All posts by: "Kate Reid"

With over half of the residential aged care population living with dementia, Twilight Aged Care is fighting back and building support for cognitive therapy with their 2019 Art Exhibition.

The 2019 Art Exhibition and Cocktail Party will be featuring canvas paintings from aged care residents from across the Twilight Aged Care homes, some of whom themselves, are living with dementia. The event aims to raise donations and display the artistic prowess of the North Sydney Residents.

The event will include catering, raffles, and live music on the night, with a chance to talk to the artists and purchase paintings.

This is the 2^nd Annual Exhibition following the success of last year’s art show. Artworks this year will be more diverse in style and size and include large scale oil paintings, watercolours, smaller acrylic pieces, and even gold leaf.

Julianne Walker, the volunteer coordinator, and event organiser, says that community support for the art program is very important. These events help show support for older Australians and aged care residents living with dementia.

Julianne says, “Art Therapy sessions have countless benefits for older Australians. It allows the expression of complex thoughts and emotions, helps alleviate anxiety and depression, improves motor skills and cognitive functioning, and reduces social isolation”.

Dementia is currently the single largest cause of disability for Australian’s over 65 years old, and is a serious threat to the older Australian population, a large majority of this who live in aged care. Art therapy participants are technically stimulated during the program, which helps in slowing down the symptoms of dementia and cognitive decline.

The exhibition is being held on the 29^{th of} October at 16 Punt Rd, Gladesville 6 pm-8 pm.

Tom’s 100^th Birthday never stops!

After being visited by his fellow Navy officers, Glades Bay Gardens threw an afternoon treat for him last Friday.

It was a wonderful event, with family and friends visiting as well. Ramina, and the Glades Bay Gardens cooks, were in the kitchen at 5 o’clock in the morning getting ready for the celebration. And Julianne lost count of the number of balloons she had blown up.

Sai, our facility manager, gave a small speech about Tom’s life in the military and his life now as a kind and engaging presence within the Glades Bay community.

Special highlights included Ramina’s delectable blueberry cake and the mini curry puffs.

Happy Birthday, Tom.

We are delighted to have seen Jamieson House transform into Beecroft House with a lot of love and effort.

The home will provide accommodation and support services for 20 women over 55 who are suffering homelessness. This is a major issue within the Sydney area. A recent report from the Australian Human Rights Commission has observed an increasing population of homelessness in older women. And Sunrise reported on the importance of shelters like Beecroft to help aid these women in need.

This project would not have been possible without the partnership of local organisations and the surrounding community. Groups like Link Housing, the Generous and the Grateful, National Projects and Maintenance, Pymble Ladies College, the Goodwin Brothers, and many more, have volunteered their time and resources to make this happen.

The charity and spirit of all those involved has amazed us at Twilight. We are very excited to see this project come to fruition.

Eleven blankets, 8 pairs of socks, 5 large teddies, 3 small teddies, 3 patch-work bedspreads, 2 scarves, 2 beanies, and one pair of gloves. These were just some of the items donated by Twilight to the Hornsby Ku Ring-Gai Women’s Shelter last Wednesday.

Those living at both Twilight’s Horton House and Glades Bay Gardens had been busy knitting over the past months. This large collection of woollen clothes, blankets and toys was officially handed over at a morning tea at Horton House.

Anne Sheehan, a representative from the women’s shelter, thanked the ladies of Horton House for their “kindness and generosity”. She spoke of how the Hornsby Ku Ring-Gai shelter relies on donations from the community. The organisation currently supports over 450 women going through periods of homelessness due to domestic violence and poverty. These large numbers mean that there is a ‘huge need’ for donation and support.

Sheehan also says that she is ‘excited’ about Twilight’s converting Jamison House into a transitional home for women over 55 years old. Twilight is leasing the building for 2 years during its renovations as a source of accommodation and support programs for women in need.

The program will highlight the origins of Twilight itself, to support older, financially vulnerable women. Twilight was established as a social initiative in 1914, led by the Lady Mayoress, Miss Florence Clarke. As Sheehan says, Twilight is “going back to its roots and helping the gentle women in poverty”. The project will continue Twilight’s traditions and support the women who need it today.

Sheila, one of the residents at Horton House, was the ‘task master’ behind the project, and has been knitting since she was a young girl. She says that this is a wonderful opportunity to use her passions to give back. Sheila made sure to thank the other residents who knitted, especially, Jeanette and her daughter Margot, who donated a large amount of wool to the home to ensure that the project could continue.

As the Australian winter season comes into full swing, the residents of Twilight are determined to continue the program, and produce more blankets and clothes for the women.

Last Friday, Trent Zimmerman, the Federal Member for North Sydney, made an appearance at Hunter’s Hill Village to commemorate the work of nurses all around the world. The event was held in honour of International Nurses Day, celebrating the work of nurses and the aged care home’s staff with guest speakers and a high tea for those visiting.

Mr Zimmerman, who was invited to give a speech on the day, said a few words on the selfless work of the nurses. Afterwards, he was given an oil painting by one of the home’s residents to thank him for his appearance on the day and his kind words.

The Hunter’s Hill Village staff had reached out to Zimmerman after the federal election. The residents of the home had almost unanimously voted for Zimmerman and they were overjoyed when he was elected their member for North Sydney. The staff then contacted his office was then contacted by the staff and invited him to the Hunter’s Hill High Tea event, where the residents were delighted he was able to attend.

Sadhna Shah, our Reactional Activities Officer at Hunters Hill Village, says the day was important to “celebrate International Nurses Day and to say thank you to all the staff for the wonderful work they are doing.”

Paul Laing, whose father is a resident, was invited as a guest speaker. He said a few touching words about the service of nurses, and how much they contribute to the lives of families. Paul thanked the Hunter’s Hill Staff for the way they cared for his own his father.

The event was beautifully curated by Chandrika Herath who made the food by hand.

Twilight Patron, John Laurie, and CEO, Neil Wendt, also attended the event and awarded Mr Zimmerman a copy of the Twilight House’s history book, An Australian Story.