Pastoral Care of Older Adults
Overview
More than half of mainline Protestants are over the age of sixty. Older adults have special needs to which many pastors are not adequately prepared to minister. Pastoral Care of Older Adults addresses such problems, many of which were identified in an extensive survey of clergy. The book provides practical guidance for parish pastors, and other counselors, to deal with such issues as Alzheimer's disease, the chronically ill, relocation, health crises, grief, depression, anxiety, gender differences, poverty, and the issues faced by the children of older adults.
Top Highlights
“Those who do have a deep and intimate relationship with God usually run toward, not away from, God for comfort when tragedy strikes.” (Page 22)
“. S. Lewis said it well when he wrote, ‘Pain is God’s megaphone to a deaf world” (Page 22)
“Fourth, as we repeatedly emphasize throughout this book, elders should be encouraged to use their gifts, talents, and wisdom to serve God by generously giving of their time and talents to meet the needs of others.” (Page 23)
“In our work, we’ve found that persons who become angry at God or turn away from spiritual matters when bad things happen often did not have a truly meaningful relationship with God prior to these events.” (Page 22)
“The time from onset of the disease to death, then, is approximately seven to eleven years, although it can range from only two years to fifteen years or more.” (Page 29)
- Title: Pastoral Care of Older Adults
- Author: Harold G. Koenig
- Publisher: Fortress Press
- Publication Date: 1998
- Pages: 112
Harold G. Koenig M. D. is Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Internal Medicine, and Director of Psychiatric Services at Duke University Geriatric Evaluation.