This document discusses parish nursing and its role in caring for older adults within faith communities. It begins by defining parish nursing as a specialty practice that combines nursing and health ministry, rooted in Judeo-Christian traditions. It describes how parish nurses collaborate with pastoral staff and congregants to promote health and healing. They partner with other health resources to create new responses to health concerns. The document emphasizes that parish nurses serve communities with compassion, advocating for individuals with dignity. It highlights opportunities for parish nurses to address older adults' diverse needs through a variety of nursing specialties and approaches.

1. Linda Jones, DNP, CRNP
Assistant Professor of Nursing and Medicine
University of Alabama at Birmingham

2. We build on foundations, we did not lay.
We warm ourselves at fires, we did not light.
We sit in the shade of trees, we did not plant.
We drink from wells, we did not dig.
We profit from persons, we did not know.
(adapted from Deut. 6:10-12)

3. “She is temporarily the
consciousness of the unconscious,
the love of life for the suicidal, the
leg of the amputee, the eyes of the
newly blind, a means of locomotion
for the infant, knowledge and
confidence for the young mother, the
mouthpiece for those too weak or
withdrawn to speak, and so on.”

4.  Parish nursing is a recognized specialty practice that
combines professional nursing and health ministry.
 Parish nursing is rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition,
and the historic practice of professional nursing, and is
consistent with the basic assumptions of many faiths that
we care for self and others as an expression of God's
love.

5.  …in collaboration with the pastoral staff and
congregants, participates in the ongoing
transformation of the faith community into sources
of health and healing.
 Through partnership with other community health
resources, parish nursing fosters new and creative
responses to health and wellness concerns.
 The parish nurse serves the faith community and
advocates with compassion, mercy, and dignity.

7.  “One Size does not fit all”
 Varying needs
 Needs are not necessarily age related
 People age in a very individualized manner
 Complexity of needs of older adults

8. Psychology
Socioeconomic
considerations
Technical nursing skills
Nutrition
Rehabilitiation
Ethics
Medical Surgical nursing
Community health nursing
Health education
Legislation / Regulations
Cultural diversity

9.  African American population often has a distrust of
the medical community
 African Americans are generally very trusting of
their faith community
 This gives the faith based community a unique
OPPORTUNITY

10. Myths that persist are a type of ageism. These
myths / attitudes often relate to an elders:
 Cognitive function
 Benefit to society
 Not teachable
 Ready to die
 Smelly
 Societal drain

15.  Resources
 Personnel
 Commitment
 Vision

16.  Resources
 Personnel
 Commitment
 Vision
You are here
today !!!

17. Opportunities:
The Role of Lay Caring

18.  Like professional caring, lay caring is
 embedded in social structures
 exercised as a normative practice in family, church and
benevolent organizations
 characterized by respect and compassion/empathy
 Lay caring is distinctly characterized by
 trustworthiness
 reliability/availability
 mutuality/reciprocity
 similarity in background and experiences

19.  Religious individuals may practice moderation and avoid
risky behaviors based on
 specific religious doctrine
 literal interpretation of Scripture
 belief that body is a temple of God, to be respected
 Religious people have healthier lifestyles and perform
fewer unhealthy behaviors
 risky sexual practices
 alcohol
 illegal drugs
 tobacco
 Religiously involved individuals may have less exposure to
unhealthy lifestyles/deviant behaviors
 social groups do not engage in deviant behaviors
 social circles do not frequent places with unhealthy lifestyles

20. Frequent Church Attendance
▼
Perception of Highly Cohesive Congregation
▼
Perception of More Spiritual/Emotional
Support
▼
Deeper Relationship with God
▼
More Optimism
▼
Better Physical, Emotional and Spiritual
Health
Model developed by Krause N. Church-based social support and health in old age: Exploration variations by
race. Journal of Gerontology. November 2002;57B(6):S332-S347.
Model supported by Data from a national sample supported this model, using global self-rated health as the

22. Seeing the faith community as a vital link
Knowing that your programs will have an impact
Expanding collaborations
Partnering with other resources to make a
difference

23.  What are the older adults’ service needs?
 Does the older adult want services?
 NOTE: Cognitively intact?
 Is this something appropriate for congregational
care, or do professionals need to be enlisted?
 Is this elder at risk?
 Who is/are the caregiver(s)?

24.  Role changes
 Ageism (societal prejudice)
 Retirement
 Grief and loss
 Increasing health risks
 Awareness of mortality
 Reduced Income
 Shrinking social world

25.  Community very important in encouraging and achieving
optimal health
 Cultural factors influence the way people understand diseases
such as hypertension and diabetes
 May involve education, counseling, transportation, assessing
risks, improving nutrition, exercise, cognitive and social
stimulation, etc.
 Promotion of maximum independence

26.  Community very important in encouraging and achieving
optimal health
 Cultural factors influence the way people understand diseases
such as hypertension and diabetes
 May involve education, counseling, transportation, assessing
risks, improving nutrition, exercise, cognitive and social
stimulation, etc.
 Promotion of maximum independence

27.  Older adults need to maintain as much
independence as they can for as long as they can.
 Many aspects of congregational care should be
directed by this.

28.  Spiritual
 Social
 Helping others
 Mentoring opportunities
 Innovative programs: life review, journaling,
forgiveness, transcendence, meaning and
purpose, helping the older person to find pleasure
and enjoyment in current life activities and
circumstances.

29.  In our society, one is often judged by appearance
and productivity.
 Every human has intrinsic worth.
 When the elderly lack the attributes that command
dignity for most of secular society, they can derive
a sense of value and worth through their
connection with God.
 Eliopoulos, C. Gerontological Nursing.6th
ed. (2005) Philadelphia, PA. Lippincott Williams &
Wilkins.

30.  Slides on Lay Caring
Beverly Rosa Williams, PhD
Assistant Professor
UAB School of Medicine
Division of Gerontology, Geriatrics and Palliative Care
 Also,
Kelly Flood, MD
Assistant Professor
UAB School of Medicine
Division of Gerontology, Geriatrics and Palliative Care

32. Contact us:- 011-25464531, 9818569476
E-mail:- nursingnursing@yahoo.in