Aged Care Gardening Program Wins HESTA Excellence Award

Lifeview’s hugely popular gardening program, Planting with a Purpose, which sees chefs, gardeners and residents working together to grow fresh produce for each of the homes kitchens, was recently awarded the HESTA Excellence in Aged Care Team Award.

The award, which recognises those that go above and beyond the everyday demands of their role, was handed down in a virtual ceremony yesterday evening.

“We are over the moon to have won this award”, said Stephen Milsted, Lifeview’s Manager, Hospitality Services, who accepted the award on behalf of the team.

“This award is recognition of the hard work and tenacity shown by all involved in this program, in what has been a very trying 18-months for everyone but none more so than the health and aged care industry”, Milsted added.

Reactions from residents involved in the program, to the win, has been one of excitement and satisfaction.
Resident Jimmy Johnson says, “I’m really honoured and speechless. It’s really a pleasure to help out with the garden.”

“I’m ecstatic, I never dreamed we could win anything. I love our Planting with a Purpose group,” added resident Nancye Thompson.

“The Royal Commission into Aged Care flagged food and nutrition in the industry as an area of concern. With programs such as this, we hope we can inspire others to get out there and grow their own produce, ensuring residents have not only meaningful interactions and activities, with a sense of ownership but a plentiful supply of home grown produce,” said Lifeview CEO, Madeline Gall.

“The model of care Lifeview offers is based around maintaining independence as much as possible. The sense of purpose residents regain through this program, in an environment where there may be a tendency to want to do everything for people, makes this a very enriching experience”, Ms. Gall added.

With the prize money received for this award Lifeview intends to expand this program further by adding more mobile gardening pods, introducing worm farms and expanding the range of fruit and vegetables grown.

From here the cooks amongst the resident population are eager to get involved and turn the produce into jams, marmalades, and chutneys.

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