Aged care facility holds mental health activities
A Umina aged care facility held a number of RUOK activities for its staff last Thursday, September 14, to raise awareness of mental health in the aged care sector.
Among the facilities at Peninsula Villages were self-care stations in each staff room, with information and resources.
Staff had the opportunity to write their best self-care tips on slips, which will be compiled into a booklet and displayed for everyone to read.
Hundreds of yellow cupcakes were available in the staff rooms, with a trolley visiting each department to deliver them.
The facility's social support worker gave talks about RUOK Day, self-care and self-help.
A Tai Chi instructor ran sessions in 15-minute intervals.
Quality manager Ms Nicola Burton said: "We want to create a workplace where everyone feels comfortable talking about their mental health.
"These events are a way for us to raise awareness of the issue and to provide our staff with resources and support."
She said a study published in the Medical Journal of Australia found that aged care workers were at an increased risk of developing mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
The study also found that aged care workers were more likely to experience burnout and compassion fatigue than workers in other sectors.
"The study's findings highlight the need for better support for aged care workers.
"This includes providing them with access to mental health services, reducing the physical and emotional demands of the work and improving communication and collaboration between staff.
"We know that the work our staff do can be challenging, both physically and emotionally," said Ms Burton.
"That's why it's so important to us to provide them with the support they need to stay mentally healthy.
"Peninsula Villages is committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels supported and valued.
"By investing in the mental health of its staff, Peninsula Villages is helping to ensure that its staff are able to provide the best possible care to the residents they serve."
SOURCE:
Media release, 13 Sep 2023
Nicola Burton, Peninsula Villages