52 episodes

Dr. Julie Bajic Smith is an award winning Aged Care Psychology Consultant with a mission: to halve depression rates in Australian aged care facilities by 2022. Her research has demonstrated a link between the wellbeing of staff and the mental health of residents, and now Julie helps aged care providers improve staff retention by addressing the psychological aspects of delivering aged care work.

The Voice of Aged Care will offer you tips and tricks on improving service delivery without complexity and overwhelm. Each episode will include information that is inspirational, provides you with insider knowledge and real experiences and most importantly, it will be described in easy to understand ways so that it’s not overwhelming or confusing.

There is so much information out there about aged care. A lot of that information is not necessarily a true representation of what goes on in aged care. It’s when we hear the real unedited stories and experiences that we really connect with others.

“In this podcast I wanted to share with you some inspirational stories which I myself have encountered a number of times in aged care. You see, not everything’s negative or dark: there are people out there who are excited to be able to work with this population, and equally there are people who live in aged care homes who are happy with the environment and who are in fact thriving.” ~ Dr. Julie Bajic Smith

Go to wisecare.com.au for more information and your free guide full of practical tips on supporting older people with cognitive impairment.

You can also follow Dr. Julie Bajic Smith on Facebook and Instagram @wisecareau

Voice of Aged Care Dr. Julie Bajic Smith

    • Health & Fitness
    • 4.9 • 13 Ratings

Dr. Julie Bajic Smith is an award winning Aged Care Psychology Consultant with a mission: to halve depression rates in Australian aged care facilities by 2022. Her research has demonstrated a link between the wellbeing of staff and the mental health of residents, and now Julie helps aged care providers improve staff retention by addressing the psychological aspects of delivering aged care work.

The Voice of Aged Care will offer you tips and tricks on improving service delivery without complexity and overwhelm. Each episode will include information that is inspirational, provides you with insider knowledge and real experiences and most importantly, it will be described in easy to understand ways so that it’s not overwhelming or confusing.

There is so much information out there about aged care. A lot of that information is not necessarily a true representation of what goes on in aged care. It’s when we hear the real unedited stories and experiences that we really connect with others.

“In this podcast I wanted to share with you some inspirational stories which I myself have encountered a number of times in aged care. You see, not everything’s negative or dark: there are people out there who are excited to be able to work with this population, and equally there are people who live in aged care homes who are happy with the environment and who are in fact thriving.” ~ Dr. Julie Bajic Smith

Go to wisecare.com.au for more information and your free guide full of practical tips on supporting older people with cognitive impairment.

You can also follow Dr. Julie Bajic Smith on Facebook and Instagram @wisecareau

    #52: Improving Your Coping Strategies

    #52: Improving Your Coping Strategies

    Show notes:

    Episode #52 – Special edition        

    Coping strategies

    In our 6-part special edition series of the Voice of Aged Care podcast, we are looking at factors associated with wellbeing for those within the aged care workforce – and in this, the sixth and final episode in the series, we discuss helpful versus unhelpful coping strategies for aged care workers.

    In this episode, you will learn some new helpful coping strategies, discuss how to keep unhelpful strategies at bay, and also uncover how to identify when you need additional help and support.

    So firstly, as a side note, it is worth mentioning the importance of maintaining an optimum level of stress, as it is in this state when we find our health and performance are at their peak. This is when we are feeling challenged and a little stretched, and not too comfortable, which is very positive for our resilience and wellbeing. So having a bit of stress is actually beneficial for us in this way, but not when it is all the time or ongoing. Just like we can’t run or exercise for 24 hours straight as we need to rest our bodies, we need to rest our brains in the same way too. For this reason, noticing where your stress levels sit and adjusting them to optimum levels is essential.

    Back to coping strategies – what does a good one look like? Some positive coping mechanisms that you might already be aware of and be using include: connecting with others; communicating with others; talking about our feelings; practising feeling grounded; managing our stress or anger; getting to know ourselves and checking-in; expressing emotions; being open-minded; journalling; doodling; goal setting; cooking; baking; and delegating are all ones you might be familiar with.

    Some other positive coping strategies that you may like to try include: meditation; reaching out for support or guidance; learning forgiveness; positive self-talk; getting out in nature; going on walks; and enjoying a new hobby, are all actions that will help to build your resilience and could be worthwhile to explore.

