Turning Ordinary Visits Into Eternal Impact
Bring Hope and Connection to Your Community
Click here to coordinate with churches in your area.
We believe spiritual care can bring comfort, joy, and a sense of community — especially for seniors and memory-care residents. We would love to offer monthly (or weekly) fellowship visits to residents — including: Scripture reading, prayer, and time for conversation with residents. The importance of dignity, consent, and respect, especially for residents with memory or cognitive decline, are key, and wish to provide a compassionate, resident-centered ministry.
“You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest. The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike!” John 4:35-36
Significance of Even Short Visits
- A 10-minute visit can make a resident feel valued for the entire day.
- After a performance or volunteer interaction, staff often report:
- Residents talking about it long afterward
- Improved mood during meals
- Calmer behavior in the evening
- For residents with memory loss, the emotional imprint of a visit lingers even after the details fade.
- People with dementia often remember feelings more than details—meaning joyful experiences stay with them emotionally, even if they don’t remember the event.
Offering Spiritual Visits & Fellowship for Residents
Contagious Joy would like to connect you with a local Bible-believing congregation.
We would love to offer monthly (or weekly) fellowship visits to residents at your facility.
We understand the importance of dignity, consent, and respect, especially for residents with memory or cognitive decline, and we have equipped believers with compassionate, resident-centered ministry.
If you are open to such a ministry, we’d be happy to coordinate with your staff to schedule a time, discuss any guidelines.
We believe spiritual care can bring comfort, joy, and a sense of community — especially for seniors and memory-care residents.
We can adapt the content depending on whether the resident is more traditional (hymns, liturgy) or more modern (praise worship, conversation), or whether residents have memory decline (simpler songs, shorter visits, gentle conversation).
Now Connect
Connections happen one-on-one. This may look different with each resident we visit. When we look into the residents’ eyes, they feel respected, valued, noticed, and heard. When we look at them with this kind of respect, talk with them, and hear their heart, God brings a connection that we cannot manufacture.
Here are our suggestions for how to spend your time.
Pass Out Flowers
Some of the sweetest moments between the youth and the residents happen after the performance, starting with the curtain call (when the play ends and you introduce the cast).
This is the first chance for the cast and residents to connect.
As you introduce each cast member, they can take a bow and then grab a flower and present it to a resident. After the introductions, the cast will enjoy passing out the remaining flowers, making sure each resident gets one. Each resident will feel seen and loved.
We have found that local florists or grocery stores will happily donate flowers for your performance.
Invitation to Receive Jesus as Lord
(One-on-One or Group Settings at Care Facilities)
Tips for Volunteers
- Let the Holy Spirit guide the timing.
- Be gentle and patient.
- Use eye contact and a warm smile
- Prepare the Residents• Optional: Perform 1-2 short Bible Reading Skits.• Make sure residents have heard about Jesus and felt your genuine care.
- Scripture Introduction“For God says, ‘At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation. I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is vs day of salvation.” -2 Corinthians 6 2
- Extend the InvitationWould you like to receive Jesus’ sacrifice for your sins and become His child?
- Lead the Prayer(Residents can repeat after you, line by line) + God, You created me.+ Thank You for loving me.+ You are my Father and Savior.+ Thank You, Jesus, for dying on the cross.+ I have sinned. Please forgive me.+ Your death paid for my sins.+ Please come and be the Lord of my life.
Mingle and Dance
Having detailed conversations can be difficult, especially with limited time and depending on the residents’ abilities. Music is a great way to connect. Kids can mingle and dance with the residents while the residents are sitting. They will simply put their hands out to dance, allowing the residents to see your eyes and bright smile (Realizing some may not desire to participate).
Benefits of mingle/dance connecting:
- Increases movement, which leads to greater attentiveness and confidence in the residents’ physical abilities.
- Connects the residents with God’s Joy as we sing over them.
Who I Am in Jesus Handout
God desires every resident to know who they are in Jesus. This handout helps them remember that truth. Our volunteers will enjoy sharing it, giving residents something they can take back to their rooms and be reminded of how deeply loved and precious they are to their Savior.
Click here to get a copy of the Who I Am in Jesus handout.
Follow-Up Visit to Get to Know a Resident
Some residents receive very few visitors and would truly appreciate return visits. The Activities Director may already have specific residents in mind who would benefit from additional companionship. Please be prepared to provide or receive a list of residents who would welcome more visitors.
Margie Became My Dear Friend.
After performing a play at a care facility, I asked the activities director if I could come back and visit separately with those who do not receive visitors.
She provided a list of residents who did not get visits. I was able to form a relationship with a dear friend, Margie.
Margie was 82 years old and never had children. She did not get many visits. We talked and I read the devotional Jesus Calling to her. God connected our hearts.
She could not walk and was paralyzed on the left side. Since she did not like chocolate and I did, she would save her cookies and give them to me on our visit.
I grew to love Margie very much. She would call me to pray with her about things that she was worried about.
She shared with me that she would like to buy a home and live together with her niece. This seemed like an impossible plan because of her physical limitations. Her belief that God could do the impossible was inspiring!
At 84 years old, Margie ended up buying a house through a realtor and settled everything on the phone. When the Care Facility van took her to her new home, they asked which house was hers. She replied, “I don’t know. I have not seen it yet.”
This is what faith can do! Margie believed that if it was God’s will—it would happen. She moved in with her niece where she spent her last four years. I continued to visit her at her home, and it was a blessing to share and pray with her in her final days. What an example and blessing Margie has been in my life!
After Margie’s homegoing, her niece Jeanmarie Stiles shared this thought:
“My Aunt Margie’s greatest happiness was meeting the Contagious Joy team and becoming their friend. It all started when my Aunt was in an assisted living home where she was not happy. Contagious Joy came in and did a play then everything changed. Her outlook became brighter, and her spirits were lifted. It was as if Contagious Joy had sparked her faith. She believed that God works things out for us if we trust in Him. Contagious Joy = trust in God and find happiness in your faith.”