Leigh Kelly

A new understanding and appreciation of aged care workers has emerged.

One of the few good things that have come out of Covid – 19 is there is a new appreciation for the wonderful work done by workers in the aged care sector. It is so heartening to see you all now appreciated rather than criticized and condemned. You all did an amazing job keeping both residents and you safe over this time and it is to be commended.

I have to say I was very impressed with the staff of Rosewood on how they conducted themselves and the wonderfully balanced programme on SUNDAY that was aired on Sunday night. It showed the true side of those of you who own and work in Aged Care. The impact that Covid had on everyone was still very raw and the true feelings of all of you who do this wonderful job of taking care of the frail, elderly and disabled, really shone through.

Now people like me know of your true worth. Yeah, all of us don’t get it right all of the time but we are only human. We do make mistakes and sometimes we just cannot meet the expectations of those close to the person in care. But you all do your best and your best shone through on Sunday night. For those who didn’t see Inside Rosewood watch here.

On top of this, those essential workers, yes you, are being commended in so many way. There is a major call for all essential workers to be paid a living wage. While the Age Care sector is fortunate enough to be receiving a living wage, many others are not but the push is strong for others to receive what you do. Read this.

While the living wage is the being touted these days, we must not forget the reason we celebrate Labour Day at the end of October each year. It is in recognition of the 8 hour day being implemented. This came about in 1840 when Samuel Parnell, a carpenter, won and 8 hour working day. In 1890 in recognition of this, Labour Day was commemorated for the first time and New Zealander became known as a ‘workers paradise’. Other countries followed suite and celebrate Labour Day each year now to.

Now most of us just think it is another day off, except for an essential worker like yourselves but I think we have to remember that many countries still do not have such a luxury. I have to say, the idea of a 8 hour working day is no longer treasured as a right of everyone in New Zealand or many others countries who celebrate Labour Day. Many people work more than a 8 hour day regularly, so it seems to have gone by the wayside but it doesn’t hurt us to remember how hard fought this was for the worker.

However, we mustn’t forget our forefathers who so valiantly strived for this to happen. While I understand that without a living wage, this is more difficult for some people, as I mentioned earlier, treasure the rights you have in New Zealand. The right to a fair wage – a living wage. But a living wage does come at a cost. The business or organisation you work for has to have the income to provide a living wage. While many do, others do not and this cost has to be passed on to the consumer. As a result, some things you purchase will have to cost more as a result.

I also think we have to be grateful for the welfare system we have here to. While it is sometimes open to abuse, the reason it was implemented in the first place was for a hand up when times are hard not a right to not work and pay your way. In 1935, the Labour Government led by Michael Joseph Savage, not only set up the first social security system in the world they also set in motion free education, a salaried medical service, a free public hospital system, adequate standards of housing, a basic minimum wage and full employment to name a few. While we may not enjoy all of these luxuries, many of them are still in place in some form today.

So, my message here today, is do not take for granted what we do have in New Zealand. We have led the world in many things including the first country to register nurses, the first country to have a social security system, the first country to give women the vote, the first country to have a Treaty with the first settlers of the land and one of the first to be Covid free plus many more firsts. They have all been hard fought for though as I said.

The money to prop up the luxuries we enjoy does not come about by merely printing more money. The money has to be earned and we all have to pay our share to keep affording these services when we need them. Be grateful you have a living wage and you pay taxes because it is the major way the government raises money. Pay your taxes gratefully and be thankful you are contributing to the lifestyle of all of us. Don’t complain about taxes. Don’t avoid paying taxes. It is not the government taking from you. It is actually the government being able to give back to you. Just remember, all the money that has been spent over Covid 19 has to be recovered somehow to keep New Zealand functioning. There is, unfortunately, no bottomless pit. Read more on the evolution of our welfare system.

A new era of training is emerging

by Leigh Kelly

Covid-19 has forced many people to embrace other methods of training and communicating. The face to face classroom is no longer the only way to learn. Many businesses are now resetting their methods of training as we have seen with the universities. However, some people are resistant to change and want to keep the status quo. It is a bit like the swing away from cheques to online or mobile phone banking. Some just will not do it.

