The Impact of Spiritual Care: Helping People Find Peace and Purpose
The Impact of Spiritual Care: Helping People Find Peace and Purpose
For Michael Hedges, spiritual care is about meeting people where they are, helping families find peace, and making sure no one faces life’s most difficult moments alone.
By Melody Royse | October 21, 2026
SHOREVIEW, MN (October 21, 2026) — During Spiritual Care Week, October 18–24, we celebrate Michael and spiritual counselors across Ecumen who bring comfort and connection to people during life’s most challenging moments.
For 10 years, Michael has been a spiritual counselor at Ecumen, drawing on his 15 years of experience as a chaplain. He meets with patients and their families, leads services and hosts a grief support group twice a month. But perhaps his most important work happens in quieter moments: listening to a person’s life story, helping a family prepare to say goodbye or simply sharing a cup of coffee with someone who is grieving.
“I just fell in love with helping people one-on-one,” Michael says. “I think there’s a heavy taboo in being able to talk about death and dying. But at that point in life, many people feel a sense of release.”
While death can be difficult to discuss, Michael has learned that many people nearing the end of life have made peace with it.
“Many of the people I visit are ready. They’ve lived a good life and their friends are gone. Knowing that they can die well is a good way to say goodbye to this life.”
Spiritual care looks different for everyone. For some, it means prayer, Scripture or communion. Others may want to reflect on their lives, talk through their fears or reconnect with a faith community. Michael serves people of all religions and helps each person find the support that feels right for them.
“Dying is a spiritual process. It doesn’t mean it’s a religious one, but it’s a spiritual one,” he says.
His work extends beyond the patient to the people who love them. Sometimes, families need help accepting that a loved one is ready to die, even when they aren’t ready to let go. Michael helps them work through those feelings and find meaningful ways to preserve their loved one’s memories.
One way is through a legacy book, which gives a person the opportunity to share stories, experiences and wisdom with family members. These books become a lasting connection between generations, helping loved ones remember not only how someone died, but how they lived.
Spiritual care complements the physical and emotional support patients receive. Together, these forms of care help people work through questions about their future, their families and what gives their lives meaning. Spiritual care meets those deeper needs, offering comfort and support in ways that feel right for each person.
Michael knows that support doesn’t end when a patient’s life does. After a patient passes away, he makes condolence calls to family members. A few months ago, he reached out to a husband whose wife had died. Although the man seemed to be coping, Michael sensed he might benefit from a little more support.
Michael visited the man, and they shared a cup of coffee and talked. Later, the husband sent Michael a message to let him know he was doing well. For Michael, that follow-up was meaningful. Taking the time to sit together had helped the man find a sense of closure.
These moments are a reminder that spiritual care is not always about having the right words or answers. Sometimes, it’s about recognizing when someone needs support and being willing to show up.
Donor generosity helps make this work possible. Gifts can provide resources, such as legacy books and communion supplies, and help spiritual counselors offer personalized care that honors each person’s beliefs and traditions. Donor support can also fund continuing education, helping team members deepen their understanding of different faiths and cultures.
A serious illness, a health crisis or another unexpected change can leave people searching for purpose and reassurance. Your generosity helps ensure that, in those moments, people have someone to turn to.
This Spiritual Care Week, you can honor a spiritual counselor who has made a difference in your life, remember a loved one, or make a gift to help more people experience the comfort of spiritual care. Your support ensures that patients, families and team members receive the compassion and understanding they need, when they need it most.
About Ecumen
Ecumen is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing innovative housing, health care and community-based services that support older adults and strengthen communities. Mission-driven since its founding in 1862, Ecumen’s legacy of service reflects a commitment to honoring those it serves. Ecumen is based in Shoreview, Minn., and provides housing options such as independent living, assisted living, memory care, short-term rehabilitation and long-term care. Its diverse in-home and community-based services include home care, hospice, physical and occupational therapy, and adult day services. For more information, visit www.ecumen.org.
The Connection Between Purpose and Longevity – What the Research Shows
The Connection Between Purpose and Longevity
— What the Research Shows
By Ecumen | April 30, 2026
SHOREVIEW, MN (April 30, 2026) — If you spent your breakfast wondering how to add a few more high-quality years to your life, you might want to put down the kale smoothie for a moment and pick up a volunteer sign-up sheet! And there’s no better time to start. April is National Volunteer Month, a time dedicated to celebrating service and encouraging more people to get involved in their communities.
We often focus on gym routines, supplements, and the latest wellness trends when it comes to longevity. Research, however, points to something just as powerful – a sense of purpose. Feeling that your life has direction and meaning can play a role in how long and how well you live. For many people, volunteering offers a natural, fulfilling way to build a sense of purpose.
There’s something energizing about waking up with a reason to get out of bed. You might mentor a student, serve meals at a local shelter, or help a neighbor through a tough week. That sense of purpose doesn’t just lift your mood in the moment; it may also support your long-term health and longevity.
