Residents committee or social club If you’re wondering whether your village needs a residents committee or a social committee, a hybrid or both then perhaps it might help to understand the differences. A residents committee is a group of residents who are elected to represent the interests of all residents in a retirement village. They might meet regularly with the village management to discuss issues that affect residents and they can make recommendations on how to improve the village. For example they might recommend changes to the rules and regulations, or they might suggest new amenities or services. Residents committees can also play a role in resolving disputes between residents and the management. Resident committees tend to be structured. They will have a constitution or guidelines, keep minutes and are enabled under the Code of Practice ie a group of residents have a legal right to form a residents committee in their Village. A social committee, on the other hand, is a group of residents who organise social activities for the village. They might plan events like potluck dinners, game nights, or outings. They also might help to organise volunteer opportunities for residents. Social committees can help to create a sense of community and belonging in a retirement village. They can also provide opportunities for residents to socialise and stay active. A village can have one, or both, or a hybrid of the two. The most common is a combination – a residents committee that initiates social activities on behalf of the village. The main difference between a residents committee and a social committee is that a residents committee is responsible for representing the interests of all residents, while a social committee is responsible for organising social activities. If you are thinking of setting up one then RVResidents (in conjunction with the Retirement Commission) have a great booklet that can help. Visit www.rvr.org.nz or contact 0800 787 699. How Residents Committees work within a Village Residents’ Committees are formed by residents of the retirement village, often through a democratic election process as is the care at a Village in Auckland. Members are typically volunteers who want to participate actively in the community. The committee represents the collective voice of the residents to the retirement village management and owners. They often address issues related to facilities, services, and policies that affect the residents and serve as a communication channel between residents and management/owners by gathering input and feedback from residents. Effective collaboration between the Residents committee and retirement village management is crucial for addressing residents’ concerns and ensuring a harmonious living environment. One person comments, “At our facility we are lucky to have an interested and proactive Manager who works well with our residents’ committee. Her door is always open and she is invited to the last half hour of the bimonthly meetings where any concerns are discussed. On occasions, the Facilities Manager and Health and Safety Officer attend too so that issues of maintenance and safety can be discussed.” Residents committees may be able to help in resolving disputes or concerns that residents have with the retirement village management or services. However the complainant is usually encouraged to approach management in the first instance as they find that most problems can be sorted quickly. If this is not the case, the complaint can be discussed at a committee meeting and the committee may decide to approach the Manager to support the complainant, in this way, the committee representative can act as a mediator and help work towards a solution and thereby avoid escalation to a Formal Complaint. Some committees organise social events and activities within the retirement village to promote community engagement and a sense of belonging among residents. From Resident Chairs
“Our Manager is frequently invited to attend the bi-monthly meetings of Independent Residents and has welcomed our suggestions to invite other staff with responsibilities. Our Facilities Manager has attended two meetings this year and we are looking forward to hearing about the role of the staff with Health and Safety responsibilities this month. Her door is always open but the demands of the Hospital and Care sections and staffing issues mean a very busy schedule for her. Working with the Facilities Manager more directly has been beneficial for staff and residents equally.” “Personally I wonder about the separation between Resident and Independent resident. This would appear to suggest the resident in Care has no advocate. Yet, if there is one thing we all need to be aware of it is the nature and state of Hospital and Care facilities. Many of us are likely to be using them and we want quality staff and quality facilities. Transition from independence to dependency requires good communication and good understanding of the process. The Resident’s Committee is a group ideally suited to explore these issues and our Village Manger has agreed to address them.” “We feel the committee and management both work torwards the same goal which is the well-being of all who live and work in the Village, staff and residents alike. It’s a mutually beneficial arrangement!” “At our village we have a Managing Residents Committee, a Social Committee and a Bar Committee. The residents committee became incorporated in 2014, which allowed it to hold a bar licence and run a bar. This meant all operating funds would be managed by the Bar Committee which in liaison with the Social Committee, then channels profits back into social activities for the residents and on request pays for equipment not funded by the owner eg music stands library books etc. The three committees are autonomous but work closely together. In fact, some residents are on two or all three committees. This makes communication easy as we support each other and work very well together. As Chair, I have found our operator and present Manager very supportive – as demonstrated during and after the cyclone. They communicate well. Gone are the days when residents felt they