When Chef Renier donned a bright pair of red sneakers little did he know how much it would impact residents at St Catherine’s in Bathurst.
“It started in December last year when the staff were wearing something ‘Christmassy’ to get into the Christmas spirit,” says Renier.
“I just went one step further and added the sneakers in addition to red buttons down my chef’s whites.”
Renier is the busy Area Chef Manager at St Catherine’s. He manages the production kitchen and is responsible for cooking for 130 residents at the Home, as well as 56 residents at the nearby Macquarie Care Centre and Bathurst Private Hospital.
He noticed that residents with poor lines of vision or walking frames were finding it hard to recognise him with his non-descript uniform and face mask on.
“They kept mistaking me for the doctor… or the pharmacist,” he says.
“Once I donned the red sneakers they immediately struck up conversations with me! It really helped the residents recognise me.”
Since then the conversations have kept flowing. In fact Chef Renier’s innovation has improved the level of customer service and dedication to residents at the Home.
One special resident, Gloria, has formed an indelible bond with Renier. The two have such a rapport and get along so well, as pictured above.
It certainly has been a great innovation for Chef Renier to undertake at the Home. The residents and staff are truly benefitting from improved communication and interactions.
St Catherine’s Residential Aged Care offers spacious bedrooms, some with direct access to courtyards, plenty of communal areas, a lovely café to enjoy spending time with visitors, plus all the modern conveniences of a new service. There are a wide range of activities and amenities for the residents to engage in and enjoy at the Home.
September 7, 2021
Residential Aged Care, CHL, Forbes Orange Bathurst
Meet Renier du Pleiss, Area Chef Manager at St Catherine's, Bathurst. Renier du Plessis is a firm believer in Catholic Healthcare’s Mission of ‘living life to the full.'
