Formation/Training Program
Workshop Level: Beginner
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PRESENTERS
Sr. M. Peter Lillian Di Maria OCarm BA LNHA
Director
Avila Institute of Gerontology
Germantown, NY
Sr. Annelle Fitzpatrick CSJ PhD
Associate Profession of Sociology
St. John’s University
Richmond Hill, NY
The program will be divided into four (4) sessions:
(click the plus signs to expand information for each session)
Session 1: An Overview of a Geriatric Spiritual Care Education Program
It’s a privilege to be called to the spiritual care of the elderly—to provide care for their bodies, their spirit, and their soul. Providing the appropriate education on geriatric spiritual care can enhance skills of pastoral caregivers, which enriches the lives of the elders they serve. Participants in this session will be introduced to several topics that should be addressed when planning a geriatric spiritual education program.
Session 2: Techniques for Communicating with the Memory Impaired
Since people with memory impairment often lose their ability to communicate verbally, pastoral caregivers must be well versed in the different techniques that can be employed to communicate successfully with this population. Sr. Peter Lillian will offer insights that will allow pastoral care professionals to help the memory impaired stay connected to their faith.
Session 3: Elder Abuse: The Silent Epidemic
In Part 3 of the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services (ERDs), Directive #35 states, “Health care professionals should be educated to recognize the symptoms of abuse and violence and are obliged to report cases of abuse to the proper authorities in accordance with local statutes.” In this session, participants will learn how to recognize and appropriately respond to the different types of elder abuse.
Session 4: Palliative Care in Elder Care
Palliative care is distinct from other types of care provision. In this session, Sr. Peter Lillian will discuss various aspects of palliative care, including what differentiates palliative care from hospice care. She will identify the five domains of pain and the importance of the pastoral care perspective.
As a result of this program, participants will:
- Identify key components of developing a geriatric spiritual care education program.
- Discuss the principles of palliative care.
- Identify end-of-life faith beliefs of culturally diverse elders.
Presentation Materials
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Workshop Level Definitions
The NACC categorizes programs on three levels: Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced. The definitions of each level are provided below.
Beginner: Basic information on the topic for those with little background in the area.
Intermediate: Basic plus additional information on the topic for those with some background in the area.
Advanced: Specialized information on the topic for those with extensive experience and/or knowledge in the area.
