Spring 2021
Rediscovering meaning and purpose Through our compassionate presence, Life Care’s chaplaincy team continues to accompany residents, along with their loved ones and staff, through the joys, sorrows and transitions of life. While all of us continue to adapt to the challenges of the pandemic, we have forged ahead with innovations and opportunities to strengthen and develop our chaplaincy service. Life Care is a member organisation of Meaningful Ageing Australia, the peak body for spiritual support in aged care. This year we have integrated one of its best practice resources, ConnecTo, into our process of seeking to understand the religious and spiritual care needs of older people who live in our homes. ConnecTo is a spiritual care screening tool. It asks people: “What’s most important to you?” and supports them to identify areas of their lives that offer meaning and purpose. It explores connectedness through the lens of relationship with self, with others, with nature, creativity, and with “something bigger”, which for many people includes religion or faith. ConnecTo also helps identify ways people have become disconnected from deeply meaningful parts of their lives, whether that be faith, close relationships or nature. People in our care can be supported by chaplains and other staff to explore how to re-connect and rediscover meaning, purpose and hope. In this edition of Church Link, it is also exciting to share with you our new training partnership with Tabor College with our first ministry student on placement with Reynella chaplain Lorraine Croker. We are also celebrating the ministry of retiring Parkrose Village chaplain, Peter Bradley, who has been greatly
Nigel Uppill respected and loved in the community because of his dedication to forming rich relationships with many over the past five years. We are pleased to introduce Anthony Hill, who has been appointed to take up the mantle of care at Parkrose Village. Life Care’s chaplaincy team asks for your support in two important ways. Firstly, we have some excellent opportunities for people of all ages to help bring love, joy and hope to older people by volunteering in our homes, and we would love to hear if you would like to join us. Secondly, we value your continued prayers for us as we look to God to sustain us as we serve. Nigel Uppill, Coordinating Chaplain
Trajectory of continuous improvement Life Care has faced many challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic while working diligently to maintain the wellbeing and safety of those in our care, along with their families, staff members and volunteers.
Allen Candy ... ‘maintaining levels of care and expertise that set us apart in the aged care sector’
The pandemic has been stressful, particularly in terms of restrictions and managing connectedness between residents and their loved ones. But it has also led to innovative processes and scenario planning to meet the expectations of all people who rely on our services. It was mandated that all Life Care employees and volunteers must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and this has been achieved while maintaining staffing levels. I am very proud of the response of our team, and we remain vigilant to developments that may result from the opening of State and Territory borders with communities achieving high levels of vaccination. As we emerge from the major impacts of the pandemic it has been pleasing to restore a range of engagement activities including the recent volunteers recognition luncheon in May. Life Care’s trajectory of continuous improvement includes a sharp focus on clinical practice and education, enhancing lifestyles and food quality and nutrition.
We have engaged an independent advocacy firm to interview a representative group of residents and family members to better understand their needs and expectations. Associated with this is a review of our clinical governance in joint initiatives directed towards achieving and maintaining best practice. On behalf of the Life Care Board and management team, I thank retiring Parkrose Village Manager, AnnMarie Hogan, and chaplain, Peter Bradley, for their outstanding service and great contribution to the wellbeing of individuals and their families. Meanwhile, Life Care continues to implement innovative strategies to attract and retain qualified people who will maintain the levels of care and expertise that set us apart in the aged care sector. Allen Candy, CEO
Active perspectives on ageing to mark International Three vibrant and articulate Life Care Active clients have provided fascinating personal insights into the joys of ageing to help celebrate International Day for Older Persons. Margaret Edwards, Sally Hopeton and Kay Johnston appeared in a special Life Care video in which they expressed heartfelt and humorous views on life as senior South Australians. International Day for Older Persons on October 1 was a United Nations initiative showcasing opportunities and challenges of ageing and the talents, contributions and participation of older members of society. The world population has changed dramatically in recent decades. Between 1950 and 2010, life expectancy worldwide rose from 46 to 68 years. Globally, there were 703 million persons aged 65 or over in 2019.
Over the next three decades, the number of older persons worldwide is projected to more than double, reaching more than 1.5 billion individuals in 2050. Responding to questions about ageing, Margaret, Sally and Kay agreed that being older was a “mathematical concept.” “Old has connotations that do not rest happily with me whereas older means you are on a journey,” Kay said. On her own progression to being older, Sally said: “I just feel comfortable in my skin. You still need a group of friends. I belong to the Parkinson’s groups and I look forward to the chat after class so that we can share our experiences.”
