[margie]

The following information is taken from a Resolution on the Ministry of Caregiving in Relation to Older Adults (the Office of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A, PDS 68-600-02-001). However, the need of care giving is something that transcends denominational boundaries.

Post World War II baby boomers are the fastest growing age group in the older population. As the lengthening of life increases, and as birthrates decline, the percentage of older individuals in the U.S. is growing rapidly. Statistics show that by the year 2030 20 percent of Americans will be 65 years and older with the fastest-growing group being 85 years and older.

Pastoral care in the church has traditionally fallen into four forms of caring: healing, sustaining, guiding, and reconciling. There are a variety of ways that caring is needed, received and offered. As Christians we are to care for one another both within the family unit, as well as in the community; care giving is as much a responsibility for the community as it is for the individual.

As a generation of baby boomers, we have grown up without the intergenerational connectedness that past generations have had. This then causes a severe shortage in availability of caregivers with a family unit. Even professional caregivers are in short supply.


How might you answer the following questions?

1. Rather than institutionalizing our elderly bring them back into the home, and supporting the care giving family?

2. How can the church train its leadership so that they are equipped to meet today’s growing demands that are placed on the church and the church community?

3. What are we looking at for the future in terms of long-term health care for an aging population?

4. Should the business community look at creating more flexible work hours and benefits (leave of absence, part time work, etc…) for those that are giving elderly care?

5. How can the church and community work to give respite to those that are the caregivers? Think of the cost, time, and availability of using a professional agency.

6. How might the church better meet the needs of the elderly congregants during a worship service? Think of seating, hearing, and being able to see so that they can continue to participate and feel a part of the congregation.

[Amadeus]

Thank you for posting this! It means that you are seriously considering the needs of others. This is a very selfish world. But... our Lord is still here working in His people!

My wife and I have had the wonderful honor and priviledge on many occassions to minister in different retirement centers within a 50 mile radius of our home.

If Christians would just go to one of these retirement homes one time and just visit with one of the wonderful people there they would experience one of lifes greatest blessings!

On many occassions WE have gone in to minister to them and THEY have ministered in a far greater way to us!

Many times WE have gone in to pray for them and THEY have prayed for us!

WE have often gone to encourage them and THEY encourage us even more!

Sincere love is their greatest asset, they have perfected over many years of experience the true wonder of sincere compassion and understanding.

Some consider the elderly to be senile and unable to think clearly and rationaly for themsleves, but many are very inteligent and have much to impart to the younger less experienced generation.

Even at MY age (56) I have MUCH left to learn from those who have walked the rugged paths of life ahead of me!

And as for those who may be impaired with a mentally disabling affliction such as dementia or alzheimer's, just acknowledging their presence will bring joy to their hearts!

I have seen joy fill the eyes of an elderly man or woman many times when one of us has simply walked over to them in love and simply and smiled and said hello.

Their mind may not be as good as it once was, but their hearts are still intact and just as sweet if not sweeter than they have ever been!

Sometimes just to go and sit beside a man or a woman quietly, or to read Scriptures to them is a wonderful blessing to them.

I watched my wife sit with an elderly woman (90 years old) one Sunday afternoon, she held the womans hand and just hummed some old Gospel hymns, they both sat there for over an hour with sweet smiles on their faces and tears streaming down their cheeks.

As we were leaving my wife bent down and kissed the old woman on her cheek and said thank you for ministering to me today.

That lady passed away later that same week.

I believe she had truly had a wonderful time with Jesus that Sunday afternoon sitting there with my wife.

And I also believe that she had that same smile on her face (but NO tears) when she got to heaven.

We can all make such a wonderful difference in someones life if we just take a few minutes out of our day to share the Love Jesus with them, young or old we all long for and desperately need to experience his love, and we are all, each and everyone of us, a walking, talking living, breathing expression of the Love God in Christ Jesus.

God bless!

Michael

[margie]

I say Amen to that! Thank you so much for your response. Let's pray that others will come to realize the wonderful gift that our elderly can give us.

Blessings,
Margie

Originally Posted by margie

The following information is taken from a Resolution on the Ministry of Caregiving in Relation to Older Adults (the Office of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A, PDS 68-600-02-001). However, the need of care giving is something that transcends denominational boundaries.

