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Noosa Care Inc - FAQ's
Below are some facts about NoosaCare which answer most frequently asked questions. If your query is not addressed, please do not hesitate to contact us.
You can either click on one of the topics in this table to get to more information about your chosen topic or simply scroll down the page.
ACTIVITIES
Activities and outings are coordinated by the Diversional Therapists and include bus trips, craft groups, movement to music, singing, bingo, art, discussion groups, cooking and concerts.
Please note that most activities are at no cost to the residents.
ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT
Each Apartment is equipped with essential furniture if required. Residents are encouraged to appoint their Apartments to their preference. Management will assist Residents with recommendations for suitable types of furniture.
ALCOHOL
Residents are requested to be moderate in their consumption.
AMBULANCE SERVICE
A Government initiative has instigated Ambulance services as a free service for pensioners as from 1 st January 1999. In order to take advantage of this free service your pension number must be available at all times.
ASSISTANCE TO STAFF
Assistance from Residents is most welcome whether it takes the form of social activities, light domestic work or lawn and garden interest and you are invited to discuss any assistance you wish to give with the Executive Director.
BEQUESTS & DONATIONS
Being a not for profit organization, NoosaCare Inc relies on government funding for its operation. Bequests and legacies (real and personal property as well as monetary bequests) assist to improve the care and facilities for our residents. Donations are welcome, giving NoosaCare additional resources to continually improve the facilities at Carramar and Kabara.
CHARGES
Fees do not cover personal pharmaceuticals prescribed by a doctor/chemist for an individual Resident. Hairdressing, dental, optometry services or appointments will be made for the Residents, but the expense of same is the responsibility of the Resident.
CHARTER OF RIGHTS & RESPONSIBILITIES
Please see Schedule 2 of the Resident Agreement. This is the Charter of Residents’ Rights & Responsibilities.
CHEMIST
Arrangements can be made to send prescriptions to the chemist.
CLOTHING
It would assist us and avoid any confusion if you would clearly mark all of your personal clothing, towels, bedding etc. Please see Receptionist to order name labels.
COMMENTS AND CONCERNS
You are extremely welcome to make any comments, concerns or complaints known to management or staff at any time and we will act swiftly upon these. We also provide regular questionnaires in respect of all aspects of your life at NoosaCare (which you can complete anonymously, if you wish). If any complaint cannot be resolved by negotiation with management, there is a complaint resolution procedure in your Resident Agreement, plus contact details for the Commonwealth and independent advocacy groups.
CONFIDENTIALITY
Residents of NoosaCare Inc can be assured that any details about them personally, their family, or their business affairs will not at any time be discussed with anyone or mentioned outside the facility. To assist you in maintaining your privacy each room is lockable and Residents will be issued with their own keys. In your own home you need to feel secure in the knowledge that your life is still your own.
CROCKERY/CUTLERY
Provision is made for necessary items for you to make cups of tea or coffee when required. Please do not remove any such items from the ‘dining room’. The only material which you may take from the Community Centre is reading material.
DISCLAIMER PROCEDURE
NoosaCare Inc may make recommendations to Residents, particularly in regard to safety matters or in order to comply with regulations or Commonwealth Government Outcome Standards. If a Resident or relative disagrees with the recommendations, they may be required to acknowledge this by signing a Disclaimer Form – e.g. in a case where a walking aid is recommended for the Resident’s own safety and this is refused and puts the resident at risk of falling – then a disclaimer form may be required to be signed.
DOCTORS
NoosaCare Inc prefers that your Doctor be chosen by you. We will assist you in making arrangements to either visit your doctor, or have your Doctor visit you (at the facility) if required. A number of Doctors hold clinics on a regular basis at NoosaCare.
Staff will assist wherever possible to access external appointments (i.e. Dental, Optical, Auditory, Dietary, Medical Specialist, etc). Your family is encouraged to assist wherever possible in transporting you to such appointments.
The facility will also assist residents in accessing ‘ complementary therapies’ – Holistic therapies which are used in conjunction with, or in place of, orthodox medicine (e.g. Therapeutic Touch, Aromatherapy, Acapuncture, Hydrotherapy, Reflexology, etc) as required by the resident. Information is provided on such services at Reception or by speaking to the Executive Director.
