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The Periodic Midlife/Longlife Update E-newsletter
The Periodic Midlife/Longlife Update E-newsletter
is devoted to sharing information and enhancing excellence in ongoing faith and holistic formation for maturing adults from midlife through end of life.
Bill Prather, Founder and Director
of Partners In Pastoral Care
seeks to provide members with an ongoing flow of practical information that leaders/models can use directly with adults of all ages. Training is also offered through the educational arm of Partners in Pastoral Care.
All opinions expressed herein are those of the author. Permission is granted to reproduce this issue in whole or in part as long as its source is identified.
13300-56 South Cleveland Avenue
Suite 238
Fort Myers, FL 33907
239.482.3212
239 482 3212 fax Shepardscare@aol.com
www.partnersinpastoralcare.org
Inner healing is a process of personality reconstruction under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Ruth Carter Stapleton
In This Issue:
1. Baby Boomer and Elder Facts
2. Begin a Conversation 3. Longlifers: Happy or Sad? Some Contributing Factors 4. Beneficial Websites I use. 5. A Coaching Tool: When You Visit a Memory Challenged Adult
1.The first baby boomer applying for Social Security was a retired teacher from New Jersey who was born at one second after midnight on January1, 1946. In all, there are nearly 80 million baby boomers who will become eligible to start collecting over the next 20 years.
In 2006, about 7.4% of Americans age 75 and older lived in nursing homes, versus 8.1% in 2000 and 10.2% in 1990. Reason: More seniors are choosing assisted-living facilities or at-home care. The annual average cost for nursing home care is $74,806 and assisted living is $32,573.
More than 25% of adults aged 50+ have left their childhood faith to join another religion or stopped practicing any faith. The greatest gain is among unaffiliated people – agnostics, atheists and people who have no particular religious affiliation.
2. I would like to begin a conversation with you, my colleagues, on the topic of spiritual dis-eases that may be the underlying cause of some of the chronic difficulties we see in some our Midlife and more Longlife adults. I hyphenate the word ‘disease’ in an attempt to differentiate it from the more pathological orientation of the word used by the medical and psychiatric communities.
My first question is: are there Spiritual Dis-eases?
Are the personality difficulties we see in some maturing adults the result of their reaction to a medical condition, consequences of some form of mental illness, or, are some of these toxic, noxious, or self-disturbing behaviors the result of some spiritual malady or dis-ease?
It’s been suggested that our culture is suffering from some form of spiritual deprivation, some chronic malnourishment of the spirit within. When we look at something like increases in suicide rate in a certain population, for example, might such a disturbing rise be the result of some underlying spiritual anemia?
I am convinced that our culture is spiritually struggling. We can point to increasing violence in all categories of personal and property crime; increasing drug use; a spiraling divorce rate; breakdown in sexual mores; so-called “white collar” deception, greediness, and defacto suspension of organizational ethics; family and relationship neglect and abuse; school and public meeting “massacres,” and anti-social activities of all types topping the “news.” On more individual levels, we see personal distress rising “off the charts,” depression becoming the emotional “common cold,” narcissistic behavior almost expected, arrogance normalized, hubris honored, and a broad host of personal violations of civility ignored. Are such cultural markers the result of physical or mental disease alone, or is there something deeper at work that seems to be contorting our society?
We are all very well aware of physical diseases; the medical community does an admirable job at cataloging, if not trying to cure them. Likewise, we’re fairly well aware of mental diseases, or what we call mental illness. The mental health community mirrors, with mental disorders, what the medical community does with physical diseases.
However, if we live holistically, as an integration of body, and mind, and spirit, to such a degree that each one of these three affects the other two, i.e., body affects mind and spirit; mind, affects body and spirit; and spirit affects body and mind, then wouldn’t it stand to reason that we can suffer from spiritual dis-eases in a like manner as we can suffer from physical and mental diseases? Might these three disease states even co-exist at times?
Yet, even though we might agree that there are spiritual diseases, or at least dis-eases; to my knowledge we have never catalogued, or even named them. Those of us in the spiritual healing professions: pastoral counselors, chaplains, healing coaches, and other professionals involved in spiritual counseling and healing, have no manual of spiritual dis-eases to assist us in our work with those who come to us. We’re left only with the lexicon of physical maladies put together by the medical community, and/or the DSM IV-TR for a categorization of mental disorders, put together by the psychiatric community. These can be helpful, but they fall short of giving credence to any maladaptive consequences on the human condition caused primarily by spiritual breakdown.
Have you ever seen this Spiritual Dis-ease in any elder adults that you serve or have encountered? If so, I’ d love to hear from you.
In the next issue or two, I will name and itemize the symptoms of spiritual dis-eases I have encountered within and without the church doors. I invite comment, feedback, and critique of these ideas.
3. Although the spiritual component was not considered in the researchers studies, I still found their findings interesting and helpful to me, personally and professionally, allowing me to add coaching comments below.
