Throughout Spiritual Care Week, and every day in a myriad of ways, Uniting AgeWell chaplains make a profound positive impact to the lives of our residents, staff and our broader community.
At Uniting AgeWell, we believe spirituality is a dynamic and intrinsic aspect of humanity through which we seek ultimate meaning, and experience relationship to self, family, others, and the significant or sacred. Spirituality may be expressed through beliefs, values, traditions and practices - including, but not exclusive to religion.
We offer care that respects personal choice and individual expressions of spirituality, and encourages connectedness and community. A variety of opportunities are provided to encourage the finding of meaning, purpose, connectedness, hope, and to transcend loss.
Our Spirituality Framework is the foundation for how Uniting AgeWell understands spirituality, and spiritual, secular, and religious care across all levels of the organisation.
At the heart of Uniting AgeWell's Spirituality Framework is a very intentional focus to put spiritual needs on equal footing with physical, mental and social needs.
The Framework intersects with principles and commitments shared by Uniting AgeWell and the Uniting Church in Australia.
It highlights Uniting AgeWell’s commitment to supporting the people it serves to understand their life and find purpose in it, in a way that takes into account any limitations they may live with; and our commitment to courageous conversations with the hard topics of ageing, suffering and dying.
Spiritual care in action
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Jane Buck
Jane counts each and every day she lives at Uniting AgeWell Preston Community as a blessing.
Two years ago, Jane contracted COVID. She spent six weeks fighting for her life in St Vincent’s hospital. “They dragged me through by the skin of my teeth,” she says.
Today, the 82-year-old is working on her memoir with Chaplain Chris Turner. The two have formed a deep, abiding friendship. She always attends services as well as the weekly group chat and meditation sessions the Interfaith Minister holds.
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Alisha Fung
Singing creates a sacred space at Uniting AgeWell Camberwell Community Condare Court.
Last year, when Residential Services Manager Nancy Carganilla discovered that Chaplain Alisha Fung had been playing the ukulele to residents during worship and individual pastoral care sessions a little music group was born.
They hold weekly practise sessions and residents are invited to come and sing along.
“There has been one resident in particular who is an atheist that attends. She has shared with me that she finds her spirituality in singing," says Alisha. "She says that it connects her to community and the universe in a way nothing else can.”
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Wesley Trigg
Retired Uniting Church Reverend Wesley Trigg never had a moment’s doubt which aged care provider he would choose when his late wife, Una, needed a bit of extra care four years ago.
“Uniting AgeWell is part of the Uniting Church, so that’s where we went,” Wesley explains. He’s at Uniting AgeWell Preston Community, and is happy and content there.
“I committed myself to the Uniting Church when I was 18,” Wesley explains. “I became a minister and worked in parishes and schools across Australia over the years. I love the church and I know that Uniting AgeWell has the same values of kindness and respect. I’m right at home here.”
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Kirsty Brown
After spending nearly 30 years working as a chartered accountant, Hawthorn Community chaplain Kirsty Brown knows the simple effectiveness of two columns on the white board: assets and liabilities.
And she has applied this to emotions, which is proving to be a wonderful tool for staff and residents at the facility, many of whom are feeling the effects of prolonged lockdowns and COVID related stress.
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Marianne Pauls
A profoundly deaf resident at Uniting AgeWell Rosetta Community Strathaven has a new zest for life thanks to Chaplain Marianne Pauls learning Auslan to communicate with her.
And this sign of kindness has left Anne not only beaming, but feeling more valued and included – and as an added bonus, she’s made the first real non-deaf friend she’s ever had.
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Chris Turner
Residents at Preston Community are enjoying exploring and sharing their spirituality at weekly discussion groups, where the spotlight is focused on religious as well as sacred topics.
Preston Community Chaplain Chris Turner, an Interfaith Minister, started the weekly groups which resonate with residents from a broad range of religious, spiritual, and secular beliefs.