Post World War II baby boomers are the fastest growing age group in the older population. As the lengthening of life increases, and as birthrates decline, the percentage of older individuals in the U.S. is growing rapidly. Statistics show that by the year 2030 20 percent of Americans will be 65 years and older with the fastest-growing group being 85 years and older.

Pastoral care in the church has traditionally fallen into four forms of caring: healing, sustaining, guiding, and reconciling. There are a variety of ways that caring is needed, received and offered. As Christians we are to care for one another both within the family unit, as well as in the community; care giving is as much a responsibility for the community as it is for the individual.

As a generation of baby boomers, we have grown up without the intergenerational connectedness that past generations have had. This then causes a severe shortage in availability of caregivers with a family unit. Even professional caregivers are in short supply.


How might you answer the following questions?

1. Rather than institutionalizing our elderly bring them back into the home, and supporting the care giving family?

If you are asking if this would be a solution? – Yes.
Before you go to private agencies for help, research your local area Agency On Aging – Phenomenal resources


2. How can the church train its leadership so that they are equipped to meet today’s growing demands that are placed on the church and the church community?

Give them training in the process of aging, what is involved in family caregiving and its stresses. Show them how to organize. Respite volunteers within their church, community. Find out what local agencies are geared to the aged at home need interns or volunteers and what the cost is.

3. What are we looking at for the future in terms of long-term health care for an aging population?

Expenses are going up, and insurance companies are paying less unless the cost are brought down. This requires more study and practice of gerontology.

4. Should the business community look at creating more flexible work hours and benefits (leave of absence, part time work, etc…) for those that are giving elderly care?

Yes – just as they should for infant and child care. Allow sick days to be used to tend to family members. Initiate sick day “pools” that employees donate to.

5. How can the church and community work to give respite to those that are the caregivers? Think of the cost, time, and availability of using a professional agency.

Train church members to give non-medical respite services. Utilize HOSPICE through Medicare before paying private agencies.


6. How might the church better meet the needs of the elderly congregants during a worship service? Think of seating, hearing, and being able to see so that they can continue to participate and feel a part of the congregation.

Possibly wheelchair (empty) areas up front. Also, wider aisles and especially on sides with easy bathroom access. Could incorporate small headphones for the difficult of hearing, large print materials with possibly a “words of wisdom” spot in service spoken or written by elderly. Incorporate interaction between individual Sunday School classes and appropriate older person to attend their classes, and interact w/children of all ages. Find out the needs of elderly individuals in the congregation and try to match match them with a younger family willing to interact, help them out, socialize or however they may be of comfort. Have a special name for this relationship: 2nd-Family, Church Family, Adopted Family, Grandparent. Organize small before service groups of various adult ages to meetand tell something about their week & include elderly in each.

The information gathered here is the efforts of a friend of mine.

God Bless You for bringing this to our attention!

Mike

[margie]

Mike,

These are some great ideas for the church community. Good stuff! What about the elderly that live with their family, but are having problems between the generations, i.e. space, respect, listening, as well as talking to one another? I know when my family has just tried to move my mother from her home to be closer to us, she puts up a fight. I understand, but still as she becomes unable to care for her self how can we smooth the way for her?

Thanks again Mike.

Blessings,
Margie

Margie - I hope it is of help to you or any needing better familiararity concerning this! I was further informed by my acquaintance , ,

[Hi Margie,

I’m in the process of getting some pointers on the 2 scenarios you describe and will PM you soon. In the meantime, I would like to warn anyone interested about the whole new industry of Elder Care that seems to be recently adopted by some celebrities who have “just gone through all this” themselves.

Some very high-profile people have started differing sorts of Foundations or businesses based on this. Please don’t believe that you have to pay for information regarding this topic, or about the myriad of services and service providers already established in this field. There are hundreds of Area Agencies on Aging all over the country – they are state- and federally funded, whose sole purpose is to help you find out what you need/want to know about all the services available for the elderly in your area. Most have excellent Resource Centers, and workers whose job is to help you find out what you want to know.

[margie]

I appreciate your research on this. It will be a big help.

Blessings!

Margie

[margie]

Mike,

Please thank Ruth for me. I appreciate both of you taking the time to respond. The information will be extremely helpful.
Blessings,
Marge

[Pixie]

I have been caring for my grandpa and he's not saved. I have been trying to reach him by just being a witness by loving and caring for him but does anyone else have some ideas?