ECS Expands its Care to Senior Living Facilities

Chaplain Manager for the Senior Living Chaplaincy program (second from right) is joined by ECS CPE resident and facility staff members of St. Mark’s Towers

Building on the tremendous success of the Senior Living Chaplaincy program at St. Mark’s Towers and St. Mark’s Millcreek, ECS is excited to extend its spiritual care services. This expansion will bring the program to three new low-income senior living communities: St. Mark’s Gardens (Kaysville), Union Gardens (Ogden), and St. Mark’s Terrace (Brigham City). Our approach to this next step is guided by the valuable insights and lessons learned from our established relationships with current community partners.

Senior Living Chaplain Barbara Novak connects with residents at the St. Mark’s Millcreek Holiday Party

As we assess possibilities for spiritual care at each new location, we are discovering just how distinctive each community truly is—each one shaped by its own culture, rhythms, and needs. And, while we already experience this uniqueness in the two facilities we currently serve, the contrast becomes even more evident as we explore the three new communities. 

It has quickly become clear that a simple formula—such as assigning a chaplain based on the number of residents—cannot capture the complexity of what meaningful spiritual care requires. Many factors must be considered.

Opportunities for meaningful spiritual care co-exist with art projects when using it as a medium for developing community.

In addition to how many residents will be served, chaplain placement should consider staffing patterns which influence the most beneficial days for chaplain presence, the kinds of spiritual care already provided through residents’ religious affiliations or spiritual leanings, behavioral health needs, coping abilities, and sensitivity to change, to name a few.

Recognizing these and other variables helps ECS approach each facility with attentiveness and flexibility—honoring its unique identity while considering a potential chaplain’s particular skill set, the logistics of location, and available resources.

Senior Living Chaplain Barbara Novak plays a game with residents at the recent St. Mark’s Holiday Party

What emerges is both exciting and affirming. Although each facility is distinct, all are open to chaplain support through diverse and meaningful methods. One facility includes a number of “spiritual but not religious” residents, requiring a more behavioral health-centered focus with more emotional support mixed with spiritual support.

Another facility has residents strongly grounded in a religious tradition, yet still seeking community-building opportunities and creative arts gatherings to reduce seniors’ sense of isolation. A third has robust activity programming already in place and would benefit most from additional one-on-one spiritual care, allowing facility staff to continue focusing on the programs they provide so well.

ECS Chaplain Abigail Webb

As ECS continues to grow in its chaplaincy services for seniors, the chaplain team is also growing.

ECS wishes to offer a warm welcome to Chaplain Abigail Webb, who will help to provide spiritual care for residents at both Union Gardens in Ogden and St. Mark’s Terrace in Brigham City.