Mindfulness Meditation Groups

Beaté has been a meditator for many decades and has been personally committed to incorporating a mindful approach to living.

Beaté has been facilitating Mindfulness Meditation Groups in Aged Care for nearly ten years based on the Christian Meditation model from the World Community for Christian Meditation (WCCM).

In 2019 she completed a major research project about this group as part of her Master of Ageing and Pastoral Studies (Charles Sturt University). In April 2022, Beate Steller’s research was published as: Mindfulness meditation in residential aged care: what frail older people identified as beneficial for their spiritual care and well-being, Journal of Religion, Spirituality Aging, DOI: 10.1080/15528030.2022.2068732

The study evaluated the effectiveness, benefits, and relevance of Mindfulness/Meditation Group(s) (MMG) in enhancing spiritual growth and well-being for older people living in residential aged care. In essence, the aim of the study was to inquire if the group promotes positive spiritual growth in older people and if so, how.

Thirteen residents attending the group were interviewed at the beginning of the six week program and then at the end of the program. The MMG has six elements which includes reflection time, a period of silent meditation, structured group prayer, time for sharing and practicing gratitude with a mindful hand massage. The MMG program was designed by the researcher. After the interviews the qualitative data was collated, and four themes emerged that promote spiritual growth and wellbeing.

These four (4) themes were 1) meaningfully connecting and sharing, 2) providing a supportive and reflective space, 3) practising mindfulness-meditation and 4) practising and expressing gratitude. Findings inform the provision of better emotional/spiritual support and invite further research.

Beaté is currently developing resources and training material, so the Mindfulness Meditation Groups can benefit other elders who are living in aged care or in the community. Beaté also provides Wellbeing and Mindfulness Training, Grieving Mindfully or Trauma Informed Loss and Grief training that has mindfulness principles woven throughout its training.

Watch this space as the resources for the Mindfulness Meditation Groups are being developed…