A meaningful change in spiritual care
Australia’s national peak body for spiritual care and ageing has changed its name to Meaningful Ageing Australia.
PHOTO: lsa Hampton, CEO of Meaningful Ageing Australia.
Formerly known as 'Pastoral and Spiritual Care of Older People (PASCOP)', the new name aims to more clearly communicate to a wider audience what the organisation is about.
“The change reflects a wish to make our work simpler and more understandable to the people it is intended to help and who may wish to join,” says Ilsa Hampton, chief executive officer (CEO) of the renamed organisation.
The name 'Meaningful Ageing Australia' was chosen because “it creates curiosity and openness in the listener; whether they are an older person, their family or carer, or an organisation committed to improving meaningful ageing within a pastoral and spiritual framework”, according to Ms Hampton.
Meaningful Ageing Australia advocates for spiritual care to be included in all care settings, including people with dementia, wherever they live and whatever their cultural or religious background.
Membership is open to all organisations publicly or privately owned providing services to older people, whether faith or non-faith based, in residential care or living in the community.
“Meaningful Ageing was already the tag line for our Meaningful Ageing Seminars and for our popular education and networking events,” Ms Hampton explains.
“It will further enhance the branding of a number of new resources including televised training programs due for release in coming months, and our emerging profile with government.” Meaningful Ageing Australia continues to share its expertise and assistance on ageing and spiritual care around the country with seminars in Melbourne, the launch of National Guidelines for Spiritual Care in Aged Care, training materials for staff orientation on Spiritual Care, and other resources. The annual PASCOP Quality Awards, that recognise innovation and excellence in member organisation’s work, will be renamed the Meaningful Ageing Quality Awards. Nominations for the 2016 awards close on 30 June.
Details about Meaningful Ageing Australia, the awards and the work of 2015 winner, Churches of Christ in Queensland, on their evidence-based dementia-specific church service can be found on the organisation's website.