As India’s elderly population continues to grow, compassionate and skilled caregiving has become an urgent need—especially within religious communities, homes for the aged, and mission-based health ministries. With this growing need in mind, the Conference of Religious Women India (CRWI), in collaboration with St. John’s College of Nursing, Bengaluru, organized a 21-day Training of Trainers (ToT) in Geriatric Care from 25 September to 15 October 2025.
This program brought together 32 religious nurse sisters from 22 congregations across 9 regions, forming a learning community committed to dignified, compassionate elder care. Each participant has now returned to her congregation with not only enhanced skills, but also a mission: to train at least 30 more caregivers in her community by December 2025. In this way, the program multiplies its reach, extending compassionate care far beyond the training hall.
Why Geriatric Care Matters
Across our institutions, elderly sisters and community members carry a long history of service, prayer, and love. Offering them thoughtful care is not only a responsibility—it is a sacred act. Recognizing this, the training highlighted not just medical competencies, but also emotional presence, patience, and seeing Christ in those we serve.
“Love is healing,” reminded Rev. Fr. Jesudas Rajamackam during the inauguration ceremony.
This became a guiding theme throughout the program.
A Holistic and Experiential Learning Journey
The training followed a blended approach combining theory, clinical practice, reflection, and real-world exposure. Sessions were led by multidisciplinary faculty—geriatricians, nurses, physiotherapists, nutritionists, social workers, and palliative care specialists.
Key Learning Areas Included:
Understanding aging & geriatric assessment
Dementia and Alzheimer’s care with dignity
Pain management and palliative care
Nutrition and physiotherapy for daily functioning
Elder rights, mental well-being, and spiritual accompaniment
Field visits to elder-care homes and clinical centers helped participants witness models of compassionate care in action.
Daily reflective circles encouraged participants to integrate head, hand, and heart—aligning professional skill with the spirituality of service.
Impact and Transformation
The training inspired a shift in caregiving style—from task-oriented nursing to empathy-centered presence.
Highlights from Participant Feedback:
95% found the training highly relevant to their ministry context.
90% felt more confident in managing geriatric health needs.
Reflective journals showed deeper understanding of emotional and spiritual needs of the elderly.
One participant shared:
“I now see the elderly not as dependents, but as reservoirs of wisdom. I return to my community with renewed compassion.”
Another shared how learned techniques in positioning, communication, and attentive listening helped restore emotional peace and physical comfort to a bedridden sister in her care.
These stories remind us that meaningful care often begins with small, mindful gestures.
The Way Forward
To sustain momentum, CRWI will:
Establish a mentorship network for trained caregivers
Develop standardized geriatric training materials and resource kits
Facilitate peer-learning circles across regions
Strengthen collaboration with CRI units and congregations nationwide
Through these efforts, the training becomes not a one-time event, but a growing movement for dignified elder care.
Gratitude
We extend our heartfelt appreciation to:
St. John’s College of Nursing, Bengaluru
The dedicated facilitators and clinical teams
Congregational leaders who entrusted their sisters to this mission
Every participant who carries this work forward with love