This page is for people with an interest and/or involvement in healthcare, or pastoral care, volunteer services and programs for the elderly and those living with a disability = these are just some examples of the church serving and impacting the healthcare industry Church 4 Health!

Part of our role at FutureAge Care is to provide education and support for those working within diversional therapy, pastoral care, allied health and volunteering. Christians working in healthcare and those with roles that provide Christian programs and services all have dynamic and God-given talents. Whether you are running a bible study group for people with dementia, or you are a volunteer visitor to a local nursing home, a chaplain or pastoral carer, Church4Health is an expression of the unique and diverse roles that members of the body of Christ are undertaking within Australia.

The vision of Church4Health is to network as a multi-denominational Christian culture, sharing ideas, passions, accountability and educational tools to support and serve the healthcare sector in relevant, professional and Christ-like ways. Our focus for 2010 includes:
The launch of a free Christian e-Newsletter to bring a sense of connectedness to our work, inspiration and support for Christians serving the healthcare community,
Network events and presentations to inspire and strengthen us throughout the year,
Training opportunities for care staff, pastoral carers and church volunteers,
Raising awareness of the God-given opportunities and Christ's desire for His church to serve and impact the healthcare sectors

Upcoming events for your diary...

Grief & Loss Training - Thurs July 22nd 1-3:30pm

Grief and Loss - Resident and relatives care support training program for staff in aged care -
July 22nd 1-3:30pm |Macquarie Business Training Centre| Level 1, 8 Thomas St Chatswood
A practical training program for aged care staff, with topics relating to grief and loss among residents and their loved ones. This training is specific to the aged care environment and is suitable for all staff who have direct contact with residents and/or their families.

Topics include:
• Identifying loss and grief among our residents – the move into care, types of loss and grief, end of life and dying
• Appropriate responses and how to care for a resident – communication, person-focused care, action-reflection method
• Providing support and comfort for relatives during the move into care and during the loss of a loved one – the role of supporting relatives, practical responses and effective management
• Care for ourselves at work – understanding and identifying our own needs, self care at work
Presenter: Jennifer Freeman is a Diversional Therapist and consult-business owner of FutureAge Care. She has gained Clinical Pastoral Education (Chaplaincy) training units in both aged care and adult rehabilitation, working in pastoral care and diversional therapy for a range of aged care providers in Sydney. Jennifer has had many years experience presenting at training seminars, conferences and various workshops for organisations including: UnitingCare Ageing, Catholic Health Care Services, Diversional Therapy Australia, Carex and Montefiore Homes. Training Program:

This training program is a 2.5-hour session with training notes and practical work to equip your staff, build their confidence and skills in this very important area of care for residents. A certificate of completion is awarded to each participant at the end of the training. The Grief and Loss training program is $75.00 per person and includes a training manual and ambient audio CD for use within palliative care. Please complete the registration form below or click the Buy Now button to pay online and secure your place at this session.

Grief & Loss registration-July 22nd 2010

Church4Health Newsletter
Download and read the new Church4Health newsletter to find out more about our vision and project ideas for 2010!

Aged Care >>>Church Resources Network
Network events and training presentations for pastoral carers, Chaplains, church and volunteer professionals serving the aged care community.

We extend a warm invite to you to our Aged Care >>>Church Resources Network: presentations, networking and training activities during 2010 in Sydney. A CD Rom resource after the event is made available for purchase if you are unable but would like to attend. More information can be read below. Those attending our upcoming events include Chaplains, pastoral carers, volunteers and recreation activities staff. You may also wish to contact us to find out more and we welcome all enquiries.

Church4Health is the foundation for our vision to draw together people and organisations involved in providing support, pastoral care, emotional and practical services within the healthcare industries. Whether running a volunteer visiting program, bringing church to dementia groups, or a healthcare role as a Christian, we would like to support you, network with you and help build strong relationships and the Christian work ethic together.

