Turning resident insights into real connections

Our new app supports wellbeing by combining smart tech and the timeless art of listening

Our resident engagement app helps our teams understand how each resident prefers to spend their time and participate in daily life. By recording residents interests, choices and participation, our app supports personalised wellbeing experiences, social connection and a sense of belonging. For Christine, who lives at Burpengary Gardens Care Community, being heard helped her feel at home and form new friendships through a shared love of triominoes.

Fishing with a close friend. Crochet over a cuppa and a chat. Observing their faith or putting watercolour techniques to the test. These are just a few ways our residents enjoy spending their time. Every person is unique, so how do we know what residents like to do? We ask.

Turning resident preferences into meaningful experiences

Engaging with the things that matter to us is essential for our wellbeing, and it's the guiding principle for our resident engagement app. It helps our teams support meaningful experiences for each resident by helping us understand how they prefer to engage with life. 

Each day, our team asks residents what they would like to do the following day and records their preferences in the app. This helps us develop a diverse range of engagement opportunities that encourage social connection, enjoyment, and a sense of belonging. We also record participation in the app, so we can see what’s working for residents and where we can make improvements.

Understanding Christine

When Christine came to live at Burpengary Gardens Care Community, north of Brisbane, she was unsure if it was the right move for her. She was pleasantly surprised.

Wellbeing manager, Savi, explains that our team spent time getting to know Christine, using our resident engagement app as a supporting tool to understand and record her preferences.

“Christine told us she enjoyed games with a small group of friends. Before she moved into our Care Community, Christine didn’t attend events or activities with large gatherings of people. Knowing we could support her with the activities she enjoyed helped her to feel at home.”

“The triominoes game is popular with our residents and it helped Christine form friendships with fellow residents Doreen and Alison. What started with games of one hour has now expanded into longer sessions, where the ladies teach other residents and our team how to play.”

Supporting choice, friendship and belonging

For Christine, it's all about being heard.

“I think aged care can be the doorway to a good life,” she says.

“The team here listens to me and supports me with the things I like to do. Listening to me also means understanding when I’m feeling up to something and when I’m not.”

Savi agrees:

“Simply listening to a person makes such a difference in their lives.”

Christine’s experience shows how listening to residents and understanding their preferences can help create meaningful opportunities for friendship, enjoyment and participation.

A game of triominoes became more than an activity. It helped Christine connect with Doreen and Alison, feel comfortable in her new home and share her knowledge with other residents and team members.

Supporting wellbeing through person-centred care

Our residential aged care services are built around understanding each resident as an individual, including their interests, relationships, routines, abilities and aspirations.

Wellbeing isn't about offering the same activities to everyone. It's about creating opportunities that reflect what matters to each person, whether that means joining a small group, practising their faith, enjoying time outdoors, continuing a favourite hobby or spending time with people they value.

Our resident engagement app supports our person-centred care approach by helping teams:

• Understand and record residents’ interests and preferences
• Plan meaningful individual and group experiences
• Respect each resident’s choice about whether and how they participate
• Identify opportunities for friendship and social connection
• Review participation and make improvements over time
• Share insights that support a more consistent resident experience

By combining useful technology with conversation and genuine listening, our teams can continue learning what brings each resident enjoyment, purpose and a sense of belonging.