Ann Cotterell
Director
An expert in Dementia, Ann knows how to effectively change the behaviour
of people with Dementia and Alzheimer's disease and she has taught hundreds
of other people how to do it as well.
Ann is a Registered Nurse and a Director and co-owner of Best of Care. As a past Director of Nursing at a prominent aged care facility, Ann has extensive experience which started with a nursing career and moved to specialising in aged care.
Ann has managed a Dementia specific hostel, and founded an Adult Day Activity Support Service specifically for people with Dementia. It was here that Ann created and introduced an innovative model of care that revolutionised caring for people with Dementia. This model of care saw Ann authoring "Bringing out the Best", a booklet which complemented a video of the same name.
As an aged care manager, Ann has witnessed first-hand the lack of choice for people who are aged, and seen the heartache it caused when people were forced to move into an aged care facility away from their family, friends, routine, pets and possessions. She decided that people should have a choice and a real alternative that would provide support so that the person could stay at home with their family on their terms. Best of Care was born from this vision.
As a testament to her ability and leadership in the aged care and Dementia industry, Ann has established a successful business which provides flexible in-home respite and nursing care for people who are caring for someone who is aged or has Dementia or a disability. Her courage and compassion have shaped a strong, community minded organisation of over 130 employees across the Barwon Region in Victoria.
In Ann's words:
"I love motivating people and empowering them, especially women. I do this by acknowledging achievements - both by clients and the Best of Care team.
The people I admire the most are Nelson Mandela and Oprah Winfrey. Both have the purest of intentions and their integrity is immaculate when it comes to inspiring people and making a difference. My most profound caring role has been sharing the care of my first grandson, who was born severely disabled and only lived for six months. He was born and died at home and was surrounded by love the entire time."
Debbie Walker
Director
Debbie has worked for over 20 years in various roles with people who have
intellectual, physical, neurological, sensory and mental health disorders.
Her skills and empathy are a result of her experience with adults, adolescents
and children in residential facilities, day centres, at homes, and in community
residentials.
Debbie was one of the original staff instrumental in establishing the Carer Respite Centre in the Barwon South Western Region, and in developing Disability Action Plans for the Office of the Public Advocate and the Equal Opportunity Commission.
She is an advocate for a woman who has an intellectual disability and previously was a Community Visitor in Supported Residential Services in Geelong. Debbie has organised and undertaken various contracts for the Australian Government in disability employment services and has educated people with disabilities and their families about the Department of Family and Community Services Quality Assurance system in disability employment services.
One of Debbie's more exciting roles involved the feasibility study for the Companion Card prior to it being introduced by the Victorian State Government. Debbie has a Bachelor of Applied Science (Intellectual Disabilities) and has always been keen to assist people with disabilities and their families to advocate and achieve a more fulfilling life. Debbie believes that on-going training is a way of achieving that objective. Based on her experiences in the field with people who had multiple disabilities, she found that there was a lack of high quality training courses available to Personal Carers. As a result, Debbie developed the Attendant Carer Course which is a training program for Personal Carers working in both aged care and disability services. A revised pilot programme developed by Debbie was conducted in Geelong, Queenscliff, Colac, Warrnambool, Camperdown, and Bacchus Marsh.
For several years Debbie trained many students in the Integration Aide Course, the Certificate III in Community Services (Home and Community Care) and the Certificate III Community Services (Personal Care) and has been a sessional trainer in the Advanced Certificate of Residential and Community Services and Intellectual Disability Service Officers Certificate.
Debbie has assisted hundreds of people to realise their dream of becoming competent, professional Personal Carers.
In Debbie's words:
I love supporting people to grow and develop their potential. To see someone who is getting so much more out of life than what they had previously experienced by looking at things in a different light, or by trying something new that they have not done before, or that they were too scared to do before, is immensely rewarding. Watching personal carers and family members who have overcome ordeals or huge barriers to conquer a fear or live a dream is amazing.
The person I most admire is Nelson Mandela for beating adversity - when most people had given up on him, he retained his vision of a better world through the some of the worst conditions a human being can endure.
