Neighborhood Ministries

Reason For Living-The church today often fails to recognize that the elderly need a reason for living. Men who work their whole lives see their reason for living tied to their work. When they retire, they often lose that and need to find another. Without it, they often become depressed and die. The highest death rate for men is shortly after they retire because they often lose their will to live. The church needs the talents and abilities of those who retire, but often fails to utilize them. While women are more tied to family and not so tied to work and do not face the crisis at retirement that men do, they too often have talents and abilities the church could use. The church needs to consciously work to help those of all ages, but especially those who are retiring find areas for them to use their talents and abilities for God’s service and should have an ongoing committee dedicated to getting to know members and help them discover and use their talents for God.

Nutrition-A major problem with the elderly is eating right. While many do not feel that nutrition is an important among the elderly, it is really an important ministry to the one who receives the meals. Elderly women who are used to cooking for someone may not feel much like fixing meals just for themselves. Arthritis and other ailments may also make cooking difficult. Many widowed men are used to their wives cooking and not used to cooking for themselves. In addition, many elderly do not feel much like eating alone and may skip meals resulting in malnutrition that leads to poor health. Home delivered meals provide a daily nutritious meal for them. In addition, the delivery provides a daily check on them to make sure they are alright which is important because they may not have anyone to check on them otherwise. It also provides a friendly visit. While those delivering the meals usually can’t stop for long, a cheerful greeting is very welcome to someone who rarely sees anyone. Sit-down meals are provided at many Senior centers and some provide transportation to those within a limited distance but many live too far from a Senior Center to get to the meals. Churches may offer luncheons to Seniors who live nearby or provide transportation to Senior Centers. Home delivered meals are available through many Senior Centers but the elderly may live too far from the center to get them. Individuals who drop by with a prepared meal occasionally and stay to share it are appreciated. Several elderly living close to each other may get together and eat together. I once visited an elderly woman who lived on the second floor of an apartment building. Three other elderly ladies lived on her floor. One of the women had previously had a big family and was used to cooking for them but they had all moved away and none of them lived nearby. She got the other ladies together and told them that if each contributed a portion of the cost of groceries, she would cook for them all and they could eat together. The women agreed and it benefited them all. A mother of young children can occasionally invite an elderly neighbor over to share lunch while the kids take their nap, allowing her much needed fellowship as  well as the Senior.

Chores-As the elderly get older, they are can no longer do many of the things that they used to do. Relatively simple things like mowing the lawn, shoveling snow, and similar chores may become too difficult. Many do not have money to hire the work done and it is often difficult finding someone to do the work even if they could afford to pay someone. Christian neighbors can easily do the work when they mow their own lawn or shovel their own walk. Children can learn the value of money by charging small fees to do the work and it would cost the elderly far less than if they hired a professional company to do the work.