It’s no secret that it takes a special kind of person to work in aged care, and Liz Berger is one such person.
“I just want to be able to go home knowing that I’ve made someone happy that day,” said Liz.
Empathy, patience, kindness and resilience are just some of the qualities held by the Whiddon Group’s recreational activities officer Liz Berger – who doesn’t just work at Wee Waa’s Weeronga Hostel, she makes a real difference to the lives of its residents.
“I just try to make sure that our residents get to do as much as they can, while they can,” Liz said humbly while playing down the significance of her contribution.
“Some residents have got to the stage where they can’t go out because of mobility issues and things like that so I like to try and bring people in and give them a fulfilling life.
“So they can spend as much time doing what they normally would like to do – as they can, while they can.”
Last week’s ‘Seniors’ Festival’ was a time to celebrate and honour our senior citizens, and it was also an opportunity to reflect on the tireless work of those who support them.
Especially workers and volunteers who care for people during their twilight years.
Let’s face it, some aged-care homes can be confronting and at times pretty depressing places but there’s something positively different about Weeronga.
The friendly atmosphere and level of care provided by Liz and her colleagues makes it an uplifting place to visit, and live.
“It’s bright, it’s airy, it’s clean – it’s a happy place,” said Liz
“People are surprised about what they find when they walk through those doors.
“I had a tradesman that came in the other day and said – ‘this is the most amazing place I’ve ever seen’.
“He said – ‘I’ve been in a lot of these places and walking in this door is like walking into someone’s home. Everyone’s happy, the staff get on well’.”
The tradesman is spot on, from the moment you walk through the doors at Weeronga you’re greeted with a smile by staff and there always seems to be something fun happening.
It’s not quiet and clinical, in fact – you’ll probably hear the sound of laughter. And if you follow that sound down the corridor, you’ll more than likely find Liz organising activities, chatting and even singing and dancing with residents.
“It’s nice when the garden club come up for a visit or members from the CWA or Peter Carrett and his band members,” added Liz.
“There’s people here that were once in those clubs and groups.”
Liz does recognise that ‘group activities’ aren’t for everyone, no matter what your age and some of us do enjoy our own company.
Liz said that taking the time to gain a good understanding of each resident and their backgrounds helps her know what might lift their spirits or pique their interests.
For example, a few weeks ago when it started to rain in Wee Waa, Liz went outside with a few very excited residents including 87-year-old Linda Phelps.
Liz knew Mrs Phelps had ‘spent her life on the land’ before moving to Weeronga and that she would love to feel and smell the raindrops.
“Linda said the rain was just beautiful,” added Liz.
“People say small towns are ‘awful’ because everyone knows your business but sometimes it’s good to know their business.
“Especially with my job because I know a lot of the residents before they come in, I know who their friends are, I know what they did.
“So you can work your ‘Best Weeks’ and a lot of your activities around what you know about that person just by chatting to them and making conversation.”
‘Best Week’ is a Whiddon Group initiative that helps aged-care residents achieve a goal or dream that might seem out of reach.
Age is no barrier when it comes to ‘Best Week’.
“We’ve had residents take plane rides for their ‘Best Week’ and we’ve had a 70th birthday party here at the hostel.
“I’m currently planning a morning tea at one of our ladies’ houses.
“She still owns her house but lives here and she wants to entertain people at her home.
“And then we’ve got another gentleman who used to be a bus driver so he’s going to go on a bus.
“He also used to love to garden and he had a lot of succulents, so he’s going to do a succulent garden as well as have morning tea with his wife and kids.
“And so it’s about bringing the families in, doing something that’s special that the oldies like,” she said.
Liz and her colleagues put a strong focus on community integration and really encourage people ‘to pop in and visit’.
“A lot of our residents can’t go out so I try and bring as much as I can in here,” said Liz
“You’ve got to try and bring the kids in, bring the babies in, bring singers, entertainers.
“We have a great rapport with the schools and they come quite often.”
Liz has been brightening up the lives of Wee Waa’s older residents for 13 years.
“I actually started in the kitchen here and I did a bit of cleaning, and then I did my certificate three in Aged Care, I also have a Cert. 4 in lifestyle and leisure.”
Over the years, Liz has tried to learn how to cope with the roller coaster of emotions that naturally come with caring for the elderly.
“It breaks your heart when we lose people because we don’t just lose the resident, we lose their family and all their friends that used to come and visit too,” said Liz.
“And you just get so close to them and it does, it breaks your heart.
“It’s hard but then you’ve got to pick yourself up for the others that are still here.
“You’ve just got to take deep breaths and not let anyone else see, like the other residents, that you’re upset which is hard sometimes but the hardest thing to deal with is to lose them.”
“You go home and have a good cry but you’ve still got all the girls here to support you.
“We support each other which is really good- we’re a good team.”
Liz and her colleagues constantly give and provide but they also learn a lot from the residents too.
“I can listen to old people all day, I’ve gained a lot of knowledge.
“They’ve got so much to give and so much wisdom, I suppose because of the life events that have happened to them and it makes you more aware too,” said Liz.
“There was one lady who was in the war and she couldn’t cope with thunderstorms because it was like bombs for her.
“So you always try to be aware of their past, so you can make things easier.
“If there was a thunderstorm happening, you’d know to go and sit with her.
“Just little things that make people know that they’re safe and that there’s people here for them.
“And there’s always someone here.”
Liz’s deep affection for older people means she is utterly disgusted when it comes to some of the disturbing revelations from of the royal commission into aged-care services.
“It makes me really cranky to think that people do those sorts of things and it puts a black mark on every aged-care facility.
“It turns a lot of people off aged care. Maybe we should change the name ‘aged care’?”
Of course, there are many wonderful aged-care facilities in Australia thanks to people like Liz who not only do the right thing, but go above and beyond in their roles.
“I love my job,” said Liz with a smile.
“It gives me the opportunity to do what I love to do.
“I can create activities, we make games and just create happiness.”
And Liz wants the community to know they are welcome to come and create some happiness too.
“Anyone’s welcome to come in the door and visit.
“Everyone in the community knows someone that’s in here so come up and say g’day, don’t forget them.
“They love nothing more than having an old friend walk in the door, sit down and have a chat, have a cup of tea.
“It’s just like coming to their home. This is their home too, they’ve just changed their address.”