My grandmother is 95 years old and she has always been the most amazing inspiration to me. She was always there to support me and to pick me up since I was small and times were tough. She taught me so much about love, life, what it means to value other people, and to strive to be the best you can be. Her age has never been a hinderence to her as she has always held the attitude that she can do anything.
Amanda Cooper
Community Nurse Manager
Amanda
was a Medical Secretary for some years before one of the Specialists told
her “you ask too many questions. Go and do Nursing” so she did.
She was the only Student Nurse at the Alfred Hospital allowed to not live
in the Nurses Home because she was married with a child. A great leap forward
at the time. After completing her training (as it was called in those days)
Amanda worked in various wards of the Alfred and then in a Clinic is St
Kilda, until she moved to the Geelong area with her growing family.
Amanda provided nursing care at Geelong Hospital for 20 years, as well as
working in nursing related fields, such as in medical sales, case management
for the Council and Community Aged Care Services providers, Best of Care
managing their Veteran’s programme, and at Barwon Health as a Complex
Care Co-ordinator. Amanda also ran a private nursing group specialising
in Wound Care and Intravenous Therapy. She has a Certificate in Infection
Control and Sterilisation and has completed many short courses including
Intensive Care Unit, Wound Care, and Management. She is currently completing
a Diploma in Clinical Hypnotherapy.
In Amanda's words:
My favourite part of the job is the coordination, the sharing of ideas and the camaraderie.
The person I most admire is Terry Hicks. What courageous love he must have!
My fondest memory of a caring role is creating the opportunity and then carrying out the care plan for Don to go home rather than remain in residential care. He was told that he would never be able to receive the care required for his Tracheostomy out of a care facility, and he proved them wrong. It was marvellous to see Don on his electric scooter walking his beloved dog to the shops to get the paper.
Lyn McCarter
Client Liaison & Marketing Manager
Lyn
followed her heart into aged care more than ten years ago when she found
her niche in working with people with Dementia. Lyn was a Personal Carer
in a Dementia specific day care and respite facility where she learnt the
importance of involving families and loved ones in care planning. Lyn has
developed an acute awareness of the needs of older people and the range
of government services that are available.
Lyn chose to specialise in caring for people within their homes and enjoyed the challenge and rewards of caring for those who had difficult behaviour. Lyn's caring manner is enhanced by her own experiences of being the main family support for her father who was chronically ill for two years. Due to Lyn's assistance, her father was able to remain at home until he died, as was his wish.
Lyn's lateral thinking means she is innovative with accessing Government funding to obtain flexible care for family members in their homes. Lyn is constantly liaising with local aged care facilities in the Barwon Region to ensure her knowledge is up-to-date and she can offer families the best information.
In Lyn's words:
My favourite parts of the job are visiting people in their homes and informing them of their care options, creating individual care plans to suit their needs, and supporting them to stay in their own homes. I like being able to make a difference in people's quality of life.
The person I admire the most is Oprah Winfrey, as she is a woman of great determination, who follows her heart knowing that she is making a difference in her life and in the lives of others.
My fondest memory of a caring role is that of an elderly female client who had an alcohol related brain injury. She drank heavily and caused a great deal of family conflict. We were able to implement strategies to prevent her from drinking, which in turn gave her a good quality of life and her husband a peace of mind.
Sue Reyment
Team Manager
Sue
has co-ordinated in-home and community care and respite with Best of Care
for over eight years, and she has more than 15 years experience in aged
care and Dementia.
Sue enjoys visiting families and clients in their homes, and working with them to create an on-going care plan that is both flexible and supportive. Follow up and feedback from families is also an enjoyable part of her role.
Much of Sue's caring knowledge is based on her own experience, from when she was the main family support through her mother's battle with Alzheimer's disease and her father's terminal illness. With Sue's assistance and support, both her father and mother were able to remain at home together.
Sue has a great empathy that enables her to really listen with her heart to family members who are often struggling in their caring role. She has an extraordinary intuitive ability to know which personal carer matches any given situation. Just talking with Sue can provide a level of reassurance that gives families the confidence to keep going.
