Anglicare member, Benetas, has strengthened its focus on achieving the best outcomes for older people with the senior appointment of Nicola Reynolds (left) as General Manager Customer, Innovation and Marketing.
Nicola comes to Benetas with extensive experience across diverse industries, including aged care, and education and transport.
She is responsible for a broad portfolio, including the organisation’s advocacy agenda and research projects, customer experience program and Customer Centre, and marketing and communications initiatives.
Benetas to work with CQL
Benetas held a special event at ACMI Federation Square in February to celebrate the beginning of its journey with the Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL).
Benetas is the first Australian aged care specific organisation to work with CQL, which will define, measure and improve Benetas’ customers’ quality of life and customer experience.
CQL is dedicated to the definition, measurement, and improvement of personal and community quality of life for people with disabilities, people with mental illness and substance abuse disorders and older adults. CQL predominantly supports people with disabilities, however in recent times have moved into the seniors and mental health space.
[L to R] Mary Kay Rizzolo (CQL President and CEO), Kathy Ficker Terrill (CQL Senior Advisor), Jane Collopy (Benetas Quality and Compliance Manager) and Sandra Hills (Benetas CEO).
Improving resident safety
Benetas will explore the benefits of new technology in residential aged care flooring, thanks to an Australian‐first research project with support from Swinburne University.
The flooring, which will see specific sensor flooring installed under the normal flooring, is set to make life safer and easier for residents at Benetas’ newest aged care development, St Paul’s Terrace Aged Care Apartments in Frankston, which is due to open later this year.
International research suggests this technology could assist in the reduction of injuries experienced by aged care residents, while also giving them a sense of safety and freedom. It could also cut business costs dramatically, as frontline staff will be able to shift their focus to more proactive care, reducing time spent on routine checking.
Through this technology, key staff will be notified immediately if a resident has taken a fall, along with a range of other motions, which will help them to respond quicker, particularly during the night. The system will also help staff identify changes in residents’ behaviour, such as wandering, which will help to ensure they are receiving the best, most appropriate care.
Architect drawing of the new technology used in residential aged care flooring.