A Prayer for Those Helping Elders to Age at Home
Posted by The First and the Last, we pray that you might help us deal with one of the most widespread and authentic fears of seniors and their families –the fear of aging alone with no one close to help them.
Article: According to "Living, and Dying, at Home" by Alana Samuels in The Atlantic, by 2050, one-fifth of the total U.S. population – about 88 million people – will be 65 and older. Many of them will want to continuing living in their homes, arrangements that could save the families and the government billions of dollars in the cost of other living situations. But this means that those who live in the neighborhood will have to take time to help long-lived people by taking them grocery shopping or to doctors' appointments, that youth spend some time visiting with them, and that others provide care to the aged and infirm. Another option is a network of seniors who live at home but participate in activities together, share service providers such as home-care aides and plumbers, and volunteer to help each other handle errands. There are more than 150 of these "Villages" already set up in cities around the world.
God of All Generations, give us the empathy and compassion to square off with the challenges that face the growing number of elders. May we work on plans to insure that as many seniors as possible can keep living at home. Guide, direct, and sustain those who provide care to elders now that they may train others for the future. Help neighborhoods and communities put services and programs in place that will serve elders, enabling them not only to survive but to thrive thanks to the help of others. May we see each other as an extended family.