    But what about negative coping mechanism that should be avoided? These include things that are not really good for you, or for others. This could be turning to drugs or alcohol, being passive, minimising things, repression, disassociating, controlling behaviours, becoming a workaholic to avoid feeling, and being overly helpful to others (rather than yourself).

    It’s worth noting that when it comes to effective coping strategies, it involves ongoing work for each and every one of us. We must create a safe space for ourselves to be able to reflect and recognise what might be going on inside, and this can empower us to be better and stronger in supporting our clients as well.

    So getting in touch with ourselves and recognising the importance of practising our helpful coping skills, knowing our strengths and identifying our support network, the people that we can turn to when we need. Also reflecting on what a successful day may look like for you, what gives you purpose and drive, finding opportunities to connect, and creating a space where you can safely laugh and cry, is highly beneficial for your wellbeing.

    One final thought on helpful versus unhelpful coping strategies is, recognising when we need additional help and support. I’m very passionate about this and see a huge need to be more aware about recognising the warning signs that we might need for more help and support. Maybe it might be skipping meals or exercise or social interaction. Anything that takes us out of our routine can be a trigger point that we are not coping to well. If you’re in a large organisation, contacting the employee assistance program is an easy first step, otherwise visiting a GP for a referral can help. Other times talking to your manager and seeking practical support can be enough. Recognising there is support out there is beneficial – and also knowing that the sooner we get that help and support, t

    • 23 min
    #51: Managing Emotions in Aged Care

    #51: Managing Emotions in Aged Care

    Show notes:

    Episode #5 – Special edition    

    Emotions

    In the fifth episode of our 6-part special edition series of the Voice of Aged Care podcast, we look at emotions – our own emotions and those of others around us.

    It’s such an important topic, understanding  what is going and how we can respond to emotional changes. At times it can feel scary or outside of our experience, so this episode will focus on psychological presence at work and what that means, individual strategies for wellbeing, identifying warning signs that our energy balance needs recalibration and practical strategies for keeping emotions in check.

    Simon Sinek describes emotions in a very powerful way, saying, ‘The value of emotions comes from sharing them, not just having them.’ Often we want to share our emotions with others, and we do this both verbally and in how we present. Our communication is only 7% what we say, the remaining 93% is through our body language, tone of voice and eye contact. When we think about supporting our clients through emotional changes such as grief and loss, how do we present ourselves to those clients?

    Being psychologically present at work means we are fully present. In helping professions such as ours, we need to really be fully there, not just physically, but psychologically switched on. This means noticing what might be going on for someone, even if they don’t articulate it. It’s really important how we present, how we interact with others, so being able to put aside anything that may have happened before work and being fully present to engage with your client. It’s also important to have that disconnection at the end of the day, where you can switch off and leave work behind. So it is about connection and disconnection.

    Another thing to keep in mind is that it’s not always about solving a person’s problems, it’s more about being present and listening, reflecting and connecting. So you don’t need to have a psychology degree to listen to someone, it really is about being in tune and recognising what might be going on.

    In doing this, we need to be mindful of warning signs that we might be taking on board the problems of others. Anticipating the emotional state of others by considering what they are going through can help us emotionally prepare as to how they may react. We can also tune into their non-verbal cues to further understand what might be going on. To protect ourselves from becoming emotionally involved, we can use instructional statements (e.g. ‘Although he’s angry, I’ll remain calm, breathe deeply and speak a little slower than usual) as a way of increasing our self-awareness.  We can also call up relaxing thoughts and images, or focus on our breath.

    There’s no doubt that it can be challenging to keep emotions in check when you are under pressure and there is lots going on in your workplace. We mentioned before the importance of disconnecting from work at the end of the day, and it is really essential for your wellbeing, performance and creativity that you give yourself that chance to detach, refresh and recharge. Some strategies that can help you do this include simple things like changing your clothes when you get home, especially if you wear a uniform. Engaging in hobbies, or things you enjoy like cooking is beneficially, as is leaving work at work by turning off notifications. Having a self-check in, thinking about the best things that happened in the day can help too.

