Older Adult Ministries
A Tool Kit for Creating Older Adult Ministries
Find our discussion video series here! Find our curriculum series here!
Worship resources Find the Oldtimers’ Grapevine newsletter here!
Watch the video from our virtual Working Group meeting held on February 16, 2023.
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Season by Season: Meditations about aging
Winter * Spring * Summer * Fall
Watch our webinar from September 16, 2021
”Older Adult Men and the Church: Sharing Wisdom, Resilience, and a Well-Rounded Perspective”
Watch our webinar from August 2021
”The Care & Wisdom of Women in the Church”
We participated in the August 7, 2021 Disciples Virtual Gathering. Read our report of the day>
Find our upcoming events and webinars here.
Watch our webinar from June 2021
”Welcoming and Affirming LGBTQ Older Adults”
Watch our webinar from April 2021
“Inter-Aging: Tapping the Power of Older Adults in Touching the Lives of Others”
An NBA grant-funded project of
the Mid-America Region
Older adults have a legacy to give and a lifetime of experiences to share. The elderly can and do regain significant influence in their lives when they are involved with others. By working with older adults and enabling them to be advocates for their own successful aging, we all have so much to gain.
How do we recognize, honor and utilize the experience, wisdom, and gifts of older adults in our churches? How do we develop ministries that integrate and weave multiple generations together spiritually? How do we find meaningful ways for older adults to live as faithful disciples through liturgy, study, service, witness, and community? These are questions critical to our ministries.
Our Older Adult Ministries project offers many avenues for exploring older adults’ physical and spiritual needs and wishes, and assessing congregations’ priorities in developing new ministry programs for older adults, by raising awareness about aging, addressing biblical perspectives and exploring new ministry models intergenerationally and for older adults.
Jan Aerie, family counselor and gerontologist, is coordinator of Older Adult Ministries. She has written numerous resources, and lead many workshops and programs for faith groups and secular service organizations in many states.
Contact: Churches who wish to participate are invited to utilize the many resources offered here, or contact Older Adult Ministries Coordinator Jan Aerie, or Regional Minister Rev. Dr. Paul Koch via our Contact page.
Watch our video
“Older Adult Ministries and YOU” >
Resource Links
AARP
Seniors Action Network
Sage-ing
Next Avenue
Chair exercises
Music as Medicine
The Secret Life of the Aging Brain
Assisted Living Research Institute
Assisted Living Research Institute - Missouri
New Age-Friendly Congregations study guide
Stress and Your Health
Neuroscience Theatre and Alzheimer’s
Tips to Bring Care and Joy to Older Adults
Caregiving networks:
Family Caregiver Alliance
Caregiver Action Network
Village to Village Network
Alzheimer’s Association
Missouri Health and Human Services Dept
The Caregiver’s Voice
Alzheimer’s Caregivers
LBGTQ Older Adults - resource bibliography
Resources in a Time of Isolation
Connecting People to People
Connecting Young People with Older Adults
Impacts on Alzheimer’s Caregiving Community during the Pandemic
Loneliness and Memory Loss during the Pandemic
How to Handle Social Distancing Like Mr. Rogers from Guideposts
Caring for Others during the Pandemic
Caregivers and Coronavirus Stress
Staying in the Moment
Change and Transformation
I Am There
Sanctuary in the Midst of Alzheimer’s
Recording of May 14, 2020 Zoom meeting on ministering to older adults during pandemic
Other resources - please utilize this regularly updated list of resources (listed with newest at top)
Suggestions for Book Clubs and Discussion Groups
Recommended Organizations
Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Missouri
Grants for seniors in Missouri
Columbia (MO) Area Older Adult Ministries
Twelve caregiver blogs on Caring.com
Sage - advocacy services for LGBTQ elders
Caring Across Generations
Loneliness video
Resource Documents
Aging Attitudes
Stages of Aging
Caregiving Statistics
Outline of 60 minute program
The Hands of Anna Paulson
Asking For and Accepting Help
Tips About Caregiving
Care of the Shut-in Soul
The Value of Reminiscence
Facts About Hospice
Caregiving Resources
Decisions for Care-ers
Living the Questions of Ambiguous Loss
Optimism
The Landscape of Reality
Perspectives on Caregiving
Strengthening Caregiving Problem Solving
Two Statements of Faith
Change and Transformation
Dementia and Spirituality
Dementia and Support Groups
Dementia and Worship Tool
First Care for Yourself
Intergenerational Ministries
click here for list of resources.
Grief and Grieving
Grief Work Resources
Quotations Regarding Grief
Tips on Listening