The New Senior in the New Century with Dr. Charles Arn Important Trends Affecting Today’s Churches

The New Senior The New Senior in the in the

New CenturyNew Century

with with Dr. Charles ArnDr. Charles Arn

Important Trends Affecting Important Trends Affecting Today’s ChurchesToday’s Churches

What do you know about aging?What do you know about aging?

Important aging trends and how Important aging trends and how they are affecting our churchesthey are affecting our churches

The “New Seniors”…who are they; The “New Seniors”…who are they; and why they’re so importantand why they’re so important

In our few moments togetherIn our few moments together . . . . . .

The New Senior The New Senior in the in the

New CenturyNew Century

WHAT DO YOU KNOW WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT AGING?ABOUT AGING?

1. What is the life expectancy of 1. What is the life expectancy of the average American citizen?the average American citizen?

a) 67 yrs. a) 67 yrs.

b) 72 yrs. b) 72 yrs.

c) 77 yrs. c) 77 yrs.

d) 82 yrs.d) 82 yrs.



1. What is the life expectancy of 1. What is the life expectancy of the average American citizen?the average American citizen?

a) 67 yrs. a) 67 yrs.

b) 72 yrs. b) 72 yrs.

c) 77 yrs. c) 77 yrs.

d) 82 yrs.d) 82 yrs.


2. What percent of the American 2. What percent of the American population is 65 years or older?population is 65 years or older?

a) 5% a) 5%

b) 8% b) 8%

c) 13% c) 13%

d) 19%d) 19%


2. What percent of the American 2. What percent of the American population is 65 years or older?population is 65 years or older?

a) 5% a) 5%

b) 8% b) 8%

c) 13% c) 13%

d) 19%d) 19%


3. What percent of Americans 3. What percent of Americans 65+ years old are married? 65+ years old are married?

WomenWomen

a) 33% b) 43% c) 53% d) 63% e) 73%a) 33% b) 43% c) 53% d) 63% e) 73%

MenMen

a) 37% b) 47% c) 57% d) 67% e) 77%a) 37% b) 47% c) 57% d) 67% e) 77%



WomenWomen

a) 33%a) 33% b) 43% b) 43% c) 53% d) 63% e) 73%c) 53% d) 63% e) 73%

MenMen

a) 37% b) 47% c) 57% d) 67% e) 77%a) 37% b) 47% c) 57% d) 67% e) 77%



WomenWomen

a) 33%a) 33% b) 43% b) 43% c) 53% d) 63% e) 73%c) 53% d) 63% e) 73%

MenMen

a) 37% b) 47% c) 57% d) 67%a) 37% b) 47% c) 57% d) 67% e) 77% e) 77%


4. Approximately what percent of 4. Approximately what percent of people 65+ yrs. old live in people 65+ yrs. old live in convalescent hospitals or convalescent hospitals or nursing homes? nursing homes?

a) 5% b) 10% c) 20% d) 30%a) 5% b) 10% c) 20% d) 30%


4. Approximately what percent of 4. Approximately what percent of people 65+ yrs. old live in people 65+ yrs. old live in convalescent hospitals or convalescent hospitals or nursing homes? nursing homes?

a) 5% a) 5% b) 10% c) 20% d) 30%b) 10% c) 20% d) 30%


5. What percent of senior adults 5. What percent of senior adults in the U.S. live alone? in the U.S. live alone?

a) 14% b) 26% c) 38% d) 51%a) 14% b) 26% c) 38% d) 51%


5. What percent of senior adults 5. What percent of senior adults in the U.S. live alone? in the U.S. live alone?

a) 14% b) 26%a) 14% b) 26% c) 38% c) 38% d) 51%d) 51%

6.6. What percent of women over What percent of women over 65 years old are widows?65 years old are widows?

a) 25% b) 35% c) 45% d) 55%a) 25% b) 35% c) 45% d) 55%



6.6. What percent of women over What percent of women over 65 years old are widows?65 years old are widows?

a) 25% b) 35%a) 25% b) 35% c) 45% c) 45% d) 55%d) 55%

7. According to research, where 7. According to research, where do most older adults turn for do most older adults turn for help when feeling depressed? help when feeling depressed?

WomenWomen a) spouse b) relative c) professionala) spouse b) relative c) professional

MenMen a) spouse b) relative c) professionala) spouse b) relative c) professional



WomenWomen a) spousea) spouse b) relative b) relative c) professionalc) professional

MenMen a) spouse b) relative c) professionala) spouse b) relative c) professional




WomenWomen a) spousea) spouse b) relative b) relative c) professionalc) professional

MenMen a) spouse a) spouse b) relative c) professionalb) relative c) professional

8. What percent of the U.S. 8. What percent of the U.S. population attend weekly population attend weekly religious services: religious services:

Population at largePopulation at large a) 15% b) 28% c) 42% d) 56%a) 15% b) 28% c) 42% d) 56%

Senior adultsSenior adults a) 15% b) 28% c) 42% d) 56%a) 15% b) 28% c) 42% d) 56%




Population at largePopulation at large a) 15%a) 15% b) 28% b) 28% c) 42% d) 56%c) 42% d) 56%

Senior adultsSenior adults a) 15% b) 28% c) 42% d) 56%a) 15% b) 28% c) 42% d) 56%



Population at largePopulation at large a) 15%a) 15% b) 28% b) 28% c) 42% d) 56%c) 42% d) 56%

Senior adultsSenior adults a) 15% b) 28%a) 15% b) 28% c) 42% c) 42% d) 56%d) 56%

9. When you look at your parish 9. When you look at your parish and see an increasing number and see an increasing number of gray-haired adults, what is of gray-haired adults, what is your response? your response?

a) “we need more young families”a) “we need more young families”

b) “this is a serious problem”b) “this is a serious problem”

c) “this is a great opportunity”c) “this is a great opportunity”


9. When you look at your parish 9. When you look at your parish and see an increasing number and see an increasing number of gray-haired adults, what is of gray-haired adults, what is your response? your response?

a) “we need more young families”a) “we need more young families”

b) “this is a serious problem”b) “this is a serious problem”

c) “this is a great opportunity”c) “this is a great opportunity”


10.10. Does your parish intentionally Does your parish intentionally reach out to . . . reach out to . . .

a) the young families in your a) the young families in your communitycommunity

b) the older adults in your communityb) the older adults in your community

c) anyone at all?c) anyone at all?


