There is no better feeling than hearing the ice-cream truck driving up the street on a hot day. That feeling has been replicated every week for the past eight years at the Fronditha Care Newcastle residential aged care facility.

The “ice-cream to your door” activity is one of the residents’ favourites and is quite the spectacle.

Lifestyle and leisure staff dress up in retro ice-creamer outfits and go door-to-door to each resident’s room, offering a chocolate, vanilla or strawberry delight.

 “They just love it,” Fronditha Care’s Wendy Sheen says. “They pop their heads out of their rooms, and always ask to ring the bell.”

Despite the cooler weather, the trolley still makes its runs every week and is complemented by a hot chocolate and marshmallow afternoon tea.

The specialised trolley was handmade by the husband of the first facility manager eight years ago and has delighted residents ever since.

Residents also participate in numerous celebrations and activities that identify with their cultural roots, and can enjoy gardening projects and outings. 

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Fronditha Care spokesperson Helen Velissaris said there’s a wonderful list of activities and groups in which residents can be involved.

“We have movie nights where residents have popcorn and choc tops and sit down to watch old movies,” she said. “There is also mens and ladies groups, where you can have a coffee, play cards, paint, knit or just have a talk. 

“These opportunities are very important because they enable our residents to enjoy things they would have done on a normal day in their lives at home.

“And our new volunteers program sees people pop in for one-on-one visits for residents – which they just treasure.”

The neighbouring Hippocrates Australian Greek Aged Persons Association also opens up their function room every week to invite the residents to their bingo and lunch activities. 

A covered walkway links their activities hall to our residential facility.

The lifestyle and activity staff, along with the assistance of devoted volunteers, encourage the residents to participate in light exercise and share their stories, because the more active a brain is, the better the health outcomes!

The Newcastle HIPPOCRATES facility has 66 beds and cares for its residents in a multicultural environment.