Resthaven’s new Community Wellness Manager is ready to help clients achieve their goals

Established in 1935 – and celebrating its 90th anniversary this year – South Australian aged care community service provider Resthaven recently made a significant leadership appointment to strengthen its wellness support for older people.

The organisation has created a new position, the Community Wellness Manager, to ensure it can elevate opportunities for older people to pursue wellness.

Whether it is the deliberate pursuit of activities, choices or lifestyle habits, wellness is central to holistic health. Positive wellness can lead to greater feelings of fulfilment and a better quality of life.

Resthaven recognises that a better quality of life is important at any age.

While the experienced service provider has long championed wellness, well-being and holistic care, the new role is set to have widespread benefits.

Jacinta Robertson stepped into the Community Wellness Manager position in October 2024. With a background in positive ageing, she is thinking outside the box when it comes to helping Resthaven clients achieve their goals.

“Creating better ways to support older people to maintain their optimal health is a passion and focus for me,” she said.

“We want to help people stay in their own homes as long as they want and are able to. We want to invigorate them and help them work towards their personal goals.”

Ms Robertson, who is a registered nurse and has a Masters in Health Service Management, has worked in a variety of aged care organisations at a senior level. This includes ACH Group, where she was most recently the Head of Residential Strategy, AnglicareSA and Life Care.

She said focusing on wellness brings the individual to the fore.

“Every person has their own interests, and likes and dislikes. We see a range of older people using our services, and some of them are a very different cohort to people we have seen before,” she explained.

“We want to help them ‘live’ the life that they choose and therefore we need to look at our services differently. That’s the innovation part of this role.”

Alongside physical fitness, which is supported at Resthaven by a dedicated allied health team, Ms Robertson is considering ways to better utilise older peoples’ knowledge and skills.

“Having purpose in life is important – whether you’re 20 years old, or 80 years old,” she shared.

“So, what are some of the ways we can support this? I used to live by the adage ‘Is this good enough for my mum?’ but I’ve been challenged on that thinking, and now I ask the question, ‘Is this good enough for me?'”

Resthaven’s Community Respite Services will also become a focal point for the passionate leader. She said it’s essential that all carers have an opportunity to take a break.

“Being a carer can be complex and tiring. The guilt and the stress can build up, but also there is a profound joy that happens when a carer sees their loved one enjoying themselves and engaged in an activity,” Ms Robertson said.

Resthaven offers a range of respite options, including day and overnight respite, in a number of settings. ‘Hollyhock’ Limestone Cottage in Mount Gambier is the latest of these respite locations to be opened, offering a supportive, relaxed home for short stays, so carers can enjoy some time out.

Resthaven also offers retreats for people living with dementia and their carer in regional South Australia where carers can meet their peers and learn strategies to cope while the person they care for is engaged in meaningful activities.

Ms Robertson she has been impressed by the camaraderie and the positive work culture she has joined.

“As well as being friendly and supportive, people at Resthaven genuinely care about others. The diversity framework that Resthaven has is also impressive, and you can see it in action through the diversity of clients and workforce. People feel welcomed,” she added.