Spiritual care resource goes online

Spiritual care and ageing peak body Meaningful Ageing Australia has launched two online training resources to equip aged care staff with outcome-focused tools for integrating spiritual care.

Spiritual care and ageing peak body Meaningful Ageing Australia has launched two online training resources that aim to equip aged care staff with outcome-focused and practical tools for integrating spiritual care.

The two e-modules, Qualities and Values and Presence and Listening Skills, come from MAA’s Spirituality in Aged Care Professional Development Program, the guide launched in August 2018 to help providers integrate spiritual care into daily residential and home aged care practice.

They look at what these two key concepts of spiritual care in aged care may look like in a professional context.

The resources focus on practical, engaging interactive tools and include reflective questions, listening exercises and short videos for participants to work individually or in pairs.

Meaningful Ageing Australia CEO Ilsa Hampton said everyone has the ability to integrate spiritual care even at the most basic level.

Ilsa Hampton

“Much of spiritual care in aged care is about instilling awareness and understanding there are similarities and differences in what individuals regard as important values,” Ms Hampton said.

“This can be through the value of the team member’s own work, or simply appreciating their own value by just being present when providing care,” she said.

Ms Hampton said spirituality is not an easy topic for many people to understand, regardless of experience of background.

“These practical resources provide leaders with the tools they need to help educate and support their staff to deliver relevant, appropriate basic spiritual care for individuals no matter their stage of life or background,” Ms Hampton said.

The e-modules can be used optimally among individually, in pairs, for small group work and reflection and one-on-one training, a spokesperson from MAA told Australian Ageing Agenda. 

The Spirituality in Aged Care Professional Development Program e-modules are available for Meaningful Ageing Australia members here.

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Tags: Ilsa Hampton, MAA, meaningful-ageing-australia, news-6, professional-development, spirituality, Spirituality in Aged Care Professional Development Program, training, workforce,

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