Years before the COVID-19 pandemic, I attended a conference hosted by the American Society on Aging. One session featured Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad, whose research left a lasting impression. She shared a striking statistic: the health risks of loneliness and isolation in older adults are comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. I don’t usually remember numbers well, but that one stuck. And when I’ve shared it with others, the reaction is often disbelief—Really? That can’t be!
Community is a core concept that we value deeply at United Church Homes. When the Board, staff and residents gathered in 2015 to articulate a new vision, mission and..
We moved to a new city last fall. My fall and winter attention focused on getting the inside of the house in order. We knew that we would focus on the yard and outside..
Welcoming strangers is central to the Judeo-Christian tradition. It widens a circle of community with others. To include those we do not yet know creates opportunities..
How we approach a significant move, such as when to move into a retirement setting, can be felt as either a painful loss (discontentment) or a new beginning..
What do death, sleep, music, sabbath and pauses from physical and mental exertion have in common? A simple four-letter word: Rest.
In our chapel, the entire back wall showcases a beautiful stained-glass window depicting Jesus’ final hours of freedom, praying in the garden of Gethsemane. Overwhelmed..
Connection I serve a community where music is valued as one way to connect with others. Through our Music & Memory program, several residents have an iPod personalized..
It is an art to be able to ask questions. It is also a spiritual discipline. Sometimes, one question will lead to another because curiosity is generated and the desire..
Christians around the world entered the liturgical season of Lent yesterday. This season includes the 40 days, not counting Sundays (which are always little Easters),..
