Are you unsure where to turn for assistance on your aging parents? Perhaps you would like to determine what type of senior services are available for them. The Office on Aging is an excellent place to start.
Please check out some other sources:
I am using both the services of Office on Aging and Hospice. Office On Aging has finally given me some Respite Services. In case you are wondering what that means, it is usually a short interval of rest or relief. And, I do mean short! If you are thinking this is the time that you can kick up your heels and hit the town,
you better think again. I get 3 hours of respite 2 times a week. Oh, and did I mention that I do NOT live near a major Metropolitan area? I live about 20-25 miles in either direction so, by the time you drive to and from where you were going, you would be better off taking a plane or perhaps a Helicopter! By the way, where is Superman when you really need him? Looks like he is too busy getting ready for the Season 10 and final premiere
.Hospice is one of the most wonderful services there is to help your parent. Many people think that it is only for the terminally ill parent; however, that is simply not the case. When my Dad went through major surgery and was in the hospital for nearly four months and then in a skilled nursing unit in a hospital, they have been there for him when he got back home. They come five days a week to bathe him (sponge bath) and the nurse comes once a week to talk and get his vital statistics on how he is doing. They even pay for a couple of his medications that he is on. And, whoever
It is important to start saying YES for help if you have always said no. There are organizations and other people out there to give you a helping hand -- let them bless you and your family members. There are also different types of Therapy available -- don't neglect those. They might end up making a difference in your life and, most especially, your parent's life.
Before any more time passes on, why don't you think about journaling your parents' life experiences? Let them tell you about their childhood, teenage years, high school, college, their first job, how they met, service in the military. You know that they have many funny and maybe some sad and touching stories that they would like to share. What better way of doing that than journaling it and having their "life on record" available to you, your siblings and their grand kids as well as other family members. This will be something that you and generations to come can treasure and listen to over and over again.
Honor - God's Rewards and Punishments
By April Lorier
Honoring my mother went against my human nature. She was an abusive mother. But I did honor her and I was also kind to her until the day she died. When I wrote about it recently, I was shocked at the emails and comments I received. So many people wrote, telling me all kinds of stories, trying to convince me their experiences and their pains were "unique". It made me wonder why they thought their experience was so much worse than anyone else's. Pain is pain!
I've been thinking about it since Mother's Day, and I'm realizing that many do not really understand what it means to honor their parents! Either they have not studied their Bibles (I recommend Life Application Study Bible NIV ) or the previous generations have not taught them what it means to HONOR. Thus, this article.
Honoring your father and mother is the respectful words and actions that stems from an inward attitude of esteem for their positions, not their personalities!
Definition of "honor"
The Greek word honor means to revere, prize, and value. Honor is giving respect not only for merit but also for rank. For example, some Americans may disagree with the President's decisions, but they should still respect his position as leader of their country. Similarly, children of all ages should honor their parents - regardless of whether their parents "deserve" honor or not. (My mother certainly did not "deserve" it!)
Biblical basis of honoring parents
God is the One who exhorts us to honor father and mother. He values honoring parents enough to include it in the 10 Commandments (Exodus 20:12) and again in the New Testament: "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother which is the first commandment with a promise, so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth." (Ephesians 6:1-3).
In Old Testament days, speaking evil against one's parents or rebelling against their instruction resulted in capital punishment (Exodus 21:15-17; Matthew 15:14)! While those who honor their parents are blessed (Jeremiah 35:18-19), a trait of both a reprobate and a person in the end times is disobedience to parents (Romans 1:30; 2 Timothy 3:2).
Solomon, the wisest man, urged children to respect their parents (Proverbs 1:8; 13:1; 30:17). Although you may not be directly under their authority right now, you can't outgrow God's command to honor parents.
Even Jesus, God the Son, submitted Himself to both His earthly parents and heavenly Father (Matthew 26:39; Luke 2:51). Following Christ's example, Christians should treat their parents the way they would reverentially approach their heavenly Father (Hebrews 12:9; Malachi 1:6).
Honoring inside and out
Obviously, we're commanded to honor our parents but how? Honor them with not just your actions, but also with your attitudes (Mark 7:6). Honor their unspoken as well as spoken wishes. "A wise son heeds his father's instruction, but a scorner does not hear rebuke." (Proverbs 13:1).
In Matthew 15:3-9, Jesus reminded the Pharisees of the command of God to honor their father and mother. They were obeying the letter of the law, but they had added their own traditions that essentially overruled it. While they honored their parents in word, their actions proved their real heart motive. Honor is more than mere lip service. The word honor in this passage is a verb and, hence, demands a right choice/action.
