Resthaven’s refreshed allied health program
The South Australian provider hopes to boost consistency across different community sites, so that participants can continue accessing the allied health program if they happen to move.
South Australian aged care provider Resthaven is celebrating the growth of its allied health program.
Together, wellness and social engagement lead Sekai Nhapi and allied health lead Michael To are introducing contemporary programs designed to holistically support older people across Resthaven’s community service sites.
Mr To has been in the role for just over a year and said he is pleased with how the program is evolving.
“Allied health is an area where people’s awareness and understanding are growing,” he said.
“People are familiar with physiotherapists, but the role of occupational therapists, for example, is still less well understood. That’s where collaboration with Sekai’s team is so important. We can promote the value of these services and ensure access to the full range of available support.”
Resthaven’s allied health offerings include:
- physiotherapy
- occupational therapy
- exercise physiologists
- social work
- podiatry.
But with the allied health program, Ms Nhapi said they are bringing in programs that are fresh and new for Support at Home and Commonwealth Home Support Program clients.
“We want to help people achieve their goals and aims – whether this is after an injury or illness, as a result of a change in lifestyle, or just a desire for renewal. We can also offer additional support through social connections or allied health programs. By bringing everything together we can create a personalised plan that is much greater than the sum of its parts.”
The basics are also being refreshed, with Ms Nhapi and Mr To reviewing scheduling systems across different community sites to create more logical and engaging daily experiences.
Ideally, there will be opportunities for an older person to
- start the day with an exercise class,
- join a social coffee club,
- then participate in another afternoon activity
- before attending a one-on-one appointment.
They are also working to create more cross-site consistency so that if a person moves to another area, the same services will be available.
The program also hopes to normalise restorative care and tackle ageism.
“We’re keeping the much-loved bingo and craft groups,” Ms Nhapi said, “but we’re also adding more educational sessions, technology-focused programs, and practical workshops around health and pain management.”
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