In Sue's words:
What I enjoy about working at Best of Care is meeting with families and clients and assisting them to remain independent, stress free and as comfortable as possible in their own home.
Like Debbie, I am impressed by Nelson Mandela, who went through everything he has endured in his lifetime, and still has the ability to forgive and the strength to lead his people to freedom. He's amazing!
Lance Armstrong is also someone I admire as he won seven Tour de France races in between battling and beating cancer. What a huge feat! I know what it feels like to care for family as I have cared for both parents. My mother's long battle with Alzheimer's disease and my father's terminal illness were both extremely difficult but also a privilege.
Annie Seach
Office and Accounts Manager
Annie
heads our accounting department as well as caring for her elderly dad within
her busy life.
Annie has profound empathy and compassion for the elderly and people with disabilities. She knows from her own personal experience that it can be difficult at times supporting loved ones, but it is rewarding to see people find solutions.
Annie takes great pride in getting it right for everyone and enjoys maintaining a trusting relationship between families, other services and Best of Care.
Annie's greatest enjoyment is being able to make a difference in the lives of people in the community.
In Annie's words:
My favourite part of the job is being able to combine accounting systems with success, resulting in good results for both the clients and staff. I like to watch the team follow the systems and have it all flow together, and enjoy the simple little pleasures, such as a quick bank reconciliation (sounds a bit nerdish, I know!) .
There are a host of people that I admire and that I am amazed by, and I'm always open for further inspiration. Generally I admire people who are considerate, kind, out-going, and able to think outside the square. The type of people who can help others in a practical and empowering way.
My fondest memory of a caring role is being a proud Granny and having the Grand-daughters overnight, which is a totally selfish memory. (we don't think so Annie!) I also remember when I was young, combing my Mother's hair for long period of time to relax her. I did the same thing for my Gran. Maybe I should have been a hairdresser, instead of a bookkeeper!
Vivienne Buchanan
Care Co-ordinator - Aged Care Facilities
Viv
became a personal carer after a previous career in sales. Viv's career/life
changing move into personal care happened fourteen years ago when she was
faced with the responsibility of placing her father into care prior to his
death.
Working through the maze of nursing homes in preparation for her father's care fuelled her interest, so she forewent the sales career in preference to a career in aged care.
Working as a Personal Carer in all aspects of high level care, home respite, caring for people with Dementia, and providing palliative care, has given Viv a thorough understanding in of all areas of special care. Six years ago, Viv brought this passion into the office of Best of Care by undertaking a traineeship, and co-ordinating care for a range of people, with an intrinsic understanding of the needs of both paid carers and unpaid carers in the community. As she has a good understanding of the relief staffing needs of aged care facilities, Viv is now relishing her new role in coordinating relief and emergency staff in Geelong's aged care facilities.
In Vivienne's words:
The favourite part of my job is when I get a good outcome of care between recipient and carer. Helping to make life a bit easier for our seniors makes me feel great. They deserve good care and we at Best of Care strive for that everyday.
The person I most admire is Oprah Winfrey, closely followed by Ann Cotterell our inspiring leader. Both are amazing women who make a real difference in people's lives.
My fondest memory of a caring role would be with my very first client as a personal carer. Marion, a single mother of two teenage children, was in the last stages of breast cancer. Her courage was inspiring and I became very fond of her and her children as well as her extended family and large circle of friends.
I was invited to attend a ceremony to spread her ashes and I found it a beautiful experience to share that with her friends and loved ones. Swapping memories, laughing and reminiscing about a very brave woman who left an impression on all our minds.
Anna Hood
Care Co-ordinator
A
career devoted to caring for children, people who are aged, and those with
Dementia, is the key to Anna's proficiency in co-ordinating community care.
Anna has eleven years experience as a qualified personal carer in aged care
facilities, with a further background in childcare.
Anna knows what caring for a family member feels like as she supported her mother to care for her father during the last years of his life. Anna feels that the ethos and team spirit that flows through all levels at Best of Care is the driving force behind her dedication to her role; and her commitment to the people who are helped by the carer services.