    Be mindful that sometimes the exhaustion of everything that happens at work, can lead us to sweep the emotional impacts under the rug. By utilising the individual strategies that work for us, listening to the warning signs and keeping our emotions in check we can uncover ways to refresh ourselves and maintain that work life balance that ultimately leads to happier and more fulfilled lives. 

     

     

    In this episode you will learn:


    What is psychological presence at work and why is it important?
    S

    • 21 min
    #50: Measuring and Boosting Productivity in Aged Care

    #50: Measuring and Boosting Productivity in Aged Care

    Show notes:

    Episode #4 – Special edition    

    Productivity

    In the fourth episode of our 6-part special edition series of the Voice of Aged Care podcast, we look at productivity in aged care – the core elements of productivity, the barriers to productivity, individual strategies for boosting productivity, and some strategies you might use for your team.

    So what is productivity? And when is it difficult to be productive? Maybe you are procrastinating and putting off something that needs to be done. This can involve perpetuating, side tracking, spending time on social media, and more.

    At its core, productivity is understanding how we can get the best out of ourselves with the least amount of resistance. In other words, how can we be sustainably productive, so that we are enriched, feel good at the end of the day, and are not at risk of burnout?

    Barriers to productivity can sometimes be about your connection with clients. We are naturally drawn to some people more than others, so we might be more productive and more willing to support them compared to others who may not want our care.

    Strategies we might turn to when we are under a lot of pressure include working more hours, moving deadlines, or maybe multitasking. But while these strategies can help you in the moment, they are more reactive and can only help you in the short term. It’s not sustainable to keep working long hours and moving deadlines, so these strategies don’t actually help you become more productive. They can actually reduce your efficacy and effectiveness, where you might take longer to complete work, your performance and concentration are affected and you might make errors.

    So how can we minimise our distractions and focus on one task at a time? It’s not about quantity, it’s about quality. For example, instead of popping in to see a client 5 times to tell them little bits of information (which they are unlikely to remember), instead do it once. Give them your undivided attention for 2 minutes, maybe even writing down a couple of notes for them to help them remember.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

    In order to boost productivity, we really need to look at what the barriers are that are affecting it. For example, being overworked, looming deadlines or compliance to meet. It could also be teamwork challenges, where someone feels like they’re doing a lot more than someone else.

    And so being able to articulate what the actual problem is an important first step in learning how we can respond to what is going on. To understanding what the things are that we can change and what we can’t.

    So my top strategies for individuals includes … look for easy wins. Start the day with a task that is easy, to get yourself moving and feeling accomplished. Also consider your deadlines – are they realistic? I recommend spending a week writing down when you start a task and finish, so you can use the data to know what is achievable within that limited timeframe.

    How about boosting productivity for teams? One way is to examine the frequency of meetings. Also setting up a question time so there is not constant disruptions. Another strategy that c

    • 21 min
    #49: Burnout and Working in Aged Care

    #49: Burnout and Working in Aged Care

    Show notes:

    Episode #3 – Special edition        

    Burnout and Working in Aged Care

    In the third episode of our 6-part special edition series of the Voice of Aged Care podcast, we will discuss the impact of burnout on you and the workplace, looking at the differences between stress and burnout, what happens to our brains when we are under stress, how to notice the common thinking traps, as well as some strategies for seeking support for burnout.

    When it comes to our mental health, it can be tricky to know when we need support. When we look at stress, we can view it as a good thing, as it helps to propel us into action, keep us on track and motivate us. A little bit of stress is okay, but we don’t want it to get to high levels where it feels overwhelming, as this can lead to burnout.

    Burnout is when we feel a lack of control, a lack of clarity, we might be experiencing conflict with others, and struggling with our work life balance.

    Stress can feel like too much on our plate, while with burnout we can feel quit flat, have no energy, and can’t see light at end of tunnel.

    Some of the common risk factors for burnout include a heavy workload, working long hours, a lack of work-life balance and feeling you have little or no control. Working in a helping profession, such as in aged care, can also increase your risk, as you must always be fully present and can never really switch off.

    When we are feeling stress, there are changes that happen within our brains. When you are highly stressed your body send a message to your brain that something is going on, then your body reacts to what it perceives as a real threat. Your prefrontal cortex shuts down, and the limbic system is activated, and you experience the flight or fight response. This where the amygdala hijack can occur, as your body and brain have changed and you may not be able to develop a rational response. Understanding what is going on in your body and brain during step is essential in order to address it.

