Mrs Joy Leggo
Multicultural Aged Care Services Geelong (macs), North Geelong, VIC
Imagine living in an environment where; your wellbeing is the number one priority, you are surrounded by friends who represent 57 different nationalities and your body, mind and spirit are nurtured on a daily basis.
Always looking to improve, in late 2015 MACS commenced a review of its Lifestyle Program – the weekly schedule of residents activities. A Project Officer was engaged to complete the review and ensure the program was aligned with MACS’ core values of diversity, dignity, integrity, respect and empowerment. As a result, an innovative, coordinated program was developed focussing on delivering these values through Body, Mind and Spirit concepts with new activities introduced including Mindful Moves Program. The program runs for four days a week with two sessions held daily. It empowers residents to have more control over their health at a time when they often feel their independence is being diminished. Mindful Moves incorporates elements of pilates, yoga, Tai Chi, strength training, balance and flexibility exercises and a walking track. Care staff have noted that participants are more engaged, calmer, happier and are creating connections with other residents.
Other new activities include in-house concerts from the Melbourne Recital Centre and an Artist in Residence Program.
Biography:
Joy Leggo is the founding CEO of Multicultural Aged Care Services Geelong Inc. (MACS), a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the provision of excellence in care to meet the diverse needs of the multicultural community. Joy has lead the MACS team since it opened in 1994 with 40 low care beds. MACS now cares for over 250 people in a multiple of community and residential settings. Joy holds a Master of Business Administration, a Bachelor of Health Administration and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and also participates in a number of Boards as a Director in the Social Welfare Sector. Joy’s specific interest is in ensuring the cultural and linguistic needs of our diverse community are cared for in a sensitive and respectful environment.
