Residents Leading the Way

“I can only speak in the highest regard for all the staff, but particularly with this Lifestyle approach, which has been so relevant,” says Commissioner Earle, a Macquarie Lodge resident and Commissioner of The Salvation Army. 

Commissioner Earle recently led the way in the Arncliffe Centre’s latest ‘Macquarie Lodge Chronicles’ Lifestyle activity. This newly established Lifestyle activity provides residents with an opportunity to share their life story in an open and empowering way, ensuring that residents are not only participating in the Lifestyle activities they wish, but also directing them.  

Commissioner Earle worked alongside the Cente’s Lifestyle Coordinator, Neetika, to determine what to impart during the Chronicles series and noted the profound impact this activity had on himself and in terms of his connection with other residents. “It was an unexpected privilege that had been addressed to me,” he says. “I felt it was such a meaningful opportunity, not only for people to get to know each other better, but you feel that we are all better off because we learn from each other.”  

When reflecting on the opportunity to share his life story with others, Commissioner Earle emphasises this sense of community and empowerment that the Chronicles Lifestyle activity elicited from those involved. “I think it’s a beautiful interaction at a level that brings it more to the playing field of life, rather than being distant and that no one knows you.”  

Similarly, Betty and Cheryl at Woodport Aged Care Centre, have also been leading the charge when it comes to their ‘Arts and Crafts Ladies Group.’ Both Betty and Cheryl recently organised for their group to create a variety of doorstops for residents to use at their centre.

Cheryl notes it was partly inspired by practicality and partly innovation. “We had to remove the wooden door stops that we had because they were a fire hazard, and the doors are heavy, and some of us residents like to keep our doors open,” she explains. 

Each doorstop took around 20 to 30 minutes to create, using strong fabric, before cutting it to size, filling it with sand and tying it with string. Of course, the doorstops had to be decorated accordingly, with the door stoppers subsequently wrapped with a nice, printed material and tied with twine and an individual name tag.  

Cheryl and Betty often take the lead on such projects, with Cheryl agreeing, “We are often involved in decorating the centre for special occasions like Christmas and Mother’s Day. We enjoy helping make decorations and sorting them out and helping staff to put them up.”  

When they reflected on what they most enjoy about leading their Lifestyle programs, Betty notes the sense of purpose it brings. “I think it’s great, I feel helpful, and I love it,” she says. Cheryl agrees: “When we help, we feel like we are contributing in a small way, and it makes us feel helpful and useful.”