Aged Care Employee Day is an opportunity to celebrate and honour the people who care for and support the older members of our community.

This Aged Care Employee Day is unlike any other as the role of our Aged Care team during the COVID-19 pandemic has been critical in providing support and maintaining social connection for our most vulnerable residents.

The appreciation for everyone playing their part is felt widely- from our home maintenance staff who continue to support our older residents- to our social activities team from the Black Rock Activity Centre who pivoted from centre-based programming to in-home services.

Our regional assessment staff have maintained access for older people needing services switching to telephone assessments to ensure a personalised and holistic approach to the needs of our older residents.

Our office staff have provided high levels of support for over 2,000 aged care clients and ensured everyone received the assistance they required through the pandemic. 

The community transport team seamlessly transitioned to delivering meals as our delivered meals staff worked tirelessly to respond quickly to an increased demand. 

The Healthy Ageing team has maintained connection with our seniors clubs and groups while other staff have hit the phones to check the wellbeing of Bayside’s older population.     

Our proud, passionate and professional community care workers have been on the forefront of the coronavirus crisis since it began unfolding.

Bayside Council care worker, Chris Watkins shared just some of the special moments that working in Aged Care has gifted him.

“One of my former clients had MS and we have maintained a great friendship.

He used to be a guitarist, and I’m a guitarist as well. Because of his condition, he can’t play anymore but he can sing, so we have a singalong with my guitar,” said Chris.

“I’ve also got a regular client who is 97 and I help her with domestic assistance. I do the cleaning, then we sit down and have a cuppa together.

I so look forward to seeing her every fortnight. It’s not only the support and the social connection, what I’m doing enables her to live in her own home.” [LASA Fusion Magazine Winter]

To support our aged care staff we must continue to follow the strict restrictions in place to help mitigate the risk and spread of COVID-19.

Head to our Facebook to take a moment to say thank you, share a positive story of your loved one and their community care worker and help us celebrate to magnificent work of this amazing bunch.

#ThanksForCaring