Few have the privilege of a long lifespan. It allows for a lifetime of rich experiences, more time with family and friends, and a deeper appreciation of life’s true priorities. Nonetheless, it can also bring challenges, such as losing loved ones and one’s independence.
Celebrating life at an older age can be accompanied by isolation and a desire for deeper connections. For aged care residents, taking the time to listen and show interest in their lives as they are nearing the end can profoundly enhance their mental and spiritual well-being.
For Father Martins, the pastoral care coordinator at Holy Spirit Croydon, understanding what resonates with the residents is crucial in offering effective spiritual and mental support.
‘Knowing what will lift their individual spirits up—whether it is their family, engaging with nature, prayer, or worship—I will sit with them in the garden if they choose and listen in an open and non-judgmental way,’ said Father Martins.
‘Pastoral care has previously been seen from the perspective of religion, but broadly, it supports everyone regardless of their tradition,’ he said.
Mission manager Fiona Smith echoes these sentiments, stating that pastoral support ensures holistic care, focusing on a person's emotional, social, and spiritual well-being, independent of beliefs or culture.
‘The role of pastoral care coordinator encompasses a wide range of practices that facilitate person-centred care in a non-judgmental way,’ said Fiona.
Pastoral caregivers lend a listening ear, holding precious people’s stories, cares, and concerns. They provide well-being activities to help relieve social isolation and act as advocates when needed. They also encourage reflection and spiritual growth, provide palliative and end-of-life support aligning with personal beliefs, and offer prayer where appropriate.
‘Ultimately, a pastoral carer understands the interconnectedness of a person’s mind, body and spirit, which aids in enabling individuals to navigate life’s challenges and joys with resilience and hope,’ Fiona said.
Father Martins, who began at Holy Spirit amid the pandemic in August 2022, saw the residents in the Memory Support Unit (MSU) experience disturbances to their daily routines due to the lockdown, which they rely on to make sense of their day.
‘Care is not just clinical; I wanted to help restore their sense of normality and give them a hand,’ he said.
Offering pastoral care to residents in the MSU provides Father Martins with profound meaning and purpose.
‘Pastoral care is about ‘being’ and not just ‘presence’, I hear my name being called when I walk into the MSU, and I get a sense of “glad you are here,” and that makes me feel so grateful to be here for them at this important stage of their lives,’ he said.