Improving quality of life through spiritual wellness at Patriots Colony
Travis Greenman describes her role as Chaplain at Patriots Colony as spiritual wellness. Unlike being a pastor with a set congregation, her role at Patriots Colony needs to address many different faith traditions and provide support and guidance across a continuum of care settings.
“It’s not my job to teach them my faith,” Travis explains. “I’m here to help them draw strength from the faith traditions that are familiar to them.”
That may include a holy communion service for patients and residents of the memory center or convalescent center, a bible study to assisted living residents, or a weekly vespers service to independent living residents. Travis routinely visits people in the hospital and helps coordinate support from their local faith community or pastor. She also delivers a welcome package with a Patriots Colony Home Blessing to each new resident.
“I try to provide guidance through life transitions, which involves some reflective work with our residents,” she adds.
For seven years, Travis has worked with the residents of Patriots Colony, bringing programs and support groups to help address spiritual needs. Her “other duties as assigned” vary. She often finds herself moving between topics like end-of-life planning to support programs for residents with dementia and the people who care for them or residents with low vision.
“So often, our residents will withdraw when they are struggling with care-giving or low vision,” Travis says. “We know that we can help make the quality of life so much better.”
Support programs like the Low Vision Support Group and Dementia Education Support Group aim to provide education and resources for those who might be suffering. Travis also sees these programs as a way to build awareness, support and empathy throughout the community. Travis works to develop community-wide events and opportunities to bring everyone together in ways that honor everyone’s beliefs. She hosts an annual blessing of the animals, lessons and carols program around the holidays, an Ash Wednesday service and even a rosary prayer group.
“There is always so much more to do,” Travis adds. So much so that she often found herself working well into the night. Travis enlisted the help of chaplain volunteer Carol Feltman several years ago. Carol is a resident at Patriots Colony who keeps herself busy supporting Travis in several ways.
“Carol is amazing,” Travis says. “She does so much for me and our residents – from filing and minutes to special projects like our Good Neighbor directory for assisted living residents and our upcoming remembrance event to honor the 29 people that we lost during COVID but were unable to celebrate during that time.”
Travis routinely organizes memorial services and remembrances for residents. Families are often involved and touched by hearing how much their loved one meant to their community. When COVID prevented gatherings, Travis was limited in celebrating and honoring those residents that passed. There are plans underway for a remembrance service. With a committee of gifted residents, Travis and Carol are organizing a two-day event in the Liberty Lounge in September for families and residents to pay tribute. Each celebrant will have a framed photo and memory book for residents to write comments in and sign. Families will receive the memory book as a gift and a reminder of what their loved one meant to friends and neighbors at Patriots Colony.
Travis and her team may be small, but their impact is considerable. Carol summed it up nicely, “She does things that matter.”
“It’s not my job to teach them my faith,” Travis explains. “I’m here to help them draw strength from the faith traditions that are familiar to them.”
That may include a holy communion service for patients and residents of the memory center or convalescent center, a bible study to assisted living residents, or a weekly vespers service to independent living residents. Travis routinely visits people in the hospital and helps coordinate support from their local faith community or pastor. She also delivers a welcome package with a Patriots Colony Home Blessing to each new resident.
“I try to provide guidance through life transitions, which involves some reflective work with our residents,” she adds.
For seven years, Travis has worked with the residents of Patriots Colony, bringing programs and support groups to help address spiritual needs. Her “other duties as assigned” vary. She often finds herself moving between topics like end-of-life planning to support programs for residents with dementia and the people who care for them or residents with low vision.
“So often, our residents will withdraw when they are struggling with care-giving or low vision,” Travis says. “We know that we can help make the quality of life so much better.”
Support programs like the Low Vision Support Group and Dementia Education Support Group aim to provide education and resources for those who might be suffering. Travis also sees these programs as a way to build awareness, support and empathy throughout the community. Travis works to develop community-wide events and opportunities to bring everyone together in ways that honor everyone’s beliefs. She hosts an annual blessing of the animals, lessons and carols program around the holidays, an Ash Wednesday service and even a rosary prayer group.
“There is always so much more to do,” Travis adds. So much so that she often found herself working well into the night. Travis enlisted the help of chaplain volunteer Carol Feltman several years ago. Carol is a resident at Patriots Colony who keeps herself busy supporting Travis in several ways.
“Carol is amazing,” Travis says. “She does so much for me and our residents – from filing and minutes to special projects like our Good Neighbor directory for assisted living residents and our upcoming remembrance event to honor the 29 people that we lost during COVID but were unable to celebrate during that time.”
Travis routinely organizes memorial services and remembrances for residents. Families are often involved and touched by hearing how much their loved one meant to their community. When COVID prevented gatherings, Travis was limited in celebrating and honoring those residents that passed. There are plans underway for a remembrance service. With a committee of gifted residents, Travis and Carol are organizing a two-day event in the Liberty Lounge in September for families and residents to pay tribute. Each celebrant will have a framed photo and memory book for residents to write comments in and sign. Families will receive the memory book as a gift and a reminder of what their loved one meant to friends and neighbors at Patriots Colony.
Travis and her team may be small, but their impact is considerable. Carol summed it up nicely, “She does things that matter.”
