One of the most important aspects in answering God’s call to our ministry of Grey Hair Is Beauty is the command, “go and remind My older children that I love them.”
We know the promises of the scriptures, we know the words to the Ethel Waters moving performance of “His Eye is on the Sparrow” and yet there are so many times in our lives that God seems to be so far away. So we often get into our cars and drive to church for fellowship, invite Christian friends over, or call someone for prayer request.
In the every day lives of an elderly or disabled person there is little opportunity for uplifting spiritual renewal. Dim eyes, can no longer read the Bible or the Devotional of choice and muffled hearing can no longer detect musical notes and certain sounds. Sadly many residents live in Long Term Care Facilities that not only do not provide opportunities for connection to God, but are not aware of the spiritual needs of their residents. This opportunity would usually be scheduled on the facilities activities calendar.
While there may be resources made available for vision and hearing impaired such as Large and Giant Print books, Bibles, and literature; as well as, audio books for the vision impaired who can hear; there remain few opportunities for attending a traditional church service. These resources would need to be requested by the resident. Family, or responsible party; so the need would go unnoticed if the person suffers from dementia of various forms or the person(s) responsible is not actively involved in the life of the resident.
It has been my experience over the years of working in facilities that our Catholic brothers and sisters come regularly and administer communion to the residents of the Catholic faith as well as other rites and rituals that are required, while the residents of other faiths look on longingly. Usually, admission forms ask for the religion of the resident and this may or may not be filled in but it usually is only addressed upon terminal or imminent death. I should also point out here that the rules and regulations put in place by the government make it difficult for this information to be shared without the involvement of the family or legal guardian.
Studies have been done and documented in Nursing Manuals of the effects spirituality and it’s necessity for healing and recovery. In school nurses are taught to assess the whole person in developing the plan of care. "Spirituality can be the intangible quality that gives meaning to our lives, gives us the strength and purpose to live our life to the full.
Main Category: (Seniors / Aging,Article Date: 13 Apr 2006 - 5:00 PDT Contact: Paul Grocottp (.grocott@uws.edu.au) Research Australia
I can offer many testimonies from the last 5 years but the one that stands out for this discussion was early in our ministry when I went to a nursing home and set up a Service with an Advent Wreath in the activities room for about eighteen residents. As I carefully explained the meaning and purpose of the Advent Wreath and the story of this celebrated season a man in a wheel chair was making his way to where I was standing. He had on a lap robe, his catheter bag attached to the wheelchair, he badly needed a shave and hair was disheveled but what I noticed first was the tears running down his cheeks. He rolled up close to the wreath and looked at me with that sorrowful face and said, “I am a Pastor, thank you for bringing it all back to me today. I Pastored two churches and have not heard this story in a very long time.” You also helped me remember how Jesus got to Paul on the road to Damascus. Tearing up, I could hardly conclude the service.
God’s older children who live in facilities must be ministered too. The facilities must consider their residents spirituality as an integral part of their care. The administration and medical staff must be taught that freedom of religion is not just a constitutional right the right to practice their beliefs. The residents must be given the opportunity and resources within the guidelines of the rules and regulations to act on their faith.
Pray with us as God leads this ministry to bring the word to the lost or lonely elderly and disabled in Long Term Care Facilities.
Pastor Judi Baxter
Vice President Grey Hair Is Beauty
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