Summer / Autum - 2016 Dear Families/ Whanau The nights are growing longer and cooler, but what a wonderful summer we've had! The new year already seems to be flying by, with only 284 sleeps until Christmas! We will soon be administering Flu Vaccinations. Each year the majority of our residents' and a high number of staff have the Flu Vaccine as an effective means of protecting ourselves and each other from Influenza. To check if you are eligible for a free immunisation and for more information about keeping yourself and family free from the flu – visit the Ministry of Health website: http://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/influenza. Another way of protecting the residents of our home from the spread of flu and other winter-time respiratory illness is by asking that you do not visit if you or someone in your home is unwell. It can be hard not to visit when your loved one is expecting you – you are welcome to telephone, or send an email to office@irwell.co.nz, and the staff will happily pass it along for you. Just a friendly reminder: When visiting your loved one please remember to correctly enter the date and time of your visit in the visitor's book at reception when you arrive, and enter the time when you are leaving. It's important for us to maintain an accurate record of who is in the house in case of emergency. Our Activity Programme continues to be popular among Residents. The weekday programme has something for everyone, kicking off with the daily exercise class - a great way to get the circulation flowing. Our weekly drives continue with multiple destinations. Often providing a chance for those participating to reminisce about their experiences in Wellington and keep an eye on development around the city. Our 'Happy Hours' and visiting entertainers are always well received. Next week staff and residents alike will be “going green” as we celebrate St Patricks Day in style. The kitchen staff continue to deliver, with delicious home cooked meals. Meeting the diverse needs and wants of our residents. John and Heather continue to personally select our fresh produce weekly from the Farmer's Market. Menus and food are always a popular topic at the monthly resident's meetings and the requests and comments are always passed on to the Kitchen Staff. We encourage resident's to let the kitchen staff know if they would prefer an alternative to the menu – the cooks are happy to accommodate. We encourage open communication between residents and their families, staff and management. Your contribution to care planning is valuable, if there is an area of care that you would like to discuss or have more involvement in please feel free to discuss this with our Nursing staff – either by phone, in person, or by email.(office@irwell.co.nz) Please also be aware that our “Tell us what you think about our service” forms are available on our reception desk. This is a great way for you to provide feedback, and offer suggestions about our service. With our kindest regards, Residents, Staff and Management of Irwell. |