1. The Church as a Center of Positive Living for 50+ People
Creating Sustainable Environments for Healthy Aging
Faith and Public Health: Leading Together to Find Solutions!
James H. Dotson, Jr., Ph.D.

2. OUTLINE Overview A Framework: Social Ecological Model
Ministry to AA/B 50+ People

3. Harnessing Our Culture of Faith to Improve Quality of Life
overview
Harnessing Our Culture of Faith to Improve Quality of Life

4. OVERVIEW Persons 50+ in the U.S. are significant and increasing:
AA/B 50+ in 2015 = 11,509,145 (10.4% of all 50+)
AA/B 50+ in 2020 = ~12,784,976 (10.7% of all 50+)
Religious activities and charitable giving are the top social activities in which AA/B 50+ people are involved:
At least 3 in 4 report being very or somewhat involved in these social activities, and
80% are currently involved in religious or spiritual activities.

5. OVERVIEW
God, faith, spirituality, and faith-based activities are central in the lives of this segment of our population.
Communities of faith are thus ideally positioned to:
Harness this culture of faith that lives in the AA/B community, and
Channel it toward to improving quality of life for AA/B 50+ people.

6. A framework: Social ecological model
An Integrated Approach to Improving Quality of Life

7. DESCRIPTION
The social ecological model describes the dynamic interrelations among various personal and environmental factors that influence us.
There are four levels of factors:
Individual
Relationship
Community
Societal

8. The Model

9. FACTORS INFLUENCING QUALITY OF LIFE
Level
Description
Individual
Individual Biology (including genetics)
Personal Characteristics (e.g., age, SES, personal history)
Beliefs, Values, KAB (Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors)
Relationship
Person’s Social Circle / Interpersonal Relationships
Family Members, Partners, Friends, Peers, etc.
Community
Settings in which people have social relationships
Where we live, work, study, play, worship, etc.
Societal/
Structural
Cultural and Social Norms
Government/Political Environment (e.g., laws, policies, etc.)
Geography/Physical Environment

10. KEY POINTS Factors may be positive or negative.
Influence on quality of life (QOL) is typically interactive:
rarely influenced by a single factor, but rather
multiple factors interact across all four levels.
Synergy of effort is essential as we work to improve QOL:
Attention to all four levels is typically required to achieve and support long-term QOL improvements.
Partnerships are key in this approach.

11. EXAMPLE: MINISTRY FOR CAREGIVERS
Level
Description
Individual
Educate individuals on how to prepare for caregiving and manage their caregiving responsibilities.
Relationship
Start a Caregivers Support Group or Care Buddies Ministry where Caregivers may receive support from others.
Community
Create and maintain an accessible environment at your house of worship to accommodate persons with physical and mental disabilities.
Societal/
Structural
Advocate for the passage of the Recognize, Assist, Include, Support and Engage (RAISE) Family Caregivers Act, a bill calling for a strategy to support family caregivers.
RAISE Family Caregivers Act The strategy would identify recommended actions that communities, providers, government, and others are taking and may take to recognize and support family caregivers, including with respect to:
promoting greater adoption of person- and family-centered care in all health and LTSS settings, with the person and the family caregiver (as appropriate) at the center of care teams
assessment and service planning (including care transitions and coordination) involving care recipients and family caregivers
information, education, training supports, referral, and care coordination
respite options
financial security and workplace issues
The bill would improve the collection and sharing of information, including information related to evidence-based or promising practices and innovative models regarding family caregiving; better coordinate, assess, maximize the effectiveness, and avoid unnecessary duplication of existing federal government activities to recognize and support family caregivers. The strategy and work around it could help support and inform state and local efforts to support family caregivers.

12. ministry to aa/b 50+ people
The Church As An Agent to Equip and Empower People to Live Their Best Lives

13. WHY?
Our vision is to see an ever increasing number of faith-based organizations effectively serving the needs and interests of AA/B 50+ people.
We recently released the African American/Black Faith-Based Initiative Tool Kit as one resource to help realize this vision:
Online, self-service resource to
Organize and sustain ministry for AA/B 50+ people.

14. Serving the AA/B 50+ Population

15. WHAT? Introduction Complete overview of the tool kit, including
How best to use this resource.
Section One—Key Learnings provides the foundation:
Chapter 1—African Americans/Blacks 50+ in the U.S.
Chapter 2—Building a Ministry for African Americans/Blacks 50+
Chapter 3—Reinventing What It Means to Age

16. WHAT? Section Two: Your Health Chapter 4—Healthy Living
Chapter 5—Caregiving
Chapter 6—Medicare & Medicaid
Section Three:
Your Wealth
Chapter 7—Savings and Planning
Chapter 8—Social Security
Chapter 9—Work and Jobs
Section Four:
Your Life
Chapter 10—Inclusion and Positive Self-Image
Chapter 11—Life Transitions
Chapter 12—Digital Literacy

17. WHO? Intended for faith-based organizations that currently:
Do NOT have comprehensive programs and activities in place for AA/B 50+, and are committed to organizing such a ministry.
DO have comprehensive programs, and want to enhance or expand their ministry.
The tool kit may be used by any faith-based organization serving AA/B 50+ people.

18. WHERE?
May be used wherever the faith-based organization delivers services, programs and activities, including:
Houses of Worship,
Other locations within the community (e.g., prison ministry), and
Venues in partnership with other organizations.

19. WHEN? Any faith-based organization may begin using the tool kit now.
The tool kit may be viewed and downloaded at:
This is a free resource.

20. HOW? Use the tool kit as a handbook or reference, not as a novel.
Start by reading the Introduction and Section One—Key Learnings.
Then, select from Section Two, Three or Four the one chapter that aligns best with your top priority interest/need.
Start your ministry focusing on this one area, following the guidelines and instructions included in the tool kit.
Once you achieve success in this one area, progressively add other areas as time and resources (e.g., budget) permit.

21. FOR MORE INFORMATIONM Visit: www.aarp.org/ministryresources
Call the AARP Contact Center:
+1 (866)
Contact James Dotson: