CONNECT WITH THE PAST FOR A BETTER FUTURE

Not only do seniors make up a large proportion of my congregation, these Traditionalists and Baby Boomers are also among the most dedicated and hardworking members I have. They love their church and they are faithful in attending services. They preserve the history of the church—its growing pains and glory days; and when they share the testimonies of how they “got the victory,” they build our faith in God and make us wise. They are the prayer-warrior generation; and I know I can count on them to hold their pastor up in prayer.
As our faithful seniors age, they encounter health challenges that can affect their ability to attend services and contribute to the life of the church. One of these health challenges is Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s is a disease of the brain that impacts our short-term and long term memory and our thinking ability as more brain cells become damaged and eventually die. The disease also affects our mood, emotions and behaviour, as well as our ability to perform daily living activities. While Alzheimer’s is not a normal part of aging, it usually shows up in people over the age of 65 years; age is a risk factor.
Last week I welcomed Kari Quinn-Humphrey, Public Education Manager for the Alzheimer Society of Toronto, to a special seniors forum on Alzheimer's Disease at Toronto New Covenant Cathedral. More than two dozen seniors attended the forum and listened tentatively as Kari explained the risk factors for Alzheimer’s and ways to keep the brain healthy.
Here are some things we and seniors can do to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s as we age:
·         Protect your head by avoiding falls. If you have a cane, use it
·         Be socially active
·         Choose a healthy lifestyle and eat healthy foods
·         Be physically active; walk at least 30 minutes a day
·         Trust God for your divine healing

Seniors are important to the health and continuity of our congregations. We in turn should be concerned about the health and continuity of our seniors and take every opportunity to learn about what affects them. We should find ways to keep them active in the life of the church and the community. Bear in mind that “our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures” (Psalm 90:10); the younger generations are watching how we treat our seniors today and learning how they will treat us as seniors tomorrow. So let’s connect with our seniors today for a better future for ourselves.

#bishopsheltonbeneby #connectingthegenerations #shapethefuture

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