    So, how do we know if we have stress or burnout? We might experience early warning signs that are either psychologically, physically, emotionally or behavioural:


    Psychologically could be flashbacks, nightmares, confusion, distorted thinking or paranoia.
    Physical could be shallow breathing, sweating, shakes, gastrointestinal, sleep disturbances or muscle soreness.
    Emotionally we can feel irritation, anxiety, shock, sadness, numb or cry more easily.
    Behaviourally we can withdraw, eat more or less, be triggered or increase our reliance on alcohol or drugs.

    Some common thinking traps we can fall into include jumping to conclusions, negative self-talk and self-criticisms, painful emotions, shame, guilt, assume things will be bad, magnify situations and catastrophising. This not only affects us, it also affect those around us.

    So what can we do? We want to be able to identify the warning signs, have self-reflection, and understand if we are okay. Do we need to turn somewhere for help?

    To reduce burnout, we must understand, it is not a one person job, it is a whole team approach. If you notice signs of burnout in yourself or someone else, it is so important that action is taken. There’s nothing worse than feeling alone and that no-one cares or is there to support you.

    Being mindful of how we are feeling will help to minimise the risk of burnout occurring. If you notice the warning signs, check in with yourself – do you need a day off? Or maybe start a new hobby? Or speak to your manager about your workload? Addressing it from multiple places can really help to build that resilience and help us improve our productivity, job satisfaction and ultimately improve our quality of life.

     

    In this episode you will learn:


    What is the impact of burnout on you and your workplace
    How to identify what is stress and what is burnout
    What happens to our brains when we are under a lot of stress
    How to notice common thinking traps we can get stuck in
    Strategies

    • 29 min
    #48: Building Blocks of Resilience in Aged Care

    #48: Building Blocks of Resilience in Aged Care

    Show notes:

    Episode #2 – Special edition        

    Building Blocks of Resilience in Aged Care

    In this, the second episode of our 6-part special edition series of the Voice of Aged Care podcast, we will look at how we define resilience, the building blocks of resilience, self-awareness and action, and identifying what matters the most.

    In previous episodes we have discussed wellbeing in late life and how you can best support your clients in detail – so I wanted to shift the focus onto the factors that influence those who work within aged care, as it can be quite challenging. In this context, the topic of resilience can be closely related with the intention to stay at work, as historically, turnover rates within the aged care workforce are alarmingly high. In this episode I will share some tools and strategies that you can turn to if you feel like things are not okay.

    So what is resilience? I would define it as the capacity to withstand or recover quickly from difficulties. When we talk about resilience, stress and burnout, it can feel a little ambiguous, so uncovering some clarity around what it is it is an important first step in being able to recognise the times when your resilience is being tested.

    The signs of stress to be aware of come under four broad categories – emotional, physical, behavioural and your thoughts. Within the emotional signs, you might feel irritable, anxious, low, overwhelmed, critical or angry. Physical signs can be harder to notice, and may manifest as changes to your appetite, general aches and pains and feeling lethargic or worn out. Behaviourally with stress we can see a lack of motivation, emotional outbursts, relying on substances or withdrawing. Then, with our thoughts, they can be negative, it can be hard to make decisions, we may lack perspective or objectivity, or have irrational thoughts. Understanding these elements can really help us to identify what is going on for us and our wellbeing.

    This self-awareness can then help to propel us into action. It might be about recognising that you are experiencing high levels of stress and thinking about what are those protective strategies that we can use to help.

    Resilience is not a skill you are born with – it is like a muscle that you need to keep working on and growing. When we think about resilience, there are six very important building blocks that can help:


    Connection – to others, this can be one, two, or many people
    Wellness – self-care activities that replenish you and make you feel good
    Finding meaning – goal setting and pursuing your values
    Reframing your thoughts – seeing things from a different perspective
    Mindset –being hopeful, optimistic, using your strengths and growth mindset
    Seeking help strategies – knowing where you can turn to for help when you need it.

    These building blocks of resilience further highlight that resilience is a muscle that we need to work and grow – and we can’t be resilient without resources. We really need to focus on having the six  building blocks, not just in moments of crisis, but also as a preventative strategy to help us cope on an ongoing basis.

