“When residents know that someone cares about their thoughts and feelings and creates opportunities to help their spirits soar, they begin to participate in activities with others and find a web of care and support. They want to both give and receive light and love,” says Lora Beth R., spiritual care director at The Residence at Timber Pines, located in Spring Hill, FL, a senior living community managed by The Goodman Group.

Many residents enter a senior living and health care community feeling like something is missing from their lives. Soaring^® is The Goodman Group’s unique approach to spiritual care. Watch the video below to see how this program has improved the lives of many residents with the help of spiritual care directors like Ria R. at Terracina Grand in Naples, FL, located on the Terracina Senior Living campus and managed by The Goodman Group.

It Starts with a Spiritual Assessment

“Soaring's core mission is to engage the spiritual and emotional needs of residents with empathy and love to empower them to live a more meaningful and satisfying life,” shares Shawn L., spiritual care director at The Commons at Marice, a senior living community managed by The Goodman Group, located in Eagan, MN.

The spiritual assessment is a private, one-on-one meeting with a resident spiritual care director. The directors ask questions related to peace, purpose and issues of forgiveness. “I begin with building trust so the resident will share their deepest struggles honestly. Usually, that comes from attentively listening to their story with empathy. Once a resident knows that I’m sincerely there to help, the focus moves to knowing who the person is and their perspective on life,” says Shawn.

For residents, the opportunity to talk about and reflect on their lives, including difficult moments they may have never addressed before, can be deeply healing.

“A lot of our residents have lost so much. They’re isolated, they feel alone. And we talk about it,” says Ria.

But spirituality doesn’t mean the same thing to every resident. Ria, and other spiritual care directors, try to find a personalized track for each resident based on their needs. “The spirituality component encompasses so much more than just religion. Spirituality for some people might be the beauty of nature. For others, it might be the love of music or the love of helping others. It’s an individual plan for each person.”

Lora Beth describes, “When residents know that someone cares about their thoughts and feelings and creates opportunities to help their spirits soar, they begin to participate in activities with others and find a community of care and support. They want to both give and receive light and love.”

By focusing on what each resident needs, spiritual care directors can create a plan that will best help their residents.

People who attend religious services and engage in spiritual practices tend to enjoy better health, live longer and recover from illness faster and with fewer complications. For seniors, spiritual wellness gives them a sense of purpose and belonging that becomes especially meaningful during times of transition.

“I often see residents develop deeper connections with others and offer spiritual care themselves in the community. It is beautiful! They learn about themselves and what feeds their spirits,” reflects Lora Beth.

Then, We Build a Community

“I do not need to be alone in this community. It’s not just a lonely house that I left. I have a community, I have friends,” claims Blanca M., a resident and Soaring beneficiary.

One of the most important aspects of the Soaring program is to get residents involved in a loving community. Living in a community managed by The Goodman Group means regular activities, social events and ongoing meetings with a spiritual care director, if desired.

And forging that community bond works, according to Lora Beth. “Both in individual visits and programs, residents see that they are not alone. That can make a huge difference in their sense of belonging. The non-judgmental approach to their spirituality gives them the freedom to be their best self and experience the fact that everything and everyone is okay here.”

Soaring has grown to become an integral part of life enrichment programming across communities managed by The Goodman Group. Spiritual wellness connects to other community programs and activities that help residents find meaning and joy in their daily lives.

Soaring Makes a New Beginning Possible

“The people here have really instilled so much love and friendship. They have made our lives so much better since we came here than what I had before,” explains Tommy D., a senior living resident.

Spiritual health offers real benefits that enhance the quality of life for seniors. Older adults with strong spiritual engagement experience greater life satisfaction, a deeper sense of meaning and purpose, and healthier social relationships. Whether through traditional religious practices or broader spiritual connections like nature, music or helping others, residents find their own path to wellness.

“When residents engage in the Soaring process, they experience a new community that becomes home. A renewed connection with God and life within a community brings satisfaction. Their countenance turns less anxious and more engaged,” shares Shawn.

By working with the Soaring program, residents who had previously been suffering from isolation, lack of purpose or other spiritual needs have started to blossom. Blanca says, “Let’s put it this way: I’m beginning my life again.”

What makes Soaring so powerful is how it addresses the whole person, not just physical needs. By recognizing that spiritual health matters just as much as physical health, communities managed by The Goodman Group create environments where residents find renewed purpose. If that’s through one-on-one meetings with spiritual care directors, community programs that foster connection or simply feeling heard and valued, residents find their way back to joy.

Ria encapsulates Soaring with one statement: “We’re conquering loneliness. Before you know it, they’re looking back and saying, ‘That was a bad period of my life, but I’m now through it, and I’m out in the community now, soaring.’”