How Faith Influences Life in Independent Living at Santa Marta

For many seniors, the pursuit of total wellness includes caring for the mind, body AND spirit. That’s why many older adults seek faith-based senior living communities. If finding an independent living community that supports your spiritual wellness is important to you, here are some of the benefits of choosing a faith-based senior living community like Santa Marta.

What Are Faith-Based Retirement Communities?

Many faith-based communities are sponsored by religious organizations. For example, Santa Marta is a nonprofit Life Care senior living community sponsored by the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. Being a nonprofit allows communities like ours to reinvest our profits into providing services and amenities residents want, rather than distributing them to shareholders or investors.

Additionally, under the Fair Housing Act, communities are not allowed to discriminate based on  religion. In general, faith-based communities are very supportive and accepting of all people, regardless of their religious affiliation. They often promote communal values such as supportiveness, familiarity with different cultures, and a sense of social belonging in group prayer, worship services, or spiritual practices.

The Benefits Faith-Based Senior Living

If you’re a religious or spiritual person looking to explore your faith in retirement communities,  the primary benefit of choosing a place with religious roots is that you can easily maintain your current practices. Other benefits include:

• Shared values: At a faith-based community like Santa Marta, our faith is a part of every decision, from our mission statement to our plans for daily activities, to our senior care, to the way we connect and interact with residents and each other. We also embrace the beliefs of our residents by providing church and spiritual services, offering Bible studies, and by observing religious holidays.
• Supportive community of friends: Moving to a retirement community can be a big transition that stirs up feelings of sadness, fear, and uncertainty. If you turn to your faith for support during difficult times, a faith-based community can provide a sense of comfort and familiarity. These communities can also be a great option for those who are rediscovering or just discovering their faith.
• Feeling involved: One of the hardest things seniors face when moving to a retirement community is feeling disconnected from familiar surroundings and loved ones. Faith-based communities can help create a feeling of real connection and belonging, which is vital to overall health, a sense of well-being, and fulfillment. These communities offer many social opportunities, including volunteering, worship services, prayer groups, holiday celebrations, and more.
• Being included: Many faith-based communities welcome differing points of view, helping residents and staff learn from one another and share their experiences. Even those who don’t believe in God are welcomed in most faith-based communities, without pressure to change their views. Faith is not seen as a set of rules to follow, but as a way of life that includes compassion for others, connection with community, and a desire to aspire to something greater than ourselves.

Follow Your Path to Santa Marta

To learn more about Santa Marta independent living and our faith-based senior living community in Overland Park, KS, contact one of our helpful senior living counselors.