Empowering Women Religious for Compassionate Elderly Care
From 16 to 21 March 2026, the Conference of Religious Women in India (CRWI), in collaboration with CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, successfully conducted the GRACE – Geriatric Care and Empowerment Programme at St. Andre Home, Sakkalavara, Bangalore. This unique capacity-building initiative brought together women religious from across India to deepen their understanding and strengthen their response to the growing realities of ageing within religious life.
Responding to a Changing Reality
As many religious communities witness an increase in elderly members, the need for structured, compassionate, and professional care has become more urgent than ever. The GRACE programme was thoughtfully designed to address this emerging need by equipping participants with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required for holistic elderly care.
The programme emphasized a vision of care rooted in dignity, empowerment, and person-centred accompaniment, ensuring that elderly sisters are not only cared for but truly valued and understood.
A Diverse and Engaged Participation
A total of 29 Sisters representing 15 congregations and 10 CRI regions participated in the programme. The sessions were led by Dr. Steffi Joice, supported by experienced core and guest resource persons, including experts from the Dementia India Alliance.
The diversity of participants enriched the learning environment, fostering shared experiences and collective wisdom from various parts of the country.
A Holistic and Experiential Learning Approach
The programme adopted a participatory and experiential methodology, making the learning both practical and transformative. Sessions included:
- Expert inputs on geriatric care and ageing
- Group discussions and case studies
- Supervised counselling practice
- Expressive and creative therapeutic interventions
- Guided reflection and sharing
Key themes explored during the programme included:
- Understanding ageing and geriatric perspectives
- Geriatric assessment and elderly counselling
- Dementia care and mental health challenges
- Grief, loss, and suicide prevention
- Caregiver self-care and resilience
- Awareness of abuse and safeguarding
- Models of healthy and meaningful ageing
Safeguarding and Dignity: A Core Focus
A particularly impactful session focused on safeguarding within religious communities. This session highlighted various forms of abuse—emotional, psychological, physical, spiritual, and institutional—especially affecting elderly and vulnerable members.
Mr. Abey Jose, Data and Communications Coordinator of CRWI, facilitated a reflective and awareness-building session that addressed issues of power imbalance, silence, and the urgent need for accountability.
This was further strengthened by inputs from Sr. Molly and Sr. Molly Mathew (Executive Director, MSMHC – CRWI), who provided a comprehensive understanding of the Grievance Redress Cell (GRC)—its purpose, processes, and role in ensuring justice and safeguarding within religious life. Participants gained clarity on reporting mechanisms and the importance of fostering a culture of transparency and responsibility.
Impact and Participant Feedback
The post-programme evaluation revealed a high level of satisfaction and learning impact, with over 90% of participants rating the programme as highly relevant and effective.
Participants reported:
- Increased confidence in caring for elderly sisters
- Improved counselling and accompaniment skills
- Greater awareness of mental health and safeguarding concerns
- Motivation to initiate structured care practices within their communities
Moving Forward
The GRACE programme concluded successfully on 21 March 2026, achieving its core objective of strengthening caregiving capacity among women religious.
Building on this success, the following recommendations emerged:
- Replicating the programme at regional levels
- Developing advanced and specialized modules
- Forming trained geriatric care teams within congregations
A Step Towards a Caring Future
The collaboration between CRWI and CHRIST University ensured both academic depth and contextual relevance, making GRACE a meaningful and impactful initiative.
As religious communities continue to journey with their elderly members, programmes like GRACE stand as a testament to CRWI’s commitment to holistic care, safeguarding, and the dignity of every person.
“To care for the elderly is not merely a duty, but a sacred ministry of love, presence, and respect.”