Anglican Care is consistently looking for innovative ways to engage with their customers and be at the forefront of enhanced lifestyle and wellbeing solutions. The organisation has recently launched their ‘Rene’ Lifestyle Resources Van – a mobile entertainment van providing hours of fun and entertainment for Anglican Care residents and consumers.
A modern take on a mobile library, Rene travels to Anglican Care’s consumers across the Hunter, Central Coast and Midcoast regions and allows them the opportunity to borrow books, games and puzzles.
Anglican Care’s Lifestyle & Well-Being Coordinator, Jane Meldrum said the mobile entertainment library was developed after they realised there was more they needed to do to keep their clients connected and entertained in the comfort of their own homes.
“Ensuring our clients are living a happy and fulfilled life is what we ultimately strive for. And when we realised there was more we needed to do to achieve that, I knew we had to come up with something different,” Jane said.
“We have a gamut of resources at our fingertips being underutilised and I thought, if only there was a way of getting these resources out and about. That’s when the resources van idea came to life.
“The wide ranging nature of resources enables the van to assist many people; from those with a dementia related illness to those who may be socially isolated. It also has resources to assist carers and to cater for people from different cultural backgrounds via communication cards and links with interpreting / translating services.”
Jane recently presented the concept and positive outcomes at the Dementia and Community Care Conference in Melbourne and will also be a speaker at the Better Practice Conference in Sydney in August 2017.
Newcastle is no stranger to innovation across a range of industries, the new Rene Van program being testament of that.
Since Rene was officially launched in 2016, it has been hugely successful in providing residents, consumers and carers with hours of entertainment. The van is regularly stocked with large print reading books and literature, DVD’s, table and floor games, knitting, music and art therapy and information technology items such as iPads – all of which enhance social, cognitive, physical, sensory, behavioral and spiritual wellbeing.
One of Rene’s newest customers is 93 year old Hilda da Fonte. Hilda is quite partial to the odd romance novel but requests books with large text.
“The resources van is a marvellous idea. It brings the outside world into our living areas,” Hilda said.
“I do love a romance novel, but nothing too saucy. I’m also planning on giving Monopoly a go and an iPad. That should be fun.”
Apart from being hugely successful with customers, Rene the resources van has also been recognised amongst the aged care industry for its novel and innovative approach to ensuring the community and home care sector’s needs are thoughtfully catered for.
IMAGE | 93 year old Hilda da Fonte and her beloved romance novels.