Faith plays an influential role in the life of many of America’s older adults. Recent research shows that two-thirds of Americans identify as Christians and more than half of those attend religious services more than once a month, according to the Pew Research Center. Christian assisted living communities offer a space for older adults to receive the personal care support they need in a community atmosphere without sacrificing their religious and spiritual needs.
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Christian assisted living typically focuses on Christian values and spiritual support in addition to supporting your loved one with personal care and activities of daily living. These communities offer a place for residents to experience fellowship, participate in religious activities, build a Christian social network, and receive faith-based care.
It’s common for Christian assisted living communities to have any or all of the following to promote spiritual wellness among residents:
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Christian assisted living communities offer very similar care services as those offered in secular assisted living communities. However, Christian assisted living communities place a special emphasis on spiritual wellness and activities.
Unlike standard assisted living communities, which tend to be for-profit, religious assisted living communities are commonly operated as nonprofits or not-for-profits.
Leaders of Christian assisted living communities can be a combination of medical professionals, health experts, senior living professionals, and Christian clergy members. Some communities, especially nonprofits, typically have a board of directors acting as their community leadership.
These individuals guide the path of the religious assisted living community over time with short- and long-term planning, financial oversight activities, and mission and vision statements. They may craft faith-based directives for staff to follow in their daily operations within the community.
For example, staff may be expected to care with grace and acknowledge God’s abundance as they assist residents each day. However, it should be noted that caregivers and staff may not necessarily be of the specific faith of the community. Activities, clubs, and worship services may be geared to follow the beliefs and values of the Christian faith in general or a specific denomination.
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While very limited information exists on the average cost of Christian communities, the median cost of assisted living in general was $4,500 a month as of 2021, according to the Genworth Cost of Care Survey.[01] There may be public and private assisted living payment options available to your loved one.
If your loved one has attended a nondenominational Christian church for most of their life, they may feel most comfortable in a nondenominational community that has values similar to their own.
While some communities are sponsored by or affiliated with a specific denomination, don’t assume that these communities are geared around that specific denomination. For example, St. Mary’s Woods in Richmond, Virginia, operates as a nondenominational senior living community, but it’s sponsored by the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, a part of the larger Catholic Church.
However, many communities do cater to specific denominations. It may be easier for your loved one to zipper into a new community that mimics their home church atmosphere and reflects their long-held belief system.
You can find assisted living communities affiliated with the following Christian denominations:
The above list is not exhaustive. Other Christian denominations may have assisted living available in your local area. If there’s not an assisted living community for your specific denomination, you may be able to find secular assisted living communities near your place of worship or have your clergy member visit you in a secular community.
In addition to specific denominations, there are Christian assisted living communities that focus solely on Protestant values, beliefs, and spiritual activities common to Protestant denominations, such as Baptist, Presbyterian, and Lutheran.
Protestant-focused communities are different from nondenominational communities because Protestant communities follow values and views aligned with Protestant denominations only. Beliefs and values attributed solely to Catholicism will likely not be present in a Protestant assisted living community.
Read more:6 Reasons Why Visiting Elderly Parents is Important After a Move to a Senior Living Community
No, they don’t. There’s no requirement that someone must be baptized or otherwise recognized as a member of the Christian faith to live in Christian assisted living.
Many communities state openly on their websites or brochures that services are provided to residents regardless of their religion. This is in alignment with The Fair Housing Act, which is a federal law that prohibits discrimination in the sale or rental of dwellings on the basis of multiple factors, including religion.[02]
If your loved one is unhappy in secular assisted living, they may feel more comfortable in a community that’s connected to or aligned with their faith community and Christian beliefs. Ask your loved one about their religious beliefs to learn more about what they are looking for in a Christian assisted living community.
When you’re touring communities, it’s best to ask about the religious life at each community, as the spiritual activities and values alignment within even a specific denomination may vary greatly.
As you support your loved one in their next phase of life, you can find Christian assisted living in your area by speaking to your loved one’s church or by connecting with the Senior Living Advisors at A Place for Mom. With access to a large, diverse network of communities, the Senior Living Advisors can ease the search for senior living by helping you find and set up tours of communities that meet your loved one’s unique spiritual needs.
Key Takeaways
Genworth. (2021). Cost of Care Survey.
U.S. Department of Justice. (2022, May 31). The fair housing act.
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