And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year ...

Except it isn't really the gate of the year any more, is it? January is nearly over, temperatures are still dropping even as the days draw out, and brave daffodil shoots are pushing their way up through the frozen soil in my back garden.

Apologies for the delay in communications - this has been the result of ill health, techy challenges, and organisational changes. The first two are my own entirely and the third is just an excuse. However to bring you up to date, let me say farewell to Joanna Kemp, our former administrator, who has gone off to a full-time Marketing Manager post in another charity - well done Joanna, and please keep in touch. And also, welcome to Mary Wilkinson, who overlapped with Joanna for a week to learn the ropes and is now finding her way expertly through our files and foibles. Mary has worked in and round the diocesan office for many years so hers is a well kent face. And we're very glad to have her.

Meantime the work goes on and we're busily organising events to help you on your way. Next Tuesday in Glasgow we're organising another event looking at the results of our survey on the contribution of faith groups to the care of older people in Scotland. And also in Glasgow, on 11th February, we're running a course on loss and bereavement, for pastoral visitors. Keep logging in for further info, and, even though we're past the gate of the year (click on the link to read the whole text of Minnie Louise Haskins' lovely poem), we do wish all our friends and subscribers health and happiness in 2015.

Standard Twelve

As many of you will know, the National Care Standards are currently being revised and a consultation period has recently closed. We made our comments and sent them in, and look forward in due course to seeing the results. Meantime however, Standard No. 12 is the one that interests us the most. This is the Standard that deals with ‘Lifestyle: social, cultural and religious belief or faith’. Here is the standard in full, with four specific undertakings listed as to how care staff will address the Standard:

Your social, cultural and religious belief or faith are known and respected. You are able to live your life in keeping with these beliefs.

1.    Staff make sure they are properly informed about the implications for you and others of your social, cultural and religious belief or faith.

2.    You are given the opportunity and support you may need to practise your beliefs, including keeping in touch with your faith community.

3.    Your holy days and festivals, birthdays and personal anniversaries are recognised and ways found to make sure you can observe these as you choose.

4.    The social events, entertainment and activities provided by the care home will be organised so that you can join in if you want to.

Our recent post by Dianna Wolfson described the importance ascribed to cultural and religious traditions and festivals by the older Jewish community. We also know of care homes with a specifically Christian ethos which work hard to convey a sense of continuity in observing Christian cultural traditions and festivals. But in our experience, most care homes and staff are secular. We don’t know how many care home residents have a particular faith or set of beliefs. Does this mean that Standard 12 is obsolete? By no means!

Here in FiOP we define spiritual need as ‘that which makes life meaningful’. For some care home residents, this will include religious expression – but for others, possibly even the majority, the spiritual care task lies in identifying and supporting, for every individual resident, that which makes their life meaningful.

We’re working on ways of helping care staff understand this duty, and respond to it. All suggestions welcome. Meantime local congregations have an important job to do in making supportive connections with care homes, and we know this can be difficult. So we’re going to start providing regular resources to support those of you who are regular visitors to care homes in your area. Look out for more info on the website and newsletters.

Night One

Here is another great poem by our anonymous home carer. In this poem, she reflects on her first, nerve-wracking night on duty, visiting people in their own homes to ‘do the tuck-in’ – or as we might prefer it, to assist our loved ones to get ready for bed.

Night One

September.

Wednesday night, half-past 8.

No keysafe number. Ring bell.

Expected to have keys, and am too early.

'I'll wait till you're ready,’ I say, standing still.

‘Worst carer ever,’ they shout, from the hall.

They teach me their night routine, shaking and angry.

I see nothing but fear in their eyes.

September.

Wednesday night, 9pm.

Open the keysafe.

Exactly on time.

We dance their routine.

They chant my name,

smile ever-so-slightly,

say softly, 'good night.'