From January 1 2023, The Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2021 makes voluntary assisted dying (VAD) lawful in Queensland under specific circumstances.   

  As a ministry of the Lutheran Church, we believe that in Christ’s love everyone is someone; beloved and created in the image of God.    

 As such it is Lutheran Services’ policy is that we do not provide VAD services or play an active role in the VAD process.  This policy does not prevent our residents or clients accessing external VAD services on our sites.  

If residents or clients in our care seek information and/or access to VAD, we will direct them to the Queensland Government’s Q-VAD Support where authorised doctors, nurses, and others assist with information and access to VAD.     

While Lutheran Services does not provide VAD services or play an active role in the VAD process, a respectful approach will always be maintained by all Lutheran Services people in the everyday care of residents who choose to pursue VAD, and to family and friends of such residents throughout the VAD process and any subsequent bereavement. Access to medical, chaplaincy, nursing and care services will not be adversely affected. We however do not play an active role in the VAD process.    

You can read more about our approach to VAD here. 

For more information about VAD in Queensland, including the contact details for Q-VAD Support visit www.health.qld.gov.au/vad.  

At 101 years old, Gympie local Hazel Long’s life is firmly rooted in a way of life that is fast disappearing.

She worked on her family farm ‘from morning to sun down’ and has never left Gympie.

It was a hard life. Niece Kay Milfull visited recently to celebrate the milestone with her beloved aunt, at Cooinda Aged Care.

“Hazel would withdraw her pension each week pay her bills and then fill up envelopes and send the rest off to charities.”

Happy Birthday Hazel, you deserve every blessing.

WITH heart and passion six Lutheran Services aged care residents from Tabeel Aged Care and four professional dancers demonstrated the stage is open to everyone.

Watch the full video here

 If Only I Could… took to the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) in October, where the performers received standing ovations for their dance virtuosity.

Director of If Only I Could… Angela Chaplin and Lutheran Services Creative Programs Advisor Clare Apelt first collaborated on the idea to illuminate the creativity of older people almost five years ago.

“At the time I was running an organisation called Ausdance,” Angela said. “I decided it would be really interesting to work with people who don’t necessarily have access to exploring their creativity and obviously one of those groups is old people.”

“They have such big lives and they are so important to our community but we rarely get to celebrate their creativity.”

Lutheran Services Creative Programs Advisor Clare Apelt approached the director, saying ‘have we got the cast for you!’

The project has now worked with more than 100 residents across Lutheran Services aged care sites.

There had been ‘test’ performances – one in 2018 and 2021 – but nothing as significant as taking to the Queensland Performing Arts Centre.

As the themes of the show crystallised and the limitations of working across aged care sites during the COVID pandemic became obvious, the team continued to work with residents at Tabeel Aged Care.

Angela said the performance stood as a piece of art.

“It’s an intergenerational piece of contemporary dance that showcases love and creativity,” she said.

“I originally thought the project would be about memory and then I realised we do that too often with old people, that we think they are only memories.

“It became more and more obvious it should be about their lives now, what’s important to them and also it became about the relationship between them and the professional dancers.”

The bond and understanding that grew between the professional dancers and residents were key to developing the dance pieces, she said.

They worked on improvisation and duets, finding creative expression in touch and movement.

Clare said fostering connection had been fundamental to the show.

“When we’re doing the duets (in workshops) … I say to them ‘let your body lead you’. So rather from the conscious mind – ‘what body part do I move?’ – it’s dropping into the feelings and that initiates the movement so it all becomes connected,” she said.

76-year-old Michael Bailey gave a star turn as he glided across the stage. After the show he said: “I never, ever thought I’d be on stage in my life, it was lovely. (Know that) always in your own heart you can do whatever you put your mind to.”

Michael is one of the residents at Tabeel Aged Care in Laidley (near Toowoomba, Queensland) and was keen to be involved because his favourite artist is crooner and smooth mover Neil Sedaka.

Lutheran Services CEO Nick Ryan said If Only I Could… is a celebration of our elders – of their big lives, loves and passions.

“(Creative engagement) allows agency, spark, imagination, creativity and connectedness – and that’s what’s fundamental to life.

“They found it is not ‘if only’ – they did!”

Rehearsals have begun with gusto for the Tabeel residents taking part in this year’s If Only I Could performance. Twice a week the professional dancers have been meeting with the residents to share morning tea, some dance moves and much laughter!

If Only I Could… is an intergenerational dance project that sees residents from Tabeel Aged Care in Laidley and professional dancers perform on stage at QPAC in Brisbane.

As part of Lutheran Services’ creative programs, the event inspires aged care residents to recreate and relive much-loved dances from the past and rediscover the joy of dance.

This is the first year the event will be hosted at QPAC.

Watch the video for a peek into the rehearsal process.

To buy tickets to this wonderful performance, which is taking place on 27 & 29 October at Brisbane’s QPAC theatre, head to this link: https://www.qpac.com.au/event/ifonlyicould22/

A big congratulations to the Trinder Park Titans who were this month’s winners of ‘Wheel of Fortune’, a monthly trivia competition played in aged care homes across Australia.

The prize? A $100 gift voucher, which will be used for an event onsite. Nice work, team!

Lutheran Services is raising the bar on mealtimes in aged care.

Thanks to ABC Radio National for the opportunity to discuss our Happy Table project.

Using the Lantern Project’s Epicure rating tool and comprehensive support program has helped us reduce malnutrition by around 20%.

It’s early days but a positive start to improving health and well-being of our much-loved residents. Hear wonderful Zion Aged Care residents Doreen Eisenmenger and Betty Ives speak about what they love about new food options and how it makes them feel.

Click here to listen to the story

We love the opportunity to celebrate together at Salem Aged Care in Toowoomba.

Resident Mary Tansey and Client Services Advisor Cassandra Teale have a beautiful connection and are thrilled they share a birthday.

Some kind words and flowers from Mary’s family to underline their strong friendship was just icing on the cake. Happy birthday Mary and Cass.

Anzac Day is a time to reflect on the sacrifices of war, from the loss of loved ones to the wider losses experienced in a community affected by war.

Here, some of our aged care residents speak about their own experiences – and what today means to them. Lest we forget.

The Easter Bunny paid a special visit to Salem Aged Care on Sunday, delighting residents and staff. Lots of laughter (and chocolate) had by all!