DRESS
You are requested at all times to be respectably and fully dressed. Residents are permitted to wear appropriate dressing gowns to breakfast.
ELECTRIC SCOOTERS
Due to the increased desire by residents to purchase Electric Scooters, we are obligated to have in place the following policy:
Consultation between the Executive Director and the Resident must occur prior to the purchase of the Electric Scooter.
Negligence: Any damage caused by the Electric Scooter, the resident will be held responsible for the cost to repair the damage. This is within the grounds of NoosaCare. Be aware any damage caused outside of the facilities will also be the resident’s responsibility. We strongly recommend the purchase of Third Party Insurance and include Public Liability on the policy.
Registration: The Queensland Transport Department recognise the Electric Scooter as a driving car and therefore must be registered. All road rules apply whilst driving the Electric Scooter outside of the NoosaCare grounds. The Qld Transport Department requires your doctor’s medical certificate to say you are able to drive on public roads.
Speed: Electric Scooters must give way to NoosaCare Resident Pedestrians and the speed must be a very slow walking pace.
Parking: The Electric Scooter must face the brick wall outside your building, not the glass windows. No parking inside any buildings.
Under no circumstances can you park the Electric Scooter outside or near the front area of the facility's Reception and Bus Stop/Ambulance Bay.
If you are going out for the day, please leave your Electric Scooter at home and request assistance by the Personal Carer to the bus, car or relatives/friend’s car.
We ask that you abide by these rules to ensure that a harmonious and safe living environment continues for all the residents of NoosaCare.
EMERGENCY CALL SYSTEM
A 24 hour emergency call system is available from all bedrooms, ensuites and living areas.
FIRE & OTHER EMERGENCIES
During your stay at Carramar you may hear alarm bells and/or sirens. This is our automatic fire detection system, which exists throughout the facility for your safety. These alarms automatically ring through to the Qld Fire Service and fire tenders are dispatched immediately.
There are three reasons for the alarm bells being activated:
a) Regular testing (only very short rings).
b) False alarms. These might occur because the system is very sensitive and is set to respond to minimal stimuli – e.g. smoking in the building.
c) An actual emergency involving smoke and fire, somewhere within the hostel confines.
What you should do if you hear alarms:
-Keep calm.
-Stay in your room.
-Do not go into the bathroom or toilet.
-Await instructions from the nurse/s
-Return to your room, if not in it, when alarms sound. If it is not possible to return to your room, report to the nearest nursing station for further instructions. Do not go through fire/smoke doors to get to your room.
-If at any time during your stay you see fire or smell smoke please notify the nearest staff member immediately.
In the unlikely event that a major emergency occurs necessitating evacuation our staff members are trained in such procedures and an evacuation plan set up for each area of the hostel. There are several easy exits from each area and we recommend that you take notice of where these are located at your convenience.
You will be notified by staff when the ‘All Clear’ is given.
HAIRDRESSER
Our hairdressing salon is open weekly, catering for men and women.
INSURANCE
NoosaCare Inc insurances do not cover your personal property. Please arrange insurance cover with a Company of your choice. NoosaCare staff will advise or assist you to do so.
KEYS
You will be issued keys for your apartment. These keys are to be returned when vacating. Cost of replacement keys will be to the Resident.
LAUNDRY
If you are unable to do your personal laundry, or if you choose not to, the staff will direct your soiled clothinbg to the laundry. All bed linen and heavy laundry is done by NoosaCare in our laundry. Staff will need to access your room to collect your laundry. The staff will make arrangements with you for this. NoosaCare will not be held responsible for any missing items.
LEAVE ARRANGEMENTS
Residents are free to go at any time to visit or on business. In the interests of safety, staff should be informed of the destination and expected length of absence. Staff must be personally informed, and the attendance book signed. Notice should be given of any intention to be absent for more than 24 hours.
Residents may be absent from the Hostel on social leave for a period of 52 days in one financial year without their fees being affected. Any social leave period in excess of this requires special financial arrangements to be made (as detailed in the Resident Agreement) if you wish to retain your place at NoosaCare.
If a resident is hospitalised, the resident’s place in the home will be retained for the resident provided arrangements are made for continuing payment of fees. Hospital leave is unlimited.
LIBRARY
Noosa Shire Council Mobile Library visits NoosaCare fortnightly and provides a book exchange service for Residents.
