NEWS FOR WOMEN METHODIST MISSION’S HOME STAFF PROBLEMS

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28251, 12 April 1957, Page 2

NEWS FOR WOMEN METHODIST MISSION’S HOME STAFF PROBLEMS

j The Social Service Association of the Methodist Church of New Zealand is giving serious consideration to the establishment of an order of Christian aids to Staff its many institutions the Dominion. i If such an order could be I founded it would provide a nucleus of dedicated personnel who could serve the church’s hospitals for the aged, eventide homes, children’s homes, college hostels and training institutions. In the meantime the Methodist Church, like many others, is finding it extremely difficult to engage a suitable type of woman for this field of its work. Nursing Staff

The Christchurch Methodist Central Mission, for instance, hopes to open at the end of June a hospital wing for the aged infirm at its Wesley Lodge Eventide Home in Park terrace. With about 10 weeks still to go before taking in its first patients, the mission’s board has appointed Sister Ina Macadam as sister-in-charge of the hospital, but it still needs four trained nursing sisters, four nursing aids, a cook, and domestic workers to staff the new wing.

One young woman has offered to do part-time clerical work for the hospital, as well as nursing aid duties, as a service to her church and to old folk too sick and weak to take care of themselves.

The board is seeking more women, who, like this young woman, feel they want to fulfill a vocation as well as earn a livelihood.

“The ideal person for this work, in the nursing or domestic branch, is the woman who loves old people and wants to serve them,” said the superintendent of the mission (the Rev. W. E. Falkingham) yesterday. “Without ready sympathy for the aged. sick, and their needs, the task of caring for them

could become irksome. It needs women with the right temperament and spiritual attitude; with patience as a basic virtue.” The job of looking after infirm old people can be exacting, but it is a very rewarding task for

a woman who takes it on in the right spirit.

The mission is willing to employ women who prefer to live out as well as those who wish to live in accommodation provided for the staff. Any Creed “While we are anxious to secure Christian women for the staff, their denominational affiliation will not concern the board,” Mr Falkingham said. “The hospital itself will take in old folk of any creed.” Sister Macadam arrived in Christchurch recently to appoint staff for the hospital and to purchase medical equipment in preparation for the opening the wing.