Aging and the Role of the Church

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Aging and the Role of the Church

• Christian Care Communities
• Chaplain Jackie Ward

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Thank YOU!

• We provide 1 Chaplain to every 250 residents
• These chaplains provide weekly worship services,
  Bible studies and communion
• They minister to at least 10 staff members each
  week
• They continue to reach out into the community
  where they serve

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A New Vision for the Church
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Two Areas of Discussion

• The Aging Statistics
• What can we do as a church

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Kentuckian Population 65 and older
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Kentuckian Population 65 and older
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Kentuckians are Aging

• 8 older adults have some form of dementia.
  Approximately 40,000 adults
• By 2025 the number will double to approximately
  80,000 adults with some form of dementia

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Good news and Bad news

• The good news is that today 5,600 people will
  celebrate their 65th birthday
• The bad news is that 4,550 people who are 65 and
  older will die today
• The news is today we increase the older
  population by 1,050

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Saving for Retirement
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Saving for Retirement
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The view of aging

• Today we have the tendency to look at aging as a
  deficit hearing and vision loss, slowing down
  physically, memory loss, becoming crotchety
• Job 1212 Wisdom belongs to the aged, and
  understanding to those who have lived many years

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And he (Jesus) said to them, You have a fine way
of rejecting the commandments of God, in order to
keep your tradition! For Moses said, Honor,
your Father and Mother and, He who speaks evil
of father or mother, let him surely die but you
say, If a mans tells his father or his mother,
What you would have gained from me is Corban
(that is, given to God)then you no longer permit
him to do anything for his father or mother, thus
making void the word of God through your
tradition which you hand on. And many such
things you do. Mark 79-13
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Eriksons Development

• Erik Erikson final stage of development is
  Integrity vs. Despair
• Approximately every 83 minutes one adult 65 or
  older commits suicide

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Being A Church FAMILY
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Stage 1 Functionality (High)

• Live without any assistance
• Retired and wants to be utilized
• Church should develop volunteer programs i.e.
  Habitat, Meals on Wheels, and other local
  programs
• Educational Programs These individuals want to
  grow Biblically and theologically
• Retirement educational programs i.e. money
  management, legal issues, POAs, Advance
  Directives
• High functioning seniors may be active 10 to 15
  years or even longer
• Look for intergenerational activities

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Stage 2 Functionality (Moderate)

• Moderate limitations, difficulty seeing or
  hearing
• More concern about their mobility driving
• Concern about breaking bones (hips)

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USA Today Reports

• 340,000 elders will fall and break a hip each
  year
• One out of four will die within a year of
  breaking a hip
• 4 dont survive their first hospital visit due
  to pneumonia
• In the next 40 years that number will double

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Stage 2 Functionality (Moderate)

• Moderate limitations, difficulty seeing or
  hearing
• More concern about their mobility driving
• Concern about breaking bones (hips)
• Make sure Sunday School classes are on the same
  level as the sanctuary
• Large print material
• Be aware of loud music

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Stage Three Functionality (Limited)

• Difficulty getting around, may come to church
  with assistance
• May have slight to moderate memory problems
• Stay home with assistance or live in assisted
  living center
• Mail Church Bulletin and the Church Newsletter to
  them
• Provide Tapes or CDs of services
• Have a visitation team
• Create a phone list
• Communion
• Intergenerational activities

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Stage Four Functionality (Very Limited)

• Live at home with someone such as a family member
  or primary care giver or nursing facility
• They do not come to church Church must come to
  them
• Stressful for families, especially if family
  member is providing care
• Give family members a break
• Still want to stay connected to their church
  family
• Remembering birthdays and holidays
• Keep on mailing list
• Communion
• Out living the preacher

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Stage 5 (End-of-life)

• Families grief
• Remembering anniversary of death
• As a church, do you have some form of a memorial
  service or even a memory garden

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Christian Care Communities enhances the journey
of life for older adults
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Questions