definition: of, relating to, or affecting the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things.
Exploring Spirituality - Therapeutic Activity Workshop for Staff - how to enhance and nurture spirituality in many ways, shapes and forms.
Spirituality and faith-based programs are essential avenues in residential
and aged care. We show you how to confidently and creatively build
opportunities to enhance spirituality with your residents, including those
experiencing late stage dementia and for palliative care. Nurturing
spirituality can enhance your residents’ lives, impacting their emotional
and physical wellbeing and the immediate environment in a positive way. This workshop is
hosted by our Consultant who has gained Clinical Pastoral Education units
in aged care, and is experienced in providing spiritual support for residents with high care needs and dementia.
NB: Spirituality is not just about religious based programs. This workshop
covers many areas of interest and diversity and can be tailored to your
unique organisation needs. Our 1½ hour workshop includes handouts,
demonstrations and practical session: music, imagery, nature, faith, yoga for the mature years, the use
of rituals, grief and loss, creative expression and preparedness for accreditation. Contact us for more information.
LIFE Keys Notes
LIFE Keys are simple, effective small group studies to enhance your spiritual
programs, topics on life and related discussions with residents and clients.
These 1-page studies provide conversation starters, questions and thought
provoking areas on life to explore.
Based on the Christian faith but also relating
clearly to everyday life challenges, LIFE Keys are designed to help provide
avenues for personal reflection and growth in relevant areas of life for everybody
interested in participating (residents, clients and staff). Over time we will provide
avenues for you to explore grief and loss, relationships with others and difficult
memories.
Our themes start with some interesting and thought-provoking topics
to challenge our mindsets and get our minds used to being a little more reflective
and open for some deeper topics in the future.
Simply download the studies from our Spirituality webpage and photocopy for use
in small groups or 1:1
Mandala means centre or circle. Mandala templates consist of a circle with a blend of shapes within that can be coloured in as a therapeutic activity. Mandala colouring is thought to have many wellbeing benefits such as improving concentration, enhancing relaxation and reducing stress, providing avenues for creativity, expression of the inner self and healing through self discovery.
Mandala colouring is an activity in some residential aged care homes and as an Art Therapy activity with groups or individuals. Click on the Mandala shown to browse the Free Mandala website. You can also access and download templates to print out for your spirituality and art programs. We suggest that you start with the simple designs and read the instructions on their website as part of your pre-planning.
This activity can also be therapeutic for staff and it is definitely something that everyone can try.
Ambient Jukebox 2 - Ambient DVD with 9 different themes, includes optional natural sounds and music to accompany these selections: Colourful Coral, woodland waterfall & river, crackling fireplace, discus fish, burning candle, falling snow, tropical tank, sunset ocean and forest creek.
All tracks use natural sounds to add to the experience and this DVD has the option to select music to accompany your choices. 90 minutes playing time, this DVD enhances living environment, lifestyle programs such as creativity, relaxation and spiritual based programs, and it is a positive alternative to noisey tv and commercials. $39.95 This DVD also comes with A4 laminated suggestions for appropriate uses.
Crackling Fireplace - from campfire stories to Indigenous Corroboree, the flicker of flames, crack and pop enhance our thoughts, memories and a comforting environment for more intimate conversations.
Slowly burning candle with the gentle flicker and glow of the flame and optional resonating musical sounds - enhancing for spirituality programs, Christmas, evening prayer and church services.
Gift Certificates for Christmas
Why not purchase a Gift Certificate online today for someone in your world! Choose your amount and the Gift Certificate can be emailed to them in time for Christmas. 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 also wish to bless a local nursing home facility or care staff team with a Gift Voucher so they can purchase some extra goodies for their residents for Christmas and the New Year.
Click on the button below and simply follow the prompts.
Weblink resources: inspirational poems, spiritual poems and prayers, other websites and links
Pink Poem: inspirational poems, spiritual poems and prayers, links to other sites.
A beautiful collection of inspirational quotes, poems and short stories for women.
Splendour: This is an inspiring ministry program from the UK. Click on the link and read about the vision, program services and diverse avenues of help and impact to the local community of older people in northern England. Truly inspiring and very encouraging to hear what can be achieved!
Diana has performed and led chair exercise with seniors for more than 25 years. She has now created her own exercise program called "Praising God Through Movement" This is a creative way for seniors and those with limited movement to enjoy staying fit.
These exercises are accompanied with soothing and uplifting music from great Christian artists to strengthen and renew the soul as well as the body.
Click on the Praising God logo above and go straight to the website where you can watch and listen to a sample of this unique and refreshing DVD exercise resource.
Anahata Yoga CD - Relaxation/Meditation
Anahata is guided meditation and music to soothe and refresh the mind and body. Track 1: The Infinite Breath is 19 minutes 30 in duration and is a beautiful guided meditation, accompanied by harmonizing music that touches the heart, bringing tranquility and stillness. Track 2: The Beholder’s Heart is 32 minutes 40 and is a melody of peaceful, joyous music that weaves through the consciousness creating a deep sense of calm and inner peace. This CD includes original music from the DVD Yoga for the Mature Years.
Anahata is a valuable resource for your exercise, spirituality and wellbeing programs and is only $26.00
Listen to a sample from the Anahata CD
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.
Yoga for the Mature Years - Manasa Yoga for the Mature Years is a specifically designed program of gentle yoga exercise and deep breathing for the aged. Suitable for residents of any ability including dementia, all postures are performed from a sitting position.
With easy to follow, detailed demonstration and guidance, this resource can be used in a group or individual setting and is ideal to incorporate into your diversional therapy programs. This is an inspiring yoga exercise resource that aims to improve the quality of life for the aged, and to honour and acknowledge all that they are able to do and fully participate in. Some of the Benefits of the Yoga based exercise can be seen in: increasing circulation through the body; strengthening joints, ligaments, tendons and toning the muscles; improving balance, coordination and posture; stimulating the immune system through the full and natural breathing; bringing a suppleness and strength to the spine and supporting muscles; massaging the internal organs; creating harmony and balance in the mind and increasing energy and vitality.
If you don't have Quicktime, click on the Q logo to download Quicktime and watch this DVD preview.
The Yoga for the Mature Years DVD is very easy to follow, with three mature age students participating in their 60s and 70s. This resource is being used by Aged Care and Dementia associations, Arthritis/Osteoporosis Associations and in the field of Diversional Therapy. It is great value at $45.00
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.org)
Mandala means centre or circle. Mandala templates consist of a circle with a blend of shapes within that can be coloured in as a therapeutic activity. Mandala colouring is thought to have many wellbeing benefits such as improving concentration, enhancing relaxation and reducing stress, providing avenues for creativity, expression of the inner self and healing through self discovery.
Exploring Spirituality - Therapeutic Activity Workshop for Staff - how to enhance and nurture spirituality in many ways, shapes and forms. 
