Hanging with Grandma can be so much fun!
I think about the times that my grandmother and I shared hot chocolate, played games, and shared stories. I always loved to listen to her as she told me about life in the 1930s. Good times aside, however, visiting grandma can also be challenging. This blog series is intended to help you minister to your elderly family members and neighbors. So, here we go!
Who is Grandma?
The number of the aged is growing steadily; well over 10% of our society are over 65 years old. In a church whose average attendee is only 28 years old, it’s easy to forget about all those grandmas and grandpas out there. But, if we have eyes to see, we find that the elderly are everywhere. For example, on the street where I live there are at least 4 elderly families (4 out of 14 homes). On most Monday nights, a group of Sojourners visit Parkway nursing home just a few blocks from the 930 (there are over 60 elderly who live there). Every summer, Sojourn throws a Sock Hop dance for the elderly in the Germantown neighborhood. Sojourn’s East campus has recently been approached by two organizations who deliver food for the elderly in St. Matthews. I’m confident that if you look around, you’ll see lots of elderly people in your neighborhood, at the grocery, and at the park. Grandma is not only in your family, she is everywhere!
1 Timothy 5 reminds us to care for the elderly and widows. The church is to ”give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need (v.3)” and to ”help those widows who are really in need (v.16b).”
The Granny Challenge
I want to challenge you to respond with new ideas on how Sojourn Community Church can minister to the grandmas and grandpas in the city. Seed will put cash toward the best idea and help you make it happen! Post your ideas here or on the city.
Keep in Mind Some Challenges
Before going over to Grandma’s house, you’ve got to keep in mind some of the challenges that the elderly deal with. Some of these include an adjustment to:
Physical limitations – Most Grandmas and Grandpas are struggling with a loss of strength and coordination, decreased circulation, decrease in mental sharpness, and an increase in chronic illness such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and arthritis.
Economic limitations – depending on various definitions of poverty, between 20-30% of the elderly live under the poverty level. The two major factors that strain the budget include inflation and rising health care costs.
Social changes – In today’s industrialized society, the elderly have no clearly defined place or usefulness. Grandpa, in particular, must grapple with a feeling of uselessness. A retired person also has to face the loss of many friends and relatives due to death. Old age also complicates one’s relationship with one’s children. Given our mobile society and the breakdown of the extended family, many of the elderly live alone and are distant from their children.
Spiritual problems – Fear of death is constantly on the minds of many elderly. In addition, there can be a sense of guilt or regret over past mistakes, wasted opportunities, or failures. Worry about family members and their own health also plague the minds of the elderly. Combine this with self-pity and introspection that comes from loneliness.
Meeting the Needs of Grandma and Grandpa
Today we’ll focus on how you can minister to Grandma’s physical needs.
- Provide financial help for Grannie’s medical bills. You can do this by setting up a family benevolence fund, take an offering up at your Community Group, or contact mercy@sojournchurch to talk to a deacon about financial assistance. Free health care could be provided by talking to Sojourn members who are nurses, doctors, and health practitioners.
- Visit Grandma and some of her friends to teach hobbies or other activities that are suited to their physical limitations. For example, teaching sowing, crochet, playing cards, etc.
- Support Grannie by providing transportation to doctor’s visits, cutting her grass, dusting the house, or doing chores.
- You can show consideration to Grandma by offering communion to shut-ins, bringing them sermons on cd, or bring them a large print bible to read.
Next week, we’ll talk about how you can minister to Granny’s economic limitations and social problems.
**A good portion of this blog was taken from the Redeemer Diaconate Manual. You can purchase it here.
