Successful Senior Care Strategies for Religious Communities

A religious community’s choices regarding senior care are among the most important decisions the members will make in their journey together.

As in any family, planning for the well-being of loved ones in a religious community is a very intimate – and often emotional – process. While consideration needs to be given to the needs of each individual, successful senior care planning flows from the wisdom and grace the community has acquired over the years to make decisions not only for individuals but for the whole.

Zielinski Companies’ Director of Healthcare Consulting Services, Karen M. Ledbetter, urges religious to be accepting of lay people. “Embrace lay people as the ‘dear neighbor,’ knowing that you will one day become dependent on lay people as members reach retirement age,” advises Karen. “Look outward to take care of yourselves within.”

Today, resources such as senior services and PACE (Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly) programs have become integral aspects of many congregations’ senior care strategies. A growing number of communities are also exploring third-party relationships, collaborations, and joint partnerships with outside entities such as health care providers, not only as a means of providing care for senior members but as an extension of ministry.

Karen sees this trend as a positive evolutionary step in the growth of a religious community. “By being open to utilizing external resources available to you and collaborating with your neighbors, your members will receive the level of care and services they need while sharing the spirituality and wealth of blessings your community has to offer with others.”