Mission
The purpose of the Center of Health Ministry Outreach is to educate, train, and support leaders and members of faith communities as they minister to the sick, homebound, and bereaved in a variety of settings.

Demonstrated Need: Common Ground for Local Ministries and Faith Congregations

Health Ministry is a growing need and concern:

• 95% of elders live in their own home or with family members providing virtually all their care

• In California, 80% of all long term care at home is provided by family members

• Caregivers dedicate 20 hours per week to provide care for elders and even more when the older person has multiple disabilities

• One third of all caregivers describe their own health as “fair to poor”

• Caregivers often indicate they are not sure they will out-survive the people they care for.
  (sources: AARP; http://www.aging.gov/ )

The Faith & Health Connection

Impact of prayer and affiliation with faith communities on overall health:

• Regular church attendees were 43% less likely to have been hospitalized during the previous year

• If hospitalized, those who were prayed for and visited by their faith community had shorter stays : (Those non- affiliated spent 25 days in hospitals; affiliated spent 11 days

• Intimate relationship with God was factor most closely correlated with health, longevity, and overall happiness

• Those who pray regularly have higher levels of immune functioning

• Those who perceive that “no one really cares for them” are at 3-5 times greater risk for death and disease from all causes  (Koenig, ’97)

• Praying for the benefit of others increases mental health and well-being

• Optimistic adults have better overall health

• Adults who had a close relationship with God were more optimistic

• Adults who derive a sense of meaning in life from their religion tend to have higher levels of life satisfaction, self-esteem, and optimism