Date

5-20-2026

Department

Rawlings School of Divinity

Degree

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

Chair

Mark McCormick

Keywords

elderly, aging, assisted-living, nursing home, Christian counseling, gerontological counseling, geriatric counseling, existential therapy, existential anxiety, elderly care, senior care, Bible-based existential counseling

Disciplines

Counseling

Abstract

Christian gerontological counseling, a traditionally non-progressive field, is a crucial area of ministry, particularly for older adults in assisted living facilities and nursing homes. At Casa di Riposo Sardara in Sardinia, Italy, many residents aged 70 and older lacked a solid biblical understanding of existence and eternal life, contributing to widespread existential anxiety among this population. To address this issue, the researcher developed the S.A.V.E. (solitude, autonomy, value, eternity) model of biblically based existential therapy. This model targets the four main pillars of existential therapy: meaninglessness, isolation, freedom, and death, offering biblical solutions for each. The approach incorporates positive imagery and cognitive reframing to reinforce these answers. A group study involving ten participants, aged 77 to 96, was conducted over four weeks. During this period, participants were presented with biblical perspectives on existential concerns. The results were favorable, with ninety percent of participants affirming emotional improvement after experiencing the S.A.V.E. model. The study demonstrated that providing biblical answers can effectively reduce existential anxiety among elderly residents. Once this anxiety is alleviated, the groundwork for discipleship is established. The researcher believes the S.A.V.E. model has broader applications and can be adapted for youth, young adult, and prison ministries, as well as for issues related to personal identity, including gender identity.

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