Meet Arlie – whose handmade teddies are helping local children

Arlie is a very engaged and compassionate member of our Alexandra Gardens community.

A Rockhampton local since 1999, Arlie has loved embroidering and knitting ever since she can remember. But this interest goes far beyond just a hobby. Arlie uses her talents to help sick or injured children in the local area.

With help from other residents and Volunteer, Lyn, Arlie has made more than 200 Trauma Teddies for the local Ambulance Service.

“Paramedics hand these teddies to the children they treat on the way to the hospital and they tell me it really brightens them up. If a child is really sick or has had an accident, it’s nice to know that something I’ve made has helped in some way. Some of the children even write to me

to say thank you, which is lovely.”

Arlie credits knitting for keeping her mind active and she used to enter her work in competitions. At Alexandra Gardens, she loves that staff and volunteers support her to make difference to the local community.

“The other residents and I enjoy making the teddies very much. It’s very rewarding and I’m so grateful to Lyn and the staff here for helping me.”

At PresCare Alexandra Gardens, we love supporting residents like Arlie to remain engaged in the activities that bring them joy and purpose.

Meet Sneha – our Registered Nurse with a passion for aged care

Originally from Nepal, Sneha came to Alexandra Gardens on a student placement while undertaking her Nursing degree. She quickly fell in love with aged care and was excited to accept a Carer role here while she finished her studies. We snapped her up as a permanent RN once she qualified.

What do you love about aged care Nursing?

I love talking to the residents and finding out about their life stories. I particularly like helping residents in our secure dementia house – I become so attached to them. Just by spending one-on-one time with them, I can find ways to communicate and keep them calm. I play country music on the ipad and we sing and dance together. I’m now a fan of Slim Dusty! I love that my role is more than only clinical tasks – it’s about connecting with the residents.

How does PresCare support you to use your clinical skills?

Our Care Manager empowers me to make clinical decisions independently, but support is always there if I need it. This allows me to build a full understanding of the needs of the residents in my care, so I can respond quickly and with confidence.

What would you say to others considering a career in aged care Nursing?

I think the difference between a hospital setting and an aged care setting is that we really get to know the residents over time. We enjoy more responsibility and have more collaboration with a wider medical team. Caring for the older population is a very rewarding career.

At PresCare Alexandra Gardens, we love supporting our Nurses like Sneha who are passionate about making a difference to residents.

Welcoming positive changes with Apollo Care

The transition to new owners, Apollo Care, has been positive for Alexandra Gardens and we are already seeing the benefits of the many enhancements being made.

Apollo Care’s CEO, Stephen Besci and COO, Barry Ashcroft visited our community in August. During this visit, they toured the site, met residents, had initial discussions about potential refurbishments, and talked openly with staff about their roles, responsibilities, and any concerns.

Apollo’s award-winning staff culture program that was introduced late last year is gaining momentum and continues to support us to work together to put residents first. Here are some recent staff testimonials that showcase what it’s like working at Alexandra Gardens:

“Every day is rewarding because the care and services we provide makes a positive difference to the residents, and their families and friends.”

“The residents are so important to us. It is our honour and privilege to provide them with the care and services they need.”

“This is a very fulfilling job. All the team members are caring and friendly. The best part about working here is helping the residents live their best life.”

Over the next few months, we look forward to reporting on mobile care technology enhancements, including Nurse call systems and improved shared access to clinical care plans and communication.