1999

1999 saw the ‘International Year of the Older Person’. Resthaven implemented a number of initiatives that either recognised the services of older people or provided information on the care of older people.

Resthaven celebrated The International Year of Older Person with a number of projects.

The Living Tapestries storytelling project involved 32 volunteers and staff in workshops conducted by the Storytellers Guild, which encouraged reminiscing and the telling of stories by Resthaven residents to honour the threads they have woven into the fabric of society. The project was extended to include recording of newsletter stories to audio tape, with the tapes distributed to site libraries.

Another project was the ‘Tea Time’ video production by Resthaven Westbourne Park staff member Esther Lamb, which involved hostel residents and challenged the stereotypes of hostel life. Esther later received a Council on the Ageing Positive Ageing Award for her short video.

The production and publication of Consider the Options... End Stage Clinical Care for Chronic Degenerative Disorders, was sponsored by Resthaven. The book was a resource for caring for the older person requiring palliative care. An impressive number of specialists were invited to contribute a chapter based on their area of expertise. For many, this was the first occasion practices relating to the end stage care of chronic degenerative conditions had specifically been addressed. Later, the book would be presented at the ACA National Conference, Sydney, in September 1999.