As a minister, you are likely to be called upon to give counsel and assist in a variety of emotional and spiritual situations. For older adults, one of the most difficult situations they might encounter is the transition from independent to assisted living. The older adult may experience a range of emotional responses from anger and resentment to sadness, depression, and anxiety. You may be called upon to help. Below is an article about how to help others ease the anxiety of making big changes. There are also other training discourses listed underneath this text.
Typically, well-meaning family members, wanting the best for
their loved one (and sometimes, trying to reduce their own feelings
of guilt), offer reassurances, pointing out all the positive
aspects of making the move to a new home.
While such responses are understandable, they are not always
the best strategy. As a ULC minister, you may be asked to come in and help ease this transition anxiety. The elderly person is apt to feel misunderstood;
after all, he or she is grieving the loss of independence and
may perceive this as the beginning of the end. It’s important
that you be aware of this.
A better way to deal with this might be to acknowledge the feelings
straight out. “Mom, you seem angry about this; tell me
what you're thinking." Or "Dad, you seem really stressed
about the move, what's your worry?" You can take the role
of being the facilitator between the older parent and the adult
child, opening lines of communication, OR you discuss with the
adult child the possible needs of the parent making the transition
and make suggestions for how their fears can be helped.
Acknowledging the person's feeling and giving them the opportunity
to voice their concerns could help address misconceptions about
the new environment and help pave the way for a smoother transition.
