About 83% of the largest not-for-profit senior living communities have some type of faith-based affiliation. Why is faith-based senior living so prevalent – and how does it benefit residents, even if they don’t ascribe to a particular belief system?
Spiritual Wellness
The National Wellness Institute defines spiritual wellness as “the search for meaning and purpose in human existence.” Simply put, it’s about being connected to something greater than yourself and having a set of values that guide your actions. It can mean participating in a specific religious practice, but it isn’t limited to that.
Research continues to show that older adults experience higher levels of well-being and better health when they integrate mind, body and spirit activities into everyday life. That’s why so many communities – whether faith-based or not – include a spiritual component to their wellness programming.
- Religious and spiritual involvement is associated with higher levels of well-being, lower rates of hypertension, fewer strokes, and less pain from illnesses.
- One study estimates that religious involvement prolongs life by about 7 years.
- Spiritual people are more likely to participate in regular community service, which can protect against stress.
- Spiritual people report being happier and being more satisfied with family life.
- They also tend to be more resilient and have a lower risk of depression and suicide.
- Spirituality often brings a built-in community, which impacts health, happiness and longevity.
- Religion and spirituality for the elderly with dementia appear to slow cognitive decline, help them use better coping strategies, and have a better quality of life.
- Spirituality also helps people find purpose, and reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms.
What are Faith-based Senior Living Communities?
As you explore senior living options, you’ll find Catholic-, Protestant- and Jewish-affiliated communities, as well as some Buddhist and other faith-based communities. They may still be affiliated with a particular religious organization. Or the designation could mean they were founded by a religious organization, but they now operate as an independent entity while still honoring those founding principles.
Here’s a sampling of what these communities offer:
- On-site place of worship. There might be a chapel or synagogue, shrines or prayer rooms, or a multipurpose room used for worship and/or study.
- Focused spiritual support. Some communities have full-time chaplains or rabbis on campus. It’s common to have some form of religious programming and resident-run faith-based groups. They may offer a variety of services or an ecumenical service, transportation to local churches and synagogues, resident-run Bible studies and prayer groups, meditation classes and counseling.
- General spiritual opportunities. If you’re not looking for religious outlets, senior living communities are likely to have quiet places to meditate, ways you can interact with nature, opportunities to volunteer and serve others, classes and programs to feed your creativity and, of course, plenty of ways to foster social connections.
- A philosophy of care driven by spiritual values. Faith-based senior living communities often incorporate values such as compassion, dignity, and respect into their assisted living, memory care, rehabilitation and skilled nursing services.
Faith and Friendship Village
Friendship Village is a not-for-profit faith-based community guided by these core values:
- Faithful service
- Compassionate care
- Excellent teamwork
- Respectful community
- Joyful living
We strive every day to live out these values in everything we do, and for every level of living we offer. We welcome residents of all faiths to our Chesterfield and Sunset Hills senior living campuses.
If you’d like to learn more about our mission-driven communities, use the contact form to reach out with your questions.