Crowley, one of the leading providers of retirement living and aged and community care services on the NSW North Coast, is pleased to announce one of their trainees, Mrs Marlene Pearce, is the recipient of East Coast Training’s 2008 Trainee of the Year, Hospitality/Retail Industries.

 Michael Penhey, CEO of Crowley said they were extremely proud of Mrs Pearce and that she is a valuable member of the Crowley team.

“Marlene is an asset to Crowley. Her dedication to her traineeship was evident and we are delighted Marlene has won this Award,” said Mr Penhey.

When asked about how she felt about her Award, Mrs Pearce responded that she “was just excited to be nominated”.

Mrs Pearce wanted to return to work after being a mum at home for twenty years, and started in May 2006 in Crowley’s Hotel Services Department and shortly after was signed up for a traineeship.

Mrs Pearce is one of those rare people who love and appreciate the work they do, and has now graduated with a Certificate III in Hospitality & Retail.

“Just coming to work everyday is really good,” said Mrs Pearce.

Crowley and Ballina Shire Council have announced that, following successful negotiations, they have signed an agreement for the sale of Council’s Independent Living Units in Florence Price Place, Ballina.

 Michael Penhey, CEO of Crowley, said the Agreement reflects a logical extension of Crowley’s Village in Cherry Street, enabling the residents of Florence Price Place to take full advantage of Crowley’s facilities and services.

“The residents will benefit from being part of Crowley as they receive access to enhanced care services, an onsite mobile meal van and the many social activities offered by Crowley,” said Mr Penhey.

The merger was a logical decision based on Crowley’s expertise in aged care services, the quality of their care and the proximity of Crowley to Florence Price Place.

“Both Ballina Shire Council and Crowley see this as an opportunity to extend Crowley’s services and commitment to quality care to the residents of Florence Price Place,” said Mr Penhey.

Crowley will be hosting a welcome party to the new residents including an orientation to Crowley’s services.

“Many residents in Florence Price Place already know the Crowley residents, mainly due to the proximity of the street to Crowley, so we look forward to making them officially part of the Crowley family,” said Mr Penhey.

Mayor Phil Silver commented that the decision by Council to sell the Florence Price Place complex to Crowley was unanimous as aged care is outside Council’s area of expertise. The Mayor also commented that Florence Price Place residents should be comforted with the conditions negotiated with Crowley to provide for their long term welfare and accommodation needs.

Crowley continues to lead the way in high quality aged and community care by winning three New South Wales Awards for Excellence from NSW & ACT Aged & Community Services.

Mr Michael Penhey, CEO of Crowley, has attributed the three Awards to his very dedicated team of management, staff and volunteers and their commitment to Crowley’s ethos of care.

The winner of the NSW Volunteer of the Year Award was Patricia Wilson. For 27 years Patricia Wilson has been volunteering at Crowley, with 26 of those years as President of Crowley Auxiliary.

“Patricia is one of those very special people who have dedicated their life to volunteering and helping others. We are grateful for her work and congratulate her on her well deserved Award,” said Mr Penhey.

The NSW Trainee of the Year Award celebrates the outstanding achievements of an employee who is studying and working towards a qualification in the aged care sector, and according to Mr Penhey this describes Marlene Pearce exactly.

“Marlene demonstrates what training and work can do for your personal and professional confidence and development; consequently she is a great ambassador to training and aged care,” said Mr Penhey.

The Media Award recognises Crowley’s efforts in communicating the positive portrayal of older people, and the aged and community care services to the broader community.

“By breaking down perceptions of aged care, Crowley reinforces how seniors are a valuable part of the society, and have spent a lot of their life giving to the community,” said Mr Penhey.

The three 2009 NSW Awards for Excellence complements Crowley’s past Awards as Business of the Year, Community Service of the Year from the Ballina Chamber of Commerce and the National Award in Independent Retirement Living.

As people age, there is an increase in incidence of skin tears, pressure ulcers and chronic leg and foot ulcers, affecting 1-3% of adults aged over 65 years and approximately 25% of aged care residents.  

 To address this, a project team involving Residential Aged Care Facilities and researchers at Queensland University of Technology’s Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation has initiated The Champions for Skin Integrity project which aims to promote the implementation of evidence based prevention, assessment and management of wounds for residents in aged care facilities.

 The project team involves a consortium of seven Residential Aged Care facilities in NSW and Queensland and the School of Nursing & Midwifery and Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation at Queensland University of Technology.

 Crowley, the only aged care facility from NSW, was invited to join the project team and has been utilising current research and best practice guidelines to develop strategies to enable staff to provide,  and residents to choose, evidence based care.

 Michael Penhey, CEO of Crowley said that Crowley is honoured to be part of this important project and it is a fantastic opportunity for staff and residents to be at the forefront of skin integrity care.

 The Champions for Skin Integrity project aims to provide education for both residents and staff, including nutrition, hydration and skin care for prevention of wounds.

 “Crowley staff will be working closely with the researchers at QUT and collaborating with six other leading residential aged care facilities in Queensland to identify best practices in wound management,” said Mr Penhey.

 “Over the next two years Crowley will develop a set of strategies to encourage uptake of evidence based clinical care guidelines for use by all aged care facilities across Australia.”                                                                                                                

Mr Penhey said that the Champions for Skin Integrity project will culminate in a national resource for implementation in aged care facilities throughout Australia. 

The project is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing under the Encouraging Best Practice in Residential Aged Care Program.