Pastoral and spiritual care of older people

Director UnitingCare Ageing Steve Teulan on March 5 joined Director Ministry and Mission, Eric Drury, and Pastoral Educational Coordinator, Joseph Abad, and leaders of many faith-based aged care providers at the launch of a new national organisation: Pastoral and Spiritual Care of Older People (PASCOP).

UnitingCare Ageing has committed to be one of 20 foundation sponsors of PASCOP, which will establish a network of communication and resources for aged care organisations and their carers, seeking evidence based best practice in provision of holistic care and support in the context of a diversity of faiths and cultures.

It will advance the critical issues involved with pastoral and spiritual care of older people across all areas of living arrangements. And it will provide coordination and advocacy across Australia for a range of contemporary pastoral and spirituality care programs.

PASCOP will support Spiritual Care Australia in the development of a national register of competent and suitably qualified pastoral and spiritual care practitioners.

A the launch, Professor John Swinton, Professor of Practical Theology and Pastoral Care, University of Aberdeen gave the keynote address “Care of Spirit; Care of Persons: Why Caring for the Spirit is Not an Optional Extra”.