WELCOME

In what has become an atmosphere of change and innovation, I welcome you to thefirst edition of our e-newsletter. At the Australian Greek Welfare Society we recognise that stakeholder input is essential for the organisation’s growth and development. We look forward to a successful outcome-orientated partnership with the opportunities that will be presented through this communication medium.

The AGWS is a leading community-based organisation servicing the needs of the Greek Australian community. The services provided across the Melbourne metropolitan area include a suite of home and community based aged and disability services including brokered services, advocacy, casework, family and relationship counselling, community education and accredited training.

With the rapid ageing of Greek seniors and the projected increase in numbers by the year 2021, AGWS’ role in providing leadership and facilitation is paramount in ensuring older Greek Australians are able to lead healthy, active and fulfilling lives. The dual role of advocacy and direct service provision that has historically been undertaken by this organisation has ensured access by this community to culturally and linguistically appropriate support.

Innovative service delivery arrangements engendered through the Community Partners Program, the Cardiac Rehabilitative Program and Social Support Programs, to name a few, have been successful in responding to the multi-faceted needs of this group. Lack of growth however in most areas has constrained the AGWS’ capacity to sustain some of these vital services.

With the growing demand for services and the need for additional infrastructure support, the organisation has accelerated its fundraising activities over the last few years. The Annual Radiothon which is to be held this year on 4 August is aimed at raising monies to augment government funding so that the work of this vital service may continue to occur.

Voula Messimeri-Kianidis AM

In this edition:

AGWS NEWS

FEATURE ARTICLE

Dementia Information

A Dementia Information session was held in May 2010 in the Northern region targeting older members of the Greek community and their carers. The session was conducted in collaboration with Alzheimer’s Australia, the Royal Melbourne Hospital Memory Clinic and the Back in Motion Health Group Brunswick.

Safe and Wise Use of Medicines

Education on the ‘Safe & Wise Use of Medicines’ was delivered through two information sessions in May and June respectively, in the Northern region to 324 participants and 65 participants in the Southern region. This initiative involved collaboration between AGWS, FECCA and the National Prescribed Service (NPS) and was facilitated by a Greek speaking pharmacist. Information around the proper use of multi-lingual Webster packs was distributed.

Caring for Yourself Workshop

The organisation’s ongoing commitment to Greek speaking carers was further demonstrated through two carers’ workshops held over May and June in the East and Southern regions. This initiative was the result of collaboration between AGWS and Carers Victoria, who co-facilitated the session to the 40 elderly individuals and carers who were in attendance. The emphasis of the workshop was “Caring for yourself”, through which a number of issues were identified by carers in relation to social isolation, depression, stress, relationship strain, guilt, fatigue and grief and loss, to name a few. A range of culturally appropriate strategies were presented to assist carers in coping with their care giving responsibilities.

Grand parenting and Family Law Education

In response to the range of issues affecting grandparents who are involved in the care of grandchildren who may be at the centre of family law arrangements, AGWS liaised with the Chadstone and Broadmeadows Family Relationship Centres for the delivery of joint education/skills training sessions in the South and Northern regions focusing on Grand Parenting and Family Law. Feedback from participants indicated that a large number of elderly individuals experience complex issues in relation to their own ageing which are further compounded by their direct or indirect involvement in the divorce of their adult children, custody and parenting issues.

Diabetes research with Victoria University

The Victoria University (St. Albans Campus) headed a research project around Diabetes and Diversity in Western Melbourne (D2West. The AGWS assisted in the development of culturally and linguistically appropriate resource materials for the Greek community.

 Two focus groups on Diabetes were conducted which were attended by 23 community members. The focus groups aimed to find out what it is like to live with diabetes and what do people in the west of Melbourne who are from different backgrounds believe about diabetes. We also wanted to capture people’s experiences of living with diabetes either themselves or in their families. The project collected information on prevention strategies as well as what it is like to look after someone with diabetes, medication management and chronic disease control, dietary, exercise, drugs, smoking, alcohol and other lifestyle  changes, diabetes and mental health, available supports and services, what physical activity means, and how having diabetes affects relationships.

Continence in ethnic communities’ project

The ‘Continence in Ethnic Communities’ project aims to raise awareness of incontinence issues amongst CALD communities. It will assist service providers to better understand the perceptions of CALD groups around continence issues so that responses to this issue are more appropriately targeted. The AGWS has been involved in advisory capacity with the Continence Foundation of Australia in the facilitation of focus groups with the Greek community to gain further insight into perceptions and understanding of causation, treatment, management and prevention. A focus group consisting of 12 women in the Eastern region was held in May with another to follow targeting Greek males.

www.continencevictoria.org.au

stavroulam@agws.com.au

Elder Abuse Prevention

A series of seminars, workshops and information sessions have been undertaken in the Southern region to address elder abuse, domestic violence and crime as well as seniors rights in collaboration with Victim Support Agency, Victoria Police & Senior Rights Victoria. The courses provided information on AGWS and aged care services and supports, an overview of the Victims Support Agency, The Victims’ Charter, the Victims of Crime helpline, the Local Victim Support, Reporting to the police, Family Violence, Elder Abuse and the Rights of Older Persons, Financial assistance and access to counselling, Questions and community consultation. The feedback received from this event was very positive. The majority of participants found the information given by the police around making a report very useful.

