ChurchLink Summer 2017 Issue No. 59
PAUL TYLER LEADING THE WAY IN SPIRITUAL CARE FOR THE LIFE CARE COMMUNITY Paul Tyler is the new Coordinating Chaplain for Life Care, succeeding Bill Hall in leading the focus on spiritual wellbeing of people in our care. Since March 2016, Paul has been Chaplain at Glenrose Court after previously serving as a pastor at Westcare Baptist Church in Adelaide, West Beach Baptist Church and Rostrevor Baptist Church. His appointment as Coordinating Chaplain follows the retirement of Bill Hall, who for the past decade has provided outstanding pastoral care in the Life Care community. Bill served as chaplain at Glenrose Court and Parkrose Village, and he became Coordinating Chaplain two years ago succeeding Doug Walladge in the key role. Life Care’s Chief Executive Officer, Allen Candy, said Bill was greatly respected for his interpersonal skills and understanding of the spiritual needs of individuals. “Bill has ensured that chaplaincy services within Life Care have continued to evolve as a mainstream aspect of our Live Every Day caring approach,” Allen said. “He has also played a lead role in staff dementia training which is an increasingly important aspect of our defining model of care. “Paul will now lead chaplaincy services as we continue to move towards a more person-centred approach to the well-being of individuals in our care.
Paul Tyler
“Spiritual care is vital in helping people to deal with their mortality and to reflect in a positive way on their lives and achievements.” Paul said he would continue Bill’s focus on keeping chaplaincy as a key element of the Live Every Day experience and helping people to enjoy quality of life in its fullness. “I would also like to broaden the role of our chaplaincy services into Life Care’s community space to care for and support the families of residents and clients along with staff and volunteers,” he said.
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PASTORAL CARE FOR QUALITY OF LIFE “I have been privileged in my Chaplaincy journey to be part of the transition in our thinking. For the past 10 years, I have enjoyed the privileges and challenges of walking and talking with people - residents, staff and volunteers - listening to their stories and helping them find meaning in the experiences of their lives.
Bill Hall retired on Thursday 19 January 2017, the same day that he began work in 1965. In his farewell, Bill said: “The most rewarding part of my 10 years with Life Care has been a maturing in our understanding of spirituality, placing it at the forefront of our thinking as we change our focus from quality of care to quality of life.
“My work with Life Care has come to its conclusion.
“When I began with Life Care, spirituality for many was a confused term. It was just another name for religion, and was often greeted with caution and suspicion.
“I am grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to make a difference in the lives of people.
“These days, with more understanding, we have been able to Bill Hall embrace spirituality as an important and necessary part of the human experience that relates to meaning, purpose and hope as part of a person’s sense of well-being. “Well-being is not just about the physical aspect. It is also about the spiritual. It is about a person living life to the full, finding meaning and purpose in the daily routines of life, even as one grows older.
“I am grateful for our Chief Executive Officer, Allen Candy, who understands the purpose and place of chaplaincy. “Last, but my no means least, I am grateful for a team of chaplains who are committed with their hearts and passion to provide excellent pastoral care and spiritual support to our Life Care family. “I leave Life Care in good hands and with fond memories.”
WELCOME CHAPLAIN PETER BRADLEY Peter Bradley is the new Chaplain at Life Care’s Parkrose Village, Everard Park. A former teacher at Kimba Area School and Amata Aboriginal School, Peter was also a Lay Preacher before gaining a Bachelor of Theology and Diploma of Ministry at the College Of The Bible in Melbourne. He then served as Minister at Chadstone Church of Christ in Melbourne, later becoming a Chaplain with the Churches of Christ Department of Community Care. Peter returned to the Ministry at Surrey Hills Church of Christ before working for a decade with Driver Business Australia in Melbourne. After returning to Adelaide in 2016, he recognised a calling for pastoral care among seniors and applied for the position of Chaplain at Parkrose Village to succeed the retiring Bill Hall. “I had done some casual coach driving, mostly senior day tours, after coming back to Adelaide and this
freshened my desire to make a greater contribution in this field,” Peter said. “I believe working among seniors, many of whom are frail, is a calling for special people whether they are personal care workers, health care professionals, cleaners or maintenance staff. “Human ingenuity has considerably extended the length of time we live, but our greater challenge is to fill our lives with meaning and purpose. “When delivered with heart and soul, quality of care enters a new realm. I am thrilled to be part of it with Life Care and have found the culture at Parkrose Village welcoming, professional and truly caring. “I hope to bring qualities of genuineness, openness, acceptance and trust to my work with Life Care.” Peter and his wife, Cathy, have two adult daughters - Zoe and Penelope - who live in Melbourne. Away from work, he enjoys yachting, ocean kayaking, cycling, reading and playing guitar.
www.lifecare.org.au