America is aging rapidly, demographers are telling us and they have the statistics to prove it. Senior citizens represent one out of every eight Americans. As a result of the declining birth rate between 1965 and 1978 there are now more 65 plus people in the USA than teenagers. It is estimated that by the year 2000 the American population will be nearly evenly distributed between children, young adults, middle-aged adults and the elderly. This will mean the completion of a transition from a youth-oriented society to one which will pay at least equal attention to seniors. We may assume that the same statistics apply to Canada as well.

This shift in the relative age groups of our population will naturally have an im­pact on the churches as well.

Until recently our churches did not have many older members. At least in our Canadian churches that was the case. But this situation is changing rapidly. Immigrants who came here from the Netherlands after the Second World War when they were in their thirties and forties are now in their seventies and eighties and many of them have passed on already.

During those early years of our denominational life, the church's ministry was naturally concentrated on children and young people. Sure, there were always a few older people — grand parents who came with their children when they immigrated — but these never made up a large segment of the congregation. Consequently, the focus was on children and their spiritual needs. Attention was also paid to the needs of parents who for the most part were themselves still young and in the strength of life. They were the bread winners who had to keep their families fed and clothed and support the church and its ministry.

Gradually, however, the number of older members increased with the result that today our seniors comprise a large segment in most congregations. This shift in the composition of the congregation should be reflected in a corresponding shift in the focus of the church's care for our aged and aging members.

It seems, however, that we have been rather slow in recognizing the special needs of the elderly among us. While on the whole we have done a good job meeting the needs of our children and young people, the care of our seniors could be better. We need to study the special needs of the elderly so that we understand them better and improve our ministry to them. As far as that goes, the world is ahead of the church. In recent years a whole new science has developed: gerontology, the study of aging. Gerontologists are interested in the special problems, needs and aspirations of the elderly and study ways and means to make life more meaningful and productive for them. Business is also keenly aware of the fast growing number of senior citizens and its potential for profits. While advertisers con­tinue to target young people with products of interest to them, they are increasingly focusing on older people and their material needs.

Not only are more people living longer; they are also reaching old age in better shape than ever before. Due to vastly improved medicine and nutrition as well as exercise, many seniors stay healthy longer and continue to lead active lives.

This, of course, also has consequences for the economy. At present, the prime working age is considered to be 25­-55. But there are signs that this commonly accepted view is undergoing revision. Recently the Rand Corporation has projected that by the end of this decade the average life expectancy will jump from 75 to 90. This will mean that older people will be able to stay in the work force longer if they so desire and yet can look forward to the same number of retirement years.

The average retirement age, now 60, will likely rise soon as more seniors decide to stay on their jobs. In many cases the motive is not primarily to make money, but the sense of fulfilment and the stimulation of challenge which work provides.

Government agencies and business corporations are responding to this desire of older adults to remain employed. Train­ing programs are being introduced in which older workers receive specialized education to upgrade their skills. Some companies have phased retirement policies whereby older adults are allowed to cut back on their work loads or hours without cutting their job ties altogether.

Again, the church comes behind in recognizing this new trend in society. It is high time therefore that we also pay more attention to our elderly, not only to their special needs, fears and aspirations, but also to their potential as useful members of the congregation.

In a sense, of course, the elderly have the same needs as all of us because of our common humanity. They suffer pain, feel lonely, depressed and have their happy moments just as younger people do. But the difference is that they have, in addition to these common experiences, also some that are peculiar to their age. Let me mention some of them.

1. Physical Changes. With advancing years often comes shortness of breath, a weakening heart, rheumatism and arthritis, kidney failure, circulatory problems, urinary infections, hearing problems, poor eyesight, and a host of other problems that indicate the body is deteriorating. The speed of these physical changes varies from person to person, depending on such factors as genetic make up, diet and physical activity. But sooner or later many of these symptoms will occur in all persons reaching old age.
   Pastors and care-givers should be aware of these things and be sensitive to the many aches and pains our older members often experience and lend a sympathetic ear to their complaints, tedious and repetitious as their litanies of ailments and doctor's prescriptions may be at times.