LIGHTS & APPLIANCES
Before leaving overnight, or before retiring, please ensure that all lights, fans, wall heaters or other electrical appliances are switched off, refrigerators excepted.
MARKING OF WALLS
You are requested not to mark or affix anything to the walls in your apartment or in your lounge room. Any items to be attached to any walls will be attended to by the NoosaCare maintenance person.
MEALS
The present meal times are breakfast 8.00 am, midday meal 12.00 Noon, evening meal 5.30 pm.
Meal times are set by the Residents’ Committee in consultation with the Executive Director.
Relatives and friends are encouraged to dine with residents. Cost of meal must be paid for upon arrival before meal. Weekend meals to be paid to kitchen staff.
MEMBERSHIP
Membership is $5 annually. Life membership is $25.
NEWSLETTER & ACTIVITIES PROGRAMME
A monthly Newsletter is produced by the Diversional Therapist which includes contributions from the Residents and gives an update of events. A monthly activities programme is also issued, providing dates and times for forthcoming activities.
NOISE
You are asked to consider the comfort of your fellow Residents and to control your radio or TV and noise generally so as not to disturb them.
NURSING HOME
NoosaCare provides "Ageing in Place".
PENSIONS
NoosaCare prefers that you make your own private arrangements with regard to payments and/or banking of your pensions. All banks provide a good service for the collection and banking of your cheques and will also provide a service for payment of your rent.
PETS
At NoosaCare we have pets for the whole village. Residents are not permitted to keep individual pets.
PODIATRIST
The Podiatrist visits NoosaCare regularly. Appointments can be made at reception. Residents must meet the cost of podiatry themselves except if you are assessed as ‘high-care’ or extra services and the need for podiatry is confirmed by the Executive Director.
REFUSE
Please ensure that all your food scraps and the like are properly wrapped and placed in the external garbage bin. Newspapers etc. should be placed next to such bins for disposal by the handyman.
RELOCATION
Your care and safety requirements may dictate that you require relocation to a higher level of care in another apartment within NoosaCare. Full consultation would occur and your rights before such a move are detailed in your Resident Agreement.
RESIDENT MONTHLY MEETINGS
Resident monthly meetings are held to discuss matters relating to life at NoosaCare.
SMOKING
Please do not smoke whilst in your room or in or adjacent to the dining room and please be careful. There is no smoking in the central lounge areas of each lodge as the smoke detectors are very sensitive. If you need to smoke please use the designated smoking areas.
STAFF
Our staff have their own duties and responsibilities and it is requested that you do not interrupt them in their performance of those duties. Please do not interfere with or attempt to instruct any of our staff in such duties. If you have any complaint about any member of our staff, this complaint should be made to our Executive Director and not to the staff person concerned.
TEA & COFFEE FACILITIES
These provisions are maintained by the staff for you.
TELEPHONE
Telstra will bill Residents individually for connection and subsequent calls.
TELEVISION
Aerial points are available in all rooms.
TRANSPORTATION
The resident and/or their next of kin should sign a consent form on admission to NoosaCare. This form will cover outings in private cars, buses and wheelchair walks provided by NoosaCare staff.
VALUABLES
You are asked to take care of your own valuable items. If you have any items of particular value, then NoosaCare suggests that you lodge them in safe custody with your bank.
VISITING HOURS
Visiting Hours are flexible, keeping in mind Residents’ privacy and meal times.
VOLUNTEERING
Without volunteers it would be improssible to offer our residents the variety of activities currently available. Also, our volunteers assist with transport for doctor appointments and many other tasks, e.g. take our residents for wheelchair walks, chats, shopping etc. For further information regarding volunteering, please contact our Diversional Therapist who will be pleased to discuss volunteering with you.
VOTING AT GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS
A polling booth is made available on the premises for ease for voting.
GENERAL
It is only through your help that we can ensure that all residents receive the best possible care. Please feel free to contact the Executive Director if you have something you would like to discuss. At times we may want to meet you and your relatives to talk about your progress and discuss mutual concerns. If a meeting is required, the Executive Director will arrange a convenient time.
Residents are encouraged to continue their independence and to enjoy family visitation in our relaxed atmosphere. NoosaCare management and staff are proud of our beautiful environment and the high standard of care provided for our Residents.