Anna is determined to never let a family down and like all the Co-ordinators will provide care regardless of a person's finances. No-one goes without, is Anna's motto. Anna feels that making sure that the family has care is more important than worrying about who's paying. Families and service provider representatives all comment on Anna's deep level of compassion and integrity that is evident whenever they organise care with her.
In Anna's words:
My favourite part of the job is knowing that we do make a difference in people's lives. I most admire Oprah Winfrey as she has made such an impact on the world.
My fondest memories in a caring role are working with people with Dementia.
Alecia Bateman
Nurse Co-ordinator / Colac Co-ordinator
Alecia
is a Registered Division 1 Nurse who, after working for four years in regional
hospitals and seeing many aspects of acute care, sought a change to community
care.
Alecia has a background in specialised care for people with Motor Neurone Disorder and quadriplegia and expertise in palliative care. She is expert in co-ordinating exactly the right nursing plan for your needs, and is sensitive to people receiving care and their families.
For the past fourteen months Alecia has been an integral part of the co-ordinating team at Best of Care. This has given Alecia an opportunity to increase her understanding of the needs of both children and adults with complex medical needs and their families.
Alecia practices holistic care that considers all areas of a person's physical, emotional and spiritual health.
Alecia is empathetic and adept at listening to and understanding the individual needs of each person and their family, and planning care that is adaptive and responsive. She has a strong belief in the values of Best of Care, and she highly regards the fact the staff all go the extra mile, providing the best in follow up care and one-on-one support.
Alecia guides her team of Nurses and Personal Carers with competence and clarity and understands of the importance of quality nursing care in aged care facilities, schools, and homes.
In Alecia's words:
My favourite part of the job is to be able to care for people once they have left hospital . When you work as a nurse in a hospital you may be one on one with acute clients for a couple of shifts and then they are sent home and often you don't get to see them again. At Best of Care, the person is looked after in their home, which is a priviledge. You get to build a rapport with both the client and their family, to gain their trust. At Best of Care you can be involved with a client for weeks, months, or years.
They become very special to you and you really feel like you're making a difference in their life. I know many clients have made a difference in mine. I cannot pin-point one person I most admire, but would like to comment on the admiration I have for strength, courage and determination of our clients and their families. I am constantly amazed at the stories of the time, effort, care and sleepless nights many families will go through to keep their loved ones at home and comfortable.
I find this dedication and commitment so inspiring for my work at Best of Care. I have not had to care for a family member or friend as yet, the client I have held closest to my heart is a young baby who had spinal muscular atrophy.
I supported him and his family closely for the last month of his life and felt absolutely privileged to be included in this household. This experience was absolutely heart- breaking, but one of the most rewarding I have ever experienced. I will never forget this dear baby, or his exceptional family.
Rhiannon Willmott
Nurse Co-ordinator
In Rhiannon's words:
Amanda Dickinson
Care Co-ordinator
Amanda
started her career as a Nurse's Aide at the Royal Children's Hospital in
Melbourne at the age of eighteen, and then spent many happy years as a private
Mothercraft Nurse for a family with seven children. She was in her element
as she has a love of children.
While Amanda raised her own family of four boys on a small farm in rural Victoria, she also worked part-time as an Integration Aide in a mainstream school and as a Teacher's Aide at a Special Developmental School.
This expanded her interest in helping children with special needs and Amanda and her family subsequently became an Interchange host family, caring for a young child with a disability on a regular basis, which provided much needed respite for the family.
Amanda has a strong interest in holistic health and complimentary therapies and has studied for several years, and completed a Diploma in Holistic Healing. Amanda believes that we are multi-dimensional beings and that, to obtain optimal health and well-being we need to address and heal all levels of our existence. That is, our emotional, mental, social and spiritual, as well as our physical bodies.
A most rewarding experience for Amanda was running a meditation group specifically for school aged children. After moving to the Geelong area eight years ago, she continued to work as a carer for children with special needs and also started to care for adults with both intellectual and physical disabilities. This led to caring for older adults and an introduction to aged care and palliative care.
