The ANNA Trust Foundation: Upcoming Webinars & Initiatives
Supporting Catholic sisters worldwide to age with dignity, health, and the care they deserve.
The ANNA Trust works alongside congregations worldwide, with a special focus on those in challenging circumstances, to promote a dignified and healthy aging journey for Catholic sisters. It values their lasting contribution to ministry and is committed to ensuring they receive the care and support needed for the years ahead.
Upcoming Webinars
Is Dementia Preventable, December 15 2025
This webinar provides some strategies to reduce the risk of developing dementia or at least mitigate its development. Following on from the first of the three webinars the speakers will be Sr. Peter Lillian, O.Carm., BA, LNHA and Alfred Norwood, MBA, BS, Avila Institute Faculty. Moderator Sr. Siobhán O'Keeffe, S.S.H.J.M.
Safeguarding for Senior Female Religious - Challenges and Directions, January 21 2026
This webinar seeks to explore the particular challenges for safeguarding senior female religious face today, and to identify directions for a future rooted in safety and dignity. The speaker will be Fr. Hans Zollner, SJ, Director of the Institute of Anthropology. Interdisciplinary Studies on Human Dignity and Care (IADC) at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. The moderator will be Sr. Siobhán O'Keeffe, SS.H.J.M, The Anna Trust Cognitive Impairment Program Director.
Religious Life: Caring for the Past to Build the Future, January 22 2026
A prayer often attributed to St. Oscar Romero was in fact written by US Bishop Bishop Ken Untener. It expresses the idea that our efforts in life often only bear fruit in a future that we do not live to see. Care of our elderly members honours that prophetic dimension of their lives and shows the value we place on the contribution they have made to an unknown future. The speaker will be Sr. Gemma Simmonds, CJ, a senior research fellow at the Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology, Cambridge where she teaches pastoral theology and Christian spirituality and the moderator will be Sr. Siobhán O'Keeffe, SS.H.J.M, The Anna Trust Cognitive Impairment Program Director.
The Psychological Impact of Dementia, February 11 2026
This session will explore the emotional and psychological impact of caring for someone with Dementia, focusing on ways we can understand our own responses and how to support ourselves. The speaker of the event will be Dr Ruth Watson.BSc,Clin.Psy.D., C.Psychol, AFBPsS, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Lead for Later Life Psychology in the British NHS. The moderator will be Sr. Siobhán O'Keeffe, SS.H.J.M, The Anna Trust Cognitive Impairment Program Director.
To register please visit the website resources page https://annatrustfoundation.org/en/resources/webinars/
Training Programme (Coming in 2026)
The ANNA Trust will launch a Dementia Care Training Programme for Sisters in 2026. Further details will be announced later.
International Collaboration: Clinical Dementia Education
In collaboration with the Global Brain Health Institute at Trinity College Dublin and its associated UK neurology department, ANNA Trust is developing an International Dementia Certificate Course for Clinical Professionals aimed at global religious communities. This initiative is especially pertinent for sister doctors and other clinicians involved in dementia care.
Additional Initiatives
The Foundation recently launched a Cognitive Impairment Support Initiative, supported by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, in partnership with the Avila Institute for Gerontology. This program equips sisters worldwide to understand and care compassionately for those experiencing dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease—grounded in a gospel-based, compassionate ethos.
About ANNA Trust
The ANNA Trust is a global nonprofit based in Rome dedicated to supporting the collective efforts of congregations globally, especially those in vulnerable contexts, to ensure a healthy, dignified aging process for all Catholic sisters and to help them provide the relevant long-term care needed.
New RLSS Safeguarding Training for Elderly Members of Religious Life
The RLSS has launched a new series of safeguarding courses to support the care and protection of elderly members of religious life.
The Religious Life Safeguarding Service (RLSS) is delighted to announce a collection of new safeguarding training modules for the care and protection of elderly members of Religious Life Groups (RLGs). These courses have been generously sponsored by the Porticus Foundation and developed in close collaboration with the Conference of Religious (CoR).
This project has been created to strengthen the support available to religious in England and Wales, ensuring that those in later life are safeguarded with dignity, compassion, and best practice.
Since the first course was launched in March, uptake has been encouraging:
Over 200 participants have attended Communicating and Supporting those with Dementia.
The Safe Recruitment course launched in July and has already had 37 attendees.
In September, the much-anticipated Safeguarding the Elderly Needing Care session was fully booked with 20 participants.
In October, the series will expand further with the launch of Understanding Care Needs Assessments.
Over the coming months, RLSS will continue to roll out these tailored training opportunities, focusing on practical skills, awareness, and the unique needs of elderly members in religious life. These sessions aim to equip participants with the knowledge and confidence to recognise risks, respond appropriately, and create environments where safety and wellbeing remain at the heart of community life.
Upcoming Courses
Safeguarding the Elderly Needing Care
Tailored for religious members, lay staff, and volunteers who care for elderly adults. Includes scenario-based discussions and case studies to build confidence in recognising, responding to, and reporting safeguarding concerns.
Dates (via Zoom):
Monday 20 October, 10:00–12:00
Tuesday 4 November, 10:00–12:00
Thursday 11 December, 14:30–16:30
Understanding Care Needs Assessments
An introductory overview of Care Needs Assessments carried out by Social Care Practitioners. Covers legal principles, eligibility, care planning, referrals, and decision-making where mental capacity is a concern. Useful for anyone supporting or living with an adult whose needs may require assessment.
Dates:
Thursday 23 October, 14:00–15:30
Thursday 11 December, 10:00–11:30
Caring with Confidence: Communicating and Supporting those with Dementia
Explores how dementia affects communication and behaviour, offering practical strategies for positive interaction and managing distressing behaviours.
Dates:
Wednesday 29 October, 10:00–11:30
Tuesday 11 November, 13:30–15:00
Monday 15 December, 10:00–12:00
Safe Recruitment
Designed to support those responsible for hiring staff and volunteers. Covers best practice at every stage of the process to ensure safe, responsible, and transparent recruitment, creating a culture of vigilance and accountability.
Dates:
Thursday 2 October, 15:00–17:00
Tuesday 25 November, 14:00–16:00
Monday 1 December, 10:00–12:00
For further details, to book a place, or to discuss RLSS delivering a session specifically for your RLG, please email training@religioussafeguarding.org