Ministering to Older Adults

By 2030, 20% of the people living in the United States will be age 65 or older, with unique spiritual needs that can affect their physical and mental well-being. This book answers the critical need for a ministry that doesn’t center primarily on youth and families in its outreach, instead presenting a step-by-step guide to developing a ministry for the aged that is focused on the needs and resources of each congregation. This program has been used effectively with nearly 50 congregations, both large and small, to create a focused older adult ministry.

No two congregations are alike. The resources, perspectives, and skills of each congregation are different, as are the needs of its members. This book provides a framework for use by planning groups within communities of any religious tradition. The book presents a process that includes essential questions that allow planning groups to develop answers that fit the needs, cultural, history, and structure of their individual congregations.

The book is divided into three sections:

• “The Fundamentals”—defining your audience, your mission, and the skills and existing programs that can be brought to the planning process
• “Programming Possibilities”—spiritual needs based on the aging process, continued learning for older adults, opportunities to serve and be served, providing quality pastoral care, and community building
• “Putting it All Together”—deciding on a direction, using desired outcomes for evaluation, establishing target dates, and ongoing evaluation

This book also includes forms and charts to help in the planning process. The book is an invaluable resource for clergy, ministry committees and planning groups, and staff persons responsible for older adult ministries.