Dignifying Older Ones While Caring for Them
“Before gray hair you should rise up, and you must show honor to an older man.”
How heartwarming it is to see how our Creator dignifies older ones. He values their lifetime of experiences, choices and beliefs and so do we.
Many elderly ones in today’s world are treated as just another name on a chart and that is unfortunate. We must remember that though their physical abilities may change, their individuality does not. Our elderly ones are not just patients, residents or a statistic. They each possess their own story to share and have a unique impact and role in our lives. We should honour them and treat them with dignity and respect.
In Jah-Jireh, this is a vital aspect of the care that we render. Older ones may be dependent and vulnerable but they still have to be treated with dignity. This article talks about some of the things that we do to ensure this in the home. There are also some tips we have put together that we hope can be useful to carers of elderly ones.
More Than a Number
“Dignity is not only a theoretical concept but it has practical meaning and is of importance to older adults, their relatives and healthcare. When experienced in specific situations, dignity seems to be associated with respect, prevailing personal integrity, and with empathic and compassionate caring.”
The paper mentioned four factors that could threaten a senior’s dignity:
(1) The fear of losing their autonomy and independence if they became too dependent on caretakers. This could lead to older ones concealing their symptoms from others and putting on a façade of normality.
(2) Concern about not being seen as individuals, being disregarded, and lacking meaningful relations with others.
(3) Feelings of being useless as they find themselves out of roles that they fulfilled in a family and community setting.
(4) The fear of being isolated from events and gatherings on account of their infirmity or dependence.
These fears and concerns are very real and are affecting elderly ones every day.
“For the elderly, dignity is almost equal to the quality of life in old age, and some older adults even pay more attention to dignity than to life. The lack of guarantees for the dignity of older adults in long-term care facilities can lead to depression and even accelerate death.”
We understand how important it is to respect our elderly. It is our God-given duty. Proverbs 16:31 tells us that “Gray hair is a symbol of beauty when it is associated with a life of righteousness.” How we cherish our elderly ones for the encouraging example they are to us! We must take out the time to show them that we really care. Small things go a long way in helping our seniors feel loved, welcomed, and dignified.
How Can We Show Dignity to Seniors?
Here are some ways to make sure our seniors feel appreciated and honoured:
By Acknowledging Their Choices
Taking their choices and preferences seriously makes elderly ones feel valued and capable of participation. They also appreciate being fully informed about decisions related to their care.
Rather than making a decision yourself regarding what is best for them, ask them directly:
“Would you like to go for a walk?”
“Do you prefer tea or coffee?”
The Watchtower (Study Edition, May 2010) noted that “being a good listener will keep us from insisting on doing things our own way without regard for their feelings.” Small choices reinforce their independence and help our seniors feel valued.
What we do in Jah-Jireh:
The personal choice of our residents is respected in all aspects of care in Jah-Jireh. Their likes and dislikes are taken into account, and the staff respect their decisions. Residents can make their own decisions about coming and going from the home, attending outside social events, inviting friends to visit, and inviting friends or family to share a meal at the home. Some may choose to attend the meetings in person or in our meeting room, it is their choice.
2. By Listening To Their Stories
The NLM study mentioned that “older adults spoke about the importance of being able to maintain a sense of self. By talking about themselves, their view of life and their history, they formed a conception of themselves as valuable people.”
Older ones have remarkable stories to tell. They might talk about growing up in a different time, how they overcame trials with determination and faith, or how they witnessed many bible prophecies being fulfilled. Taking time to listen shows that their past matters. You can ask:
“What was your favourite memory from childhood?”
Or, “How did you first learn about Jehovah?”
Their stories are enriched with wisdom and faith. It offers us a chance to learn, connect, and show that their experiences are cherished.
What we do in Jah-Jireh:
Residents are encouraged to express themselves, and we enjoy listening to their stories and comments. Discussion of the day text and Family worship gives our residents a way to express their faith, and we love their heartfelt comments. Visits from volunteers, friends and relatives are encouraged and our residents thoroughly enjoy these visits.
3. By Respecting Their Faith
For many older adults, spirituality is crucial to their sense of self. You can help them join in for Christian meetings. Making a daily spiritual routine of listening to Bible reading, and sharing small moments of family worship can truly lift their spirits.
What we do in Jah-Jireh:
This is the very reason that Jah-Jireh came into existence. The purpose of our retirement home is to provide a safe, loving, and spiritual environment for Jehovah’s Witnesses in their later years. Personal care of the highest quality and enriching activities that build us up physically, mentally, and spiritually are provided by staff and volunteers who are also Jehovah’s Witnesses.
4. By Encouraging Their Abilities
Rather than concentrating on their limitations, why not emphasize their abilities? Some seniors enjoy knitting, gardening, baking, and even discussing Bible teachings with others. Engaging them in these activities makes them feel valued and needed.
What we do in Jah-Jireh:
Our staff works hard at organizing activities that give residents the chance to explore, participate, and expand their abilities.
Read more:
https://jah-jireh.on.ca/blog/gardening-for-the-elderly-smiles-health-and-more
https://jah-jireh.on.ca/blog/timeless-melodies-music-and-seniors
5. By Providing Care in A Respectful Way
This includes the way we speak and how we interact with them.
A paper entitled Dignity: The Voice of Older People has a few important considerations:
“Being pain-free, having clean clothes, a clean bed, as well as privacy and human contact, were all central to dignity.”
Colossians 4:6 says that our words must "always be gracious, seasoned with salt". When we talk to our seniors, we must make sure that our tone is warm and dignified. Giving them that kind of respect will make them feel loved and appreciated by us.
What we do in Jah-Jireh:
Our staff receive extensive training on how to treat our residents with dignity and respect right from when they are hired. Written policies as well as hands-on training from other experienced caregivers ensure that this is an integral part of the care we provide. Regular annual training is also done to underscore the importance of dignity among seniors.
Honouring Older Ones Every Day
Growing older should never mean losing one’s sense of self. Our seniors have their own thoughts, experiences, and decisions. When we acknowledge our seniors as unique individuals, we honour their dignity. By offering a kind word, a listening ear, or a small gesture of respect, we can make them feel appreciated each and every day.
Creating such a caring environment that helps older ones feel respected and dignified is a priority in Jah-Jireh. We hope these tips help you with your elderly family members and friends, too.
