LISA BROOK
Team Leader, IRT 5 Islands Resort, Port Kembla,NSW
I have been working in aged care since 1995 and back then, I did not find it a very nurturing environment. Over the years it has changed dramatically and now everyone has their own care plans and the environment is much more relaxed and personalised.
In my role, I do a lot of problem-solving. There are people here who have no family and they are getting letters from the bank demanding this or that. I always advocate on their behalf and get it sorted out.
Sometimes it is the littlest things that matter and fixing little things for residents and families can change their lives for the better. Things that are insignificant for people who are younger can become a big deal or drama for older people.
I know every family and their first names and there is not one family that does not come by my office and stop to have a chat.
This job is about making their journey as easy as possible. This is the last part of their lives, so I try to give them the most comfort and care during the last years of their life. That is my purpose now.
I have learnt that it is never too late for change. I have had people come in with challenging personalities who are resistant to receive care, and they also clash with other residents. It can be something as simple as seating arrangements over dinner and not wanting to share a table.
My job is often about finding that thing that opens them up. You plant the seed and watch the flower grow. You nurture it and it brings the best of someone out.
People are still growing in this stage and they can still teach us a lot of stuff. I know it is their last stage of life, but they are still learning and growing. I have learnt so much from my residents.
Sometimes they need a helping hand and the simplest things can change their whole day.
Some of the dementia patients are non-verbal and the touching and the singing are very important. They light up. You can see in their face when you have made an impact on them just in those twenty minutes you have been with them.
If you want to make a change in someone’s life, this is the job. You are the last link in their journey and that must be your focus. Patience goes a long way in this job. You need empathy and be devoted to them.
