Somercare, Vic - Rainbow Chimers project - awarded 2010

SomerCare in Somerville is ringing with its recent success in securing a Better Practice in Aged Care Award for their Somecare Rainbow Chimers project.

The project started in 2007 after the SomerCare lifestyle team attended a workshop facilitated by the Hand Bell Society of Australia (HSA). The idea of starting a hand bell program at the home was greeted with much enthusiasm by SomerCare residents and in February 2008, the SomeCare Rainbow Chimers musical group was born.

Starting with Mozart’s relatively simple melody, “Twinkle twinkle Little Star” the group now have 23 songs in their ever-expanding repertoire including “Silent Night”, ``Memories” and “Somewhere over the Rainbow”.

The Rainbow Chimers perform regularly inside and outside of the home, having travelled as far as Bendigo and Sale in Victoria to perform. Their biggest performance was at a Rotary club conference where they performed in front of more than 700 people.

The creative force behind the Somercare Rainbow Chimers project, Diversional Therapist Coordinator, Ros Lane, said that one of the main benefits of the project is that residents are more socially engaged with one another. “They worry about each other if one of them is sick and is unable to get to rehearsals” Ros said.

“Our eldest chimer is 100 and she’s one of the first in the room for rehearsals, and the combined age of the Chimers is 1,367 years old!”

Advance Care Planning project

The advance care planning project at Somercare, is based on findings of research and feedback undertaken with the Joanna Briggs Institute of Evidence based Health care.

SomerCare wanted to make a difference with the residents and felt that the residents required a more effective and comprehensive Advance Care Plan with a view to residents and relatives having an understanding of the project and an empathetic approach that would dispel the fears of discussing terminal illness.

This was a multi-phased project that involved getting staff, residents and residents’ families on board. It has resulted in the development and documentation of advance care plans for all residents currently living at SomerCare.