So You Work in Aged Care

Working in aged care presents unique challenges as workplace is often the older person's home, either privately owned or in residential care. In this episode we discuss the impact of remote work and why maintaining professional boundaries is important - it protects the worker and the client. Being present both physically and psychologically is important for those who work in aged care and having a...

In this episode Dr Julie is in the Hot Seat as we get to know the host. We welcome back to the show Maurie Voisey-Barlin who is interviewing Julie. Maurie and Julie discuss Julie’s background, including her upbringing in Bosnia and then New Zealand, and doing her university study in Australia. Julie shares how moving to a new country where she didn’t speak English at the age of 11 has impacted her...

Julie speaks with experienced Clinical Nurse Consultant, Kelly Arthurs, a Registered Nurse who specialises in Palliative Care. It’s a very important topic that is often not discussed openly in Aged Care because people don’t know how to ask the right questions or what to say or do, and Kelly has great insights to share. Kelly explains what Palliative Care is, including the 5 phases of Palliative Ca...

Julie speaks with Jo Muirhead, a Rehabilitation Consultant and the leader of Purple and Co. Jo tells Julie about her Great Aunt Gwen, a bit about her life story and some of the challenges as she aged and moved into care, as well as why she was so influential in Jo’s life. Jo also explores some of the stereotypes about older people being grumpy, judgemental and technologically challenged, and how G...

Julie speaks with Reverend Ron Baker, who is almost 90-years old and lives in a residential aged care facility in Australia. Ron has a wealth of knowledge and experience in a wide range of topics and he has first-hand experience of how COVID19 has impacted those living in residential aged care facilities this year. Ron shares how long he’s been in an aged care facility and how the transition was f...

Julie speaks with Donna Valantis, a Diversional Therapist who works as a Leisure and Lifestyle Coordinator. Donna tells us about her background and how she became involved in the Aged Care industry. Julie and Donna discuss what Diversional Therapists do, and the differences between a Diversional Therapist, Leisure and Lifestyle Coordinator and a Recreational Activities Officer. Donna then explains...

Julie speaks with Professor Sunil Bhar about the Swinburne National Telehealth Counselling and Support Service for Aged Care. Sunil tells us about his background in private practice and research, as well as what inspired him to focus on Aged Care, both working with older people and in helping to train the workforce that is sensitive to the needs of older adults. Julie and Sunil discuss why it’s im...

In this episode, Julie speaks with Maurie Voisey-Barlin, a Creative Engagement Specialist. Maurie and Julie discuss the role of Creative Therapeutic Engagement Specialists, what he does with older adults and how he has been supporting his peers and clients during COVID. Maurie explains why many lifestyle specialists get frustrated when the document that matters most is scantily filled out, and how...

Welcome back to the first episode this year after Julie returns from maternity leave to this strange time we’re all living with during COVID. Julie will discuss the impact this has had with every guest for the remainder of the year. In this episode Julie speaks with Del Marie McAlister, a leisure and lifestyle consultant who has worked in Aged Care for a long time now. Del also has a background as...

I hope you've enjoyed this first season of the show. I've thoroughly enjoyed bringing all the episodes to you and interviewing a wide range of speakers. You see, we don't often talk about Residential Care because most of Australians live in their own homes. Fact: it's only 5% that live in Residential Aged Care environments. So often this population is forgotten about and we don't necessarily hear...

Julie speaks with Jenny Blok, who has worked as a Chaplain for 12 years and now manages a team of Chaplains and Pastoral Care Volunteers to support older people both in residential settings and in their homes. Jenny shares how she came to work in Aged Care as a Chaplain, as well as what spiritual care is and who it’s for. Chaplains provide not only religious care but also other areas of spirituali...

In this episode, Julie makes the case for taking care of you as a person who supports older adults in Aged Care. The best outcomes for you, for older people, for families and for management are when we all work together. However, that ultimately comes down to you taking care of yourself and recognising what you may need to do more, or less, of in order to be well. Julie shares her experience when...

