Diocese explores the need for Elder Ministry Outreach Program

October 6, 2005

Almost six years ago the U.S. Catholic bishops issued a statement titled, Blessings of Age: A Pastoral Message on Growing Older Within the Faith Community.

In their statement, the bishops pointed out that "both society and the church are just beginning to grapple with the social, economic and spiritual implications of the rapidly growing group of American aged 65 years of age or older."

According to Marilyn Murphy, social concerns facilitator in the Diocese of Sioux City, a 2005 survey in this 24-county diocese affirmed the bishops' findings. The survey found that members aged 65 years and older made up one-fourth (25 percent) of the total number of people in the 50-plus parishes that responded to the survey. Over one-half of this group were women.

In Blessings of Age, the bishops said that "along with age come new experiences, new concerns, new questions. This situation both inspires and compels the church to develop new pastoral responses, especially in parishes."

"How the church treats its older members is a sign of its spiritual health and maturity," they wrote, "and while the parish's chief concern is meeting the spiritual needs of its elderly members, the fact that a person's physical, emotional, mental and social needs affect his/her spiritual health cannot be ignored."

They acknowledged that few parishes could meet all the needs of an older person. However, they believe that that parish must recognize these needs and reach out to appropriate resources in the local church and community for assistance.

Catholic Charities fits into this picture as a resource in the local church and believes that its service to the faith community in this diocese includes supporting the work of parishes in meeting the needs of their members.

This responsibility was affirmed by the bishops' message and led Catholic Charities to explore the need for an Elder Ministry Outreach Program as part of its service structure.

Jerry Eaton, executive director of Catholic Charities, said, "The number of parish priests is dwindling; the number of nuns who used to be in parishes and in schools is drastically smaller by comparison to 50 years ago. The families within a parish are very busy with both parents often working, rushing around from activity to activity for their children, the extended family support system for elders isn't as strong as it once was, people are used to counting on government support systems to do the work community/parish members had to do before the New Deal and other social programs started."

Consequently, he said, any new idea can seem quite daunting under these circumstances.

"That pool of talent within the elder community itself will be important to initiate, to enthuse, to plan, to work, and to use their wisdom so we collectively use our resources wisely and well," said Eaton.

In collaboration with the Diocesan Adult and Family Ministries Office, Catholic Charities first priority was to gather relevant information from the parishes/pastors in the diocese. A questionnaire based on the areas of need included the bishops' statement was sent to all parishes. Fifty-six parishes from both urban and rural areas completed the survey.

The survey revealed:

1) Regarding the spiritual needs of elders - of the parishes reporting: Bible study groups in which elders could participate were offered in 46 percent of the parishes responding. Small faith-based sharing groups and adult formation programs were available in about one-third. Retreats for seniors were offered in only 12 of the parishes that reported. Spiritual support programs for homebound elders and those in nursing homes or other facilities were provided in 55 to 60 percent of the reporting parishes. The programs consisted primarily of Communion calls on First Fridays or weekly.

2) Regarding the spiritual needs of elders - of the parishes reporting: a) Loss of family members - Over two-thirds of the parishes reporting provided funeral planning; one-fourth provided bereavement counseling. Fewer than 10 percent had a BeFriender Ministry Program. b) Loss of home and/or lack of financial resources - over 50 percent of the parishes reporting offered some type of help with food needs, etc. About 25 percent offered information on community resources. Fewer than 20 percent helped with referrals for housing assistance, legal counseling and help with accessing government programs.

3) Regarding declining/loss of personal health and/or faculties - of the parishes reporting: Assistance devices for the disabled were provided in 48 percent; transportation to all parish activities was provided in 33 percent; home visitations were offered in almost 54 percent; handyman/chore services existed in 14 to 18 percent; health fair in-home support services, Alzheimer's support, mental health counseling, help lines, blood pressure screenings, etc. were offered in 10 percent or fewer; parish nurse programs were available in 14 to 18 percent.

4) Regarding social activities for older members - of the parishes reporting: Special dinners/celebrations were provided in 43 percent; holiday events, quilting and sewing groups were offered in one-third or fewer. Book clubs, life review and reminiscent groups, and a newsletter for elders were almost non-existent.

5) Regarding the call to service - of the parishes reporting: Sixty percent encourage older members to visit parishioners who are in nursing homes; to pray for the needs of the parish; and to serve on pastoral councils and other committees. Forty-four percent encourage elders to create volunteer opportunities. Twenty-five percent encourage elders to become advocates on public issues and difficult moral causes, e.g., end-of-life issues.

6) Regarding care giving/caregivers - of the parishes responding: One-fourth have a process in place for referring persons to available community resources. Twelve percent have a way of recognizing and blessing caregivers. Support groups for caregivers, adult education programs addressing concerns of caregivers, and respite care were provided in fewer than five percent.

Parishes were asked to respond to the question, "What assistance would you welcome to better serve the elders of your parish? Of the parishes reporting the following suggestions were received (not in order of importance):

1. Provide assistance and specific data on various programs a parish could implement;

2. Day-long workshops or days of reflections centering on personal spirituality and the difficulties of aging;

3. Workshops to outline life-death issues clearly in combination with estate planning information;

4. Information on senior employment resources, housing and legal counseling assistance, information on government programs and BeFriender Ministry;

5. Support in ministry to nursing homes;

6. Financial assistance is sometimes needed, just as it was needed for farmers in the 1980s;

7. Help with lobbying on issues affecting elders;

8. Foster combined efforts of clustered parishes' senior programs;

9. Resources and formation of support groups for caregivers and their families, respite care, all areas of care giving would be helpful;

10. Counseling for "things we can't do," depression, suicide attempts, grief;

11. Information on health care, health fairs and parish nursing programs.

On the basis of the responses in the returned questionnaires, some general conclusions can be drawn:

1. Traditional activities such as funeral planning, home and nursing home visitation, together with Bible study groups and limited emergency assistance are found in almost two-thirds of the parishes.

2. In approximately the same number, elders are encouraged to participate in traditional activities; praying for the needs of the parish, serving on committees and visiting parishioners in nursing homes.

3. Several parishes rely on local community resources and providers of aging services to meet the needs of their elderly members.

4. The suggestions received for "welcomed assistance" reflect the need for collaborative efforts to develop and sustain an elderly ministry diocesan-wide program which would be a vehicle for assisting parishes in meeting the physical, emotional, mental and social needs of their older people.