Aged care home celebrates festival of light
A colourful celebration came to Daceyville to celebrate diversity.
Residents and staff have celebrated Diwali and Tihar – festivals of lights – at Southern Cross Care NSW & ACT’s aged care home in Daceyville.
The event, as shown in the video below, incorporated traditional costumes, music, lights, and staff performing special dances, with many residents joining them on the dance floor.
Around 80 per cent of the staff at the home hail from Nepal and have left their families in their home country to provide care in Australia.
SSC Daceyville Residential Aged Care facility manager Devarshi Kirpal said spreading “so much joy” through celebrations was a wonderful way to bring staff, residents and their families together.
“For the residents to see the staff out of their blue uniforms and wearing their beautiful cultural clothes made them feel like part of their community,” Ms Kirpal told Australian Ageing Agenda.
“We shared some of our traditional food with them and asked if it was okay if we put decorations up. I think the best part was seeing the smiles on everyone’s faces as residents and staff danced together, they all felt so comfortable because we involved them in the planning from start to finish.”
Among the residents taking part, Joy expressed her delight at the festivities and having a diverse workforce.
“They bring so much love, culture and happiness into our lives,” she said. “It’s beautiful to see their traditions and to feel like we’re part of their families, as we feel like they are part of ours.”
“It was such a wonderful celebration and judging by everyone’s reaction, Diwali will be back bigger and better than ever at Daceyville next year,” Ms Kirpal said.
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