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New Study Shows What Americans Don't Know About Long-Term Care

Most Americans know what long-term care is and how much it costs, but their scores fall short regarding how many people will need it and how they will pay for it. The MetLife Long-Term Care IQ Survey, taken by 1,021 individuals aged 40 to 70 in 2009, reveals that most are not taking appropriate steps to protect themselves from potentially catastrophic expenses. Right at Home

Related article: Holiday Visits May Be the Time to Discuss Home Care

Seniors and Computers

The concept of lifelong learning took on full meaning for Esther McGowan when she registered for Intro to PCs for Seniors. “I have grandchildren who use computers, and I wanted to get a feel for them,” says McGowan. Delores McCarthy, another student of the class agrees. “I overheard my ten-year-old grandson discussing computers, and I thought, I’ve got to get on the ball.” Many seniors are signing up for computer classes through local schools, colleges, community centers, and online (Internet) resources. Today’s technology dictates the demand and need for computer knowledge from people of all ages, and senior citizens are determined not to get left behind. Seniors and Computers

Retirement Hobbies

A long list of ideas for the senior in your life! Retirement Hobby Ideas

Getting Creative with Defined Areas of LIFT/Caregiver Ministry

Perhaps you’re having difficulty recruiting volunteers for caregiver ministry at your church because of fears, misconceptions, or feelings of inadequacy regarding all that “caregiving” might entail. Here are some defined ideas (some original, some take from other churches) that may draw the unobvious caregiver to your ministry; feel free to use these titles or make up your own.

• Showing Kindness in Labors of Love (SKILL) (or) Helping Hands (providing yard maintenance, shoveling, and small home repairs for the elderly & widows)
• Hospital In-patient Visitation Encouragers (HIVE)
• Meals Ministry
• Correspondence Connection (or) Caring through Cards
• Keeping in Touch (with shut-ins and the homebound) (KIT)
• Team-up for Transport (or) Rides within Reach (transportation for seniors who no longer drive including errands, appointments, or accompanying you to church.)
• Caregiver Relief & Respite (or) Breathers for the Burden Lifters (or) Helping Caregivers
• Carry On (providing assistance to a full-time caregiver by sitting with / visiting their loved one for a block of time to give the caregiver respite.)
• Parents’ Nite Out (church sponsored child-care afternoon/evening for special needs families)
• Older Wiser Loving Saints (OWLS) (General name for elder ministry)
• Helping, Encouraging, And Refreshing Together (HEARTS) (General name for elder ministry)

Four Gift Ideas for Shut-Ins

Do you have someone on your gift list who is a shut-in due to illness, age, or both? Whether it’s a family member, or a friend, you’ll want to select their gifts with extra care. This article provides four gift ideas that most shut-ins would appreciate. I’m basing this article on my experiences with my father and his contemporaries who receive full-time nursing care, but some of the ideas would also apply for younger folks who can’t get out due to illness or disability. Gifts for Shut-Ins

Health Care: Assisting the Homebound

Most of us are aware of a shut-in person in our neighborhood, church, civic organization, workplace or in our own families. Very often we have a desire to care for them, but are unsure in our role as caregivers. Where do we begin? How do we reach out to these individuals without violating their lives? How can we best assist them with respect and dignity? Knowing some of the characteristics of a shut-in will aid you in administering proper care. Assisting the Homebound

Christ-like Caring Ministry Ideas

Tips for visiting the elderly, widows, and shut-ins, and ministry to “forgotten” peoples (pages 5-7 in this pdf document) Visitation Tips