Alino Living’s Vietnam Veterans Keith Payne VC Hostel has been granted $9,100 from Wyong Leagues Group’s Wallarah Bay Recreation Club for a bird aviary project as part of their ClubGRANTS program. The project will see a bird aviary with Australian species such as budgerigars and cockatiels installed on the communal grounds of the residential aged care facility.
The Bird Aviary Project is expected to benefit the 76 Veterans and locals of the Central Coast who reside at Vietnam Veterans Keith Payne VC Hostel, as well as their families and friends who visit them. The project is anticipated to provide a number of benefits, including:
Memory support: Bird aviaries and the sights, smells and sounds associated with them are proven to increase sensory awareness and memory amongst senior people. These senses can prompt memories from earlier periods in their lives and are often associated with spending time outdoors. As such, interactions with bird aviaries are often positive.
Anxiety reduction, enhancing quality of life: The familiar sights, smells and sounds associated with bird aviaries can create a sense of calm amongst seniors as they encourage them to be present and mindful. Furthermore, bird aviaries provide peaceful background sounds which enhance the experiences of residents spending time outdoors.
Celebrating residents’ skills: Spending time observing birds in bird aviaries can help residents identify different species based on sights and sounds. This is significant, especially for residents who may have impaired vision or hearing. This is something we foresee residents sharing with generations of their visiting families.
Encouraging social interaction and supporting senior people to lead more active lifestyles: Residents with shared interests in bird watching will gather at the aviary, thereby encouraging social interactions with fellow residents. Common interests in birds will form amongst residents, and opportunities for residents to share stories about their memories of birds will transpire. Similarly, visiting families and friends can enjoy spending time together outdoors.
Sally Linnen, Admissions and Marketing Manager at Alino Living, said the funding from Wallarah Bay Recreation Club was a “huge boost” for the project.
“We are so grateful to Wallarah Bay Recreation Club for their generous donation,” she said. “This funding will enable us to complete the bird aviary project and provide a much-needed space for our residents to enjoy.”
Gina Coghlan, Group Community Manager for Wyong Leagues Group, said the organisation was “proud” to support the project.
“We are committed to supporting our local community, and we believe this project will have a positive impact on the lives of many people,” she said.
The Bird Aviary Project is expected to be completed in early 2024.