What does spiritual care mean?
- 19 Oct 2023
![](https://d2uyohgbau728j.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/27165233/Elderly-chat_486x328.png)
Spiritual care supports the spiritual and emotional aspects of human life. It is based on the recognition that people are more than just physical beings – they have needs and values transcending the material world. Spiritual care can help people cope with illness, loss, grief, pain and other challenges by providing them with a sense of meaning, purpose, connection and hope.
Spiritual Care emerged from the Christian church’s understanding of pastoral care. The central image of pastoral care was of a shepherd caring for their flock. In recent decades, the category of ‘Spiritual Care’ has been accepted as a broader term addressing the spiritual wellbeing needs of all people and is increasingly recognised as an essential part of person-centred care across a broad range of sectors. Pastoral and religious care is a subset of this category.
Baptcare’s framework of Spiritual Care is shaped by its Baptist theological heritage, the National Guidelines for Spiritual Care in Aged Care and evidence-based research. This framework is a direct expression of Baptcare’s mission DNA, a key quality in our person-centred care models and a point of difference in the marketplace for both customers and staff. Baptcare is committed to a relational and wholistic understanding of spiritual wellbeing as the measure of meaning, purpose and belonging in human experience.
Do I have to be religious to access spiritual care?
Spiritual care is not limited to any religion or belief system. It respects the diversity and uniqueness of each person’s spirituality and does not impose any doctrine or agenda. Rather, it seeks to understand and honour each person’s own spiritual perspective and to facilitate their expression and exploration of it. Spiritual care can involve listening, talking, praying, meditating, reading, singing or engaging in rituals or ceremonies that are meaningful to the person accessing care.
Who provides spiritual care at Baptcare?
At Baptcare, spiritual care is provided by a team of Spiritual Care Coordinators and chaplains. This support is provided to our clients, their families and carers. Our spiritual care program focuses on truly getting to know each person and genuinely hearing what is important for them to express and share in their lives. Spiritual Care Coordinators also offer educational resources for care staff to support their work.
Who benefits from spiritual care?
Spiritual care can benefit anyone who is facing a difficult situation or transition in life. It can help people to find comfort and strength in their faith or values, to cope with emotions and fears, to reconcile with themselves and others, to express their gratitude and/or regrets, to discover new insights and possibilities and to prepare for death and bereavement. Spiritual care can also enhance the quality of life and well-being of people who are healthy and happy, by helping them to appreciate the beauty and mystery of life, to deepen their relationships with themselves and others and to grow in their spirituality.
Why is spiritual care important?
Spiritual care is a vital part of human care. It recognises that we are not only physical beings, but also spiritual beings who seek resilience and meaning in our lives. By attending to the spiritual dimensions of life, spiritual care can help us to heal emotionally as well as physically, to rebuild relationships and regain a sense of spiritual well-being. It can help strengthen knowledge and relationships we hold with our families, other people, the broader community, nature and anything else that is significant or sacred to our lives.