Let’s take a closer look at what science says and why purpose may be one of the most underrated drivers of longevity.
Why Purpose Matters More Than You Think
Purpose does more than just make you feel good; it can influence your biology. Purpose gives structure to your days. It shapes your decisions, strengthens your relationships, and helps you navigate stress.
Researchers have found that people with a strong sense of purpose tend to experience better mental and physical health outcomes. A landmark study published by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health followed nearly 7,000 adults ages 50 and older. The team discovered that volunteering and other acts of kindness support both emotional well-being and long-term health, partly because they reduce loneliness and stress, which are two major risk factors for disease and early death.
Social connection also plays a huge role. Strong relationships and meaningful interactions lower the risk of conditions such as heart disease, depression, and even dementia. On the flip side, social isolation can increase the risk of premature death by up to 29%.
Purpose, in other words, connects you to people, to community, and to something bigger than yourself.
Research on Volunteering and Longevity
Volunteering sits right at the intersection of purpose and connection. The Mayo Clinic reports that volunteering offers three primary health benefits:
- Physical Activity: Many volunteer roles keep you moving, stretching, and walking.
- Social Connection: Regular interaction with a community builds a protective social buffer.
- The Helper’s High: Helping others releases dopamine, reducing stress and increasing feelings of relaxation.
Finding Your Purpose Through Volunteering
If you’re curious about getting involved, start small and choose something that feels meaningful to you.
Ask yourself:
- Which causes matter most to me?
- Do I enjoy working with people, animals, or the environment?
- How much time can I realistically commit each week?
You don’t need a packed schedule to make an impact. Even a few hours a month can create connection, build purpose, and improve how you feel day to day.
Ecumen offers a wide range of volunteer opportunities, making it easy to find a role that fits your interests and schedule.
- Being a friendly visitor and providing companionship
- Calling Bingo or helping with puzzles and board games
- Leading or assisting with spiritual services or Bible studies
- Lending your green thumb skills to care for indoor and outdoor plants
- Providing unstructured pet therapy visits for residents
- Sharing a musical talent through a performance or leading sing-alongs
- Sharing an artistic talent by leading an art activity
- Sharing your special talent or passion with our residents—feel free to give us a call to discuss your activity ideas!
Find purpose in sharing your time and talents through volunteering. You’ll feel good, make a lasting impact on others, and maybe even improve your health!
Looking for a meaningful way to give back? Volunteering with Ecumen is an opportunity to share your gifts, build relationships, and be part of something greater.
Take the next step—explore volunteer opportunities today.
A Special Volunteer’s Gift of Connection — Bella's Story
A Special Volunteer’s Gift of Connection
— Bella's Story
By Melody Royse | April 20, 2026
SHOREVIEW, MN (April 20, 2026) — On Monday mornings, something special happens at Ecumen St. Benedict’s Community in St. Cloud. The doors open, paws hit the floor, and a ripple of smiles follows. Amie arrives with her therapy dog, Bella, generously giving their time to brighten residents’ day.
In the spirit of National Volunteer Week, April 19 to April 25, Ecumen celebrates volunteers like Amie and Bella who put their generosity into action and bring heart to our communities for three years.
To residents living at St. Benedict’s, Bella is a familiar friend, a source of comfort, and a moment of pure joy. Bella knows the routine when she arrives. She joyfully bursts inside and runs to friends awaiting her visit. “She has people that she sees on a regular basis,” Amie shares, “She just loves being here. It’s fun to walk down the hall and everybody knows who she is and everybody says, ‘Bella’s here!’”
For residents who cherish the joy of a pet, having one of their own is not always possible. Bella’s visits help fill that space with warmth and companionship. “For Bella to visit and fill that void of not having a pet, even if it’s just her coming into the room and saying hi, can make a day better.”
Amie understands the science behind it. “The companionship that a pet brings can have psychological benefits,” she says. The calming presence of animals is known to reduce stress and anxiety and bring about feelings of greater emotional well-being. This is another way that Ecumen, through the dedication of service and therapy animals, provides holistic and integrative care to address all residents’ needs.
One moment in particular stays with Amie and the care team. A resident who once eagerly awaited Bella’s visits began to decline and withdraw. On one visit, Amie gently asked if she wanted to see Bella. She opened her eyes and started laughing, stunning team members! This resident hadn’t shown so much emotion in a very long time, but that brief moment with Bella brought laughter, touch, and connection back into the room. “It’s just amazing to have that impact.”
For Amie, volunteering is not an obligation, it is a gift she protects fiercely. “I always say Mondays are my day for therapy. I’m not giving up Mondays.” Bella naturally leans into the role, seeming to know exactly who needs her companionship the most.
Amie is continually moved by the residents’ warmth. “The residents are so gracious and they’re so welcoming and they want to know how your day is going.” And as she puts it, “The joy of coming here to volunteer is unbelievable…You get way more than you give.”
Thanks to generous volunteers, moments like these are possible. You create spaces of connection and joy, sometimes arriving on four legs with a wagging tail!