PALZ is coming to Eurobodalla Meals on Wheels in May!

This new initiative will continue to strengthen the wide array of activities which Eurobodalla Meals on Wheels provides to the community.

PALZ (Professionals with Alzheimer's) started in Geelong and is spreading around Australia and internationally. Chapters are already in Geelong, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. London is a new location as is the Eurobodalla.

"PALZ provides a bi-monthly, interactive meeting environment with corporate speakers. It is an opportunity to discuss current issues with fellow professionals. Like you, attendees are capable, thinking and independent professionals who just happen to have Alzheimer's or a similar disaease," says Founder Cathy Roth OAM.

The Patron, Professor Michael Woodward AM says, "It is my honour as Patron to both support this timely association and to encourage professionals to participate. With over 400,000 Australians affected by dementia -mostly Alzheimer's Disease -there is understandably a focus on overarching care and support. But those who have been high functioning pillars of the community are often slower to diagnose, and feel at sea when this diagnosis is achieved. Current supports are extremely valuable but do not always take into account the previous activities and aspirations of the newly diagnosed person. PALZ unashamedly targets the needs of those who have defined themseleves by their contribution at the whole of society level, and indeed draws on these skills that may otherwise have been discarded once the diagnosis of dementia was attached." Annual Report 2016/2017

Our meetings will challege, stimulate, inform and allow you to discuss a range of topics.

• The meetings will start on May 7th, at 10am.
• They will be held at Banksia Village Board Room, in Health Street, Broulee.
• The meeting will include morning tea, last 2 hours and see a gold coin entry fee to offset costs.
• Each attendee should have a carer with them throughout the meeting.

Further details can be sought from Eurobodalla Meals on Wheels in Moruya on 4474 4464.

Eurobodalla Meals on Wheels provides 'more than a meal' and looks forward to PALZ providing for members of the community.

During March, the Client Services Officer (Bethany McLean) has added to the menu new meal choices for our clients.

The Manager found The Good Food Company at the New South Wales Meals on Wheels Conference in 2018.

Since that time the Food Panel has sampled their meals and recommended 16 items for the initial trial. These items include two soups, seven mini meals, 5 main meals and 2 desserts.

Over March, these have been availabe to clients and they have proved to be a huge success. Some items have sold out and had to be reordered so the trial could continue.

More items have been sampled, including hot breakfast packs, and they will be included on the revised Menu which will be availabe in April.

"The feedback has been wonderful and beyond expectation," says Manager Alan Russell. "We are delighted to be able to refresh our menu and to provide for our clients the best possible service."

Eurobodalla Meals on Wheels believes in Continuous Imporvement of its services for clients in the meals being offered, and in the Group and Individual Social Support programmes available.

One of our most treasured volunteers finished her 54 years of devotion to our cause on Wednesday 13 March.

Ruth McPhee began her service with the organisation near Wagga Wagga and continued in Batemans Bay when she moved in 1983.

She stopped delivering six years ago but has come into the Batemans Bay Community Centre nearly every week to pack meals. She said it was satisfying and theraputic to be useful to others.

"It makes you appreciate what you've got," she said. "It's really good for people doing it as well as the people they're helping." She went on to say, "I don't know how the country would run without the volunteers."

Ruth was thanked for her efforts by the State Member for Bega (Hon Andrew Constance) and the Mayor of the Eurobodalla Shire Council (Councillor Liz Innes) on her last day. Each made a presentation on behlaf of their organisation to recognise Ruths work.

Manager (Alan Russell) made a small presentation on behalf of the President and Board, and the Cooperative as a whole to someone who has quietly done so much for others.

Andrew Conastance did remark on the number of years and the countless number of people Ruth had assisted. "Other than the recipients, there were family members and friends who had been helped by Ruths generosity of time and purpose," he said.

Our congratulations to Ruth for her work, example and compassion. We are indebted to Ruth and wish her well in her retirement.

As Alan Russell commented, "you deserve to put your feet up and feel proud of the service you have given to others."

Acknowledge Andrea Cantle (Bay Post/Moruya Examiner, Friday 15 March 2019.

Eurobodalla Meals on Wheels has delivered meals throughout the Shire for many years.

The Brand, Meals on Wheels is also well known throughout the world and for over 60 years within Australia.

But Meals on Wheels offers much more and has the catch phrase 'More than just a meal' on its promotional material.

"Meals continue to be the core of our service," says Manager Alan Russell. "But for many years now we have offered Group and Individual social support programmes to help our clients fight against loneliness and social isolation."

The Group Social Support is offered through the well-known Out and About and Lunch About programmes.

Clients meet in the three major centres of the Shire to share time together. Social interaction and a range of activities keep the mind and body active.

The Individual Social Support allows volunteers to work on a one to one basis with, and for clients.

This could include shopping, attending medical appointments and some basic 'courtyard' gardening.

The Cuppa Chat is also growing in popularity. This allows a client and a volunteer to spend time together in the client's home.

"All our programmes and initiatives assist the older people of the Shire to stay on their home longer, to remain independent and enjoying life," says Mr Russell.

"This is the focus of our present aged care system and we are supporters of this initiative," says Mr Russell. "We support our clients and seek ways to provide fun and laughter, companionship and time away from the home."

Eurobodalla Meals on Wheels has developed a reputation for compassion, care, honesty and empathy and this is spread across all of the activities from meals to social support.

"These values are displayed by the staff and volunteers every day, " says Mr Russell.