ELDER CARE SERVICES

Working with the elderly, while replete with personally rewarding and inspiring relationships, is also demanding and draining. On a daily basis, the line staff, the Certified Nurses, food staff, housing and maintenance, face issues of diminishment and death but infrequently receive much attention in relation to any training and professional development. Finding ways of nurturing and developing these employees and helping them deal with bereavement is critical for maintaining staff morale and minimizing staff turnover.

In one of her programs, “Caring for the Caregivers”, Nancy addresses ways to attend to the spiritual care of those who serve the elderly. These programs create a sense of community within the organization because they bring together men and women from the various services. They enhance the sense of ownership on the part of the staff and benefit the residents by improving the quality of the work environment.

In addition to addressing the professional and personal needs of the staff, Nancy also teaches the staff how to have conversations with the residents about their spiritual/religious beliefs as they face death. She emphasizes the need to take into consideration culturally and religious diversity.