However we all know that now some banks are no longer accepting cheques and when we do receive a cheque it is not an easy option to bank it. Is training going to go the same way? I believe it will and whether we like it or not, it is the way of the future.

Zoom meetings and training have mushroomed over recent months, with many people using zoom in a variety of ways to communicate, be it for training, running meetings or for catch ups with families and friends.

So, what are the advantages of online training as opposed to face to face training?

Can be done anywhere anytime
All learners get the same information
No travel required
Annual leave is left untouched
Staff don’t need to be replaced to let one staff member off to attend training
Easier to get multiple members of staff trained at the same time

So, what are the disadvantages online training

Option for discussion is reduced but not impossible
Unable to network with people from other facilities
Less cost effective as may only send one person instead of many
Cost of travel, time off and replacement of staff to attend

The feedback we got from the online learners at the clinical update has been very positive. Being able to attend Online Real Time and the Recorded options for the Clinical Update ticked all the advantages listed. I have found also that people using Care Training Online get positive result. I know it takes a shift in mind set to go online as opposed to face to face learning. We all don’t like change that much as I said, but once we get past that block it is easy. I remember when I first started using a projector for training. It really scared me but now it is dead easy and I wouldn’t be without it. When I started using Zoom I messed it up but now I really like it. We just have to practice, be bold and try something new.

So, give online a go. With some encouragement from you for your staff, it could save you not only a lot of time but also a lot of money too. On top of that that your residents will get great care. What a bonus.

How much do you value your freedom?

by Leigh Kelly

We have all had a taste of what it is like not to be able to do what we want when we want and for many it took a bit of getting used to. Freedom is something that we take for granted in New Zealand. It’s something that is not so readily available for many other countries so having a taste of being restricted is not such a bad thing for us. Have you ever wonder what is freedom to you?

I know for myself I had never thought about not being able to hop in the car and go wherever I wanted. I have been driving since I was 15 so it is part of who I am. Having to stay home in my own little haven, was at times a bit challenging but I learnt other ways to keep in contact with my friends and family. I no longer take others for granted and I now will pick up the phone to talk to my friends more. While I do spend a considerable amount of time on the phone talking to owners and managers of facilities and organisations about Care Training Online, I have been a bit less forthcoming on picking up the phone to call others or find other ways to connect with friends and family.

So, over this time, I have joined House Party which is a face to face social networking AP. It is a great way to talk to a group of people. I now can talk regularly to my sisters together, so I don’t have to make individual calls – and we can see each other too.

I have learnt to use Zoom which is another networking tool used by many businesses to keep in contact with clients and staff who work remotely or at home. I use it for business, for Rotary and for other networking groups. Being able to see people face to face you get all the facial expression that are missed by phone or email really enhances communication.

I have also learnt to use Messenger for calls and for video groups. This is a way I keep in contact with another group of people. And of course, there is also Facetime. So many options to choose from. So being in lockdown has taught me to find other more effective ways to communicate. I have mentioned some of these in this newsletter but check our this video on ways people kept in communication with others during lockdown.

I’ve heard that many facilities were able to use some of these mediums to keep the families connected with their loved ones. This is what is so amazing about the people who choose to work in residential care be it with the elderly or disability sector; so many of you go beyond the call of duty to make sure your residents and their families are kept up to date with their loved ones and this is in addition to your normal workload. This is what caring is all about.

Now while many of you have felt overloaded and underappreciated, certainly in the past, I do hope you are not saying that now. The whole country and families now see the value you add to their lives and their loved ones. If you troll through Facebook, there are many positive comments about how well you all did to keep everyone safe not to mention the wonderful photos and videos you posted of your team at work making people happy.

Sure, there was some negative comments, but you cannot take those one board. There are always people who keep their glasses half empty. Even though man of us learnt to focus on the negative rather than the positive in our school system, it is not too hard to change the way you think. How many of you focused on the red crosses in our tests – the incorrect answer, rather than the blue ticks that were correct. You have to shift away from that. It serves no purpose for you or anyone else.

So negative comments or red crosses are actually learning experiences. That is all. Just like failing in anything, it is an opportunity to do better or do something different. Why don’t you count the number of learning experiences you had each day, rather than the number of things you did wrong or got wrong.

