8:30-9:30 a.m

96-G. Body & Soul: Connecting Spirituality, Health, and Wellness

Spiritual care helps older adults find purpose, increase resilience, build coping mechanisms, and address concerns about suffering and mortality. This session will explore innovative approaches to meeting residents' increasingly diverse cultural and religious needs. Presenters will discuss activities that nurture spirituality, such as nature outings, organized social interactions, and dedicated spaces for prayer or meditation. They'll also demonstrate how training staff to provide high-quality spiritual care can positively impact employee morale, job satisfaction, and personal growth. You'll gain a deeper understanding of the link between spirituality and health, the benefits of integrating residents' spiritual preferences into their care plans, and the value of making high-quality spiritual care a strategic and mission priority for your organization.

• Cindy Ray, Senior Communications Specialist
• Karen Bender, Chief Mission Officer, Los Angeles Jewish Health — Reseda, CA, US
• Brian Maas, Vice President Mission and Spiritual Care, Immanuel — Omaha, NE, USA
• Erica Thrash-Sall, CEO, Horizon House — Seattle, WA, USA