Spirituality
Linking services and the religious community
One practical way to link religious communities and the health care system is through a parish nurse. Parish nursing is growing in the United States. A parish nurse is a registered nurse who is also a member of a church congregation. The parish nurse is a paid health educator, medical interpreter and, especially "mobilizer and trainer of volunteers in the congregation who ultimately do much of the actual work."
Another practical way to make linkages between services for older adults and the religious community is to increase use of service delivery options such as Consumer-directed Services. The federal government — through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services — has approved Texas' plan to allow the state to use vouchers to obtain needed home and community-based services in various community-based long-term care programs, including Community-based Alternatives, STAR+PLUS, Community Living Assistance and Support Services, Deaf/Blind Waiver, and Consumer-Managed Personal Assistant Services programs.
Called Consumer-directed Services, the plan will give individuals an alternative to receiving services via state-contracted provider agencies. Participants will be allowed to employ their own attendants and have some flexibility in setting wage rates. Church members are a logical source for finding attendants.
Updated: November 2, 2007
