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A month for workplace wellbeing

on Wednesday, October 1, 2014

They dedicate their lives to caring for the elderly, but how well do aged care workers look after themselves?

New South Wales aged care provider SummitCare allocated the entire month of September to promoting the wellbeing of its staff members.

SummitCare CEO Cynthia Payne said the average age in the aged care workforce is around 50, a high risk zone for developing lifestyle issues that can cause brain and heart conditions.

“When you look at risks for cancer or dementia, it’s the middle years that matter the most,” Ms Payne said.

“We want to see people take control of their health management and avoid illness later in life.”

Wellbeing Month at SummitCare is an initiative to promote positive and healthy lifestyles, based on good food, regular exercise and self-awareness of blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

With free health checks, pampering afternoons, healthy barbeques, yoga sessions, Qi Gong classes and spa services across all nine of their residential centres and additional home care sites, SummitCare staff had every opportunity to embrace lifestyle change this September.

Originally Wellbeing Week, the initiative was extended across four weeks to continue the emphasis of health awareness long enough to see some tangible results.

“Where individual ownership connects lifestyle with health and nutrition is when the magic really happens,” Ms Payne wrote in her Wellbeing Month newsletter address.

The high proportion of women working in aged care was another key driver of the initiative.

“Typically the women working for us have families and lead very busy lives,” Ms Payne said.

“There is evidence to suggest that women tend to put others first. We’re trying to put the focus back on them.”

Pop-up nail parlours and free massages added an element of indulgence to proceedings, sending the message that workers are valued and deserve a break.  

“When people are having fun, the whole work environment changes,” Ms Payne said.

“Our workforce is our biggest asset. Without them we would not be in the aged care business.”

Image: SummitCare workers 'go green' for Wellbeing Month. CONTRIBUTED.

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