Lifestyle Experiences

With over 128 different experiences that make up our national lifestyle program, there’s something for everyone. Our lifestyle teams design weekly lifestyle calendars that reflect the diverse residents in our care. This means no one calendar will be the same, but there are certainly some favourites that make their way into most, including exercise classes, bingo, gardening club, arts and crafts, visiting entertainers, religious services and outings.

Our experiences have been designed to support residents to continue the activities and experiences they’ve always enjoyed as well as having the chance to try new ones in a safe and supportive environment with the chance to get to know other residents and feel part of the home’s community. When you visit one of our homes for a tour, our lifestyle teams would be happy to show you the lifestyle calendar and experiences on offer.

Our experiences are designed to understand and support each unique individual, which includes their interests as well as their ability to take part. The majority of the daily activities we do can be adapted to support residents living with mobility challenges or cognitive impairments. For example, yoga and tai chi can be adapted to be performed in a chair. For people living with cognitive impairments, the team may offer specific experiences in addition, such as small group experiences at specific times of the day or a focus on delivering an overall sensory experience.

We know that when you first move into one of our homes, it may take some time to settle in. Our lifestyle team will be there to support you. If you’d rather not take part in some of the activities, they will look to find ways to provide one-on-one time.

Across our 70+ homes, residents come from a broad range of backgrounds and each home’s lifestyle team will adapt the program to support this. This may mean specific cultural or religious days are celebrated in one home, with the lifestyle team working closely with the chef and catering teams to deliver special events and experiences looking at all aspects, including themed decorations, dress, music and food.

Our national lifestyle team support our homes by developing a national calendar that can followed as well as developing over 128 different experiences each home can select from based on their resident’s preferences. They also regularly seek feedback from residents on the experiences offered as well as reviewing information on residents’ attendance at activities.

Every one of our homes is part of its broader local community, with volunteers, visitors and entertainers playing a key part in the home’s vibrancy as well as out in the local community.

We regularly have visiting entertainers, volunteers and other groups including Men’s Sheds, knitting groups, and visiting animals, including trained therapists with pet therapy animals in addition to some of our homes having their own pets. A number of our homes also have art and music programs delivered by a qualified therapist experienced in supporting people living with dementia to ensure they can take part in adapted and engaging experiences.

Many of our residents remain an active part of their local community and look at ways to support their preferred community causes. This includes hosting community fundraising events as well as donating items including knitted goods for wildlife, homeless shelters and premature baby charities. Many residents retain long-standing relationships with Lions Clubs, Probus groups and enjoy meeting their friends at the local RSL. We encourage and support residents to maintain these important connections.

We are privileged to care for people at such an important time in their lives, which means we’re lucky enough to be there for some very special milestones, including 100 plus birthdays, wedding anniversaries and new members joining the family.

When you celebrate one of these very special milestones, our teams will support you and your family in however, you would like us to be involved to make it an extra special day. Whether it’s Chef baking one of his cakes, a special meal you’d like or setting up an area with decorations for you and your family to be together, nothing is too much trouble for the team.

In the past year alone*, we’ve celebrated 88 centenarian and olders’ birthdays and organised special events for residents that come from 93 different cultural backgrounds.

Read more about some of the experiences in our homes.

*2021