LIVING in an aged-care home doesn’t mean you’re disconnected from the wider community, and residents at Respect’s Alcheringa home in Swan Hill will proudly attest to that.
Widespread research has long suggested that being part of a strong, local community can lead to significant health benefits, particularly around mental and emotional wellbeing.
The staff at Alcheringa recognise how integral a sense of belonging and social connectiveness can be for positive ageing and are committed to ensuring every resident can enjoy opportunities to reconnect with, and remain active members of, the Swan Hill community which they are proud to call home (and in which many have lived their entire lives).
A recent highlight of the home’s busy social calendar took place this week when seven residents paid a special visit to the local men’s shed, run out of Swan Hill Neighbourhood House.
With Men’s Health Week occurring in June it was a timely opportunity to appreciate the importance of building local connections and shared spaces for positive dialogue and interactions, while also recognising the important role the men’s shed plays for the local community.
The men’s shed provides a meeting place where local men can learn valuable skills, make connections, build friendships and continue to feel like productive and valuable members of the community.
Alcheringa’s social care co-ordinator, Mariya Hicks, said the visit, which included a shared morning tea, was greeted with great enthusiasm from residents and led to some wonderful moments.
“The residents absolutely loved it,” Ms Hicks said.
“It was such a great opportunity for some brilliant social interaction, and I know they appreciated engaging with their peers in the community.
“At the beginning of our visit we went around and introduced each of the residents and it was clear from the get-go that there were shared connections and interests, particularly around past farming and work experiences.
“Discussions quickly turned to their lives, their families, how their kids are now running their farms and what they are up to in their retirement years.
“Some were even able to reconnect with friends and contacts from the past, which was so lovely.
“One resident hadn’t seen his old mate since they were 14 and, by chance, he turned out to be one of the guys attending the shed.
“It was an important education for them too, just to know that services like the men’s shed exist in the community where local men can go to gather and socially interact.”
Ms Hicks said community activities, like the partnership between Alcheringa and Swan Hill Men’s Shed, were hugely beneficial for residents as well as the home.
“It really does allow us to stay connected with local groups and individuals and ensures our residents can continue to feel a strong link with Swan Hill and the surrounding region,” she said.
