Six Ways to Keep Seniors Involved at Church

As people age, they sometimes feel as though they are no longer valued in the church they’ve worshipped in for decades. However, seniors are important, as are all generations of church members. They have much to offer the church and its members, particularly the youth. Here are five ways to keep older adults engaged.

1) Address Health Declines

As people age, they often experience a decline in health. Sometimes older adults wake up with no energy, pain, and/or exhaustion. It may be too difficult to make it to church.

One way to handle this is through technology. A conference call service may be set up so the senior church members can still be part of a service. Church services can also be recorded and posted on the church’s website, or even sent as an email to members unable to attend.

Video calling is another option. All of these options can mean a lot to senior members and may also help with any feelings of isolation or loneliness they may be experiencing.

2) Use Music

Encourage senior members to participate in music. Music can be an excellent way to give back to the church, especially for older adults.

For instance, seniors may participate in a choir or a musical group. Music is known for providing cognitive stimulation and has even been used as a form of therapy for patients with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.

Participating in music at church also keeps senior members active as they attend practices and perform at services. Music is a great way to bring people together, socialize, and feel valued knowing that they’re serving the church.

3) Face to Face Visits

Peer care and peer outreach is another great way to keep seniors involved in church.

Older adults may feel the need to confide in peers regarding emotional or social struggles they’re experiencing. Home and visiting teachers can be a perfect way to fill this need. Peers should be nonjudgmental and caring, and peer sessions should be handled in a confidential location in the church or at home.

If you are assigning home or visiting teachers, consider assigning seniors together in companionships or assigning them to visit each other.

4) Volunteer. Volunteer. Volunteer

Volunteer opportunities can keep senior members of the church active as well as mentally engaged. Senior volunteers often have better health than those not involved in these activities because they’re out and about and socializing with others.

There are many missionary opportunities both at home and abroad, both short and long-term, and covering many levels of abilities and talents. Church callings can also be well tailored to the needs of seniors. More specific tasks such as creating the weekly bulletins or making an inventory of the library can often be added to other callings for seniors who are looking for more ways to get involved.

5) Create Senior Groups

The current Relief Society Activity program is ideally suited to meet the needs of seniors. Create a group with an ongoing service project that they can complete while socializing on a regular basis.

Some church callings or tasks could even be assigned to a group. Imagine a group that gathered once a week to compile the ward bulletin or Relief Society newsletter. This can be a great way to serve the church while enjoying the company of peers.

6) Interact with the Youth

While it’s important for seniors to have opportunities to interact with one another, they also shouldn’t be isolated.

One ward in Lindon, Utah, called ninety-eight-year-old June Norton Ferrell to be a young women’s advisor. Sister Norton at first felt too old to perform the calling, but the young women in her ward immediately respected her and ending up learning much from her wisdom.

Seniors can also be called on to help as merit badge advisors, or to help supervisor activities at primary activity days. Finding ways to connect older and younger church members will bless both of their lives.

Encouraging seniors to be involved with their place of worship is important to their well-being and can create a positive impact. Aging members of the church have so much knowledge and history they can pass on to younger members of the congregation. Likewise, they can learn from younger members and benefit from the involvement.

Church members need to spread the word about different senior groups and activities to encourage seniors to stay active and involved with the church.