In Amanda's words:
My role at Best of Care now encompasses liaising and facilitating the provision of carers with care recipients, as well as the co-ordination of service delivery through local service providers, aged care facilities, local councils and other bodies.
At Best of Care I gain most enjoyment from the responses I receive from our clients. Our care recipients represent an undervalued and often forgotten section of the community and are truly appreciative of the help and service we provide.
The teachings and examples of Mother Theresa have always inspired me. She was a small lady but had a huge heart. The example she demonstrated, through her compassion and caring for others, and her selflessness and devotion, were wonderful. Whilst I certainly don't see myself in the same mould, I nontheless try to remember her and it gives me a lift when I'm weary.
Having four children, all boys, meant that I have spent many enjoyable (and trying!) years raising a demanding family. There were many skinned knees, broken bones, coughs and colds, but we all pulled through and the many hours of devotion I poured into my sons has been returned a thousand-fold through their love, affection and caring. And this year will see the arrival of my first grandchild, a delight I am looking forward to immensely.
Sylvia Haydon
Care Co-ordinator
In Sylvia's words:
Ros Yeatman
Administrator
Ros
is a whiz at making sure that those office tasks are done on time and to
a high standard.
Ros has worked in administration for many years and is diligent and efficient.
Ros has acute insights into how to bring out the best in a person and is an empathetic listener.
Her perspective on life and cultures - as a new arrival to Australia - ensures that the Co-ordinating team take a holistic approach to care planning.
Sandra Speare
Personal Carer & Public Relations Officer
Sandra
learnt at eleven years of age what it was like to be the sole carer for
her very ill father, who deteriorated with time and eventually passed away
when she was eighteen years old.
During that time, apart from the occasional hospital visits that her father would have, and later District Nurses visits, Sandra did all the care herself and found what it was like to try and have a life (in this case, successfully finishing school) and to have someone dependant on her constantly.
Sandra became a Personal Carer while attending University, and during those six years, gained experience in all aspects of home care. She believes that she was very privileged to have been part of so many families lives and to have learnt so much from them, both work related and life in general.
She has worked with people of all ages, the youngest being six months old, with varying degrees of carer need. She has extensive experience working with people with disabilities (both physical and mental) and has been the primary carer for many clients with Dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
At University, Sandra studied psychology, concentrating on the developmental, cognitive, and psychopathological aspects. She also majored in biology, where she concentrated on physiology, immunology and chemistry to gain a better insight into how our bodies work and what happens as we get older.
She decided to return to the care field, as that is where her heart took her. Sandra's specialty is in working one-on-one with people and helping them and their carers through one of the hardest, yet most important and rewarding times in their lives.
In Sandra's words:
The most rewarding aspect of this job is being able make a positive difference in peoples' lives. I admire many people, including the ones that my fellow team members have already mentioned. I'm also a big advocate for the environment, because without it, there is no quality of life. There are many, many people who I find inspirational that have risked their reputation and sometimes their lives to stand up for creatures and places that have no voice.
One very inspiring person is the 2006 Nobel Prize winner, Dr Muhammed Yurus, who proved that as an individual you can make a difference. He loaned a group of people $27 without interest, out of his own pocket, which allowed them to buy materials to start a business.
This developed into the Grameer Bank, which as of December 2006 has 6.91 million borrowers, 97 % of whom are women. With 2319 branches, GB provides services in 74,462 villages, covering more than 89 percent of the total villages in Bangladesh. He has helped 58% of his customers to climb out of poverty altogether. What an inspiration!
I cared for a little boy who had a very, very rare disorder affecting the muscles that found him attached to numerous machines, unable to breathe, eat, cry, smile or anything else that required the muscles.
The dedication of his family and the cost of his care, both mentally and monetary, was enormous and I believe it was this love for him that saw him flourish and eventually grow out of it. Very little was known about his disease and what to expect, so nobody could have been happier when I received a photo many years later of him standing on the beach, playing cricket with his Dad. It's moments like these when you know that you are doing the right thing!
