A SUCCESSFUL gathering of members of church groups explored how older people can be fully integrated into the community.

More than 150 church and community leaders gathered at the Barrington Theatre in Ferndown last week for the Spirituality in Later Life conference.

Hosted in partnership by Christian charities The Prama Foundation, Hope in the Community, The Salvation Army and Faithworks Wessex, attendees gathered from all over the UK to take part in the day.

Keynote speakers Ian Coffey, vice principal of Moorlands Bible College, and Debbie Thrower, from the Anna Chaplains, looked at ways churches can change the landscape for everyone as they grow older.

Topics covered at the conference included dementia friendly churches, the impact of those ageing without children and enabling older people to be more proactive within church rather than just accepting a passive role in the congregation.

Steve Robinson, CEO of Pramacare, said the event had a “hugely positive” impact.

“Ageing is a hot topic at the moment, with the challenges on social care in the news almost on a daily basis,” he said.

“What this conference addressed so successfully was the ways in which churches and local communities can enable older people to be fully integrated and valued members of their church and community.

“The focus was on recognising the hugely positive impact this approach has on everyone involved, across all ages and understanding how spirituality is such an important part of many older people’s lives.”

The conference looked to educate and challenge current thinking and to encourage more churches to find new ways of enabling older people to be engaged in the church and wider community, with the aim of reducing people’s feelings of isolation and loneliness.

A section of the day also explored the subject of having a ‘good death’ and positive conversations near the end of life.