It happens to everyone. You can’t do anything about it and you want to think you’ll be calm when it happens, but most times it will catch you off guard. It’s your first “senior” mailing.
It could be an invitation to join AARP, your first free issue of Modern Maturity or a coupon from a hearing aid company. The point is, it’s something for seniors. Even though the birth date on your driver’s license confirms that you’re not a teenager anymore, if you’re a Baby Boomer, you’re likely not ready to admit that you’re a senior citizen.
On Jan. 1, 2011, the oldest Baby Boomer turned 65. Every day for the next 19 years, about 10,000 more of the Boomer generation born between 1946 and 1964 will cross that threshold. According to Pew Research Center population projections, 18 percent of the nation’s population will be at least 65 by 2030. Every day nearly 200 people turn 100 years old.
“A senior tsunami is hitting America taxing every aging service this country has ever provided,” said Wendy Minton Edwards, eastern regional director for the North Carolina Baptist Aging Ministry, during a breakout session at the Virginia Baptist Mission Board’s Leadership Gathering in May. NCBAM is a ministry of the Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina. “Churches should be part of a collaborative effort to meet the physical, mental, emotional, financial and spiritual needs of aging adults,” Edwards added.
Baby Boomers have a history of bringing change. This huge generation of teenagers ushered in youth ministry in churches years ago and will now require churches to rethink how they can be the body of Christ in today’s culture, Edwards noted.
“Today it’s more challenging to identify exactly who senior adults are,” says Nancy Walker, pastor for congregational care at Columbia Baptist Church in Falls Church, Va. She finds many who formerly would have been retired are now working well into their 70s and 80s–some out of financial necessity and others for the joy of meaningful work with additional discretionary income. And most do not identify or respond to “senior adult” labels, preferring intergenerational ministry, activity and social interaction.
“I often tell people I have more like three different senior adult groups,” says Scot Finley, minister to senior adults at Bonsack Baptist Church in Roanoke, Va. He finds that today’s seniors do not want to be grouped by their age, but by physical abilities and common interests. A monthly potluck lunch with a speaker or special music, relates Finley, fails to meet the needs of seniors living more healthy lives and open to activities requiring more stamina.
Active seniors at Bonsack Baptist Church find travel, a hiking club and involvement in home repair ministries rewarding, he adds.
After conversations with members, Leah Brown, minister to senior adults at First Baptist Church, Asheville, N.C., says they established “Prime Time,” a ministry focused on meeting the needs of people between the ages of 55-75. “We chose the name ‘Prime Time’ because folks in this age range do not want to be categorized as senior adults,” Brown adds. At First Baptist, Asheville, they don’t get hung up on a person’s chronological age. She feels the choices and participation of older adults are based on their health, personality and interests.
“I have some folks in their 80s and 90s who prefer the options of our Prime Time group,” says Brown. And while Prime Time participants want a variety of activities, Brown adds that they want it understood that they will not be attending every event due to their active lifestyle, including travel, volunteer work outside of the church and care of their parents or grandchildren.
“What I’m finding at Huguenot Road Baptist Church is Baby Boomers transitioning to senior ministry along with their parents,” reports Melissa Fallen, associate pastor for older adults and administration. Just as teenagers prefer not to be with their parents, the same situation can present itself again.
While traditional senior events are offered, Fallen says this Richmond, Va., congregation has begun a series of conversations with Boomers to rethink what ministry to this generation will look like. Several activities including a Build-Your-Own-Sandwich Party and an outing to a baseball game has provided opportunities for Boomers to build fellowship and relationships.
Many Baby Boomers are caregivers for older parents, presenting an opportunity for churches to become involved. First Baptist Church, Asheville, offers educational events to provide support to caregivers, says Brown. She is excited about a new program, Memory Café, which will provide socialization and support to people with dementia and their caregivers each month.
Sunday school classes at Bonsack Baptist Church help those caring for older parents by offering respite care, offers Finley. A senior day care center has opened in the Roanoke Valley, and he could see the possibility of such a ministry at Bonsack when its Family Life Center is completed.
“I keep resources for families seeking to make the best decisions about care for their elderly patients,” says Walker. She often refers families at Columbia Baptist Church to sources for elder care management in the area, complete with legal advice, medical support and social work guidance. “Something as simple as recommending a doctor who makes house calls can be a major support to a family,” she reflects.
The growing number of seniors who do not live in close proximity to their children or have no contact with family who they can rely on for help is opening a door for ministry by churches. Fallen feels it’s critical for churches to also plan to minister to families attempting to provide care for older parents who are located a distance from them.
“I think the challenge in serving older adults who have limited or no support as they age has more to do with planning and resource coordination than anything else,” says Brown. She feels ministers need a consistent method of assessing the needs of each member. She uses a questionnaire for information to facilitate conversations about these issues.
And Brown adds, “We need to be able to make appropriate referrals when seniors have needs beyond the scope of what the church can provide.”
The wisdom and life experience that seniors can offer can be an invaluable resource to Kingdom ministry. Intergenerational activities are healthy for all involved, agree Finley and Fallen. “We just finished our annual VBS at Bonsack Baptist Church and marveled at how many adults and senior adults led out during the week and what a great opportunity this was for our young children,” Finley adds. “Our youth group and senior adults intentionally plan at least one fellowship a year together.”
“We really believe that every person has a purpose and function if we can find a way to engage it,” says Fallen. While providing lodging and food for the homeless recently, she reports that Huguenot Road’s Healing Hearts Ministry was involved in packing lunches each afternoon. She says it was a rewarding ministry for the seniors, working alongside youth and adults.
“It is vital that all members of the congregation feel included and useful,” adds Walker. “Age is not the best determinant in deciding what is appropriate for each person to contribute to ministry.”
Those ministering to seniors in churches realize with the growth of the aging population that congregations will not be able to meet all of their needs. “Fully understanding resource coordination or having access to someone who does is a very important dimension in ministry with senior adults,” reflects Brown. First Baptist, Asheville, partners with several organizations to offer programs that increase the quality of life for its senior adults.
“It is both a challenge and a delight to see God match up someone with a problem and someone who has a solution,” says Finley. He feels referral is one of his ministry responsibilities and adds that protecting seniors from fraud and exploitation is an ongoing challenge.
Barbara Francis ([email protected]) is a staff writer for the Herald.