SummitCare Celebrates the Launch of the National Guidelines for Spiritual Care in Aged Care

Aged care organisations throughout Australia will be supported to integrate enhanced spiritual care into everyday practice, thanks to an important set of guidelines launched last week. 

The National Guidelines for Spiritual Care in Aged Care were officially launched at SummitCare St Marys by Nick Ryan, CEO Australian Aged Care Quality Agency, IIsa Hampton, CEO Meaningful Ageing Australia and Cynthia Payne, CEO SummitCare.

They are an Australian first, and have been developed by the national peak body for spiritual care and ageing, Meaningful Ageing Australia, with project partner, Spiritual Health Victoria, and project manager NARI.

Speaking at the launch, Nick Ryan, CEO Australian Aged Care Quality Agency said, “The sector welcomes the National Guidelines as a significant benchmark for the integration of spiritual care, giving organisations a clear pathway to embrace whole-of-person care.”

Central to the guidelines are five domains of spiritual care: organisational leadership and alignment; relationship and connectedness; identifying and meeting spiritual needs; ethical context of spiritual care; and enabling spiritual expression.

Ilsa Hampton, CEO Meaningful Ageing Australia said “Every older person in residential and community aged care can now be offered spiritual care that is desired by and meaningful to them, whatever their background, culture, beliefs or faith.”

Cynthia Payne, CEO SummitCare said her organisation was thrilled to be the venue for the launch of the guidelines, as SummitCare had provided significant input into their creation.

“Our wellbeing approach focuses on optimal physical, emotional, social and spiritual wellbeing for customers, families and staff,” she said.

“Spiritual care is not just about faith, but about life purpose, experience and connections, and I know these guidelines will help enhance our approach in these areas into the future.”

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