NEWS CENTRE

Focus on Wellbeing to Improve Your Health



Jane Hall, Institute Wellbeing and Health Manager.


Eighteen months into the role the Institute’s first Wellbeing and Health Manager, Jane Hall, is excited about the incremental change in approach from a what’s the matter to what matters concerning people’s wellbeing and health.

“In responding to this awareness, even though I was employed as a Health and Wellbeing Manager, the Institute Leadership Team has changed the order of the words for our team from the usual health and wellbeing to wellbeing and health to emphasise the importance of wellbeing, which has been sometimes seen as secondary to people’s health concerns.

“Obviously a person’s health is fundamental, yet in some instances engagement with wellbeing and health staff may have only occurred when someone has experienced a change in health or circumstances which has impacted on their lifestyle.

“A focus on wellbeing seeks to move beyond a person’s life being determined by a particular condition. Wellbeing engages a holistic and person-centred approach which has flow on effects for our health and health outcomes,” said Jane.

One example of this incremental shift has been the introduction of ‘Wellness Wednesdays’ by the Sisters of Mercy in Perth.

“On Wednesdays, a group of our sisters in Perth meet for a variety of activities such as prayer, gentle exercise, talks, excursions and drama performances by the students at Mercedes College.

“The activities chosen are planned in consultation with our sisters a month in advance.

“Each week there is a growing number of sisters who attend and includes some of our sisters who are living in residential aged care.”

 

Rockhampton Botanic Gardens

 

In all parts of the Institute there are also many other examples of wellness activities occurring such as attending art galleries, visiting families or previous parishes and places of significance where sisters ministered, wandering through botanical gardens and trips to the beach for fish and chips.  Each sister or group of sisters is encouraged to identify how they would like to engage. It is different for each person and it is wonderful to hear how these activities have provided sisters with meaning and purpose. Of course these activities have a positive impact on the staff’s wellbeing too. In addition, many sisters continue to attend to their own wellness through engagement in their local communities where they live.

Jane said these activities are good examples of a focus on wellbeing providing multilayered benefits.

“We have identified seven pillars of wellbeing – physical, social, spiritual, vocational, emotional, environmental and intellectual.

“The seven pillars interact with each other. Physical movement interacts with your social, spiritual  and psychological wellbeing. For instance, if you exercise you are likely to sleep better, have more energy and then your mood is lifted which has  positive health outcomes,” said Jane.

 

 

The change in emphasis on wellbeing has also been reflected in the people who have been recruited to join the Institute’s Wellbeing and Health Team.

“When we have been recruiting, we have been looking for people with diverse skills which may differ to a traditional aged care worker. We have quite a few team members who have done study in wellbeing. We also have someone who previously worked in lifestyle in an aged care setting, one who is a qualified acupuncturist and another a qualified personal trainer.”

Jane encourages all Just Mercy readers to think about what they are and could be doing to improve their wellbeing.

“Regardless of your age and circumstances, an increased focus on wellbeing will not only make you feel better, it can also lead to better health outcomes,” she said.

 

Messages to: Jane.Hall@ismapng.org.au 

 

 

Written by John Rochester, Institute Communications Manager. 

 

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