Whole Person Health care for Hardtoreach groups

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Whole Person Health care for Hard-to-reach groups

• The contribution of Parish Nursing

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What do we mean by whole-person health?

• Not just physical health
• Includes mental health, social health,
  environmental health and spiritual health
• Belief that these are integrated and have an
  effect on each other.
• Is deeply ingrained in Judaeo-Christian
  scriptures and to a variable extent in other
  faith-texts too.

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Who do we mean when we speak of hard-to-reach
groups?
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Who do we mean when we speak of hard-to-reach
groups?

• Ethnic minorities
• People whose English is limited
• Asylum seekers
• Migrant workers
• The homeless
• Those who dont turn up for appointments

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But also.

• Those who put off making appointments when they
  may need to, due to fear or ignorance.
• Those who are overweight or smokers or alcohol
  abusers and dont want/ feel able to change
  lifestyle.
• Carers
• Those whose experience of the health
  service/social services is negative
• Those who rely on alternative remedies
• Single parents
• The isolated elderly, farmers, stressed
  business people, and ministers of religion!

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What is Parish Nursing?

• The intentional integration of the practice of
  faith with the practice of nursing so that people
  can achieve wholeness in, with and through the
  community of faith in which parish nurses serve.
  It is rooted in Christian faith some other
  faiths have similar ministries with different
  titles.
• Began in Chicago in 1986 with six pilot nurses,
  now 12,000 Parish Nurses in 23 countries.

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What is a Parish Nurse?

• A currently-registered nurse with community
  experience, a practising christian faith, and
  some theological understanding.
• Has undertaken the International Parish Nurse
  Basic preparation course (available in the UK
  twice a year)
• Works with and through the local church,
  developing and leading a volunteer health
  ministry team
• May practice in a voluntary or paid capacity
• Identifies needs, and serves the local community,
  with respect for people of all faiths and none.
• Mobilises and trains volunteers for health
  improvement activities

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Current Parish Nurse projects in the UK (March
2009)
Anglican Baptist Methodist Catholic Church of
Scotland Independent Pentecostal Salvation Army
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Functions of a Parish Nurse

• Health Educator
• Personal Health adviser
• Referral Agent
• Trainer and Coordinator of Volunteers
• Developer of Support Groups
• Health Advocate
• Integrator of faith and health

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Health Educator
This Ladies group now includes exercise and falls
prevention as part of its routine meeting.
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Personal Health Adviser
Checking Blood Pressures at a church event can
give opportunity for people to ask about other
health needs that they might not otherwise have
mentioned to anyone
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Referral Agent
Parish nurses signpost people on to appropriate
health and voluntary agencies
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Trainer and Coordinator of Volunteers

• Jenny Bennison
• Trained 30 volunteers to visit isolated elderly
  people, recognise health needs and refer back to
  her

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Developer of Support Groups

• Alzheimer carers are just one of the many needs
  for support group development in the community.
• Churches have rooms where this can happen, and
  volunteers to help

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Health Advocate
Try fresh fruit as an alternative to biscuits!
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Integrator of Faith and Health

Meet George and Nora
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Pearl Spencer, Parish Nurse

• Making a difference with
• Black and Ethnic Minority groups in London

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Jane Pears, Parish Nurse

• Making a difference with
• socially isolated people in Suffolk

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Tracey Ingram, Parish Nurse

• Making a difference with
• Asylum seekers in the North East

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Questions to the panel
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Thank-you for attending
www.parishnursing.org.uk