Adelaide enjoys a ‘taste’ of chaplaincy A Life Care chaplaincy student placement program is introducing an active new dimension to spiritual care within our organisation. The program is being run in association with Adelaide’s Tabor College with the first student on a term secondment to Reynella Lodge. Tabor College is a Christian tertiary institution with particular expertise in the education and formation of community professionals such as pastors, teachers, counsellors, youth workers, musicians, creative communicators and intercultural workers. Adelaide Cooper, 19, is a second year student at Tabor College and she is experiencing a practical placement of one day a week with Reynella Lodge chaplain Lorraine Croker. The pilot program has introduced youthful enthusiasm to Life Care’s faith commitment to residents and families. “It is also an important element in Life Care’s succession planning model and demonstrates our willingness to network with other organisations to deliver excellence in aged care,” Lorraine explained. “Adelaide is devoting part of this semester to her placement at Reynella Lodge and she has been warmly welcomed by residents and staff.
Day for Older Persons Margaret said she found the “social freedom of being older delightful, and the people here at Life Care are very aware of that. They have sympathy, empathy and their personal, humorous interaction is so important alongside the delivery of professional services.” Kay added: “People work here in this age group because they choose to do so.” “Yes,” agreed Margaret. “They are happy working here.” Life Care Active provides a range of specialist allied health services and individual and group fitness courses for men and women aged over 50 at its Payneham clinic along with in-home programs aimed at improving flexibility, strength and overall good health to be active every day.
Adelaide Cooper and Lorraine Croker at Reynella Lodge “We rotate Adelaide’s days at Reynella Lodge so that she can participate in and contribute to different activities including running a small Bible study group, assisting in church services, helping a resident and her family in a 100th birthday celebration, and providing one-on-one pastoral care and spiritual support. “Adelaide has developed a wonderful rapport with residents who enjoy seeing a fresh face in the organisation and to whom they can impart their life stories. “The program has created a sense of connectivity with the younger generation while delivering a new dimension to our commitment to holistic, person centred care.” Life Care also offers student placements in other disciplines within the organisation, and the student chaplaincy placement program showcases the many opportunities for young people to offer pastoral care in the community. Adelaide described her placement at Reynella Lodge as “a rich, new learning experience.” She added: “It is a great opportunity for a person of my age to work in an aged care environment. It is challenging at times, but it provides a great insight into pastoral presence in the community. “Everyone at Reynella Lodge has been so warm and welcoming. The residents in particular really appreciate the one-on-one interaction with me and I also enjoy their stories and experiences.” Adelaide has not yet determined her ultimate career objective, but says “God will reveal my destiny within some kind of ministry.”
Welcome to Anthony and farewell Peter Life Care’s new chaplain, Anthony Hill, certainly packs a punch when he talks about his passion for spiritual care of others. He remembers growing up with a strong commitment to social justice as his parents, Denis and May, balanced raising their own children while serving as foster carers to others. Anthony’s faith journey took him into the ministry, rising to Deacon in the Catholic Church and a full-time position as Diocesan Director, Catholic Mission in Adelaide. Anthony also served as a chaplain in the Resthaven aged care organisation. He joined Life Care in July this year to succeed retiring Parkrose Village chaplain Peter Bradley. Drawn back to chaplaincy by his enjoyment of pastoral care among older people, Anthony, 55, is relishing his new role among Life Care staff members and volunteers who are committed to helping residents and their families truly Live Every Day. “I had a strong desire to return to ecumenical work in the aged care sector and I have found the level of individual care for each resident is a distinguishing feature of Life Care,” he said. As for the “punch factor”, Anthony was an outstanding boxer becoming Australian Amateur Champion in 1987 and representing the country numerous times in the prestigious Oceania Games. His father was a senior coach for the Australian boxing team at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000, and Anthony also enjoyed an accomplished coaching career including mentoring young boxers to State titles. Peter Bradley, 65, served as chaplain at Parkrose Village for the past five years. “I feel very lucky to have finished my working life doing something I love,” he said.
Anthony Hill
“I leave Life Care knowing that the chaplaincy unit is in wonderful hands. Across the organisation, there is a genuine appreciation of the role of chaplains, and our coordinating chaplain, Nigel Uppill, is a person of maturity and vision.
“Anthony has been warmly welcomed at Parkrose Village. His background is in the Catholic Church, but his chaplaincy spirit extends beyond his own faith traditions. This is one of the key roles in chaplaincy: to find the different forms of spirituality in people.”
Church Link magazine is a publication of the Churches of Christ.
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