The elderly were once more respected, honored, revered in our culture. Unfortunately today some seniors are cast away, seen as a burden, and even taken advantage of at times. What a contrast to the clear guidance laid out for the Church in the Word of God:
Every Christian has a role to honor and care for the elderly, the vulnerable, in our society today as exhorted in James 1:27a: “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction”
Endless opportunities exist to serve the elderly and visit the widow today. Walk three doors down the street and help your elderly neighbor rake their lawn, visit a nearby nursing home and build relationships, or even make a phone call to check in on seniors who live by themselves. However you serve our beloved seniors, restore the honor due them and glorify God with the love of Christ.
"Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world." (James 1:27)
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Are you hearing God’s call to set up a nursing home or assisted living ministry?
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I have been caring for my mother-in-law in our home for about a year now...If she could tell us about herself, I believe this is what she might say.
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Watch as Ellie Bowman discusses how she loves our beloved elders through visiting.
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What started as a typical visit to your elderly mother, quickly introduces you to a whole new world of responsibilities and decisions.
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We faced blow-out diapers, milk stains, projectile vomiting, and more with our babies. But what about when an elder comes, not just to visit, but to live with us?
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I once estimated that during December I added 60-80 hours of additional work to my already busy life as a wife and homeschool mom.
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There are times when I think my washer works as hard as I do. I remember having a breakdown one difficult, post-partum day following the birth of our fifth son.
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When you bring an elder into your home, often the last thing you are thinking about is the tax implications.
Read moreGet ready for a good laugh and to be encouraged by Phil Callaway’s book Family Squeeze: Tales of Hope and Hilarity for a Sandwiched Generation.
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It’s taken me a long time to learn what God desires of us in biblically honoring our fathers. As a little boy I may have understood the meaning of obedience...
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It is estimated that caregivers provide 40-100 hours of care per week for their loved ones. Those who work outside of the home average forty hours of caregiving (like a second full time job!)
Read moreDelightful, humorous memoir by a missionary to Guatemala who cared for her father-in-law for 2½ years.
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Anyone who has cared for another person for any length of time soon realizes the need for a break.
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It can be a lot of work to take an older person with you. Think about what was necessary when you took your young children with you to the store or out to eat.
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Eating is one of the few joys that many seniors can still look forward to each day, so consider how you can make meals special. Try to serve foods of many colors on her plate.
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As caregivers we often have so many tasks calling our name that it is easy to become overwhelmed. But bringing music into your home can yield benefits far beyond the minimal time spent initiating it.
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The newspapers and media are full of stories about Alzheimer’s and how it will impact the country over the next several decades as Baby Boomers age.
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Among the biggest challenges in caring for a person with dementia are the handling of money and addressing emotional issues.
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Some of us live close enough to our parents to check in on them regularly. Others have the challenge of distance to deal with. Either way, there are many ways you can assist your aging parents: gathering necessary legal documents (see August 2016 newsletter for more on this), assembling a Family Notebook1, and providing emotional support.
September 05, 2016 by Marcia Washburn
A couple years ago, I reported on what seemed to be a new trend in Germany: sending elderly nursing-home residents to live in much cheaper facilities in Eastern Europe.
November 12, 2015 by Kitty Foth-Regner
Picture this: You're an aging widow living in a house that has suddenly become way too big for you. Winter is relatively easy; all you have to do is clean. But spring makes you weak in the knees, because that garden you built 30 years ago is begging for attention that you haven't been able to give it for years.
April 03, 2015 by Kitty Foth-Regner