At Catholic Healthcare we are shining a 'light' on our people and the exceptional work they are all doing across our services. We share how team members are innovating, engaging and helping to support the needs of our residents, clients and patients.
This week, meet Wendy Lawrence, Lifestyle Manager, Residential Care.
Wendy, with the support of her team, oversees Catholic Healthcare’s lifestyle systems and processes and helps implement a broad range of innovative and diverse activities for residents across all Catholic Healthcare Residential Aged Care Homes.
“Living life to the full is a very personal and intimate thing that means different things to different people,” says Wendy. “My focus is to support and build capacity for our lifestyle teams, while developing a lasting infrastructure for Catholic Healthcare to be known for its lifestyle and engagement programs.”
Of the five Catholic Healthcare values, Wendy is a huge believer in ‘compassion’ when navigating her role.
“Our workplaces bring an opportunity to practise compassion every day with our residents and their families as well as with our fellow staff. I find that being kind and compassionate to people, no matter where people are at in their journey emotionally and physically, is so important.”
This compassion goes in tandem with empathy, which helps Wendy understand the needs of each individual and what they want from a lifestyle perspective.
“Getting old or moving into residential care doesn’t mean we need to lose our sense of belonging or give up our sense of who we are or what we believe in,” says Wendy.
“It’s not about ignoring a person’s challenges or pain. It is about trying to truly understand and connect with a person and what makes them tick. Once we do that, we can provide them with the space and flexibility and choice they need to do the things most important to them and help them lead a healthier happier life.”
Putting this into practice in her daily life, outside of work, Wendy says she is what you would call an ‘enthusiastic gardener’! She also loves to read, bake, draw and run after her kids on the weekends.
November 1, 2021
Residential Aged Care, CHL
This week, meet Anna Encarnacion, Residential Manager at St Bede’s Residential Aged Care Home, in Hurstville. Anna is excited to take on her role as Residential Manager and is bringing many years of expertise to the management of the Home.
October 19, 2021
Residential Aged Care, Home Care Services, CHL, Volunteers
Niv’s role as Volunteer Coordinator allows her to utilise her people skills when engaging with volunteers, organisations, and consumers. Niv coordinates home-visiting and residential homes volunteer visitation programs under the government-funded, Community Visitors Scheme (CVS).
November 15, 2021
Home Care Services
Meet Allanna Thorley, Home & Community Services’ Business Manager and Care Advisor for the Sydney metro south region.
