Mary Lang found this very interesting article from the NYTimes .
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/09/health/09sisters.html?_r=1&emc=eta1
Mary's comment is that; "It seems like a model of what Shambhalian Aging could look like, particularly end of life. The quote about bringing "discernment" to the process seems particularly apt".
The article is the second in a series; see the link below for the overview.
http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/
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Thank you for alerting us to this great series of articles. I especially liked the article entitled "Sisters Face Death With Dignity and Reverence" which is referenced in the first article. I agree with Mary's comment! Perhaps it is worth a visit to the Rochester area to see the facility at some point in our Shambhala planning process. One paragraph stands out for me in this article: ". . . the Sisters of St. Joseph, a congregation in this Rochester suburb, animate many factors that studies say contribute to successful aging and a gentle death — none of which require this special setting. These include a large social network, intellectual stimulation, continued engagement in life and spiritual beliefs, as well as health care guided by the less-is-more principles of palliative and hospice care — trends that are moving from the fringes to the mainstream." Very hopeful!
ReplyDeleteAnother approach that's worth looking at is the Fellowship Community, a Rudolf Steiner anthroposophic community. Their website is http://www.fellowshipcommunity.org/index.php. From their website: "The Fellowship Community, founded in 1966, is a community of all ages, centered around the care of the elderly. About 150 elderly, children and coworkers live in a rural setting of farm, woods and orchards about 30 miles north-west of New York City. Working and learning together in service to others and in caring for the earth is the central motif of the community life. Those who are interested in a path of self-development in the process of building and maintaining community might find this a place of interest."