Community news
-
Personal Alert Victoria | Enhancing safety and independence
Personal Alert Victoria (PAV) offers eligible Victorians a free personal monitoring and emergency response service. This important service is funded by the Victorian Government and helps people continue to live independently at home, safe in the knowledge that help is only a button press away.If you or someone you know is frail, elderly and isolated or who is living with a disability, you may like to consider applying for the PAV program.What does the PAV service involve?The PAV service responds to calls for assistance 24 hours per day.Clients wear a pendant around their neck or wrist which is designed with a button that, when pressed, dials the PAV hotline connecting the caller with trained staff ready to provide assistance. For example, if you fall or suddenly feel unwell, you can press the button and be connected with someone who can speak with you through the pendant.PAV hotline staff will talk with you to determine whether a call should be placed with emergency services, one of your nominated contacts (usually family members, friends or neighbours) or whether you simply require some reassurance about your situation (in the event of a non-urgent issue).How does my pendant connect me to the PAV hotline?A receiver unit sits next to your telephone and is plugged into your telephone line. When it receives an alert from your pendant (after you have pressed the button), the receiver unit automatically dials the PAV hotline.Who is eligible for the PAV service?Eligibility is determined via an assessment conducted in your own home.There are two sets of eligibility criteria to meet – Part A and Part B:Part A:You must meet all three conditions set out below –Daily monitoring – you consent to daily monitoring.Wearable pendant - you are capable of using and willing to wear the PAV pendant at all times.Living situation – you live alone OR are alone for most of the day or evening OR live with a person who would be unable to get to the phone in an emergency (or is unable to use the phone).Part B:You must meet two of these criteria –You have had at least one fall that needed medical attention in the previous six months or be at risk of falls.You suffer from a major medical or chronic condition that puts you at risk of medical emergencies or has some ongoing effect on your health or wellbeing.You are taking six or more different medications on a permanent basis that are prescribed by your doctor / medical specialist.Who conducts my eligibility assessment for PAV?Eligibility assessments for the PAV service are usually conducted by your local council, community health service, aged care assessment service, district nursing service and some publicly funded community rehabilitation services.You can either contact your local service provider directly (for example, by enquiring with your local council’s aged care program) or be referred to an assessment service by your doctor or local community health service.It’s worth noting that there may be a waiting period involved until a PAV unit becomes available for installation at your home.For more detailed information on the PAV program, please refer to the PAV program and service guidelines provided by the Victorian Department of Health.
- 29 Jul 2024
-
Faces of Baptcare | Meet Durham Smith
Personal Alert Victoria (PAV) offers eligible Victorians a free personal monitoring and emergency response service. This important service is funded by the Victorian Government and helps people continue to live independently at home, safe in the knowledge that help is only a button press away.If you or someone you know is frail, elderly and isolated or who is living with a disability, you may like to consider applying for the PAV program.What does the PAV service involve?The PAV service responds to calls for assistance 24 hours per day.Clients wear a pendant around their neck or wrist which is designed with a button that, when pressed, dials the PAV hotline connecting the caller with trained staff ready to provide assistance. For example, if you fall or suddenly feel unwell, you can press the button and be connected with someone who can speak with you through the pendant.PAV hotline staff will talk with you to determine whether a call should be placed with emergency services, one of your nominated contacts (usually family members, friends or neighbours) or whether you simply require some reassurance about your situation (in the event of a non-urgent issue).How does my pendant connect me to the PAV hotline?A receiver unit sits next to your telephone and is plugged into your telephone line. When it receives an alert from your pendant (after you have pressed the button), the receiver unit automatically dials the PAV hotline.Who is eligible for the PAV service?Eligibility is determined via an assessment conducted in your own home.There are two sets of eligibility criteria to meet – Part A and Part B:Part A:You must meet all three conditions set out below –Daily monitoring – you consent to daily monitoring.Wearable pendant - you are capable of using and willing to wear the PAV pendant at all times.Living situation – you live alone OR are alone for most of the day or evening OR live with a person who would be unable to get to the phone in an emergency (or is unable to use the phone).Part B:You must meet two of these criteria –You have had at least one fall that needed medical attention in the previous six months or be at risk of falls.You suffer from a major medical or chronic condition that puts you at risk of medical emergencies or has some ongoing effect on your health or wellbeing.You are taking six or more different medications on a permanent basis that are prescribed by your doctor / medical specialist.Who conducts my eligibility assessment for PAV?Eligibility assessments for the PAV service are usually conducted by your local council, community health service, aged care assessment service, district nursing service and some publicly funded community rehabilitation services.You can either contact your local service provider directly (for example, by enquiring with your local council’s aged care program) or be referred to an assessment service by your doctor or local community health service.It’s worth noting that there may be a waiting period involved until a PAV unit becomes available for installation at your home.For more detailed information on the PAV program, please refer to the PAV program and service guidelines provided by the Victorian Department of Health.
- 27 Jul 2024
-
Enjoying the comforts of home: Lynette and George
Lynette is 75 and her husband, George, is 70. With a little help from home care, they're able to live healthily and happily together at home.
- 21 Jun 2024