Today the CBC Radio program, White Coat, Black Art did an excellent piece on medical care for the elderly. The host is Dr. Brian Goldman who does emergency room medicine. He explored whether the elderly get second-class medical treatment simply because they are old. Does a 39-year-old get priority over an eighty-nine-year-old for care? Should they? The elderly usually take more time to treat for a variety of reasons and in our overcrowded emergency rooms time is both precious and of the essence.
As a pastor the majority of the parishioners I see in hospital or in chronic care facilities are senior citizens. My impression is that they receive adequate to good care, depending on where they are. Some of them are treated with great compassion and kindness by staff and the reason they don't get what I would consider excellent care is because nurses and caregivers simply don't have time.
As a spiritual care provider I face the same issues. There is only so much of me to spread around to the various areas of ministry and older folk are not usually "squeaky wheels." Often younger adults who are reasonably healthy expect immediate response from their minister when they feel they are in crisis, whereas seniors are not demanding, for the most part. They grew up in another era with a different mindset.
I think most of us want our elders to be treated with respect in the medical system and in their communities of faith. In the church we can all ask what we can do to be loving and supportive to those who are often neither seen nor heard yet have laid the foundation of faith for others.
As a pastor the majority of the parishioners I see in hospital or in chronic care facilities are senior citizens. My impression is that they receive adequate to good care, depending on where they are. Some of them are treated with great compassion and kindness by staff and the reason they don't get what I would consider excellent care is because nurses and caregivers simply don't have time.
As a spiritual care provider I face the same issues. There is only so much of me to spread around to the various areas of ministry and older folk are not usually "squeaky wheels." Often younger adults who are reasonably healthy expect immediate response from their minister when they feel they are in crisis, whereas seniors are not demanding, for the most part. They grew up in another era with a different mindset.
I think most of us want our elders to be treated with respect in the medical system and in their communities of faith. In the church we can all ask what we can do to be loving and supportive to those who are often neither seen nor heard yet have laid the foundation of faith for others.
I think you do a great job of caring for all of your congregation and beyond! If you can't be there yourself you inquire or call and that's often enough for some. My mom fell in early March and has been house bound. Her friends have been amazing, bringing meals, visiting, even bringing the bridge game to her so she wouldn't have to go out, but her minister has yet to visit or call. As in everything God created all kinds.....
ReplyDeleteI'm glad your mother has such a good support system from friends. I'm sorry to hear about her tumble.
ReplyDeleteThere is a person in our congregation who is going through a tough time after cancer surgery and when I went to see her I became aware of the gang of friends who are sitting with her, staying overnight, bringing meals. This is practical Christianity at its best.