Congregations reach out to the homebound

Aging, June-July, 1985 by Lynne Anker, Jeffrey Alan Trumbower

They live in senior citizen complexes, in private homes, in residence hotels and in mobile home parks. They have led productive lives for 60, 70, 80 or more years. Yet now, they find themselves alone, unable to get out, isolated from neighbors and the community. They are the homebound, "hidden" elderly. Many of them are isolated because of illness; others because they are unable to drive, are discouraged by a confusing and often inadequate bus system, or not able to afford a taxicab. They are alone, and may not see another face for days at a time, or months. They are our neighbors, our congregation members, our former teachers, our relatives, and one day they may be us.

The city of Albuquerque, New Mexico, feels the presence of isolated senior citizens to an even greater degree than many other places, because Albuquerque is a retirement city for many people. Older persons often move here because of the climate, but, in the process, leave behind family and friends. When their spouses die, or if they come here alone, they often find themselves with few friends and relatives nearby. The City sponsors active social programs at four senior centers, but this is of little help to those who find it difficult to leave their homes.

In 1977, Catholic Social Services (CSS) of Albuquerque, Inc., developed a plan to address the needs of isolated senior citizens in the community and to help redirect the focus of the Church's efforts on behalf of the elderly. CSS was convinced that groups of volunteers based in each Catholic parish could effectively reach out to these isolated seniors. The volunteers were encouraged to provide simple, but very much needed, services to the elderly--friendly visiting, telephone reassurance, help with light chores, transportation (to medical appointments, grocery stores, and church), and spiritual ministry. It was suggested that each parish have its own coordinator, either a lay person or a parish staff member to direct the program for the elderly in that parish.

In order to promote this concept of church volunteers for the elderly, CSS recognized the need to provide training on issues affecting the elderly and to serve as a back-up agency to provide information and help with difficult problems. Monthly training sessions were held at the Catholic Social Services main office and at local churches. CSS decided to call this new effort the Elderly Outreach Program (EOP). Also, CSS collaborates with the Area Agency on Aging in albuquerque and there is a member of the CSS staff on the AAA's Advisory Committee.

The basic concept of the Program has changed little since the first groups of volunteers were organized at several local parishes. Catholic Social Services remains a source of aid and support for patsors, coordinators, and volunteers serving the elderly through their parishes. The Elderly Outreach Program continues to provide training, consultation and technical assistance to local congregations and also provides a monthly newsletter to all volunteers serving the elderly.

However, the Program has grown. In the past several years, services have been expanded to the non-Catholic congregations of Albuquerque. Toward the end of 1982, Baptist, Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist and Presbyterian churches, as well as the local Jewish social service agency, were added to the list of those utilizing the resources and expertise of the Elderly Outreach Program. There are now 33 religiously-based elderly service groups affiliated with the Program. Of these 33 groups, 25 were initiated by an EOP staff member working with the dedicated people in those churches.

How The Churches Organize

The following two examples of "typical" relationships with "typical" churches will help to clarify the structure and operation of the Elderly Outreach Program. When organizing a group at a Protestant church located in Albuquerque's predominantly Hispanic South Valley area, an EOP staff member called the pastor, gave him a general overview of the Program, and discussed the need for increased ministry to the elderly in that area of town. Based on the pastor's expressed interest, an appointment was made to meet at the church. At that meeting, the pastor introduced the EOP staff member to the person hired by the church to coordinate social ministries, and suggested that they work together to coordinate efforts for the elderly in the congregation.

The coordinator and the EOP staff member met several times to plan a strategy for identifying needs and recuriting volunteers. It was decided to annouces the new program and recruit volunteers during a Sunday service. The next step was a meeting with eight newly recruited volunteers at which the EOP staff person helped map out a plan for addressing the needs of the elderly in the congregation. The group contacted the pastor for a list of homebound church members and beg an to advertise their services in the church bulletin; visitation, telephone reasurance, and transportation to church. At the suggestion of the EOP staff person, the group decided to emphasize to the homebound elderly that they, themselves, could helps, as part of the telephone reasurance service, by making weekly calls to other homebound seniors. Getting isolated people active again through helping others was viewed as an important ministry.