South Australia
Eyre Peninsula
Elliston
Elliston Hospital & the Pines Hostel, Eyre & Far North Local Health Network (EFNLHN)– On the Journey to Become a Spark of Life Centre of Excellence.
Elliston Hospital & the Pines Hostel is a small, rural hospital and aged care facility. It is unique as it covers all four areas of emergency, acute care, aged and dementia care, all under the same roof.
Anthony Ryan, Spark of Life Master Practitioner
Anthony has a background in Nursing and is the
Executive Officer / Director of Nursing: Elliston and Streaky Bay Hospitals, Pines and Elmhaven Hostels, Eyre & Far North Local Health Network (EFNLHN), South Australia.
Anthony is also the EFNLHN leader for the Comprehensive Care of Older People (CCOP).
Trudy Wadsworth, Spark of Life Master Practitioner
Trudy is a Registered Nurse and is the Nurse Unit Manager at Elliston Hospital & Pine Hostel, Eyre & Far North Local Health Network (EFNLHN), South Australia. Trudy is also the EFNLHN driver for the Comprehensive Care of Older People (CCOP).
Together Anthony and Trudy have embarked upon a journey with their colleagues and the people in their care to create a Spark of Life Centre of Excellence in Elliston.
Anthony and Trudy propose to enable their hospitals and hostels to become a role model of the Spark of Life Philosophy that will inspire the staff working in other centres in their region to see what it is possible to achieve for people with dementia.
‘We have big plans to offer staff from other facilities a chance to see, touch, taste and feel what life can be like for all of our beautiful people with dementia. We will be inviting family members, work mates and the community to come and learn more about how to make the lives of our special friends as rich and as fulfilling as we know they can be thanks to the Spark of Life Philosophy.’
~ Trudy Wadsworth
Watch Trudy Wadsworth, Clinical Leader, Elliston Hospital, South Australia expressing what the Spark of Life Philosophy means to her:
Click here to read Trudy sharing Wayne’s Story, A Second Chance >>
Cummins – Eyre Peninsula
Cummins & District Memorial Hospital & Miroma Place Hostel
Cummins and District Memorial Hospital and Miroma Place Hostel in Cummins in the Eyre and Far North Local Health Network of South Australia, now have their own Master Practitioner implementing the Spark of Life Philosophy and Model of Care.
Cummins and District Memorial Hospital is a small rural hospital that is part of Lower Eyre Health Services. The hospital provides all acute, outreach and aged care services to the communities of Cummins and outlying smaller communities.
Miroma Place Hostel offers aged care accommodation and services for older people with a low level of need and for people with dementia. Respite is also available.
Tania Hammond, Spark of Life Master Practitioner
Tania has a Bachelor of Applied Science in nursing, a Post Graduate Diploma in Community Nursing from University of South Australia, a Post Graduate Certificate in Gerontics and is a certified Spark of Life Master Practitioner. Currently Tania is undertaking her Masters in Nurse Practitioner at flinders University, SA.
Tania is the Nurse Practitioner Candidate (Aged Care), for the Eyre and Far North Local Health Network of South Australia. She is also a Registered Nurse and clinical leader for Lower Eyre Health Service, Cummins. Both of these roles involve the care and support of older people and their families, including people living with dementia.
Tania has a vision for implementing the Spark of Life Philosophy and Model of Care within Miroma Place Hostel and the Aged Care Wing at Cummins District Memorial Hospital to enhance the lives of older people, their families, her colleagues and her community.
Tania says, ‘When we implement the Spark of Life Philosophy and Model of Care, we can achieve a major cultural shift, where people with dementia are given opportunities each and every day, to feel a genuine emotional connection with staff and to have their spirit lifted.’
Click here to read Tania’s story – In her own words >>
Listen to Tania being interviewed by Emma Pedler on ABC radio on 18th July 2022 here:
Click here to read about the Spark of Life Model of Care Transforming Lives in South Australia >>