This is the required training for the Summer 2025 Lay Ministry Program at Mountain Vista. Applications due by June 12th. Program runs from mid-June to mid-September with an option to extend after that based on satisfactory completion of volunteer requirements. We do hope you’ll love it here and stay!
Please note, the following are required for all volunteers: TB test (provided), background check (provided); proof of flu vaccines or willingness to wear a mask at all times from October to May.
Training Agenda
Spiritual Grounding & Ice-Breaker
General Orientation to Facility
Safety and resident health
Resident rights and confidentiality
Building and resident safety procedures
Orientation to the campus and services
What Is Lay Ministry in Senior Living?
The ministry of presence: being with, not fixing.
Offering comfort through listening, not advice.
The gift of companionship—especially for those who feel invisible or forgotten.
The sacredness of everyday moments: laughter, silence, tears, prayers, touch.
How elders are our spiritual teachers—be open to what they offer you.
Understanding Aging & Memory Loss
Differences between independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing, and memory care.
What to expect with dementia or Alzheimer’s: wandering conversations, emotional outbursts, forgotten names.
How to be a calm, non-reactive, supportive presence.
When to report something to staff (e.g., confusion, falls, signs of distress).
Understanding physical frailty: respecting boundaries, honoring pace, and preserving dignity.
How to Prepare for a Visit
Ground yourself with prayer or intention.
Ask: “What does this elder need most from me today—my attention, my silence, my prayer, my curiosity?”
Review notes from last visit (if applicable).
Be open to joy as well as sorrow.
Bring your whole heart.
Avoid proselytizing or discussing controversial topics unless invited.
Practicing Presence: Mini Role-Play and Debrief
One as volunteer, one as elder.
Practice active listening, gentle conversation, respectful touch (hand-holding if appropriate), and prayer or blessing.
Q&A, Discernment, and Sending Forth