Episode 22: Life has changed forever in aged care since Covid. Remember to cherish each day. Megan D'Elton CEO of Noosa Care Inc

Today is International Podcast Day.  This week's Coffee & Contemplation with Susan podcast guest is Megan D'Elton, CEO of Noosa Care.  Megan is a recognised leader in aged care, responsible for ensuring high quality care of 229 people, across 2 sites: Kabara Hostel in the hinterland town of Cooroy, and Carramar, in Tewantin, just over the bridge from Noosa, Queensland.  Megan shares today about the effect of Covid-19 at work and in life and the resilience, compassion, patience and calm evident in her team, her residents and their families. About a 4pm call on a Friday from Noosa Council asking her to fully evacuate Carramar in the midst of the 2019 bushfires, her only answer to that being "yes, will do". Adjusting to the current 'new safe normal' that the 'covid cloud' has brought upon aged care. For me, having served the aged care industry, in my previous business of RNS Nursing, I met many people in similar roles to Megan's. Megan would have been the only aged care leader whom I met, to have been recognised at State level in the Telstra Business Women’s Award for Queensland. Aged care is a Business and roles like Megan’s are not for the faint hearted. Pressure from every angle, every day, in an industry that is about legislation and staying focused on doing the best for her residents - our community’s elders and loved ones. Megan sprinkled a lovely mix of gems of wisdom in her chat today. That 'just because you live in aged care, it doesn't mean your life stops. You still get to live the life you choose', was one of them. Megan stumbled into aged care. As a teen, Megan got her dad's leave pass at Year 11, having negotiated a plan to instead gain skills as a 'Receptionist Centre' girl. Megan was a girl seeking travel and to enjoy life.  Megan began in aged care in an admin role and rose through promotion and interviews to her current role as CEO. Sound quality alert: today's session was recorded via Zoom and at times the sound dropped to quietness at Megan's end, but mostly it was clear as a bell :) Thank you for listening, Susan Dunlop Professional Life Coach ICF NLP www.susandunlop.com.au