    To close the episode, we look at the five things that matter most and how identifying these can enhance our wellbeing and help us to look at things more objectively.

     

    In this episode you will learn:


    How to define resilience to better understand it
    Warning signs that your resilience is being tested
    The six essential building blocks of resilience
    How self-awareness propels us into action
    How to identify what matters most.

     

    Resources:

    I will be running a workshop on resilience specific to aged care workforce. To register your interest sign up below. 

    https://wisecare.com.au/resilience

    • 22 min
    #47: Dealing With Change – Coping Strategies for Aged Care Workers

    #47: Dealing With Change – Coping Strategies for Aged Care Workers

    Dealing With Change – Coping Strategies for Aged Care Workers

     

    In this, the first episode of our 6-part special edition series of the Voice of Aged Care podcast, we discuss change and share coping strategies for aged care workers to best deal with change in the workplace.

    Over the past few years we have all felt the impacts of change, from global events like COVID and world conflicts, to the far-reaching impacts of the cost of living. Change and uncertainty is affecting many people, and is an inevitable part of our daily lives – nothing stays the same.

    In aged care specifically, the changes have been widespread, including new regulations, new policies, new funding models, as well the localised changes that often occur, such as dealing with a new manager, new colleagues, new role, new site, supporting new clients and the grief and loss of clients no longer with us. Change can be positive too, such as a promotion or new facilities.

    The initial shock of change can be sudden and quite unexpected. Regardless of whether negative or positive, it is necessary to transition, and this psychological response can either help or hinder the process. We all respond differently to change, and this can be impacted by what is going on in our lives at the time.

    When we consider how change impacts our brain, there are two very important concepts we look at. The smart brain, our prefrontal cortex, is where our high-level thinking capabilities come from. This part of the brain can really help us to overcome the challenges we might see with change. The other part is the impulsive brain, which is where the fight or flight activation comes from. In times of perceived stress we want our smart brain to be able to reason and respond to what is going on, however, this does require tools and strategies to make happen, because our body’s internal stress response triggers our impulsive brain.

    When we learn of change, we often jump to the conclusion that it will be negative, but it can be positive too, depending on what the change is and what is going on for us at the time. How others react can also impact how we feel and how we process the news. If others perceive it as negative and we don’t, there can be a discrepancy in how we feel and how we act if we are afraid to speak up, and this can add to our stress.

    We are all equipped with different strengths and have different strategies we can use to overcome and address changes in our lives. To access these, we need to be able to activate our smart brains during times of change, or otherwise we can feel stuck and out of control. It’s also important to understand what is and isn’t within our control. We have direct control over how we respond to and perceive change, how we connect with our colleagues and how well we look after ourselves. We have partial control over some things, such as escalating your concerns to management. There are other things we have no control over, such as new regulations or policies. So to better deal with change, we need to focus more on the things we do have control over.

    Change is always just around the corner – and when you can lean on your strategies and learn to accept change, to take a step back and look at what is within your control, and what you can and can’t influence, it can help tremendously.

     

    In this episode you will learn:


    The impact that change has on our brain and how we think
    Common reactions to change that we might have
    Strategies for getting unstuck when you are stuck
    The importance of recognising what is and isn’t within your control
    Self-management during times of uncertainty

     

    Resources:

    Visit the Wisecare website to download these free resources:

    20 Strategies to Help an Older person Struggling With Changes in Late Life

     Worker Resilience Workshop - Coming Soon **Register Here**

    • 20 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
13 Ratings

13 Ratings

Adriana ZD ,

Interesting and insightful

Thank you for this wonderful and much needed podcast, and for sharing your passion, knowledge and experience.

Michelle and Simon ,

This podcast is long over due

Thank you Julie for starting this podcast and for shining a light on aged care.. it’s such an important topic that touches most of us in one way or another at some stage in our lives :)

A Little Psychology ,

A gem

Dr Julie’s knowledge, experience and insight into our older population’s emotional well-being is incredibly valuable. If you’re a psychologist, aged care worker, family member of a loved one in care, or simply interested in the revolutionary care and support that Dr Julie has instigated into aged care facilities, this podcast is for you.

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