Spiritual Care Week 23-29 October | Faces of Baptcare #27 - Danny Parkinson
- 25 Oct 2022
What is your role at Baptcare and can you describe a typical day in your job?
I am the In-Home Care Spiritual Care Co-ordinator for the Loddon region, which covers an area loosely defined by Kerang to Shepparton to Maryborough, and down to Gisborne.
My day basically consists of pre-arranging visits with our In-Home Care clients who have indicated they want to receive spiritual care, and then driving through my region to visit these people in their homes. Spiritual care can best be described as a supportive, compassionate presence for people at significant times of transition, grief and/or loss. It is mostly about meaning, hope, purpose, connection and spirituality.
What do you like about working with Baptcare and in the IHC space? Or can you share a particularly special work day/customer interaction you’ve had recently?
The best part of working for Baptcare is the high-quality people who make up its workforce.
Baptcare are very intentional about doing more than just ‘turning up’ or ‘getting the job done’. Our people genuinely care. There is a human warmth and connectedness from the CEO to the local volunteers.
Recently, I received some wonderful feedback from a lady who I have been spiritually caring for over the past 12 months. At the end of our session together she said “it has helped so much to have someone to talk to. It has really helped me get through”.
Did you always want to work within the Spiritual Care space?
No. I was in pastoral ministry, then Residential Aged Care Chaplaincy and Sports Chaplaincy up until a few years ago, and I really enjoyed these vocations. When the opportunity came up to continue similar work in people’s private homes, this really attracted me. There is opportunity for deeper, ongoing conversations and care relationships. I have been in pastoral care work and ministry most of my life, so this was a positive transition.
How would you explain spiritual care to people who haven’t come across this role in an organisation?
Most care work is either practical, administrative or highly functional. Spiritual Care is about being a compassionate listening presence. We have time to sit, listen, guide and provide feedback if needed. Spiritual Carers can also offer people spiritual and/or religious practices if that suits, and/or invite them on a journey of self-discovery and self-encouragement.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
Hahaha, an ornithologist. But life did not take me that way. As much as I love birds, I am glad I took another path.
Can you tell us two surprising things about yourself?
I love solo bushwalking, and I have lived in five states of Australia.
Do you have a favourite quote or motto in life?
I have two:
- “When in doubt – don’t”
- “If you want to be interest-ing, be interest-ed”
How would your friends describe you?
Relaxed, focused, warm, and just a little bit quirky.
Do you have a mentor or idol?
Jesus Christ.
Community news
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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.
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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.
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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.
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