Autumn 2021
Celebrating life in all its fullness There’s a big difference between really living your life and just being alive, isn’t there! I recently overheard that comment, and there is a powerful message in it. Life Care’s mission is to create communities where people embrace life and Live Every Day. Life Care’s chaplaincy team is inspired by the good shepherd Jesus, who proclaimed: “I have come in order that you might have life – life in all its fullness.” (John 10:10, GNT). Our chaplains continue to support older people living in Life Care’s residential care homes by developing caring relationships. This includes offering emotional support, celebrating the good things in each person’s life, facilitating conversations about spirituality and meaning, and helping people reconnect to sources of inspiration and expressions of faith.
Last year I got to know a resident called Royce, who in his younger years had been an accomplished church organist. Sadly, his declining health meant he had not been able to play a keyboard for more than 20 years prior to coming to live at Glenrose Court. With the support of a close friend, and the encouragement of another resident who shared his love of hymns, Royce was able to sit down at our chapel keyboard and play again. His passionate engagement with church music became an important part of a renewal of his faith in what would be the final months of his life. This year our chaplaincy team will be exploring further opportunities to support the spiritual dimension of well-being for people Life Care supports in our home care and retirement living services. May Easter stir in each of us a renewed passion to embrace life in all its fullness as we follow the one who laid down his life to show us the love of God. Nigel Uppill, Coordinating Chaplain
What matters most to you is what matters most to us The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety has made 148 recommendations aimed at ensuring the expectations of older, vulnerable Australians are truly met. This inquiry exposed complex and challenging issues emphasised by the fact that the commissioners themselves could not agree on some of the matters upon which they were asked to deliberate. However, the recommendations do present a landmark opportunity to make a generational change to the standards upon which aged care is delivered in the interests of older Australians and their families. Life Care hopes the Federal Government will seize this opportunity so that the needs of our older citizens are properly addressed and funded in the decades to come.
Life Care is immensely proud of its culture of quality care, but as a responsive and progressive organisation our services will continue to evolve. Our mantra of “what matters most to you” reflects Life Care’s commitment to address the specific needs of each person in our care so that we can deliver services and support to make a positive contribution to their lives every day. It motivates and inspires us to be the best at what we do on behalf of our residents and clients and their loved ones. The new assisted living environment created by the Gaynes Park Suites at Joslin is the latest example of Life Care’s innovation and lifestyle investment to support the independence and well-being of seniors who need some extra support in their daily lives. It is a premium example of the benchmarks that Life Care is setting for itself to make the daily lives of older people we support easier and happier. Allen Candy, Chief Executive Officer
Spiritual connection an online wonder Communications technology that marvels many older people in our care has enabled Gaynes Park Manor resident Barb Allen to maintain a spiritual connection with her former congregation in Bundaberg, Queensland. Barb lived in Bundaberg for about a decade and was a regular at the local Church of Christ, often with her late mother at her side. She was a highly respected member of the Bundaberg community of faith and was praised by many for her musical skills on the organ and piano. When Barb moved to Adelaide to be closer to her two brothers, she happily settled into Life Care’s Parkrose Village before moving to Roselin Court at Payneham and then into the new Gaynes Park Manor at the site. Recently, Barb confided in Gaynes Park Manor chaplain, Peter Chilver that she had cherished memories of the community in Bundaberg and of standing on the vacant block of land where the new church was built. Peter went to his computer keyboard and discovered that local Pastor Evan Trebbin live streamed services from the Bundaberg Church of Christ recognising that “in times where we all cannot physically meet together, God has provided us a way where we can still learn more about him.” Encouraged by Peter, Pastor Evan agreed to send Barb a special cheerio and she settled in at Gaynes Park Manor to enjoy the live streamed service that included the greeting to her from the congregation.
Barb Allen and Peter Chilver “It has been such a wonderful opportunity to reconnect,” she said. “I remember Pastor Evan when he was a boy attending the church and have such great memories of playing the organ up there. “I sincerely thank Chaplain Peter for helping to make this happen for me at Gaynes Park Manor. Bundaberg represented an important part of my life and my mother’s life and it is wonderful to still feel part of that congregation.” Pastor Trebbin said: “I am encouraged to hear that Barb has been watching us via live stream. I have fond memories of Barb and her mother in church as I was growing up.” Peter Chilver joined Life Care in April last year after serving in the ministry in Victoria, Adelaide and the Philippines for about two decades. He was also an experienced police and prison chaplain.
Since this link, other former members of the Bundaberg congregation who have moved on to other locations have also made a spiritual connection with the church through live streamed services joining in with singing and prayers.
“Chaplaincy has given me the opportunity to relate to a much broader scope of people of different faiths,” he said. “I feel privileged to be able to gather people of various denominations and backgrounds to share a sense of spiritual unity and to celebrate their life stories and experiences.
Barb now looks forward to watching the services from Bundaberg to see the faces and hear the voices of old friends.
“Joining Life Care and Gaynes Park Manor has been really exciting in being part of a devoted team where relationships are so important.”
Church Link magazine is a publication of the Churches of Christ.
INSPIRED LIVING
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