If you would like to be on our email list for Church4Health events and our new 2010 Church4Health e-Newsletter, please email us at: church4health@futureagecare.com

Church Resources - copies of Nov 2009 evening presentations $32.95 for CD Rom materials or $22.95 printed notes only.

This CD Rom contains the training notes and PowerPoint Presentation from the Church Resources Aged Care Network presentations which were held in Sydney over 2 nights during November.

The notes include dementia, what it is and effective communication; the role of sensory enrichment within activities for dementia; effective church programs and Christian faith-based programs to suit the aged care environment.

Join our Church4Health twitter network for weekly updates, information and links to others who are impacting the world of health: aged care, disability support, dementia, mental illness... www.twitter.com/Church4Health

Grief and Loss Training Program - onsite training program for your staff

Grief and loss are very important experiences for both staff and those they care for. When a person moves into residential care, or is formally diagnosed with dementia, it can be a very challenging and painful time.

Our Grief and Loss training package takes you through the awareness of grief and loss experiences and how to respond, care for and support those who need our help through the various stages of living in residential care. This practical training program has role play session, notes to keep and is aimed at building confidence and skills among care staff and volunteers.
Training Program now available: Grief & Loss - download and view

Christianity activity ideas for the aged care setting:

Amazing Grace - Dementia Program

The Amazing Grace christian program for dementia has been a development and refining of Chaplaincy visits, Christian worship programs and pastoral care experiences for us over the last 8 years. Residents with dementia are still the same person within: intact spiritually. We are observant of their recorded and known beliefs and previous church/faith based interests. We also take into account that towards the end of life, some people may wish to renew their faith after a prolonged period away from church/God or even take up a new faith commitment as a completely new and unusual turn within their lives. This is why we always ask every resident if they wish to attend a spiritual service or Bible study group for eg. For as individuals, we also once said "no thanks" many times to the offer, there has been a point in time where one changes one's mind... Take a 99 year old lady with dementia for example who suddenly said: Yes! I am worried about dying and where I will be after I've died - please pray with me". The next week she didn't recognise the Chaplain but said: I don't know who you are but yet you seem to be very significant to me". And there was a dapper old gentleman who, 6 weeks before he died, told his visiting Chaplain that he had actually been a strong Christian for many years and was open to receiving prayer that day. Up until that point and for 18 months prior, he had told the Chaplain that he wasn't a believer.

We can and should feel empowered to simplify, adjust and tailor programs and activities for inclusion of the person with dementia. We know how difficult this can be, however. We can recall a Catholic lady shouting continuously throughout a service we sat through with her and this disrupted and upset the remaining 9 participants as well as making difficulties for the Priest and his assistant. And so something had to be changed; a solution to at least allow everyone to be able to access the spiritual support and nourishment that they needed; where possible and in a way to accommodate their unique cognition and awareness.

The solution came when the RAO observed the lady's continual calling out late every afternoon from her bed. She was trying to recite a prayer and her daughter later confirmed that she was indeed a devout Catholic who would have said her prayers during the late afternoon. The Chaplain's feedback triggered the memory for her daughter. The solution was a 1:1 late afternoon activity in the lady's room spent leading her in the Lord's Prayer and showing her how to hold her hands together to pray once more. The RAO also learned the most common Rosary prayers and kept in touch with the resident's daughter about the new program. This can then become an activity that the family can enjoy together with their mother if they wish.

Observation is often the key with a challenging situation. We have two ears, two eyes and only one mouth! The RAO attempted preparations to bring the resident to the service and documented the outcomes including the loud, verbal expressions and discomfort from the remaining church attendees. It's important to remember that these observed challenges and outcomes do not make it a "failed activity" as some would assume. Research and attempts at providing person-centred care such as this should always be seen as a positive action and relatives and loved ones are often deeply touched by our efforts. For every impossibility there will usually eventuate a possibility. This is where the Amazing Grace words demonstrate how incredible and fruitful it can be to exercise "goodwill" and an act of grace to the situation of diversional therapy and planning spiritual activities. Amazing Grace is a concept, an attitude and a declaration of commitment, problem solving and endurance towards bringing Jesus, worship and Christianity to all who live in residential care.

