Aging Gracefully
A Process of Change
“Life is a wonderful odyssey, an incredible
journey.”
David Petty
Aging Gracefully
Our Journey, Our Purpose
Mature in Christ
Grow in His Grace
Press toward the goal of becoming perfect in Him
Phil 3:13b-14
Life as odyssey suggests positive, profound
experiences, though we all recognize that life
in an imperfect world is fraught with difficulties,
trials, and tests of our faith.
Aging: Change and Adjustment
• How are you dealing with the fact of your aging?
• There are four basic dimensions of change associated
with aging:
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The Physiological Dimension
The Psychological Dimension
The Sociological Dimension
The Spiritual Dimension
The Physiological Dimension
• What physical changes are you experiencing with age?
• What are some of the things you do to offset these
changes?
• To be successful in adapting to the aging process is to
change what you can change for the better and not
worrying about those things over which you have no
control.
The Psychological Dimension
• Memory – Our memory consists of three separate but
related process.
– Registration
– Retention
– Recall
The Psychological Dimension
• Learning – “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks”
– Changes in learning ability due to aging appear to be small.
– Older Adults are somewhat slower in learning new material.
– Attitudes toward learning may change with age.
The Sociological Dimension
• Human Relationships
– Has your social relationships changed with age?
– How do you picture your retirement affecting your social
relationships?
– After retirement people tend to terminate social associations
and job related relationships
– “People persons”, who thrive on being with people, will seek
to replace those relationships.
The Sociological Dimension
• Caring for a person more senior than we
– Be careful not impose your relationship needs on them
– Understand their previous lifestyle to determine needs
– Watch for true depression
A significant component of aging takes place
“between our ears”. Your attitude is critical as we
grow older.
What adjustments can you make to help develop
and maintain a positive outlook on life?
Negativity and Old People
• In colonial America, age was highly honored-much as it
is today in other societies.
• Now, respect and reverence = fear and contempt
• A “wise old man” = “old geezer”
• A “venerated old mother” = “old fuddy-duddy”
• Why??????
Beliefs and Opinions or Myths
• Senility inevitably accompanies old age.
• Most old people are lonely and isolated from their
families.
• The majority of old people are in poor health.
• Old people tend to become more religious as they age.
• The majority of old people live in poverty.
Beliefs and Opinions or Myths
• Older workers are less productive than younger ones.
• Old people who retire usually suffer a decline in health
and early death.
• Most old people have no interest in, or capacity for,
sexual relations.
• Most old people end up in nursing homes and other
long-term care institutions.
Stereotypes
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Positive stereotype – “All old people are wise.”
Negative stereotype – “All old people are childlike.”
“You can’t teach an old dog a new tricks.”
Television programming tends to provide negative
images of elderly people.
• Limited or nonexistent contact or experience with older
persons.
Prejudice & Discrimination
• Attitudes toward older adults
– “I believe that old people have passed their usefulness in the business
world.”
– “I do not like working with old people.”
– “I will not consider this old person’s resume for our current job
opening.”
– Prejudice is an attitude or opinion formed before the facts are known.
– Many well-intentioned people teach lies because they never sought
the truth about what they were being told.
– When we discover untruths, they must be
rectified immediately.
Prejudice & Discrimination
• It is our responsibility-individually and as a society-to
gather correct information about the elderly and the
aging process of change.
• What do you think older people should do to address
the overall negativity toward them as a group in our
society?
• What can your church or denomination do collectively?
Exercise and Nutrition
• Our health is surely a chief factor in quality of life.
• Develop a health conscious attitude.
• Our good shape should be:
– For God’s glory
– For our own edification (learning), and
– A model for others.
Exercise and Nutrition
• Eating Habits
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Eat only when you are hungry
When at home, eat at one place only
Don’t read or watch television while eating
Use a smaller plate
Don’t leave snack food throughout the house
Practice leaving a little food on your plate
Do not miss a meal to splurge
Exercise and Nutrition
• Exercise
– Cardiovascular
– Muscle Strength
– Flexibility
• Are you taking care of your body?
• Are you pleased with how you are treating God’s
temple?
Independence to Dependence
• Only 5% of the elderly reside in a nursing home.
• Role Transitions and Role Reversal
• Emotions
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Unforeseen Change
Alarm or Panic
Denial
Uncertainty
Fear
No comfortable person for whom to turn
Independence to Dependence
• The Caregiver
– Awareness – That your parent may one day become
dependent
– Devise a plan – Include the dependent person if possible.
– Sibling Unity – A family cannot take care of Mom or Dad
when they are bickering.
– Recognize both real and potential feelings.
– Recognize role reversal
Independence to Dependence
• Programs and Facilities
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Home Health Care
Adult Day Care
Independent Living
Assisted Living
Intermediate Nursing Care
Skilled Nursing Care
Independence to Dependence
• Your future…….Which of the following scenarios would best
serve you and your family?
– I will fight dependency as long as I can never consent to being
institutionalized!
– I will try to help my family make the best decision in my behalf, and I
will try to adapt to the change as cheerfully as possible
– I will be passive about becoming dependent. Let someone else decide
for me what I should do. I may not like it, but what can I do?
He Who Dies With the Most Toys Wins
• You will not be loading up your casket with stuff and
taking it with you.
• Matthew 6:19-21
• You must be a good steward of the things God has
given you
• Make provisions for your family
He Who Dies With the Most Toys Wins
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Asset Inventory
Wills and Trusts
Power of Attorney
Gifting Now or Later?
What is your opinion of this statement, “I am spending
my kid’s inheritance?”
To Retire or Not to Retire
• There is life after retirement, and the quality of that life
will depend on you.
• Planning for Retirement
– If you retire, What will you do?
– 2,340 hours each year at a job, How now do you fill that
time?
– If you retire, How will you feel? Emotions
To Retire or Not to Retire
• Planning for Retirement
– If you retire, With what will you retire? Finances
– If you retire, Where will you live? Mortgage Free?
Downsize?
– If you retire, With whom will you retire?
• Spouse
• Grandkids
• Boomerang Kids
To Retire or Not to Retire
• God will continue to want you to utilize your spiritual
gifts.
• How will you serve Him after retirement?
• How will you serve His church after retirement?
• Will you consult your spouse on how to serve?
The Spiritual Dimension
• Spiritual Change is “to become.”
• Myth: Old = God is finished working on me.
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Changing from worldly, fleshy nature
Transforming your mind
Repenting of sin
Working toward Righteousness
Spend time in God’s written word
The Spiritual Dimension
• Don’t let fear and faith take over. Matt. 6:25-34
• Develop contentment. 2 Corth. 11:16-33
• God’s calling = Our fruitfulness. Eph. 4:1, 2 Pet. 1:10,
John 15:1-17
• Psalm 71
The Spiritual Dimension
• It is entirely appropriate to retire from a position of
service to the Lord, it is never appropriate to retire from
doing God’s work altogether.
• Instead of considering retiring from something, consider
retiring to something.