Course takes the mystery off accreditation process

This article as pdf 34kb

While the benefits of the Australian Retirement Village Accreditation scheme (ARVA) are evident some village managers and administrators may find the task a bit daunting at first.

Accreditation provides benefits to Retirement Villages and residents by promoting quality assurance and best practice standards and procedures within the retirement village industry.

The RVA How to Prepare for Accreditation course aims to take the mystery out of the process and arm those about to undertake accreditation with the best tools and information available.

RVA Standards Manager, Gary Medcalf said the course, which is conducted in each region twice a year, was minimal theory and maximum practical application.

“The biggest surprise is that people realise that what they need to do for accreditation is not as onerous as what they thought prior to doing the course,” he said.

How to Prepare for Accreditation comprises some pre-course reading designed to familiarise students with the 29 standards and criteria within them.

It also gives an understanding of the principles of continuous improvement which underpins the accreditation process.

The second part of the course is a practical half-day session comprising a presentation and practical exercises.

“We work on interpreting the standards and the processes for putting the village’s applications together.

“At the end of the course the feed back that I’ve received is that participants have a far better understanding of what they have to do and find that putting their applications together is much easier,” Mr Medcalf said.

Attending the course also allows participants to exchange ideas and experiences with other people in the industry.

“It’s very interactive and we all actually learn from each other. They learn things about how the process works within the industry and the managers not only learn from the information I present, they also learn from each other,” Mr Medcalf said.

The first course for 2009 will be held at Claremont Retirement Village in McKinnon, Victoria.

Click here for further information including dates and registration forms and a course overview.

For further information or to make comment on this story, please email communications@rva.com.au

The RVA News Monitor is a weekly feature on the RVA website, and will provide updated stories on issues involving the retirement village industry.

top of page

Retirement Village Industry joins bushfire appeal

This article as pdf 35kb

As Australians and people from around the world contribute to bushfire appeals in an effort to lend a hand to victims of what has been described as the “Hell on Earth” fires, retirement village, residents, staff and operators have organised to do their part.

One of the largest operators of retirement villages in Australia, Lend Lease Corporation, has pledged to match dollar for dollar all donations raised by their employees and have already donated $100,000 to the Red Cross Appeal.

Individuals, resident committees and staff at villages are also working to help victims.

The residents of Parkglen Retirement Community in the Melbourne suburb of Keysborough have adopted a “hands on” approach to fundraising for Victorian Bush Fire victims. They have adopted a family.

Parkglen residents have been collecting new bedding, linen, non-perishable food items, toiletries, toys and clothes for the family as well as raising more than $1,500 in 24 hours.

President of the Parkglen Resident Representatives Committee June Woods said the 170 residents of Parkglen were overwhelmed by the tragedy that unfolded but have been excited by the challenge of caring for a
family.

The family includes a mother and her six year old daughter and four year old son who lost their home in Chum Creek on Saturday evening.

“The mother describes herself as “lucky”, because she didn’t lose her family,” Ms Woods said.

The group plans to fund raise for at least the next 12 to 18 months and are planning “kitchen teas” and “toy days” to help support their family as they rebuild.

 “Our residents feel this is a practical way they can contribute to the relief effort and help to make a difference,” Ms Woods said.

Parkglen manager Kerrie Lavery said other communities could contribute or begin their own appeal by contacting Bushfire Relief Centres and register your offer:

Diamond Creek Community Centre
Tel: 9438 5299

Whittlesea Community Activity Centre
Tel: 9716 1962

Yarra Glen Memorial Hall
Tel: 9730 2568

For further information or to make comment on this story, please email communications@rva.com.au

The RVA News Monitor is a weekly feature on the RVA website, and will provide updated stories on issues involving the retirement village industry.

top of page

Young at Heart can mean a younger heart US study shows

This article as pdf 51kb

It has often been said that retirement villages are for the healthy, social and active.

Now a US study shows that an active lifestyle amongst seniors can actually work toward building a younger heart.

All those older couch potatoes out there who think it’s too late for them to get up and get active need to think again.

There is ample evidence that exercise can improve your health and well-being, and now researchers have found that older people who exercise end up with younger hearts.

According to a study conducted at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, older people who did endurance exercise training for about a year ended up with metabolically much younger hearts, with women benefiting more than men from the training.

For the study, six men and six women aged from 60 to 75 took part in an 11-month endurance exercise program under the supervision of a trainer. All had previously led an inactive lifestyle.

So no more excuses from the idlers (about one-third of Australian adults) - it’s time to get up and get moving.

Harvard Medical School has added its two-bob’s worth, reporting in its Healthbeat newsletter that as little as half an hour of moderately intense exercise a day can help avoid a host of serious ailments such as:

• heart disease,
• diabetes,
• depression,
• several types of cancer, particularly breast and colon cancers.

Regular exercise can also help you sleep better, reduce stress, control your weight, brighten your mood, sharpen your mental functioning, and improve your sex life.

And the best type of exercise? According to renowned US physician and natural health practitioner, Dr Joseph Mercola, any exercise program needs to incorporate a variety of workouts, including aerobic and strength training.

When it comes to aerobic training, he recommends alternating short bursts of high intensity exercise (sprints) with gentle jogging.

But remember, if you are just getting back into exercise, take it easy at the start. Try walking, alternated with a little bit of jogging, then gradually build up as your conditioning improves.

For further information or to make comment on this story, please email communications@rva.com.au

The RVA News Monitor is a weekly feature on the RVA website, and will provide updated stories on issues involving the retirement village industry.

top of page