RESIDENT Joy Boak finds the more chance to talk with new people, the more she can find people with similar interests. And the more people there are to help with crosswords.
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PS Hobson Nursing Home in Wendouree has opened a new leisure hub for all residents to gather for formal and informal activity.
Until now, the home’s 60 residents had been restricted to their own units or in limited shared space. Ends of carpet bowls had been in the passage ways with a maximum of six players – about 22 residents too part in the latest bowls game, with more room for spectators.
Joy said the new hub had been “absolutely fantastic”.
PS Hobson lifestyles manager Vicki Chandler said it was really important for residents to have the space and opportunities to interact with each other more. Ms Chandler said this helped prevent social isolation with residents already keen to get out of their rooms more and see what was going on or catching up with friends.
Two ladies from opposite ends of the home have fast become firm friends and look to activities in the central hub to meet up with each other.
“To have this room creates more of a home environment and encourages people to socialise more,” Ms Chandler said.
It’s very important to try and allow people to keep living just like we do.
“They can’t get out and about like we do, but we can offer more chance for them to do that now.”
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The open, large and bright space, featuring a kitchenette, can also allow residents to independently entertain. A salon has been created near the entrance and there is a new outdoor space off the lounge with access to a wheelchair-friendly garden.
Ms Chandler said it was about trying to allow residents a space to keep up their hobbies and passions. She said one resident liked to visit the new garden twice a day to do some watering and feed the birds.
February will be the first month the a full lifestyle calendar for the room will come into play with cooking classes, carpet bowls, gardening, movies on the projector and, the most popular activity, bingo.
Concerts already held in the hub have allowed more residents to get involved with space to move. Ms Chandler said there was lots more potential to explore ways to get involved with visiting community programs.
PS Hobson is managed by Ballarat Health Services.
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