Dr. Jane Marie Thibault

Hear a lively and joyous presentation by eldercare expert and gerontologist Dr. Jane Thibault as she explores issues of acceptance, transformation, finding meaning, being creative, and addressing ministry transition, grief and suffering in the third age of religious life. Based in part on interviews with elder male religious, her presentation will focus especially on challenges unique to this demographic.

Br. Mark Knightly, CSC

Br. Mark Knightly, CSC will describe some common behaviors, conditions and situations associated in care and pastoral accompaniment of our religious elders.  Using examples from his interactions over the past twenty years, he will investigate a series of challenges in coordination and service delivery (ministry) with members in later life, and, coupled with these, the skills needed to prevent burnout and enhance relationships with those in care situations, including approaches to working with members on restriction. His presentation will be framed around four specific challenges in eldercare: burnout, or knowing your limits; knowing the potential and limits of medicine for your elders; knowing and structuring the environment of the religious community for elders; and finding ways to ensure you are receiving good feedback from both those in your care and those in leadership of your community.