Many of the elderly poor live in continuing care retirement communities, independent living facilities, and nursing homes. Seniors in general face increased physical/medical challenges, e.g., decreased mobility, pain, chronic illness, nutrition, hydration, impaired vision/hearing, and altered mental status; and emotional/social challenges, e.g., grief/loss, isolation/loneliness, confusion, fear, anxiety, and lack of family support. But the elderly poor must also cope with financial challenges, e.g., income at or below poverty level, loss of financial independence, anxiety over their financial future, and balancing the rising costs of food, rent, drugs, and medical bills. Volunteers can visit the elderly to:

• help organize social activities;
• celebrate birthdays and holidays;
• bring snacks, pets, children, games, entertainment;
• run health and wellness clinics;
• drive them doctors, food stores, banks, church;
• pick-up prescriptions, perform light housekeeping, give advice on tax/financial issues;
• bring Meals-on-Wheels or work in lunch service programs.

Churches can help the elderly by: (a) making it easy for them to share in congregation life, (b) giving them opportunities to help others, (c) designing programs that include their interests, and (d) ensuring easy access for those with disabilities and/or who are sight or hearing impaired.

If you would like your South Carolina aging ministry featured on this website, please contact us.