2. Psychological Changes. Our aging people also go through psychological changes such as memory loss, the extreme form of which is Alzheimer's disease, depressions, anxiety attacks, hypochondriasis (excessive preoccupation with real or fancied ailments) and paranoia or extreme suspiciousness.
   I'm not suggesting that all older people suffer from these problems — there are many who maintain a healthy physical and mental condition till the end of their days — but most will at some stage of their life manifest one or more of these symptoms to a degree.
   To minister to such seniors, it is essential that pastors and others who provide spiritual care to them be somewhat acquainted with these problems.

3. Social Changes. There also are social changes that impact on the lives of our elderly members and which often affect them psychologically as well. What do I mean by social changes? They are changes in the way we view the world and our place in it. When we are young we live by certain rules and expectations. We expect people to accept us for who we are. Our opinions are taken seriously, our expertise in matters relating to our trade or profession is respected. In other words, we count; we matter, because we are seen as persons who have something to contribute to society. Consequently, we feel good about ourselves and possess a degree of self-confidence and self-worth. But this changes when we get older. Why? Because as we advance in years we gradually lose hold on the social structure which has been our support and has defined our life and activity for many years. Older people may feel the same, but society does not treat them the same. This may seem to contradict what was said earlier about efforts being made to encourage seniors to stay active in society. But we should realize that while this is happening, there are still many people who continue to view the elderly as useless. As a result, many older people often feel that they are not taken seriously any more. They have lost prestige, influence, and power. Their opinions are discounted more quickly than before, if indeed they are considered at all. They are dismissed as "has-beens." They may be in good health and know that they have something to contribute but they fear that no one recognizes their abilities and so they feel useless.

The Church should be sensitive to these fears that many elderly have and reassure them that they are important and useful members of society and of the church. To limit ourselves to church ac­tivities, there are many things they can do.

Older male members who are in good health could easily serve in the consistory or perform other useful tasks in the congregation. True, there are capable men who, when they are asked to serve, refuse. They want to enjoy their retirement years, fishing or travelling and spending time in Florida and other resort areas. This is sad. Of course, no one will begrudge our seniors a well-earned rest and a nice vacation from time to time. But unless there are health reasons which make it advisable for seniors to spend extended periods of time in locations where the climate is better for them, it is better for themselves, their loved ones and their congregation, to stay where the Lord has placed them and given them a task. Our churches and families need the support, spiritual, moral, as well as financial (!) from the older members. Our grandchildren should not have to grow up without seeing their "Opas and Omas" at least once a week!

But there are also men who perhaps would like to serve but who are afraid they are not qualified for leadership positions. They know that their command of the English language is limited and therefore, how can they communicate with young people? How can they read sermons or assume secretarial duties?

This is a legitimate concern, of course, but why could such men not serve as elders charged with pastoral care of the elderly in the congregation. If we have youth elders, why can't we have elders for the aged?

But even if they cannot serve in the consistory, there are other things they could do in the church: visiting the sick, serve on the building, maintenance or finance committee, etc., etc. Our elderly sisters too have resources which could be utilized. Just think of what Paul writes to Titus about the role of widows in the church.

With the ever-increasing number of older members, many of whom are in good health, the church has access to resources which need to be tapped far more than has been done so far.

And even those who are not in good physical condition can be useful. They can still serve the church with their prayers, advice and insights based on years of life-experience.

In this connection I want to point out a mistake that is often made. We often think that the only useful people are those who have the ability to do something. This is a fairly modern notion which former generations did not share with us.

We can learn much from other societies like the ancient Greeks and Romans which honoured their elders far more than we do today. Although they were pagan they had the good sense to see that when people get old they may not be able to do much anymore, but they can still be great assets to society. That is why they looked to them for advice and counsel. Often they served as elder statesmen. We should learn from this ancient wisdom. We should realize that the value of our older people must not be measured in terms of what they are still able to do, but rather in terms of what they are. Many of them have accumulated valuable life-experience, various skills and insights from which the younger generation can benefit.

We should encourage our older members that merely by being there they can be of help to the young and upcoming generation. We must tell them that life is not finished for them simply because they are retired. Impress on them that they should not spend their remaining years looking only for relaxation and recreation, but that God still has a task for them on earth. They can teach the next generation about the Lord and His ways.

That was David's desire, a desire he expresses beautifully in Psalm 71 when he prays: "O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. Now also when I am old and grey-headed, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to everyone that is to come."