Worship especially is the key to bringing the presence of Jesus Christ into a person's home or to a facility. Jesus said in Matthew 18:20" "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”. We can take great comfort and guidance from the scriptures and our workshops and presentations during 2010 will reveal more on how you can weave them into the very fabric of your work and client programs.

A new resource addition that has been birthed from these diverse experiences is our creation of the Amazing Grace SENSA™ Kit. This sensory kit includes familiar Christian items for older people, such as rosary beads, wooden cross, hymns on DVD and other various tactile items to engage with your person with dementia. The Kit is mentioned above this article with an accompanying photo.

For those of you who are familiar with the Etude Dance© Program - we have (and you can too) implement spiritual-based seated dance with music and creative movement suggestions to enhance the worship experience for your people: hands in praying position, arms open and raised, hand on heart etc.

Etude Dance© Resource Pack

Contents: Etude Dance CD, 25-page instruction manual, Laminated A4 dance sign, documenting journal, Box File
Etude Dance© is a seated creative dance and gentle movement program for the frail elderly and residents with dementia. It can also be used with adult clients with a multiple disability diagnosis and impaired physical movement. Suitable for high care nursing facilities and for residents seated in chairs, gel chairs, wheelchairs or beds. Inclusive for advanced dementia, stroke, frailty.

Etude Dance© is created by Jennifer Freeman, FutureAge Care and was presented at the 30th Annual Convention of The Diversional Therapy Association of Australia National Council in May 2008. Etude was borne out of the idea to create an exercise program that could suit participants with dementia and limited physical movement, as well as utilise the need for sensory stimulation and creativity outlets among those in residential long-term care.

Your Etude CD contains 13 tracks of interesting music styles: celtic, salsa, linedancing, tango, relaxing piano, ballet, Tunisian, African, Irish and 1 oriental piece.

Your CD is accompanied by a 25 page manual outlining Etude - with dance choreography suggestions, pre-planning and activity ideas for each group dance theme. A sturdy box file, documenting journal and laminated Etude Dance door sign make this a fantastically priced and valuable resource at just $79.95

Everything you need to set up a seated dance program with your clients. Etude is also facilitated by pastoral care staff as a spiritual activity program. Your pack comes with instructions on pre-planning and setting up Etude at your facility, a checklist and dance movement quick reference guide. With helpful prompts within the manual on safety, hygiene, discussion topics, observations and ideas, Etude will become tailored to your unique participants' interests and their health care needs.
Click on play below to hear samples of 3 tracks from the Etude CD...

Photographs of Spiritual Concepts to enhance activities

Depiction of Communion

The concept here is to provide a visual cue and sense of "church" with a communion display. Real or fake food can be used and battery operated candles, background music and anything you have available.

The colour purple and mid-blue are associated with religion and religious ceremonies (think of altar cloth, majestic robe worn by a King, Priest's clothing). Here we have used a rich, dark wooden piece of furniture. We decided to use white grapes as we thought that they are more easily recognisible and familiar for our specific residents.

As many activities within residential and day care centres are held in the same room or communal area, some of the ambiance and visual suggestions of the activity theme can be lost. This, in turn can cause a disinterest in participation for some (imagine if you turned up for your church service and it was in someone's dining room, or a Pilates class that was conducted in a lounge room. It would not be very inspiring for you would it?)

A simple visual feature can speak volumes to those joining with you in your activity program. It shows that you care about even the little things and that you want to demonstrate an interest and commitment that your group (and you) deserve. ...Please email any photographs to us that you would like to share with viewers on this page relating to spirituality. The more ideas we can see the better and easier our planning becomes.

