The latest COVID-19 wave has left many aged care homes short-staffed, but it’s also leading to some wonderful stories like this one.
RSL Lifecare, like many other operators, is helping ease the burden on overworked frontline staff across a number of its homes by asking its services support staff to leave their desk jobs and pitch in.
Monica Wing, General Manager, Health and Safety, swapped her corporate wear for PPE and volunteered at John Edmondson VC Gardens in Austral, 42km southwest of Sydney’s CBD.
It was Monica’s only second week at RSL LifeCare.
“It was a wonderful to experience a walk in the shoes of our aged care staff, which as a WHS professional is paramount in understanding what our staff does, so we can put in programs to keep them safe,” she said.
“It was really eye-opening to experience what a day is like for a carer, it’s hard, draining work and I have more respect and admiration for what they do. It was also lovely to connect with the residents, I had some wonderful conversations with residents about their lives and what Sydney was like when they were young.”
In the most trying of times, the support given to aged care residents has been extraordinary.
