Residential aged care residents recreate movie stars for annual calendar

Imagine the fun the residents and staff get up to at Uniting Starrett Lodge Hamlyn Terrace in the NSW Central Coast, 77km north of Sydney's CBD.

The Not For Profit and Wolfe Wise Creative ensured the residents get to dress up as their favourite movie stars for the aged care home’s annual calendar and they also were shown on the Nine Network.

“The tradition was started several years ago and it’s always so fun to see how excited the residents get about being a part of it,” Bettie Taylor, Uniting Starrett Lodge Wellness and Leisure Coordinator, said.

"All the proceeds of the sales of the calendar will go towards their ‘Bucket List’ so we’re hoping we can do some really fun things with them all if we raise enough funds. We’ve already sold out since being on The Today Show on Friday morning and have ordered more from the printer today.”

Shirley Knighton dressed as Marilyn Monroe's character Lorelei Lee in the 1953 movie Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.

“It was so much fun dressing up as Marilyn, and I am blonde so yes I agree gentlemen prefer blondes!”

“I have two gentlemen friends here that I have dances and lots of fun with. Don’t ever be afraid to come into care because it’s so much fun and the food is wonderful,” she added.

 

 

The title of our TV show The Best 30 Years summed up what fun can happen when people retire.

Here is DCM Group CEO Chris Baynes explaining the thinking behind The Best 30 Years:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_gh1NoAtiI

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A special thanks to our contributors

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Caroline Egan

DCM Media, agedcare101

Caroline has a wealth of experience writing within the retirement and aged care sector and is a contributing journalist for the Villages.com.au and agedcare101 blog and accompanying newsletters.

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Ian Horswill

Journalist

Ian is a journalist, writer and sub-editor for the aged care sector, working at The DCM Group. He writes for The Weekly Source, agedcare101, villages.com.au and the DCM Institute fortnightly newsletter Friday. Ian is in daily contact with CEOs of retirement living, land lease and the aged care operations and makes a new contact every week. He investigates media releases, LinkedIn and Facebook for a good source for ideas for stories.

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Lauren Broomham

Retirement and Aged Care Journalist

Lauren is a journalist for villages.com.au, agedcare101 and The Donaldson Sisters. Growing up in a big family in small town communities, she has always had a love for the written word, joining her local library at the age of six months. With over eight years' experience in writing and editing, she is a keen follower of news and current affairs with a nose for a good story.

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Jill Donaldson

Physiotherapist

Jill has been practicing as a clinical physiotherapist for 30 years. For the last 13 years she has worked solely in the Aged Care sector in more than 50 metropolitan and regional facilities. Jill has also toured care facilities in the US and Africa and is a passionate advocate for both the residents in aged care and the staff who care for them. She researches and writes for DCM Media.

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Chris Baynes

DCM Media, agedcare101

Chris has been a journalist and publisher in the retirement village and aged care sectors for 11 years. He has visited over 250 retirement villages and 50 aged care facilities both within Australia and internationally. Chris is a regular speaker at industry conferences plus is a frequent radio commentator.

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Annie Donaldson

Nurse and Carer

Annie has a long career in both nursing and the media. She has planned and co-ordinated the medical support from both international TV productions and major stadium events. In recent years she has been a primary family carer plus involved in structured carer support.