For Faith Communities
To download the Care Management Brochure click here
To download the African American Caregivers Brochure click here
To download the complete list of presentations available click here
In 2004, Lutheran Family Services of Colorado, Care Management Solutions, received a two-year grant from the ELCA Foundation Lutheran Services for the Elderly Endowmentto raise awareness and educate church leaders and members regarding needs and resources available for caregivers of older adults. How this outreach was implemented and the results of the effort are now available here.
The Relationship between Faith and Caregiving
Research has long shown a strong relationship between a patient’s religious beliefs and their ability to cope with their illness. A sense of control over feelings of helplessness, finding a framework for meaning, and the sense of a source greater than one own self figure heavily in their coping abilities. Less considered, perhaps, is the relationship between faith beliefs and a caregiver’s ability to handle the challenges of caring for an older adult. In an article from Science and Theology News, Weaver and Koenig note that researchers at Johns Hopkins University surveyed caregivers of persons with end-stage cancer and Alzheimer’ disease and found successful coping by caregivers was associated with two variables: the support they got from social contacts and “support received from religious faith.” They conclude, “…having support from one’s faith appears to be one of the most important factors responsible for successful coping with the stress of caregiving.” What happens here is that not only do religious beliefs foster an ethos of care and responsibility in the caregiver, but “…those who have an active faith tend to have a better relationship with the care recipients than do non-religious caregivers…” Among other things, this can reduce the risk of depression. It seems apparent that there is strength for both the care receiver and the caregiver facing what may seem like overwhelming emotional and physical challenges.
Aging and Spirituality: Some Reflections about the Journey
"We worry too much about something to live on -- and too little about something to live for." (Virtues of Aging, Jimmy Carter quoting Jimmy Townsend)
Spirituality has to do with "something to live for" and as such, it is particularly important for older adults. The focus of spirituality is purpose, meaning, and world view. While spirituality and religion often exist together, that is not true for everyone. What is common however, is the need to ‘make sense’ of one’s years – for what reason have I lived?
Memories and reminiscence are an important aspect of building and validating spirituality in older adults. Scanning the years of one’s life not only affirms how beliefs have brought growth and wisdom, but also challenges one to resolve distress or guilt over events of the past. Such life review is a necessary task in later years for ‘making sense’ of life.
For further reading about Spirituality and Aging:
The
Forum on Religion, Spirituality and Aging -
part of American Society on Aging
The National Interfaith Coalition on Aging - offers information on aging and spirituality with links to other mainline Christian agencies dealing with aging.
Suggestions for the faith community to help caregivers and older adults:
1. Meet with church leaders and others in your congregation who are interested in ministry to older adults and caregivers, to raise awareness and begin discussion about their needs. The following can be used to help members understand and respond to the rapidly increasing numbers of caregivers and older adults in our congregations who need help:
Eighty percent of all care received by older Americans is not provided by "institutions" or care facilities. It is provided by family members – spouses, children, grandchildren and other relatives – people just like you. (National Alliance for Caregiving/AARP National Caregiver Survey)
"Caregivers are a population at risk…. many caregivers are depressed, and they feel isolated and burdened. Their physical and mental health is worse than [that of] the general adult population and their health status shows classic symptoms of stress. If they burn out, both their loved one and society will suffer." (From a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation survey on caregivers)
Caregivers are twice as likely to be depressed as non-caregivers, and those caring for persons with dementia experience even higher rates of depression.
"What is the congregational outreach to older members – how effective is it? Is it more than visits to elderly? Local congregations will need to develop outreach ministries to families with older members… in addition, they will need programs for members who become long-distance caregivers, a group whose number is expected to double over the next 15 years." Anne Streaty Wimberly, Professor at Atlanta’s Interdenominational Theological Center, in Aging and Spirituality:
"There needs to be more awareness of those who care for the
elderly. If there were, I feel churches would be more likely to
have an active homebound ministry…. churches must realize that probably
many of their members are part of the ‘hidden’ caregivers, and churches
need to help those who are family caregivers with ‘the little things’
-- sitting with someone so a caregiver can have some ‘respite’ or
time alone, or providing a meal from time to time…. I don’t think
people understand the stress and isolation caregiving brings." (A Caregiver from a congregation)
2. Incorporate education about aging and
caregiver issues into your church programs. Arrange for experts
from your community to speak, or schedule an adult forum presentation
by the Care Management Solutions Program of Lutheran Family
Services of Colorado in the Denver metro area. Click here
for a list
of presentations (PDF, 39kb).
3. Tell Caregivers about this web site and the resources it offers.
4. Contact the Care Management Solutions program at Lutheran Family Services of Colorado to refer caregivers and/or older adults in your congregation who may need consultation, counseling or care management.
For additional information about our services, please call or e-mail us at:
Denver Office: 303- 922-3433, ext. 5835
caremanagement@lfsco.org.
