Psalms 92:12-15 and James 1:27
To provide the word of God to the elderly to help them grow in grace and be a living memorial to our Father in Heaven. Offering to them the source of peace and to provide comfort in their affliction and need.
I answered a request for volunteers for the nursing home ministry through our church. I will never forget the meeting. I specifically told the pastor I wouldn't get up and speak or sing or anything but I would be happy to a hang out and hug on people and smile. So what happened, the first meeting, no speaker so I had to speak. I have been writing sermons and speaking now for several months. I recruited a beautiful couple to speak at one nursing home here and me and a gentlemen speak at another one. My goal is to have all 11 nursing homes visited atleast once a month by our church. I am scheduled to speak at our church toastmasters group on the 18th. I figured what better place to recruit speakers. I pray I get atleast 9 volunteers, kicking, screaming I don't really care how they come as long as they come. I'm not picky.
I was playing around with this smiling box software that makes cards, scrapbooks, slides. I thought I'd post one of my creations. What fun!
James 1:27 AMP
External religious worship.. that is pure and unblemished in the sight of God the Father is this: to visit and help and care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and need-and to reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight.
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| Make a Smilebox photobook |
4 comments:
I don't know if I've mentioned this, but I work in the gerontology field. For the first twelve years of my career, I worked in the nursing home industry (started as a housekeeper and worked my way up to administrator). What you're doing is the most needed, incredible ministry out there. Thank you for doing this! Believe me, the residents there don't care about the perfection of the speaker; they just need to know that someone out there cares about them.
To get volunteers, tell the group that studies have shown that at least 60% of nursing home residents never get a visitor. How heartbreaking is that statistic?
That brought tears to my eyes. How sad.
That is very useful information. If you have anymore statistics or info like that, please shoot it my way. I will definitely use it.
Thanks
Thanks for your comment! Looks like you're getting your blog off to a good start! Have fun!
Ooops, sorry I haven't checked back before now.
Are there any statistics in particular you need? I know the majority of nursing home residents are on Medicaid nationwide (in Oklahoma, it's about 85% but I don't know for Texas).
Your Ombudsman office can give you some great info. Ombudsmen are advocates for persons 60 and older in nursing homes, assisted livings, etc. (I used to be one and it was an incredible job).
The Area Agency on Aging of the Coastal Bend is the AAA in your area and should be able to give you a lot of info on aging and NH statistics. Their website is www.aaacoastalbend.org (I tried it a couple of times and couldn't get it to work).
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