At Calling we provide for our residents to “age in the context of community”. Here the physical environment and supports are adapted for seniors to continue to stay in the Calling community across a spectrum of physical, social, and spiritual needs. Being in community provides social interaction and a place to be loved, and to serve and love others, at various levels of need.
In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35.
Our mission is furthered by our Housing + Services model that goes beyond merely “alleviating the effects of ageing” to seeing seniors as valued, skilled, able, experienced, and wise contributors to community that have much to give and contribute, and thus thrive in the process.
“Seniors across the province tell me that they want to be valued and understood as still contributing members of society”. Seniors Advocate British Columbia.
“A few conclusions become clear when we understand this: that our most cruel failure in how we treat the sick and the aged is the failure to recognize that they have priorities beyond merely being safe and living longer; that the chance to shape one’s story is essential to sustaining meaning in life; that we have the opportunity to refashion our institutions, our culture, and our conversations in ways that transform the possibilities for the last chapters of everyone’s lives.” Dr. Atul Gawande, Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End.
Being of good cheer, and enjoyment of life is the sweetener to ageing well. What we eat, enjoying physical activity, engaging the mind, creating, connecting with our Creator, caring for others, and laughter can all pick up our spirits, and sustain us even in the midst of difficulties. We provide for our residents the opportunity for enjoyment, sustenance, and growth in these ways.
And I commend joy, for man has no good thing under the sun but to eat and drink and be joyful, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life that God has given him under the sun. Ecc. 8:15
A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Prov.:17:22
At Calling, we seek to our senior residents through:
- Encouragement: Stimulating growth, giving, and sharing
- Enablement: Providing adaptable housing, support, and activities
- Empathy: Listening and caring
- Enjoyment: Fostering joy and appreciation of each other