Hope’s Café welcomes our supporters


Supporters and members of the Samuel Forsyth Bequest Society joined staff and volunteers at Hope’s Café in December for morning tea, and to learn about the work of our Eastern Services team.


We also welcomed three new members to the Society – Mavis Ellis, Myra Lillywhite and Dan Burt.


Our guests heard from Uniting Communities’ Minister, Reverend Peter McDonald, and Eastern Services Manager, David Winderlich, about the service and the role of Hope’s Café in Adelaide’s eastern suburbs.


A product of the Spire Community partnership between Uniting Communities and the Clayton Wesley Church in Beulah Park, the Café offers assistance to asylum seekers including English language classes and affordable meals, as well as arts and crafts activities. Volunteers can also receive barista and hospitality training, or contribute to the vibrant community garden.


Attendee Jeff Thompson, nephew of Samuel Forsyth, our Bequest Society’s namesake.


As well as enjoying a morning tea hosted by Uniting Communities staff and the Café’s volunteers, visitors enjoyed the chance to participate in guided tours around the site.


Aldersgate steps forward for good health


Uniting Communities’ Aldersgate aged care facility is one of ten pilot sites across Australia taking part in the Step Forward – Together Project.


An initiative of the Department of Social Services, the project is trialling how organisations can collabo- rate with clients to provide aged care services, with a focus on wellness.


Aldersgate’s project focuses on co-producing an exercise program based on daily living activities.


Tasks such as housework and gardening are an excellent source of activity and help to maintain the normality of daily life. When people enter residential care, their levels of incidental exercise tend to decrease or cease altogether as they no longer need to run a household.


Staff at Aldersgate became concerned that people were at risk of becoming sedentary and dependent when moving into residential care or receiving more home care services. With a desire to encourage older people to keep active, staff saw an opportunity to engage residents in a different way.


The project has two main aims: to improve the wellbeing of individuals with dementia through an exercise program based on daily activities; and to develop a visual resource to assist people to complete the exercises and understand the benefits.


Basic task sheets will outline step-by-step activities to assist with promoting a range of movements. The types of daily tasks will include dusting, mopping, sweeping, hanging washing, washing dishes and gardening – all dependent on the abilities and inter- ests of the older person.


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It is hoped that the project will encourage people with dementia to remain active, and promote a home-like environment for those people living in residential care facilities.


Residents are taking a very active role in the project, with some having joined the Steering Committee that has been established.


Mel Ottaway, Executive Manager of Aged Care, says the collaborative nature of the project is encouraging a more evenly balanced relationship between staff and residents.


‘The project has encouraged staff to look at residents differently; it has challenged their thinking and is breaking down traditional approaches to care,’ she says. ‘This is important as we want people to feel supported in their exercise activities and that they’re part of the decision-making process.’


The Aldersgate team have received training to assist them throughout the project, with support from industry professionals, consumers, carers or their representatives.


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