couldn’t email office staff or the Manager if they needed to know something”, says a resident. A resident at another retirement village says: “The catalyst for our Residents Committee coming together was the arrival, virtually on mass, of 60 or so new entrants in 2019. We comprised 40% or so of the village’s independent residents. Overall we were a younger cohort. Many of us saw a place for a committee though sensed that support was perhaps at best 50/50. We first formed a steering committee to canvas residents and to research what other villages did. Six months on we called a special residents meeting at which a motion to form a committee was arrived by a margin of seven votes out of 90. Village management were neutral in this regard. They didn’t oppose though also didn’t promote. Head Office personnel were less positive. Following establishment, however, management have supported us with the use of facilities including photocopying, and on one occasion with airfares for an out-of-town guest speaker. The operator’s Wellington regional manager helpfully facilitated our first few meetings with management. There were also no barriers to our Legislative Review meetings”. Terms of Reference The committee’s foundation Terms of Reference described the role in terms of assisting in the optimal development of the village’s physical and social environment and at all times working constructively and in goodwill with management. We were clear that we fitted between residents and management, primarily as a voice for residents. The first sections of these terms of reference were amended at the first AGM to actively promoting the physical and mental wellbeing and the independence of the village's independent and supported living residents. The shift is significant in terms of how roles and functions have evolved. Some of the committees early work included:
Alongside these legacy and systemic matters, the committee meets monthly, normally with the manager in attendance or part. Observations: The resident notes the following:
I think committees have a key role in helping ensure that these ‘independent’ years are more, rather than less – including by pushing back on processes and messages that better fit independent rather than care living. Ref: Aged Advisor 2024 Rise of the Silver Surfers ‘Silver Surfers’ are the fastest-growing group of online users – older people have caught on and realised it’s never too late to have a change of attitude. There are incredible benefits that new technology and gadgets can bring to enhance and improve day-to-day life. As life continues to jog along and you enjoy falling into a pattern of behaviour and familiar ways of doing things, it is easy to get left behind and slow to a walking pace as new types of technology become available. Even terminology changes and it may seem like you’ve missed the technology boat and decided it’s all too hard. However! Don’t be discouraged. There are many exciting apps, websites and gadgets that have been designed to improve your life at any age. Taking time to upskill yourself on how to use digital technology safely and to become a little more tech savvy can open up a whole new universe of opportunity. Let’s explore the choices. Connect with loved ones Jumping online can help you make and maintain vital relationships with friends and family through online video, chat groups and social media. Particularly important throughout the Covid pandemic when we were unable to leave our homes or travel overseas, connecting online was a lifeline for so many. Not only for meetings, use this technology to have a family video chat with those spread across the world. Set up a Facebook page and search and connect with your friends so you can do fun, feel good things like share funny pictures and comment on photos. As you learn to use social media you will need to know how to protect yourself online by being aware of avoiding scams and fake social media profiles. If someone you don’t recognize asks to be your friend, do not accept! You cannot be as trusting in the online world as you’d expect – remember to not take people at face value and don’t be afraid of appearing rude by not accepting a friend request or blocking a person who seems a bit suspect. Chances are that cute trusting looking lady in her profile picture is actually an opportunistic dude looking to make some quick cash offshore! Enjoy the convenience of internet banking Gone are the days when banks are only open Monday to Friday and close at 5! All major banks offer easy to navigate online banking 24/7 where you can simply view all your accounts, transfer money and pay bills and invoices quickly and conveniently. If you’re not on a desktop or laptop then use the bank’s app! You can connect by sending an email and avoid queues. If you need to see an ACTUAL human to discuss more complex banking transactions, it’s straight forward to make an appointment through the contact us tab and visit your local branch. Online shopping Shopping online is an efficient and cost-effective way to overcome the weekly groceries battle. You can put your lifetime skills of catching the best deals at the supermarket into new use online too, as supermarket shopping sites use a list of weekly specials and make it easy to compare prices. Keep in mind that by shopping online you’re overriding the associated physical challenges you may find you’re beginning to battle at the shops as you age. Instead you can sit in the warm comfort of your slippers and fleecy jumper to get whatever morsel has caught your fancy recently…as well as topping up the tea, coffee and toilet paper. When it comes to payment, you’ll be charged a small service fee which covers a staff member collecting your items off the shelves, and the cost for delivery. Be careful using public WiFi -and make sure you use a strong password and use a different one for every account. It’s a good idea to use a two-factor authentication on every account you can for an extra layer of security. When you whip out your credit card, use a well respected payment service that will protect you if something goes wrong, or consider using a disposable credit card (like Prezzy Card) where