So today my message is this. Everything you do in life is good – be it correct or incorrect in the eyes of others because each you learn from what you do. You keep repeating what you do well and get congratulated for and you stop repeating what was done incorrectly. Both have their rewards. It’s just the way you look at it. If you listen to this video about turning failure into success, the message is very clear – there is no such thing is failure but you do need to be your authentic self.

On to the next phase of recovery

by Leigh Kelly

This last month has certainly tested us all. Firstly, I would like to send my sincere condolences to Rosewood and St Margarets Hospital for the loss of residents’ due to Covid-19. The situation unfolded before you through no fault of your own and I am sure the whole of New Zealand’s thoughts has been with you over this time. I do hope, that with a shift to Level 3 and hopefully soon to Level 2, you will feel some sense of normality, what ever normality is for you. It would not have been an easy job looking after older people, especially those with dementia, who would not doubt have developed a delirium. Couple this with them not being able to understand why you are all gowned up. It must have been terrifying for them – and you as well.

While we will never forget this time, when we look back in 6 months, it will be seen in a different light and you will be congratulating yourselves on how you all got through it. I think the greatest testament to the whole aged care industry is that so many of you kept the virus out of your facilities. WELL DONE. Your systems and processes are working.

So, in order to move forward, we have to start looking for ways in which to do this. One of the recognized ways is gratitude. What can you be grateful for over this time? What have you learned from it? What wonderful things happened to you as a result? Did you find an inner strength you didn’t know you had? Did your family come to the fore and show you the true strength of unity? Is all the work you put into your family coming back to show you what a wonderful job you have done? Have there been some people who have surprised you with the support you have been given? What extra ordinary things have arisen to give you hope and be grateful for.

It is so easy to focus on the terrible things that happen to us and around us, yet there will more good things than you realise. Complaining about your our boss, colleagues, children, partner or the governing bodies serves no purpose. We should be looking at more positive things in life, because believe you me, there are many positive things in life to be grateful for. Did you know the average person spends 10 hours a month complaining! What a waste of energy. Just think about what you could do that was more beneficial to you or others with those 10 hours. Don’t believe me? Well check out his article.

Pop Psychology really has so many worthwhile benefits. When you stop complaining, you find you no longer need the buzz that adrenalin gives you to get all fired up. You channel your energy in much more worthwhile directions and the surprising thing once you start this, you get to like people. They no longer fire you up in a negative way. I have heard of instances when couples were on the verge of divorce but when they stopped complaining or griping about each other, they fell in love with each other again. So, you see when you stop complaining, you are more at peace inside and with the world around you. It is very easy to feed this addiction, because that is what it is. We often unwittingly get drawn into the a gripe session – it is like a magnet and we jump on the bandwagon. Social media is a breeding ground for gripers. Don’t be tempted to get drawn into it so you can feel vindicated. Does a gripe session gain anything? How much satisfaction does it give you and how long does the satisfaction last? So, over the next month, stop griping about people, work, the effect Covid-19 or anything else that has had a negative effect on or around you, and think and talk about the great things that have come out of it. It will amaze you when you shift away from complaining tbeing grateful how many positives you will see from this time.

Human kindness is another important factor at this time. Being kind to others is another positive stream to lowering your stress levels. Being kind to others doesn’t cost you anything but it does help you build up your bank of happiness which makes you feel good.

So how does this work? Well, being kind boosts oxytocin which is the love hormone. It also releases dopamine which is a chemical messenger which gives you a high and makes you feel good. It also releases serotonin which are neurotransmitters that regulates your mood. So, the more you are kind, the more you build up you bank of happiness. Don’t believe me? Well take a look at this.

So, what’s my message this month? Yes, its been a hard month for everyone but you have come through it. Be grateful you still have a job, colleagues, a purpose in life, something to get up for in the morning and you are not alone. Be grateful we have a compassionate leader that has been thinking of you at this time regardless of your political views. Be grateful that most of your residents didn’t get Covid-19 thanks to the care they received from you. And finally, be kind to each other and use your energy for good. Remember, what can you do with the extra 10 hours a month you gain by not griping?

Food for thought.

