LUTHERAN AGED CARE COUNCIL

For a number of years the Lutheran Church in South Australia has been increasingly involved in the provision of care for the growing number of elderly people in the church and community. In 1992 the SA District of the Church created the Lutheran Aged Care Council to assist with the implementation of aged care policy within congregations and residential facilities of the SA District, and to encourage ministries with elderly people at the local level.

Why is the Church involved in care for the elderly? It is a result of being loved by God and called by him to love one another. Christian love compels the Church to do good to all people, especially to those who are of the 'household of faith' (Gal 6: 10). We have an obligation to love and show care for older people, and our aim is to minister to them in their spiritual, social, emotional, and physical needs.

The Lutheran Church in South Australia has established several retirement villages and aged care facilities (hostels and nursing homes). However, the vast majority of elderly people live independently in their own homes or with family and are ministered to in their local congregations. The Lutheran Aged Care Council endeavours to support the Church's ministry to all elderly people.

The Lutheran Aged Care Council (ACC) has three sub-committees to support its role.

1. A Congregational Committee to provide a liaison with congregations and pastors on aged care ministry activities and information within congregations and Lutheran communities

2. Residential Network as a forum for senior managers of Lutheran Residential Aged Care Facilities in South Australia to work together in achieving efficiencies and benefits to residents and the facilities.

3. Retirement Villages Alliance representing Lutheran retirement villages where senior managers, ACC members and senior care managers can review and discuss areas of common interest and benefit to all facilities.

Who is on the Lutheran Aged Care Council?

Pastor Neville Kriewaldt                                       Synod representative                       Chairman

Judy Gilbertson                                                      Synod representative

(Director of Care Services LHI Retirement Services)

Ruth Pedler                                                             Synod representative

(CEO Trinity Place Lutheran Aged Care Environs Pasadena)

Lynette Wiebusch                                                   Synod representative

Joan Martin                                                             District Council representative

(Administrator Murray Bridge Lutheran Homes)

Pastor John Wilksch                                              District Council representative

(Chaplain LHI Retirement Services Hope Valley)

Betty Thiele                                                             District Council representative

Roland Schultz                                                        District Council representative

Keith Adams                                                           District Council representative (Consultant)

(CEO Tanunda Lutheran Home)

Craig Hall                                                                District Council representative (Consultant)

(Managing Director Fullarton Lutheran Homes)

Newsletters & Publications

• Wanting to Build a Retirement Village?
  Congregations often have people say there are a lot of elderly folk in our parish and would it not be a good idea to build a retirement Village/Hostel/Nursing Home to care for them? The South Australian Aged Care Council has produce a booklet that goes a long way to prepare congregations for various matters that need to be considered in bringing a new facility into being. A copy of the booklet can be downloaded here.

Aged Care Booklet.pdf

Newsletters

The latest Congregational Newsletter - April 2007 - can be downloaded here.

Previous Congregational Newsletters

November 2006

February 2006