Putting ‘fun’ in aged care

BlueCross has won the Special Recognition Award for ‘Fun’ Initiative or Program for its Extravaganza event at the inaugural Asia Pacific Eldercare Innovations Awards in Singapore recently.

The awards were run by Ageing Asia, a Singaporean based organisation that has a focus on improving the way future generations of elderly people age in Asia.

The international awards ceremony took place as part of the fourth Ageing Asia Investment Forum, which was attended by about 400 delegates from around the world, who gathered to discuss challenges and celebrate innovation and the best practices being newly developed across the Asia Pacific region.

The theme ‘Eldercare Innovations in Asia’ was aimed at bringing together the world’s best aged care and healthcare operators.

It was chosen to reflect the growth in Asia’s eldercare industry, and to recognise some of the most innovative and successful models that are driving the three pillars of ageing in Asia – Healthy Ageing, Independent Ageing and Happy Ageing.

The awards received more than 80 entries from Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, China and India, across several awards categories.

A team of four judges, which included professionals from Australia and the UK, decided the winners.

BlueCross has continued to evolve as an aged care provider over the past 20 years.

In 2000?, BlueCross decided it was time to create a new culture of fun, engagement and positivity among staff.

Based on the FISH principles that began in the Seattle Fish Market, the STARFish Principles emerged:

• Choose your attitude

• Be there

• Make their day

• Have fun

This new energy was extended to include all at BlueCross, and so the Extravaganza began.

The Extravaganza has evolved over the past five years and now sees 600 people being involved in a themed event. It provides the basis and impetus for many leisure and lifestyle activities from February to October, with residents, clients and volunteers engaged in the journey towards ‘the big event’ across Residential and Care at Home services.

The Extravaganza is scheduled to run in the week of the International Day of the Older Person and is now becoming a recognised event on the Melbourne calendar.

Receiving this award shows the extent of the esteem BlueCross is gaining for creating a positive culture for residents and staff and bringing fun to aged care.