What will we learn from this time in history?

by Leigh Kelly

There have and always will be defining moments in our lives as there has been throughout history. Like after the second world war, and I am old enough to remember this time, there was a huge period of growth. Things were not the same for anyone. Many families were left without their bread winner and mothers and fathers without their sons but through all this, the world survive and prospered through this time with a huge amount of growth and prosperity.

It was such a productive time. New jobs emerged, new ideas grew, and life developed a new normal. But like in any war or catastrophe, we found out the good in people in the community. People started taking care of each other. They started valuing their children and families. They started talking to each other and smiling at people they didn’t know or waving out to a stranger. They were taking the time to see what is around. They treasured their freedom, something that is not a given in so many places around the world. They got to appreciate each other. Just like after the Canterbury earthquakes, people gathered together, thought about each other more and got in and helped.

The same is going to happen now. Many people will start to think about their lives, what it means and how can they make changes. Many will realise they have been chasing their tails, going around in circles, doing a job they don’t like and will be looking for a change. People are now starting to appreciate and acknowledge others with a smile and eye contact. Something that had been lost.

However, that will not be the case for your industry. While you are lucky to have ongoing guaranteed employment and income something denied so many at present, I am hearing the stress of the managers. I only handful of people last week, basically to see how they are going. Everyone is so busy, and unlike those who are having the time to sit and reflect, play with their children, and watch all those TV programmes they have longed to watch, it is not a luxury you have. You still have the residents, their families and colleagues to think about not to mention your own families and keeping yourself safe and healthy. But you do have an income.

I wish there was a way in which I could help you, but I can’t. All I can say is I take my hat off to you and salute you. You are the backbone and stability that all those in your care so appreciate. It is, at times, backbreaking but it is also, at times, joyous and rewarding. The country is very lucky to have you all and with so many people now being out of work, it may well be that people now look for a career change and consider becoming a support worker or caregiver.

My thoughts are with you. Stay safe. Stay well and in all of this do take care of yourself as well as others. You do matter.

I would like to finish with this article written by a very respected New Zealander – Mike Hutchison. He has some very wise words here. “Let’s not say we are too small. Let’s be the mouse that roars”. Opportunities await for the brave and the bold.

It’s the little things that count.

by Leigh Kelly

Having just spent time in hospital with a fractured pelvis, I am reminded again of the little things that make recovery easier. While I can’t fault the care, it is the little niceties that make it more bearable. I’m talking about somewhere to put your little bits of rubbish that accumulate around you. Easily solved by putting a rubbish bag attached to your nightingale. Like pain relief being given on time so you can at least be more comfortable. When receiving care, have it all completed before the nurse goes on to the next person. Having to sit and wait to have your morning cares does not make the morning start well.

I have to say I am very impressed with the new grads too. The standard of care they delivered was exceptional. They were well organised in their day too which was very pleasing to see.

However, a lot has happened in a week hasn’t it with the World Wide Pandemic being declared. But again, it is the little things that count – like handwashing. Being sloppy around this very basic of practices is what can cause the harm. For those using Care Training Online, I have posted some updated videos on Virus’, what they are and how to combat them on the Infection Control topic. I have also updated some videos on the Pandemic planning topic as well.

Back to the little things again. It is these that will keep you all safe. The gold standard for hand hygiene is soap and water. While many think that hand sanitisers will protect them, some pointers to remember are:

Not all hand sanitisers are equal. They need to be at least 60% alcohol to be effective
Hands need to be clean in the first place for hand sanitisers to work
Even if using hand sanitiser, if you pick up the container, you are contaminating it as is everyone else who picks it up so it less likely to be effective. On top of this hands needs to be washed frequently with warm water and soap as well, so soap and water is the best defence against cross infections.

So, nothing beats hand washing with soap and warm water, not cold water. This article will explain more.

So how are you going to prevent the virus from getting into the facility or your home in the first place? Have some form of soap and water hand washing at your door. While warm water may be a bit difficult to provide in these circumstances, I am reminded of Ignaz Semmelweis, the father of Infection Control, who prevented postpartum woman from dying by having buckets of water and chlorinated lime in the wards. All his medical students had to wash their hands before they examined any women in labour and dropped the death rate to as little as .85%. It worked in the 1800s, and it still works today so let us not be resistant to the importance of using soap and water and when not available, use hand sanitiser with a high alcohol content.

Footer