Major Concerns of the Elderly

What are the major concerns of the elderly? One research report indicated that the two major issues are declining health and lack of money, followed by anticipated loss of mental health faculties, being dependent on others, and becoming dependent on family. The elderly worry least about being isolated or alone and living in a nursing facility (AARP, 1999). As with other age groups, seniors researchers have classified older persons into various strata in order to understand them. Herb Shore, veteran gerontologist, has developed an overview of the aging adult.

Another age range for seniors posits three generations. The "young old" are 65–74. "Middle old" seniors are 75–85, and the "old old" are 85 plus.

As you might imagine, age is not always a reliable indication of an elder's quality of life. Another description of the senior years helps church leaders to understand their needs:

Continuity with middle age—This period is characterized by continuing many of the activities of middle age without the burden of employment. Some carry over skills learned in employment into retirement, as a teacher who now volunteers to tutor children.

• Retirement plans pursued
  
  
• Middle-age lifestyle continued
  
  
• Other activities substituted for work

Early transition—The most common events for this period were the onset of ill health, the death of a spouse, or the need to move. A widow said that her new station in life was like being sawed in two: one half is thrown away; the other is told to "get over it." An older man was deprived of reading and driving when he had a stroke.

• Involuntary transitional events
  
  
• Voluntary transitional events

Revised lifestyle—Seniors feel the need for affiliation with others who share their lifestyle during this period. They want the company of other people. This may mean revised life objectives, including finding ways to deal with loneliness.

• Adaptation to changes of early transition
  
  
• Stable lifestyle appropriate to older adulthood
  
  
• Socialization realized through age-group affiliation

Later transition—In this period elders begin to experience loss in several areas.

• Loss of health and mobility
  
  
• Need for assistance and/or care
  
  
• Loss of autonomy

Final period

• Adaptation to changes of later transition
  
  
• Stable lifestyle appropriate to level of dependency
  
  
• Sense of finitude, mortality

(James Fisher, "A Framework for Describing Developmental Change Among Adults," Adult Education Quarterly, 1993.)

Fisher's framework may prove helpful to church leaders charged with planning educational programs and activities for older persons. Each stage has both potential and challenges for the elderly. Fisher's framework also has application to grouping and grading adults in Sunday School. Few churches have a strict age-grading system through the adult years, that is, all persons 79–84 belong in one class. Instead of strict age grading for seniors, consider a class or department for each period. This allows seniors to be grouped not by strict age grading but by lifestyle. One caution: grouping all persons in the final period will mean the development of specialized homebound departments when these persons cannot attend church on a regular basis.

AdultApplication: Interview some elders in your church or family. Ask them to rate themselves on a scale of 1 to 5 according to Fisher's framework. To what extent do these phase descriptions apply to them? You may want to extend the discussion by asking them how their Christian faith affects and strengthens them during their later maturity.