Aged care asked to “Listen with Purpose”

The importance of listening, understanding and making connections between aged care staff and residents is being put front and centre as part of a new trial of a Listen with Purpose workshop in Brisbane.

Aged care services in Brisbane are being welcomed to the workshop by Meaningful Ageing Australia, who are running the initiative, in collaboration with Brisbane based arts and communication growth group Red Thread Stories.

Meaningful Ageing Australia Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ilsa Hampton says the hope of the workshop is that participants will take their knowledge back to their services, and that Meaningful Ageing can offer listening workshops within other aged care services.

“Meaningful Ageing and Red Thread are both deeply committed to equipping others to live rich and fulfilling lives at all stages [and] listening well is the foundation of all quality care, and is the heart of good pastoral and spiritual care in aged care and beyond,” Ms Hampton says.

“These skills can be used in an aged care setting where staff may come from different backgrounds or where residents or clients may be unable to speak or verbalise their feelings to their families or carers due to cognitive breakdown such as dementia, physical conditions such as stroke, or loss or lack of English.

“This is not just residents and clients communicating their needs for food, warmth or comfort but also to communicate their spiritual needs, hopes and fears to have them understood and valued.

“And for staff to respond and communicate with those they care for and with their colleagues.”

The initial Listen with Purpose workshop will be held on Monday 14 May, 2018 at Wesley Mission in Chermside, Brisbane.

More information on the workshop is available online, with bookings able to be made via eventbrite.

This article was originally published on agedareguide.com.au on 11/4/18
Author Unkown