By Sonia Isaacs
ACROSS our region, local Seniors can enjoy a wide range of interesting and engaging activities. Long running not-for profit organisation RangeCare prides itself on offering a variety of programs and initiatives that support older people to live well independently and maintain and enhance a good quality of life.
GC&M News recently caught up with Hayley Austin, the new Healthy Lifestyle Coordinator at RangeCare to find out more about some of the organisation’s new initiatives, as well as a sneak peak at some future programs designed to promote a holistic approach to enhancing overall wellbeing for seniors. Hayley said she was excited to look at innovative programs that not only maintained a quality of life at home for clients but also brought joy and opportunities for fun and engagement.
“As a community-based organisation, we want to offer outstanding programs that both respond to and support the needs of our clients in our community. I’m excited that our team is being encouraged to explore and deliver bigger programs and new activities for our clients,” said Hayley.
Mind Aerobics is a program designed to provide older adults with comprehensive mental workouts that can maintain and or improve cognitive functioning. Delivered as a fortnightly or monthly puzzle package, clients develop solutions to challenging puzzles and problems from the comfort of home.
Since launching this free initiative, Hayley said there had been enormously positive feedback with word of mouth leading to new client enquiries and involvement in the program.
“A lot of our clients are looking for fun and stimulating activities that they can do at home to provide a distraction from boredom and stimulate the mind. For some this is a really wonderful way to assist and ward off dementia and keep their brain active,” said Hayley.
A new Maleny Chess Club has also been started to provide the opportunity for greater social interaction and the forming of friendships, as well as assisting with prevention of age-related cognitive decline, develop perspective, improve memory, deepen focus, and protect against dementia.
Realising that a number of activities often overlooked the interests of men, RangeCare has recently established a Men’s Club to provide men with a safe space to have their feelings heard, and to promote socialization, prevent isolation and promote overall mental wellbeing
These new activities complement existing programs that include Pilates, Aqua Aerobics, Coast shopping Trips, Maleny and Mapleton Gym Programs, Circle Talk, Life Story Group and Be Connected, which is a digital literacy program.
There are some exciting future proposed programs that include Armchair World Travel, Roaming Diners Club, Yoga and a Coffee, and Movie Club. Hayley explained that the intriguingly named ‘Armchair World Travel’ program scheduled for launch in early 2023 would see a room set up to give the feel of being in an aeroplane with clients ‘travelling’ to a different country each month. “This is a really fun and exciting program we are looking forward to delivering early next year. Clients will be given ‘passports’ and we will have a big screen set up and serve food themed to the country we are sharing the experience of each month,” explained Hayley.
RangeCare programs and activities are open to all seniors enrolled through My Aged Care. To find out more, contact Flaxton Head Office on 5445 7044 or Maleny Office 5429 6352 or visit
www.rangecare.com.au