poppyh@agws.com.au

Mental Health

In partnership with the Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria, the AGWS is involved in the development of a policy statement to inform government on the needs of CALD communities in relation to mental health and the interface with the health and aged care sectors.

www.eccv.org.au

stavroulam@agws.com.au

Well for Life

The Well for Life project funded by the EMR Department of Health has been very successfully embedded within the AGWS PAG program. The project focused on addressing the emotional well being of participants by providing a combination of physical activity, nutritional education and health information to individuals attending centre-based programs in the Eastern metropolitan region. The project involved the development of partnerships with allied professionals and recreational providers within the municipality. As an outcome participants developed an increased understanding and acceptance of their self-efficacy which enhanced their participation in physical activity programs available within the program. The project has facilitated the redevelopment of the PAG activities program with an enhancement to activities that encourage independence and active living. The model has been replicated across the organization’s other PAG programs operating in other metropolitan regions.

Cardiac Rehabilitation Project

The AGWS Cardiac Rehabilitation Program is an innovative model of community rehabilitative care aimed at restoring health following a cardiac episode or cardiovascular diagnosis. The program provides physical activity under the instruction of a qualified physiotherapist and cardiac education on a weekly basis. The Brunswick AGWS Cardiac Rehabilitation program has been running since 2004 in partnership with the Cardiology Department of the Royal Melbourne Hospital and the AGWS/ Uniting Aged Care Cardiac Rehabilitation Program which has been operating at the Oakleigh Rehabilitation Centre since 2008. The program supports around 15 individuals in each region and contributes effectively to the physical and emotional well being of those participating.

Active Service Model

The AGWS has commenced work around the implementation of the active service model across all of the organisation’s programs that support frail elderly and younger persons with a disability. This process has involved consultation with staff, volunteers, service users and carers about the principles of an active approach towards meeting the current and future needs of clients accessing services. The review of current work practices and consideration of innovative service delivery arrangements that encourage independence and active living through existing services has been undertaken. The AGWS is in the process of developing an implementation plan that will inform work in this area throughout the current financial year.

Eye on Culture

By understanding Greek religious backgrounds, an aged care service provider will be better equipped to accommodate and meet these needs. Providing Greek elderly with the opportunity to observe their faith and associated religious practices within an aged care facility for example is very important for many people. Greek elderly might want to have icons in their rooms as well as religious burners which are both an integral part of Greek Orthodox religion.

Going to regular Sunday church services is something that many Greeks are accustomed to and if unable to attend due to health reasons it is not uncommon to have a Greek priest visit them periodically. When a priest visits the aged care facility it means the Greek elderly may wish to receive communion or to have confession (particularly during special religious periods such as Easter, 15th of August and Christmas).

In trying to meet the diverse needs of elderly Greeks, services should also consult with relatives who can often provide valuable information about important religious and other customs that can help professionals in providing culturally appropriate care. Most Greeks belong to the Greek Orthodox faith and many of the celebrations observed by Greeks have a religious basis. For instance name day celebrations are linked to specific saints and most Greek names are synonymous with saints. Icons depict images of saints and are significant religious symbols in Orthodoxy.  Greeks pay honor to icons. 

Many icons decorate Greek churches, Greek homes and even cars. Faithful Orthodox Greeks cross themselves before a meal, before a trip and also when driving or walking past a church. Fasting is an integral part of the Orthodox religion and means not eating meat, chicken, dairy products and even fish and olive oil by those who are strict in their observance of the Lent period. Fasting is something that is observed during special religious periods such as Christmas, Easter and the period leading to the 15th of August which the Greek Orthodox Church celebrates the dormition (death) of  the Virgin Mary. Many people abstain from eating meat and dairy products anywhere from a few days, a week to 40 days.

It is also customary to fast before receiving communion but fasting is certainly not obligatory nor expected of children or the elderly or anyone with health problems. Fasting is entirely optional but generally observed by many in the Greek community especially during major religious events.

While many elderly might not be able to go to church on a regular basis for those who are able and wanting to attend a church service especially at Easter, 15th of August  and/or Christmas, aged care services can talk to the respective families about such arrangements. Crossing oneself when praying, before a meal, when walking or driving past a church is done as a mark of faith and respect. Some people also cross themselves before a trip in a car, boat or plane so as to be kept safe during their trip.

Parishioners can receive communion during regular Sunday church services or any other time as arranged with the priest. Confession allows individuals to speak privately with a priest. Some people will avoid receiving communion unless they have been to confession first. The religious burner is often positioned in front of an icon and can be lit the night before and burn through the night and throughout the day as a sign of faith and respect.

The traditional burner usually consists of a small glass of water and olive oil with a floating wick which sits on top and is lit on special religious days. Icons depicting images of saints can be found in most Greek households along with religious burners. Greek elderly might like to have icons of the Virgin Mary, Jesus or saints in their homes which they can pray to. Some people also light religious burners in front of icons as a further sign of their faith.