Life Story Program Update Inbox Lynn Newman Nov 1, 2024

Life Story Program Update

Inbox

Lynn Newman

Nov 1, 2024, 3:25 PM (1 day ago)

to Lynn, Maria

Hi Team,

I hope you’re all enjoying the longer days of sunshine as we approach the Christmas season!

Here’s a quick update on our recent activities:

Referrals and Stories

We received 13 referrals across September and October:

·         3 Pastoral Care

·         4 Flora McDonald

·         4 MPH

·         2 PITH

We’ve completed 8 stories in this period!

Drumming Up Business

We attended a pastoral care meeting to raise awareness of the LSP and presented at the MPH staff education session. Both sessions were well received and have already started generating referrals. We also created new A5 flyers for staff to promote the program to patients.

Feedback and Forms

Thanks to everyone who provided feedback on our feedback forms! We’ve implemented them across the LSP, and the responses have been fantastic. Everyone reported being very satisfied with their experiences and appreciated the chance to share their stories. Here are a few lovely quotes:

“Brought joy, peace, and happiness to my heart.”

“The pleasure of making something I wanted to do, but didn’t have the energy to accomplish myself.”

“I was very impressed with my volunteer's patience and kindness; it felt like being with a close friend.”

These forms can be collected from the biography office, along with reply paid envelopes, when you come in to complete your story.  You can give them to your story teller when you give them their story, or if preferred I can mail out to them directly.

Homestead Residential Care Pilot

We met with the Home Manager and the Mission, Pastoral, and Spiritual Services Manager at The Homestead to discuss the pilot's impact. Feedback from staff and residents has been positive, with many feeling proud to share their stories. 

However, we’ve faced some logistical challenges due to the absence of a dedicated contact person. The site manager will coordinate volunteer induction in the meantime. The success of the pilot indicates that the LSP should continue at The Homestead.

We’re also running a pilot at Flora McDonald and facing similar challenges, but we’re confident these will resolve as staff become more familiar with the program.

Volunteers have achieved great outcomes with residents experiencing cognitive decline, often capturing one or two stories per session using question cards, photographs, and music. Creating a short picture book for a resident with advanced dementia was a highlight!

I understand that working with residents in nursing homes is different from palliative care, and some volunteers prefer one over the other. Please feel free to share your preferences with me—we’re here to support you!

Training Opportunities

Maria and I are currently taking an online training course on communication and activities for people living with dementia. It’s free, self-paced, and might be of interest. If you would like to know more about this course Dementia Essentials: CHCAGE011 Provide support to people living with dementia | Dementia Australia. There’s also a free app called Ask Annie for on-the-go dementia training. You can download it here if interested.

Team Catch-Up

Our planned catch-up in October didn’t happen due to low attendance. With the busy season ahead, I’m wondering if you’d like to meet for an informal lunch at the pub on Wellington Square before Christmas? It would be a great chance to catch up! If you would like me to arrange this please let me know by the end of next week.  If there’s not much interest, I’ll plan a more formal meeting in the new year.

Don’t forget the complimentary Calvary Volunteer Christmas Lunch on Thursday, December 5th. I hope to see many of you there!

Clarification

A few people have questioned why they sometimes get referrals from Maria. I want to clarify that when Maria reaches out with referrals, it’s part of our team approach. Since I work part-time, Maria handles referrals when I’m away, and I fill in any gaps when I’m back.  This usually works well, but “the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry”.  If you think you haven’t received all the information you need please reach out to me asap and I will do my best to rectify.

Reporting

I am required to prepare monthly reports on what is happening with stories across the program.  I would really appreciate if when you’re working on a story that you send me a brief update on your progress at the end of each month.  Only needs to be number of sessions and how story is progressing, and of course if there are any issues you would like support with. Alternatively I can ask mentors to provide an update on your behalf… Can you let me know your preferred option please and I will confirm action in next update. 

FYI

We can now bind stories in portrait or landscape orientation, this gives you and the story teller another layout option to consider.  If you want more information on this please let me know as some of our recorders are experienced in this layout.  

That’s it for now! I’m here to support you, so don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions, concerns or suggestions.

Cheers

Lynn