Activity - The Christingle Celebration

A tradition that started in Germany in 1749 - the Christingle service began as an inspiring way to remind children of the bigger picture of who baby Jesus is and what he came to do. The simple candle service that John de Watteville introduced showed children then as it does now, that through the gift of a lighted candle we can remember that Jesus brought light into darkness and through the looped red ribbon that Jesus shed his blood and died for our salvation.

The Christingle has developed over the last 250 years from a simple white candle to the Christingle that is made today, experienced by people of all ages.

Exploring the Christingle through creative, spiritual activity -

A sweet, juicy, shiny orange represents the goodness of the earth that God created.

Four sticks (cocktail sticks or tooth picks) can be placed into four corners of the top side of the orange. These represent the four seasons of the year. Onto each stick is threaded dried fruit like sultanas or raisins. This represents all the goodness of the fruit of the earth and the richness of animals and birds that God has provided on his earth. Sometimes we use small jelly lollies, dried pineapple pieces, marshmallows, depending on what is appropriate for your group.

A red ribbon wrapped around the orange and fixed in place with a pin represents the blood of Jesus who died for the salvation of the whole world. In the Moravian tradition today a ribbon is looped around a candle at its base.

The white candle is placed in the very top of the orange into a pre-prepared hole. Sometimes some foil is used to help fix the candle into position. This candle represents Jesus, the light of the world, God's son. In the Moravian tradition it would be made from beeswax and would also represent Christ's purity, as this type of candle burns cleanly. Battery candles or unlit candles can be used if safer for your environment.

A modern Christmas can be secular in so many ways. Putting the "Christ" back into Christmas is an important part of the history of this festival period in England, Europe and beyond. Christianity might not be your faith or interest; however everyone is welcome to witness and take part in this traditional service and activity preparations.

Exploring the Christingle tradition overlaps between cultural and spiritual themes, as your residents or clients from England and some parts of Europe may well remember the Christingle Service and taking part. It is also an interesting and engaging activity that may trigger memories, thoughts and experiences about faith, beliefs, traditions and sensory experiences with the creation of your Christingle Oranges and related discussion.

For more on this important and meaningful tradition, follow the Christingle Story weblink below with instructions on how to create, historical facts and photographs:

Christingle Story and activity ideas

Ministering through nature: The bible says in Romans 1:20 that - we have all seen God through creation and what He has made.

One may watch a nature documentary, or enjoy the rain, marvel at the ocean surf and sometimes feel warmed within the heart at the sight of a rainbow or insects at play.

We stock a range of nature DVDs filmed in high definition that show off the wonders of nature and the magnificence of our God! if you are looking for some resources to ignite the senses and awaken the spirit, then we recommend DVDs such as Butterflies and Flowers.

Butterflies and Flowers DVD - nature at play...

Enjoy both tropical and temperate butterflies and flowers on 5 great tracks. Films are complemented by relaxing music and two tracks of longer, slowly-changing images are accompanied by natural sounds.

Different tracks have different types of flowers and include wonderful passion flowers, romantic roses, bright yellow sunflowers, and daisies in a natural meadow setting.

Every butterfly, caterpillar, dragonfly, bee and blossom was filmed with high definition cameras for stunning picture quality and amazing detail. 80 minutes total duration. Enjoy the fascinating behaviour of the butterflies as they dance around the blossoms and drink from the flowers’ sweet nectar. Watch how a bee collects pollen from the fragile beauty of a rare passion flower and marvel at the different species of colourful flowers including romantic roses, bright yellow sunflowers, and daisies in a natural meadow setting. This DVD is a great resource to promote relaxation and wellbeing, sensory stimulation, and as a therapeutic aid to compliment Colour Therapy or Palliative Care programs. - A vibrant feast of colour and natural beauty to tantalise the senses and your imagination! only $32.95

Sample this...

Connect your office/work station or even home PC to our office in Sydney...and we'll meet you right at your desk and supply your learning materials and training notes via email as well! This concept keeps your costs to a minimum because: you already have computer access, skype™ is free, you print the training notes out via your own printer and your staff don't have to travel to a location and you don't have to pay for other usual training expenses (such as the trainer's travel time to your location).

