The Session: Helping Aging Parents-Part 1 of 2

Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you. (Exodus 20:12)

• It is a biblical mandate to honor elderly loved ones. Honoring parents is a way to love others as yourself and to love God.
• Prayer and meditationPrayer and meditating on Scripture can provide comfort, wisdom, and protection. Trusting GodPsalm 28 provides language to understand God's heart toward those who are overwhelmed or confused about how to help. Being humbleThe Bible calls people to be caring and humble to those in need, starting with family. Setting boundariesIt's important to set boundaries so that people aren't doing things for others that they can do for themselves. Preparing for medical issuesA durable power of attorney can help someone make financial decisions for an elderly parent if they are unable to.

From Focus on the Family

For the caregiving children coping with the emotional, practical and financial ways of loving your aging parents can be challenging.

Managing our aging parents has a common thread to all of the management. It is important that we manage with emotional, practical and financial ways of loving them.

As followers of Christ, ours is to intentionally and thankfully steward each day that has been so graciously given to us by our Creator. And as our aging parents grow older, that includes helping them steward the day.

What May Appear To Be An Unfair Illness

What can be difficult to reconcile with our faith is when our loved one might have led a life following their Savior and yet, they are stricken and suffering with illnesses. This can seem unfair. This can feel unjust. But Jesus gets it. He understands because He faced unfair suffering too:

” But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.”

– Isaiah 53:5

What We Are Feeling As Our Parents Age Makes It Difficult For Them To Manage Their Life (Scott’s first reaction: HUH? DIFFICULT FOR THEM?)

We are experiencing grief. We are grieving the mom or dad that they once knew.

What makes this even harder is the fact that the children are grieving while trying to take care of their challenging parents.

Encouraging practical Helps:

1. Allow yourself the grace to grieve. That includes experiencing and expressing your sorrow.

2.It is possible and important to grieve what once was even if they are he lived ones are still alive.

3.Tell them today how much you love them rather than waiting for the person to pass.

4.Day to day care can be done with the child who lives the closest. He or she should be supported by siblings who can offer respite care.

*THIS WAS AS FAR AS WE GOT WITH THE FIRST EPISODE. IN PART 2, WE WILL DISCUSS:

16 practical ways children can help their aging parents:

1. Grocery shop

2. Pick up prescriptions

3. Take their trash can to and from the curb weekly

4. Pick up their mail

5. Invite them out for a meal

6. Bring a meal to their house and eat it together

7. Have coffee or tea together

8. Write a handwritten letter

9. Bake something for them and either mail it or hand deliver

10. Send a care package

11. Call them and tell them you love them

12. Sign them up on Facebook so they ca

To reach Tom Russell, go to https://www.heritagechristiancounselingofmansfield.com.