Press Release

Masonicare Health Center Seeks Volunteers for Geriatric Lay Ministry Program - 2/9/2009

Wallingford, CT, February 9, 2008..... Aging, with its many challenges, is often a time when spiritual resources and emotional support are vital to the elderly and their families.   Unfortunately, there simply aren't enough people trained to provide the pastoral care and spiritual resources vital to an elderly person's well being.  

Masonicare and its affiliate, Masonicare Health Center in Wallingford, are meeting that need by offering the "Lay Training in Geriatric Ministry" program.  Open to people of all faiths, the program has been teaching basic ministry skills to volunteers from the community for more than 15 years.

Masonicare's award-winning program was conceived and designed by The Rev. Anne Baltzell, Masonicare's Director of Spiritual Services.  Trained in pastoral supervision, Chaplain Baltzell draws from her background in education as well as experience gained from her many years with the organization.

Participants in the 8-week training program, which will begin in the spring, will attend 2 ½ hour sessions at Masonicare Health Center.  Topics covered will include "Introduction and Orientation to our Facility," "The Pastoral Care Visit," "Dealing with Issues of Loss," and "Ethical Issues in a Nursing Home Setting."  Continuing education and support sessions will be offered monthly following training.

 After completing the course, participants are expected to make a one-year commitment to provide approximately four hours of pastoral ministry at Masonicare Health Center each week.  In addition to making a difference in the lives of residents, volunteers will learn skills that will enable them to minister effectively to older members of their own families, church, and the community as well.

If you have interest in participating in the Lay Training in Geriatric Ministry Program at Masonicare Health Center, please call Chaplain Anne Baltzell at 203-679-6257 or email abaltzell@masonicare.org.  For information about Masonicare and Masonicare Health Center, or to obtain directions, visit Masonicare's web site at http://www.masonicare.org/ or call the Masonicare HelpLine at 1-888-679-9997.

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Penny O'Neill
Public Relations Manager
Masonicare
203-679-5041
poneill@masonicare.org
www.masonicare.org

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