View the Online Training Options to select the modules that you would like to book. There are 3 training options to choose from; you can book 1 or more and on different days to break up your training into manageable sessions:

• 1 Multisensory Enrichment

• 2 Spirituality Programs

• 3 Dementia Communication

• 4 Lifestyle & Leisure Activities

Once you have booked your timeslot with us we confirm your booking and training modules with you, and we're ready to answer any other queries that you may have. We can trial skyping™ each other first if you would like to ensure that you are comfortable using the application on your PC.

Each training session is 60 minutes and is available for up to 4 participants. Skype™ is required on your computer, along with a webcam (many PCs and Macs have this device already built in). You need to have basic knowledge on how to use your Skype™ function: we have additional notes in the pdf below that you can view and print to find out more about skype™ You can also goto the skype™ website for FAQs & tech support.
Our online Learning Space™ Training Options.pdf



Gift Certificates for others

Why not purchase a Gift Certificate online today for someone in your world! Choose your amount and the Gift Certificate will be emailed to them. With a range of beautiful products to help unwind, de-stress, relax, meditate and much more...we can all benefit from the Wellbeing Range at FutureAge Care.

You might wish to consider purchasing an online Gift Certificate for a local nursing home facility or disability care staff team. This is a very practical way in which you can help support your local care teams by assisting them financially to provide up to date resources and therapeutic aids for their clients' unique lifestyle needs.

Click on the button below and simply follow the prompts.

Weblink resources: inspirational poems, spiritual poems and prayers, other websites and links

Pink Poem

Great Inspirational Quotes:

A beautiful collection of inspirational quotes, poems and short stories for women.

Koorong Bookstore Online stock a range of resources to suit believers of various Christian faith denominations and backgrounds. From large print Bibles to audio Bibles, relaxing worship DVDs, scripture studies and information on grief, loss and healing.

We recommend the "Visions of Worship" DVD range. "To God Be The Glory" is one of the resources - a beautifully inspired creation of favourite instrumental hymns and majestic scenes of nature. Great for the aged care environment and home, you can select the words to display on the screen, or without the words an occasional bible scripture will appear with the music and scenes to inspire and encourage. These DVDs are very relaxing and nurturing for residents of the Christian faith and also those interested in reminiscing on music, school, choir and Sunday school. Click on the Koorong logo to browse the website.

Many pastoral care workers, Diversional Therapy staff and church visitors to the residential and aged care setting undertake CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education). CPE allows you to learn from your own supervised encounters with people in a variety of pastoral situations. It provides the opportunity for personal growth through reflecting on the way you are performing your ministry, which encourages professional competence and helps improve your effectiveness as a team member.

CPE builds pastoral identity, as you reflect on your own spiritual journey and accompany others on theirs. It helps develop your ability to assess specific concerns arising from differences of cultural, spiritual, ethnic, socioeconomic, psychological and emotional backgrounds. Clinical Pastoral Education includes: Action Reflection: increasing options and improving strategies by learning from your own supervised experiences. Theological Reflection: relating the realities of life and your theological journey to the living Word of God. Supervised pastoral placement: in an appropriate setting for ministry over a set time. Giving and receiving: peer support, understanding and guidance in a small group. Intense interactions: as you accompany people going through times of crisis and growth. Reporting, reflecting on and evaluating: the effectiveness of your pastoral interactions.

Why not browse the CPE website and consider an Introductory or Basic Unit in CPE. It is a valuable and worthwhile asset for anyone involved in Pastoral Care, Chaplaincy or church visiting within the residential and aged care setting. Nursing staff, Diversional Therapy and Recreation staff also take part in CPE, which has proved a great benefit as they interact with residents providing all levels of emotional, physical and spiritual support. Check the website: CPE (www.cpensw.com)



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