Partners in Health & Wholeness

An initiative of the NC Council of Churches

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Krista Westervelt, Associate Director, Partners in Health & Wholeness, Healthy Aging

Healthier Aging through Intergenerational Inclusion

By Krista Westervelt, Associate Director, Partners in Health & Wholeness, Healthy Aging

A recent New York Times piece titled “Old and Young, Talking Again” explores the link between cross-generational connections and improved perceptions and outcomes of aging. Opportunities for younger folks and older folks to connect in what gerontologist Dr. Karl Pillemer refers to as “equal status contact” through consistent, intergenerational programming has been shown to offer […]

Healthier Aging through Intergenerational Inclusion

· by Krista Westervelt, Associate Director, Partners in Health & Wholeness, Healthy Aging

A recent New York Times piece titled “Old and Young, Talking Again” explores the link between cross-generational connections and improved perceptions and outcomes of aging. Opportunities for younger folks and older folks to connect in what gerontologist Dr. Karl Pillemer refers to as “equal status contact” through consistent, intergenerational programming has been shown to offer […]

September is Healthy Aging Month at PHW and Beyond!

By Krista Westervelt, Associate Director, Partners in Health & Wholeness, Healthy Aging

Healthy Aging Month is in full swing at PHW, with faith communities across the state building elements of our Healthy Aging Inclusion Plan into the new church year! I am encouraged by the commitment so many congregations are making to prioritize the welcome and wellness of the older adults in their community across a mix […]

September is Healthy Aging Month at PHW and Beyond!

· by Krista Westervelt, Associate Director, Partners in Health & Wholeness, Healthy Aging

Healthy Aging Month is in full swing at PHW, with faith communities across the state building elements of our Healthy Aging Inclusion Plan into the new church year! I am encouraged by the commitment so many congregations are making to prioritize the welcome and wellness of the older adults in their community across a mix […]

Health Ministry as Peace Work – A Reflection on Peace Month

By Krista Westervelt, Associate Director, Partners in Health & Wholeness, Healthy Aging

This August marks one year since I first reached out to the Partners in Health & Wholeness (PHW) team as a potential host site for my Senior Practicum in Peace & Conflict Studies at UNC Greensboro. The ministry and values of PHW put them at the top of my peace internship wish list.  It might seem odd […]

Health Ministry as Peace Work – A Reflection on Peace Month

· by Krista Westervelt, Associate Director, Partners in Health & Wholeness, Healthy Aging

This August marks one year since I first reached out to the Partners in Health & Wholeness (PHW) team as a potential host site for my Senior Practicum in Peace & Conflict Studies at UNC Greensboro. The ministry and values of PHW put them at the top of my peace internship wish list.  It might seem odd […]

Meeting the Moment for LGBTQ+ Older Adults

By Krista Westervelt, Associate Director, Partners in Health & Wholeness, Healthy Aging

There are currently 3 million LGBTQ+ adults aged 65 or older in the United States and that number is expected to double by 2030 (source). While the age-related needs of LGBTQ+ older adults mirror those of non-LGBTQ+ older adults in many ways, networks of support are especially crucial to the health and well-being of LGBTQ+ […]

Meeting the Moment for LGBTQ+ Older Adults

· by Krista Westervelt, Associate Director, Partners in Health & Wholeness, Healthy Aging

There are currently 3 million LGBTQ+ adults aged 65 or older in the United States and that number is expected to double by 2030 (source). While the age-related needs of LGBTQ+ older adults mirror those of non-LGBTQ+ older adults in many ways, networks of support are especially crucial to the health and well-being of LGBTQ+ […]

Aging and Imago Dei

By Krista Westervelt, Associate Director, Partners in Health & Wholeness, Healthy Aging

Is there an expiration date on our inherent worth and dignity? An aging out of being made in God’s image?  The past two pandemic years have been a litmus test of how our society and our communities live out our collective answers to these questions, especially as broad swaths of our population have been considered […]

Aging and Imago Dei

· by Krista Westervelt, Associate Director, Partners in Health & Wholeness, Healthy Aging

Is there an expiration date on our inherent worth and dignity? An aging out of being made in God’s image?  The past two pandemic years have been a litmus test of how our society and our communities live out our collective answers to these questions, especially as broad swaths of our population have been considered […]

Show Your Heart Some Love this February

By Krista Westervelt, Associate Director, Partners in Health & Wholeness, Healthy Aging

One morning last summer, while taking myself on a hike on one of my favorite local trails, I struck up a brief conversation with a man in his 70s who I had crossed paths with a number of times on my route. He mentioned that he and his wife were moving away and he would […]

Show Your Heart Some Love this February

· by Krista Westervelt, Associate Director, Partners in Health & Wholeness, Healthy Aging

One morning last summer, while taking myself on a hike on one of my favorite local trails, I struck up a brief conversation with a man in his 70s who I had crossed paths with a number of times on my route. He mentioned that he and his wife were moving away and he would […]