Julie speaks with Liz Kraefft, a qualified yoga teacher. Liz and Julie discuss Liz’s background and how she got started learning and then teaching yoga. Liz shares how she incorporates relaxation in her yoga sessions and what guided relaxation is. She explains the benefits of guided relaxation practices, and why people often struggle getting started with this practice. Liz and Julie then discuss y...

Julie discusses the important role of families in helping an older person settle into the Aged Care home, as well as the different ways facilities will involve residents’ families. There are many things that can impact the dynamics of the relationships an older person has with their families, and there are also a number of things that can enhance that to help the resident settle into Aged Care and...

Julie speaks with Bob Creelman, a qualified chaplain, scientist, engineer and volunteer. Bob has been running Men’s Groups in Aged Care Facilities for over a decade and he shares a bit about his background and how he came to be doing this work. Bob explains some of the challenges for older men in Aged Care, the types of discussions had, how the sessions are structured and what he calls ‘The Miracl...

Julie speaks with Trish Carlier, a volunteer dog visitor in Aged Care Facilities. Trish volunteers with Delta Society, a not-for-profit organisation that is supported by volunteers and their family pets. Trish explains how she became a volunteer dog visitor and what her visits with Golden Retriever Jazzy to Aged Care Facilities are like. Trish also shares a bit about the process of becoming a volu...

Julie discusses the often neglected and forgotten topic of older people’s strengths and why we need to incorporate them into Aged Care contexts. We tend to focus on diagnoses and what the restrictions or physical and cognitive limitations a person has. However, it’s important to take a step back and look at the strengths and capabilities of people so that we can help them maintain those skills, an...

Julie speaks with Toni Salter, a qualified horticulturist and recreational activities officer who is also known as The Veggie Lady. Toni shares her journey of using gardening as a kind of therapy in her own life, and how she went from pre-occupation to occupation! Julie and Toni discuss what Nature-Assisted Therapy is and its role in physical and mental rehabilitation, and the benefits as well as...

Julie explains the benefits of reminiscence as a powerful non-pharmacological intervention to wellbeing, especially for older adults in aged care environments. Julie shares the main requirements you need to be able to engage with reminiscence—time, interest and listening skills—as well as the other attributes that are good to have such as empathising, attending, relating sensitively, being non-jud...

Julie speaks about the importance of discussing mental health in older older adults. Quite often mental health are undetected, undiagnosed and not treated and this goes across the lifespan. In this episode Julie defines what a mental health condition is and shares a case study of an older person who moves into an Aged Care Facility. This case study demonstrates the type of symptoms that this woman...

Julie speaks with Joanna Haire about her journey to become a Music Therapist and the numerous benefits music therapy offers across the lifespan but especially for the wellbeing of older populations. Joanna explains the difference between Music Therapy and music for entertainment, and a bit about her process for structuring both group and individual sessions. Joanna and Julie discuss the discuss th...

Julie speaks about the very important topic of mental health for older people, and the question of who is responsible for the mental health of older people. If a young person is experiencing depression and anxiety, and getting support for their mental health, there is a perception that it is up to the client as to what they do between consultations. Is it the same principle in older people? Listen...

Julie speaks with Michelle and Mike, the founders of the Love to Live Program that runs in aged care facilities to entertain residents and that provides a number of others benefits too. Michelle tells us how the program came to be, stemming from a personal story involving her mother-in-law, as well as a bit about how the program runs. Mike and Michelle then share some of the benefits of the Love t...

Julie speaks with Jenny Cole about her work as a Speech Pathologist in the Aged Care Sector. Jenny shares what she does and how speech pathology works in the Aged Care setting. Jenny and July discuss the role of Speech Pathology in palliative care, as well as the recent changes that have occurred due to the new standards. Jenny also shares some success stories, and how her work varies across the s...

Julie speaks with Roxy Taylor about her journey to become an Art Therapist and why she chose to pursue the career within the Aged Care Sector. Roxy shares how the process unfolds, which residents will take part and why it’s such a valuable and important activity to be offering in Aged Care Facilities. Roxy and Julie discuss the impact of art therapy on residents, including on residents with vision...