God's Solutions for Today's Problems #20

Our passage from the Word of God today is Psalms 71:9. It reads, “Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.”

Our quote for today is from C.S. Lewis. He said, “Autumn is really the best of the seasons; and I'm not sure that old age isn't the best part of life.”

Our problem today is "The Problem of Aging in Your Life" (part 3) from the book, "The Guide to Biblical Counseling" by Dr. Tim Clinton and Dr. Ron Hawkins.

Today, we will offer some Wise Counsel regarding Aging:

Proverbs 16:31 says, "The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness."

It is important for you to understand the complexity of issues related to aging and the wealth of resources that is available for both caregivers and for the elderly. The goal is to find out how the aging person has been doing and whether there are critical concerns.

Here are some ways for a caregiver or family member to assess whether there is any posisbility of physical or financial elder abuse or neglect:

- Financial abuse occurs when friends or family members take financial resources from an older person for their own benefit. This is a particular risk when the older person is confused and no longer controlling his or her own finances.

- Elder neglect occurs when a spouse or live-in family member deliberately neglects the needs of the older person for food, clothing, shelter, a clean environment, and protection from extremes of temperature. Sometimes this occurs inadvertently when a previously healthy spouse becomes confused or sick and is no longer able to provide a safe environment for a vulnerable spouse.

- Elder abuse is physical violence directed at an older person. This could be a form of domestic violence that has been ongoing for years but the victim is now over sixty-five. Or it could be abuse of an older person by a caregiver who is a family member or a stranger.

...