Combatting Depression with Secret Men’s Business

Entry into residential aged care can be challenging and with the changes to routine, loss of independence and upheaval of a physical relocation to a new environment, the presence of depression can quickly compound.

Depression affects a person’s quality of life, but often through innovative non-medical measures symptoms can be improved or resolved.

One such innovation has been implemented with much success at our Klemzig facility. With a larger than average male resident population, the Klemzig lifestyle team have introduced a range of activities designed to cater specifically for men’s interests.

The Klemzig Men’s Club meets twice a week to welcome different guests, volunteers and a encourage a range of discussion topics covering music to politics, and everything in between. Bunnings often run on-site workshops in carpentry and paintwork and every week the men’s club heads to Semaphore Beach for lunch and a jetty wander or a regular beer and chinwag session in the sensory garden, often before a Crows game.

Ross Crannaford, a Klemzig resident and fervent Crows supporter comments that, “I never miss a Crows game, and always enjoy a beer and a chat”.

Shortly Klemzig will open its Workshop Shed, a place where residents can relax, chat and tinker – providing the perfect afternoon destination for residents like Ross who was a workshop leading hand for Greyhound Buses for over 25 years.

Infinite Aged Care prides itself on providing personalised and family oriented experiences for its residents, and the men’s initiative at Klemzig is a great example of this in action.