you can only spend what has been pre-loaded. Make a regular habit of checking your credit card statements to make sure your card hasn’t got into the wrong hands. Access to interesting websites and information What’s your hobby? Even if you’re into some really wacky stuff I can guarantee there will be an enthusiast group out there with at least a basic website or Facebook group you can join. Immerse yourself in whatever it is that floats your boat and connect with people who love it too! Read, observe, scroll till your heart’s content but remember to think before you publish anything online as it’s almost impossible to remove completely – even if it’s later deleted or modified or you’ve changed your mind. When you’re using social networks, remember your p’s and q’s and avoid using language or pictures that could offend others or embarrass you. Most importantly, keep your personal information private, and don’t post photos of others or share their information without getting their permission first. Gaming and VR: I’m not talking Mario Carts or Dungeons and Dragons – although if you’re into that we won’t judge! If you’re new to computers, start simple with a game you’re familiar with or enjoy already and build on that. Games such as Sudoku, Mahjong, and Solitaire are great for older adults who enjoy challenging themselves mentally. Simulation games such as SimCity are designed to mimic real-world activities and can be fun for people who enjoy managing and building things. There are also exciting adventure games which involve exploration and puzzle-solving – try Myst, The Witness, or Life is Strange. Keep it casual with games that don’t require a lot of time or effort and can be played in short bursts if you don’t have a great attention span or much time. There are lots of fun options like Candy Crush, Bejewelled and Tetris. Game designers are beginning to cotton on to designing games more specifically suited to the older generation. An article relating to Game Design for the Elderly on Australian website hellocare.com.au investigated this further, speaking to game designer for Mini Mammoth Games, David McCann. His message is that developing games for the elderly is an exciting and innovative approach to aged care, and game developers should prioritise creating an accessible and engaging experience for this demographic. “The positive effects of games have been well-documented” and there is ample opportunity to use games as a tool to motivate and engage elderly individuals. In the same category as gaming, but providing a different, more immersive experience, you’ll find Virtual Reality (VR). For the uninitiated into this virtual world, VR creates a computer-generated experience like nothing you’ve encountered before. VR equipment involves a headset and a type of hand held controller in each hand. Once the headset has been fitted you will be able to view an animated 3D image with realistic dept h and colour which makes you feel like you’re actually INSIDE a full depth film, with the ability to interact with characters and the environment using the controllers and body movement. The type of physical interaction varies depending on the game chosen for the level of ability of the player. For older people there are a range of more passive VR games suitable for their personal interests and physical abilities which would offer a wonderfully new and exciting experience. VR suppliers are beginning to open lounge style facilities in shopping centres where people from all walks of life can pay for a session on VR. Aged Care facilities can bus groups of residents to one of these lounges as an outing so they can enjoy an energising, safe new experience. It’s interesting to note that trials of VR on residents at different stages of dementia have shown an improved quality of life, including reduced wandering and anxiety among residents. Photography and video Digital cameras have really come a long way. So many enjoy the instant gratification of point click and view and mobile phones make this so easy. Even those with a below average understanding of technology can navigate to the camera icon and push the button! Try adding a filter to adjust the colours and tone of your picture or edit with a free, easy to use tool like CapCut then share it online. As mentioned earlier though remember to gain permission first from people you’ve snapped a photo or taken a video of it you plan to share it on online. Tips on how to teach an elder in your life the basics: Do you know someone who needs your help navigating tech right from the start – or maybe just needs a leg up as they already know the basics? Teaching older people to use technology can be challenging, but with patience and the right approach it can be a rewarding experience for you both. Break it up into easy to digest chunks so not to overwhelm either of you while you’re just getting started: Basics: Teach them how to turn on their device, navigate the interface and how to use the basic functions like the keyboard, mouse, touch screen and home button. Keep it simple: Avoid technical jargon and use simple language. Break down the instructions into small steps and if possible use visual aids like diagrams, pictures or videos to help them understand. Be patient! Everyone has their own way and speed of learning. Encourage them to ask questions – even if they think they are silly! Offer positive feedback when they make progress and be encouraging. Practice: The more they practice the more they’ll build confidence and reinforce what they’ve learned. Use real-life examples: Illustrate how technology can make life easier and practice by using video chat or ordering groceries online. Provide support: Be available to offer ongoing support once you’ve finished your session. You could suggest resources like online tutorials or help forums. Make it fun! Try playing games or using apps that appeal to their personality or sense of humour. There are games and apps designed to help seniors learn technology which keep them engaged and motivated to continue learning. Ref: Aged Advisor 2024 |
AuthorShonagh O'Hagan Archives
November 2024
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