The word honor includes the idea of bringing glory to someone. 1 Corinthians 10:31 tells us that whatever we say or do, we are to do all to the glory of God. We should seek to honor our parents in a similar way that Christians strive to bring glory to God in their thoughts, words, and actions.
Does honor include obedience?
The Greek word "hypakouo" means to obey, to listen, or to heed. When a child is of minor age, then obeying parents runs hand and hand with honoring parents. That includes listening, heeding, and submitting to their authority. After a child is mature, the obedience that they learned as a child will serve them well in honoring authorities such as government and employers.
While we're required to honor parents, that doesn't include imitating ungodly ones (Ezekiel 20:18-19). What if your parents ask you to do something wrong? In that unlikely case, you must obey God rather than man (Acts 5:28).
The rewards of honor - Honor begets Honor
The command to honor parents is the only command with a promise: "that it may be well with you" (Ephesians 6:3). Honor begets honor. God will not honor those who will not obey His command to honor their parents.
If you desire to please God and be blessed, honor your parents. Honoring isn't easy, isn't always fun, and certainly isn't possible in our own strength. But honor is a certain path to our purpose in life: glorifying God. "Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord." (Colossians 3:20).
In short, honor is more about attitude than lip service - honor for your parents' position as your parents. It does not matter what their faults are, they are still superior to you by position, and if you want God's blessings, you must honor your parents!
2008 April Lorier
APRIL LORIER - So. California. An award-winning poet, inspirational author and speaker. A survivor of both child abuse and adult domestic abuse, April inspires women to be all that God designed them to be! She first gained recognition as a children's rights crusader while successfully fighting for the passage of the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA), which was signed into law by Ronald Reagan. Her book GOD'S BATTERED CHILD is available on her blogs and at online retailers.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=April_Lorier
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Help Parents Transition to Becoming Elderly
By Michael S. Simpson
At some point in time it happens and I don't think it comes to us as an epiphany but in retrospect we see when it began and of course know where it is now. I am talking about the journey when parents make the transition into aging loved ones and might need in home care.
When adults reach their senior years, they at first joke about it and brag that they got the senior discount at Denny's but as the years roll on the jokes stop and they realize that some major changes have taken place in their financial, physical and social worlds. Their view of their finances have changed from buying mostly what they wanted to now they are on a fixed income and watch carefully their expenses.
The physical world of the aging has gone from playing football with the kids to watching football from the recliner and their social network of friends has greatly diminished due to illness, death and people just not able to get out. They now have vision, hearing and mobility issues and most of their conversations with others revolve around medical issues. And after they retire a large chunk of their self esteem is surgically removed. Men more then women are defined by their job, it is what they do, it is who they are and when introduced to someone new it is only a matter of seconds before they announce that they are the general manager for Ajax Construction.
The children of aging parents will also experience a role reversal and the children might have to take over handling financial issues for the parent as well as driving them to various appointments. This can be not only uncomfortable for both parties but the adult children's anxiety level will raise when they realize how vulnerable their parents have become. But this vulnerability does not mean an immediate move to a higher care facility. Seniors want to maintain their independence and this sometimes is in direct conflict with the adult children who want their parent to be safe and secure.
Adult children can do several things to help in this transition.
Decisions - Don't leave the senior out of the decision making process. Have family meetings to discuss issues such as getting a caregiver to come in for a few hours a week. Some of our clients lives revolve around food because that is the only area of their life that they feel they have any control over. Keep them engaged in the family.
Fill their time - Not with mind numbing television but if they are physically and mentally active learning a new hobby then this slows the aging process and can keep their cognitive skills from deteriorating. Seniors are seniors and they are not stupid and they are capable of learning a musical instrument or computer games.
Spiritual growth - Now might be the time for them to explore a new religion or rediscover an old one. Many medium to larger churches, synagogues, and mosques have senior programs that include exercise, teaching on religious issues and companionship. Here again if the adult children cannot provide transportation there are many home care agencies who could take care of it.
Our seniors are truly a national resource and have many grand life stories to tell if only someone would stop and listen. Adult children have unbelievably busy lives but if they can only slow down a little and assist their parents with this transition then it will be more fulfilling for all concerned.
Michael Simpson is Director of Visiting Angels in NW Phoenix. They are a home care company providing non-medical in home care for seniors allowing them to stay in their home without going to a assisted living facility. Simpson is in direct daily contact with his caregivers and care recipients and is close to the issues and problems that seniors have to deal with. Their phone number is 623-266-9304 and the website is http://www.azangelcare.com and can also be found on Facebook at http://facebook.com/azseniorcare
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_S._Simpson
Time to Pour Yourself a Glass of Wine!