In a report published by Florida Today, Pamela Tronetti said there are two major factors that make seniors victims of depression and both are part of the natural aging process. As people grow older, they experience a chemical imbalance produced by reduced levels of serotonin and norepinephrine, two recognized mood boosters found in the brain. Loss of health, independence, finances, and medication side effects are additional factors that can lead to depression.
Tronetti encourages patients to make changes in their lifestyles to promote better mental health. Exercise and social interaction can go a long way toward improving an individual’s outlook, but dietary changes may be needed as well. Foods that are high in sugar and fat can drain energy, making individuals feel lethargic. Having eight hours of sleep each night is another important practice to combat depression.
Coaching Note: One of the most difficult accomplishments you and I will ever attempt is helping an individual who is 55+ years to make a lifestyle change. On the other hand, if not us, who are models, than who?
Idea Note: I must begin with myself. Discipline my exercise, mind, and spirit. Encourage, by providing resources and/or opportunities that will expose your folks to the richness of holistic life. Example: Set guidelines for the types of foods served at your gatherings. Begin a low impact exercise and/or stretch class. Facilitate a group discussion concerning sleep habits, with a gerontologist present.
Yang Yang, a sociologist from the University of Chicago states that research has led her to believe that the happiest Americans are the oldest. From 1972 to 2004, Yang interviewed approximately 28,000 people between ages 18 and 88 to complete her study, which has been published in the American Sociological Review. “The good news is that with age comes
Happiness,” Yang told the Associated Press. “Life gets better in one’s perception as one ages.”
Coaching Note: When I think about it, this is so true. Even with the experience of more physical discomfort, lose of agility, and enduring the loss of friends and loved ones, I constantly engage Longlifers who are much more content than the younger generation.
Aging expert Linda George of Duke University, author of another report published in the American Sociological Review, agrees with Yang. George says seniors have lower expectations and greater appreciation for the achievements they have made. Young people expect more out of life and are disheartened when they fail to achieve their goals.
Idea Note: What a marvelous opportunity to sit down with the pastor/leader of the youth of your church and develop a mentoring project with Longlifers and the Postmodern and Buster generations.
It is interesting to note that Yang’s study found 33 percent of Americans reported being very happy at age 88, while only 24 percent of those in their late teens and early 20s felt the same level of happiness.
Coaching Note: You are not surprised when I draw your attention to the fact that those 65+ who attend the elder meetings and activities, church, remain active in their communities, travel, perform volunteer work, and are socially active, appear to be the happiest of all.
4. Here are some of the websites that I have used during the past six months:
www.walkscore.com - Find out if your existing or future neighborhood is walkable. www.utica.edu/academic/institutes/cimip - Visit the “publications” link to see the released study that racks U.S. Secret Service cases of identity theft. www.aarp.org/families/home_desigh/rate_home/a2004-03-23-caps.html - will help find a Certified Aging in Place Specialist to help make a Longlifers’ house a home for a lifetime. www.easterseals.com/ruralcaregiving - highlights the ever-increasing numbers and unmet needs of rural caregivers.
Coaching Note: There is no better place I have found that I can
help me creating a ministry to caregivers and the cared for in rural areas. Being from Wyoming I know what rural means. Once I know the specific need, God gives the creative ideas and spiritual strength to that need. www.housing.socialworktoday.com – a nationwide database of senior housing options that lists over 65,000 facilities. www.silverbook.org/index.php - an almanac of more than 1,000 facts, statistics, graphs, and data from 200 agencies on chronic diseases. www.aaafoundation.org - is a triple A “Enhancement of Driving Performance Among Older Drivers Report,” which evaluates the effects of an education intervention for older drivers. http://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/investigations/MailFraud/fraudschemes/SeniorFraud.aspx - here you will be educated and informed about mail fraud, including fraud against older citizens of the U.S. www.aoa.gov/prof/statistics/profile/2007/3.asp - learn most everything concerning the population statistics, that would benefit your ministry or teaching. http://viablefuturestoolkit.org/index.htm - will lead you to think outside the box and inspire you to creative ways of providing intergenerational connections and relationships while reaching out in ministry.
5. This warm, friendly and upbeat style, with vibrant colors, is an appealing picture book to share with a person with Alzheimer’s or other memory impairment. Lydia Burdick wrote an earlier book entitled, Sunshine on My Face and it also has large enough to fit “two laps” at once for reading together. Each page illustrates a month of the year, accompanied by a simple text presenting a common theme for the month. The many activities and diverse characters of all ages portrayed in the lively book present lots to talk or reminisce about. At the back of the book, sample conversation starters and songs for each page help to add to the enjoyment and encourage interaction. Suggestions on how to use the book are also included.
You may order the book, direct, through Health Professions Press, Baltimore, MD 410.337.9585 or www.healthpropress.com.
My joy would be complete if one were published with a spiritual theme. Maybe that would be a something that someone you know might be interested and/or inspired to do.
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