and fish. We even have robotic seals, cats and dogs as well as personalised earphones and music.

Ever-changing: We endeavour to keep life interesting by taking advantage of the skills and talents of our staff, local events and attractions that may be seasonally on offer and other opportunities that arise to keep life interesting in our care homes.

Assessing Quality of Life

RSL LifeCare has developed, in conjunction with the Australian Catholic University, the “Long Term Quality of Life Scale” (LTC QoL). This scale enables staff to effectively monitor residents’ quality of life. As a result, nurses are able to plan individualised and truly effective care plans for each resident in care, thereby fulfilling not only the physical needs of residents but also their psychological, social and spiritual wellbeing.

We’re in the business of “adding life to years and years to life”; we want residents and staff to enjoy life.