Message from the Facility Manager
The end of 2022 and the entire 2023 year have been remarkably busy, as we worked to stabilize our staffing, the management team and clinical management whilst continuing to provide excellent care for our residents as we began to come out of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The last few months of 2022 saw three separate external Government departments visiting Kalyna Care.
On the 15th – 17th November 2022, we had an unannounced visit from the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC). The 3-day full facility audit, with four assessors, evaluated and confirmed that all the Standards and compliance requirements were being met. The ACQSC granted Kalyna Care a Three-Year Accreditation from 5th January 2023.
Another three unannounced visits were made by the Department of Health relating to Infection Control and Prevention and Management of COVID- 19 Outbreak. All criteria were met, and ongoing mandatory education and training of staff are in place.
The Victorian Work, Health and Safety agency, WorkSafe Victoria, attended Kalyna Care relating to mask fit- testing. It is a department requirement to ensure that all staff are wearing appropriately fitted masks particularly during COVID-19 season. We now have trained staff who conduct the mask fit testing onsite for all staff on a yearly basis.
Lastly, Auditing Services Australia, a third-party auditor, conducted the annual Food and Safety Audit with flying colours. Brimbank Council also conducted their annual audit and granted Kalyna Care another 12-month Registration as a Food Premises.
Aside from continuing to provide quality care to our residents and adhering to the standards of practice, we also have been busy with projects for improvement. During 2023, we completed the following projects:
– Replaced the roofing in various areas of the facility (foyer, part of Konvalyia, chapel and part of Sosna).
– Added downlights in the chapel as the wall lights did not provide enough lighting in the area
– Extended the Konvalyia dining area (into the lounge room) to accommodate more seated residents
– Designated (marked) visitor parking in the front carpark.
– Created an additional lounge in the Maja Hrudka Wing
– Added annunciators throughout the facility which are linked to the call bell system.
– Replaced the evaporative cooling in the main kitchen.
– Purchased new resident transfer and other machines to assist with care.
– Officially opened the new Sosna and Topolya building
– Opened both new Sosna and Topolya dining rooms and their designated kitchenettes
– Re-opened the café which operates Monday to Friday
– Increased our staffing to accommodate the increasing number of residents.
Many improvements have also been made in our Clinical Department which has improved our resident care:
– We closely monitored resident weights resulting in a decrease in the number of residents losing weight.
– We had a decrease in family complaints which also decreased the complaints received via the commission.
– All concerns raised were actioned in a timely manner.
– We are now doing on-line charting of medication and administration under the eNMRC program provided by the government.
It is important to note that during the entire 2022 period, we did not use any agency staff and we saw stability in the very dedicated Senior Management Team with no resignations.
Financially, we were able to pay our debt down from $14.7M down to $3.6M.
As COVID- 19 is still present in the community, we are committed to continuous training and education of all our staff to protect them, the residents, and visitors with our Infection Control and Prevention protocols. We continue to work with the Department of Health and Western Health Public Unit to keep updated on new protocols and advice. From November last year to the present, we experienced four COVID-19 outbreaks with no resident deaths. We educate and encourage residents to get vaccinated and have had good uptake.
The new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement was updated in March 2023 and is now in place, which included an increase in the clinical staff rate of 15% as per the government requirement.
Attaining great positive outcomes is never easy and it was not an overnight job. It required a resolute and effective team effort, hard work and dedication between Kalyna Care Management, staff, and the Board of Directors. We are thankful and fortunate to receive the full support and good governance of our six Board members who are always there to ensure that every decision made is safe and best for everyone. We expect that this great professional relationship will continue so we are able to maintain a beautiful environment for our residents.
Jennifer Saberon- Ibanez
Facility Manager
