Every day thousands of staff in aged care facilities nationwide take care of people in rest-home and care facilities.
They are the nurses, caregivers, cooks, kitchen assistants, cleaners, gardeners, laundry staff, activity co-ordinators, maintenance and administration staff.
Last week, two Ashburton facilities took time to acknowledge and thank their staff for Aged Care Employee Day. They were Heritage Lifecare Coldstream Lifecare & Village, and Princes Court Lifecare.
Care Home and Village manager Desme Daniels said to show their appreciation to staff they offered coffees, as well as morning and afternoon teas in recognition of the 24-hour, seven-day-a-week, roundthe clock care they provided.
Unlike other recognition days that focus on particular parts of the team, for example nurses, this day encompasses the whole of the multi discipline team that run the aged care facilities. It is celebrated on August 7.
“Every day, aged care employees perform their roles with immense dedication and compassion, often going above and beyond to ensure the wellbeing of our older community members,” Daniels said.
Lifecare took an opportunity to express their gratitude and appreciation to the staff for the invaluable contribution the made to their roles to provide care and support to residents.
“We’re asking our community to take a moment and think about the quiet achievers and the superheroes who provide care with professionalism, compassion and dedication for our loved ones and give them the recognition they deserve,” she said.
The celebration of the aged care day was now in its seventh year. It started at Whiddon, an Australian aged care provider.
This was the first year Lifecare had held an event in Ashburton to mark the day.
The aged care sector faced increasing challenges, including staffing shortages, funding limitations, and growing demand due to an ageing population and recognition of their work was appreciated by staff.
