‘Every Day Angels’ recognises aged care workers
‘The cycle of life seems to have stopped at an unnatural
point. Those who were cared for in infancy and adulthood
are not able (for millions of reasons) to do the same sort of
caring for their mothers and fathers in the “quiet time”.’
A reflection on an ‘Everyday Angels’ card, paying tribute to aged care workers.
When it comes to aged care in Australia the media mostly highlight the sector’s shortcomings while government pays lipservice, and appalling salaries, to those who provide it.
Yet, says La Trobe’s Dr Catherine Barrett, in the wider community people who work in aged care are held in very high regard. While the staff members themselves oft en don’t see this, they are about to – with wings on!
‘Everyday Angels’ is an innovative project for aged care workers to highlight the positive eff ects of what they’re doing and celebrate their achievements in a very demanding job, says Dr Barrett.
Thousands of blank postcards are finding their way across Victoria as part of this research project, which aims to recognise the valuable care provided by staff in aged care. ‘We could interview people or conduct a survey, but the idea of the postcard engages people’s interest,’ Dr Barrett says.
Dr Barrett, the project’s co-ordinator, says around 300,000 staff are employed in the aged care industry in Australia and these workers are among the country’s worst paid and most undervalued.
She says the Australian Nursing Federation estimates a full-time residential aged care nurse can earn up to $340 less per week, on average, than nurses in public hospitals. To make matters worse, the Federal Government has proposed further wage reductions.
‘The Everyday Angels project,’ says Dr Barrett, ‘aims to boost staff morale in the sector by getting clients, community members and staff in the industry to share on the back of a postcard a positive story about the care provided. They are also invited to answer four questions about the service.
Elizabeth, a registered aged care nurse who has worked in the industry for 30 years, says: ‘It would be lovely to hear some positive messages about care and know that you are caring so well for someone that they think you’re an angel. It’s such a rewarding profession, but there are too many negative stories.
‘One of our residents who had dementia used to gently pat my face; it was her way of thanking me and showing that she cared,’ says Elizabeth.
Positive messages
The project is funded by the Helen Macpherson Smith Trust. The La Trobe researchers are working with the Melbourne Institute of Creative and Experiential Arts Therapy, the University of Ballarat, and the National Ageing Research Institute.
The research team hopes to receive at least 365 postcards, one for everyday of the year, from across Victoria.
One postcard says:
‘As a doctor in aged care, I’m looked down
upon by colleagues in “real” medicine.
But when I made my patient continent
again, and improved her quality of life
immeasurably, that was as rewarding to
me as anything I did in the emergency
department or operating theatre.’
Self-addressed and stamped postcard packs can be ordered from the Everyday Angels website to be sent back to the research team once they have been filled out. Stories can be shared by anyone working in aged care, by people receiving aged care services and by members of the general community.
Aged care services include home care, day care, aged care assessment and rehabilitation, independent living units, hostels and nursing homes.
In April next year the team will create a report and posters based on the themes identified on the cards. The information will be made available to the aged care industry.
See more on the Everyday Angels website.