Media Release 9 May 2016 Attention Aged & Community Care Media
A Change Full of Meaning
Meaningful Ageing Australia is the new name for Pastoral and Spiritual Care of Older People (PASCOP), the organisation created in 2012 to support and develop the highest quality of pastoral and spiritual care for older
people in Australia, from any background and in any care context.
“The change reflects a wish to make our work simpler and more understandable to the people it is intended to help and who may wish to join,” Ilsa Hampton, the CEO of the renamed organisation says. “The Board chose
this name because it creates curiosity and openness in the listener; whether they are an older person, their family or carer, or an organisation committed to improving meaningful ageing within a pastoral and spiritual framework.”
“Meaningful Ageing was already the tag line for our Meaningful Ageing Seminars and for our popular education and networking events. It will further enhance the branding of a number of new resources including televised training programs due for release in coming months, and our emerging profile with government.” Meaningful Ageing Australia is the only national organisation in Australia focused on ensuring access to high
quality pastoral and spiritual care for older people, including people with dementia, wherever they live and whatever their cultural or religious background. Membership is open to all organisations publicly or privately
owned providing services to older people, whether faith or non-faith based, in residential care or living in the community.
Meaningful Ageing Australia has a busy year planned, with seminars in Melbourne, the launch of National Guidelines for Spiritual Care in Aged Care, training materials for staff orientation on Spiritual Care, and other resources. It plans to increase membership by showing the value of its expertise, resources and assistance. Meaningful Ageing Quality Awards: Ilsa Hampton said that the 2016 PASCOP Quality Awards will also be renamed the Meaningful Ageing Quality Awards that recognise innovation and excellence in member organisation’s work. Award nominations close on 30 June and details about the awards and the work of 2015 winner, Churches of Christ in Queensland, on their evidence-based dementia-specific church service are at
www.meaningfulageing.org.au as of 9 May.
For further information & interviews contact Ilsa Hampton on 0425 758 277