Important trends in our aging Important trends in our aging society…society… and what they mean and what they mean

for our churches…for our churches…

The New Senior in The New Senior in the New Centurythe New Century

IMPLICATIONIMPLICATION: : Focus on older adult Focus on older adult life issueslife issues

#1. #1. TRENDTREND: The average life : The average life expectancy is expectancy is risingrising… it is now 77.1 … it is now 77.1 years. Persons who are 65 today can years. Persons who are 65 today can expect to live an additional expect to live an additional 17.817.8 years. years.


What are older adult What are older adult life issues?life issues?

Family (spouse, children, grandchildren) Health (present & future) Relationships (or the lack thereof) Finances (will there be enough & passing it on) Transitions (retirement, change in health, loss of

spouse, relocation, etc.) Meaning (productivity & significance) Leisure (recreation) Personal growth (education, new experiences) Leaving a legacy (not being forgotten)

IMPLICATION: Support with issues IMPLICATION: Support with issues related to related to dyingdying, need for , need for companionshipcompanionship, , grief counselinggrief counseling, financial stability, and , financial stability, and related ministry opportunities.related ministry opportunities.

#2. #2. TREND: TREND: 700,000700,000 women lose women lose their husbands each year and will be their husbands each year and will be widows for an average of widows for an average of 1414 years. years. (US (US Census)Census)


IMPLICATIONIMPLICATION: : Men'sMen's ministry, ministry, datingdating and remarriage, and remarriage, home economichome economic issues issues

#3. #3. TRENDTREND: The number of : The number of widowers 65 years and older is widowers 65 years and older is 50%50% higher than 20 years ago, and growing. higher than 20 years ago, and growing. (US Census)(US Census)


IMPLICATIONIMPLICATION: Church: Church givinggiving,, financialfinancial challengeschallenges,, debt managementdebt management

#4. #4. TRENDTREND: Household debt for those : Household debt for those 65 years and older is up 65 years and older is up 164%164% in eight in eight years, to $21,452 (compared with a 92% years, to $21,452 (compared with a 92% increase for those under 65. increase for those under 65. (USA Today, (USA Today, April 2002)April 2002)


IMPLICATIONIMPLICATION: Importance of : Importance of fellowshipfellowship, our relationships with others, , our relationships with others, living an living an abundantabundant life life

#5. #5. TRENDTREND: Research indicates that : Research indicates that an active social life—even chatting with an active social life—even chatting with friends and relatives—helps seniors live friends and relatives—helps seniors live betterbetter and and longer longer lives. lives. (Brenner Life Course (Brenner Life Course Center, Cornell University)Center, Cornell University)


IMPLICATION: Handling IMPLICATION: Handling negativenegative emotions, the need to emotions, the need to forgiveforgive and be and be forgiven, hope in Christ, forgiven, hope in Christ, positivepositive outlook outlook

#6. #6. TREND: A TREND: A positivepositive attitudeattitude prolongs life; while prolongs life; while depressiondepression and and hostilityhostility contribute to illness. contribute to illness. (Sanders-Brown (Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky) Center on Aging, University of Kentucky)


IMPLICATIONIMPLICATION: Use of older adults’ : Use of older adults’ wisdomwisdom and experience for and experience for mentoringmentoring..

#7. #7. TRENDTREND: (New research shows : (New research shows that) aging brains are far more that) aging brains are far more vigorousvigorous, , resilientresilient, and , and fertilefertile than previously than previously thought. “Our brains have an innate thought. “Our brains have an innate capacity for change no matter how old we capacity for change no matter how old we are.” are.” (Harvard Medical School, PBS series, (Harvard Medical School, PBS series, The The secret life of the brainsecret life of the brain))


Who is theWho is the

““NewNew Senior” Senior” Adult?Adult?

1. New seniors have 1. New seniors have goalsgoals they want they want to accomplish. to accomplish.

2. New seniors feel 2. New seniors feel 10 - 2010 - 20 years younger years younger than their chronological age.than their chronological age.

3. New seniors look forward to the 3. New seniors look forward to the futurefuture..

4. 4. New seniors would rather New seniors would rather serveserve others others than be served.than be served.

5. New seniors spend time with others 5. New seniors spend time with others who share their who share their interestsinterests//concernsconcerns..



6. New seniors 6. New seniors eateat nutritionally and nutritionally and exerciseexercise regularly. regularly.

7. New seniors enjoy 7. New seniors enjoy going outgoing out..

8. New seniors have supportive 8. New seniors have supportive friendshipsfriendships and relationships. and relationships.

9. New seniors have a 9. New seniors have a sense of humorsense of humor..

10. New seniors view retirement as a time 10. New seniors view retirement as a time for for workwork, , studystudy, , serviceservice, and , and playplay..



Suggestions for Suggestions for Ministering to and Ministering to and

ReachingReaching““NewNew Seniors”… Seniors”…

www.rasnet.orgwww.rasnet.org

[email protected]

http://www.rasnet.org/

mailto:[email protected]

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The New Senior in the New Century with Dr. Charles Arn Important Trends Affecting Today’s Churches