Our Impact

Testimonial from Sue Stoolman

It has been my pleasure to work with Beth Katz of Project Interfaith and Chris Stewart of the Respite Resource Center, on the amazing project   The Religious Diversity in Healthcare Workshop for the past year.  I became intrigued with the premise that my knowledge of caring for my fellow human’s physical, emotional and spiritual health was limited by my ignorance of other Religious Faiths.  I continue to update my knowledge about new technologies to treat and care for physical and emotional aspects of caregiving.  Now I believe I have the opportunity to care even deeper for all people in my care as I have begun my journey into understanding the differences and similarities in religious beliefs that we hold.

I believe that our personal spiritual and religious beliefs color the way we view the world and the people we interact with everyday.  I know that what we do not understand we often fear or discredit.  To be very specific: I did not even know what I did not know! This workshop has opened my horizons and has given me tools to begin my own journey of understanding.

Before attending this workshop I found myself avoiding asking my clients, patients and their family’s specific questions about their Faith if I was not knowledgeable about that specific Religion.  I did not want to appear ignorant or callous, so I usually avoided those conversations completely.  After attending the Religious Diversity Workshop, I understand more about how I truly feel about the differences between what I believe and what others believe.  I have always thought of myself as tolerant and open.  I think that the opening exercises in the workshop helped me to acknowledge that sometimes I am not as accepting as I believed myself to be, and knowing that I have areas to work on is the first step for my growth.

Visiting individually with the speakers at our workshop after they presented a brief overview of their religious beliefs and customs was the most valuable part of that very amazing day for me.  I have already been able to help fellow staff members prepare a special meal for an Assisted Living Resident who was celebrating her Religious Holy Day.  Most important for us, as caregivers, is that we were able to present this to her without interrogating her about what she could and could not eat and how she wanted the meal presented.  It was a great feeling to be able to have our Resident feel at home and understood by her caregivers.  I have been able to recommend resources for staff members to educate themselves about specifics of Religious beliefs and customs different from their own.

I now try to invite conversations about differences in beliefs and customs instead of avoiding them.  I have found that most people have as many questions about my beliefs as I have about theirs.  My attitude is much more open and I am truly excited to meet and become familiar with people who believe differently than I do.  Most importantly for me, is the fact that I want to be able to have all the people that I serve to know that I accept them for who they are, and what they believe is an integral part of who they are.  I want my Staff to be open to, and excited about new ideas of worship and celebration in our Senior Communities.  I have even asked a Resident and her family if they would be open to visiting with other Residents and their families about their Faith.  We have Residents and their families talk about what they have done professionally in their lives before retirement, and their experiences serving in the war, and I think conversations about what we believe are as important as what we have done in our lives.   

I attend many conferences and workshops each year for my ongoing professional education, and I can say with great enthusiasm, that the Religious Diversity Workshop for Caregivers has impacted me more than any other presentation that I have attended in the past five years. I am excited for others in my profession to experience the self-awareness and intimate education that this workshop brings to each person who attends.

Sue Stoolman, R.N.
November 11, 2008

Click here to read more testimonials about Project Interfaith's work in the community.