Cultivating Spiritual Health of Elders Beyond Church Services

Last week at the International Council on Active Aging (ICAA) Conference, I was once again reminded of the importance of inclusive spiritual programming. During a session titled “Shattering Spiritual Stereotypes: Getting Beyond the Status Quo,” Bill Painter and Natalie McCann of Judson Park (managed by ABHOW) and Roger Landry of Masterpiece Living guided session participants through a conversation that explored obstacles, ideas and possibilities.

In my small group I heard from frustrated wellness directors, who hoped to partner with chaplains to expand spiritual offerings, but hadn’t yet found a way to communicate the importance of more than just chapel services and visitation. Bill Painter, a chaplain himself, said “the chaplains’ role is to cultivate and develop the spiritual health of elders.”

For Bill, that means everything from yoga to mediation, to a six month course on the world’s religions.  For your community it might mean something totally different.  The following are just a few of the creative ways that other session participants are shattering spiritual stereotypes:

• Discussions around “My faith, my journey.”
• Tai Chi to western religious music.
• Facilitated storytelling.

When I served as executive director of an assisted and independent living community I rarely thought beyond church services when helping our team develop spiritual programming for residents and staff. Now, after spending nearly three years among AAHSA members, I am acutely aware of my oversight.

How are you shattering stereotypes in your community?