Aging and Geriatric Issues

If you go back to biblical times, into the Middle Ages, and then into the modern era, you would find that views on aging have always been complex.

In ancient cultures, before widespread access to books and reading, oral traditions were passed on from one generation to the next. These were often shared by the elderly through stories and memories. This means that older people were often venerated for their wisdom and experience.

In the Old Testament, God gave this command in Leviticus “You shall stand up before the gray head and honor the face of an old man, and you shall fear your God: I am the Lord.” (Leviticus 19:32, ESV) Showing courtesy and honor to the elderly was one aspect of honoring God.

The command to honor the aged is part of a pattern we can see woven throughout Scripture: God cares for the lowly and those who have less power and strength. There are many Scriptures regarding how God’s people should treat those who are vulnerable in any way, including children, the poor, widows, orphans, slaves, foreigners, and the needy.

Humans tend to place more value on those who are strong, powerful, rich, and of high status, but our ways are not God’s ways. In honors those who are weak, lowly, and in need because, in those conditions, we are more likely to see our very real need for him.

How does this connect to the aging process?

Aging is often associated with weakening. It means not being able to work as hard, having one’s looks gradually fade, losing mental sharpness, and battling an increasingly physically weak body. It means not being valued for the things society places on a pedestal, including youthfulness, appearance, and productivity.

The Bible continually reminds us that our treasure should be in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21), that we should have our minds set on heavenly things (Colossians 3:2), and that we should have our minds set on God’s will instead of the patterns of the world (Romans 12:2).

These principles can become even more significant as we age and confront the inevitable reality of our mortality.

Everything on earth will fade away, but our relationship with the Lord will always remain.

The way the Bible talks about growing older is often in direct contrast to how our culture talks about aging.

In the West, we live in a highly individualistic society. We are focused on autonomy, reaching our potential, uniqueness, self-reliance, and independence. In an individualistic culture, “Being dependent upon others is often considered shameful or embarrassing” (VeryWell Mind).

There are many healthy aspects to individualism. Articulating personal rights, having a certain measure of self-reliance, identifying personal needs, and innovation are all benefits of individualistic cultures.

Collectivist cultures emphasize the needs of the group over the needs of the individual. They value traits of generosity, self-sacrifice, and harmony. They may be less likely to openly share their struggles, and they may struggle to leave dysfunctional or toxic situations.

How does this relate to aging? Eventually, the aging process forces us to become increasingly reliant on others, but an individualist culture may make that more difficult. Caregiving in any form is not a well-paid or honored endeavor, and caring for aging family members often has to be outsourced.

In Bible times, and many cultures even today, multigenerational living is common. In the U.S., rates have quadrupled since the 1970s.

The Center for Aging Research and Education says:

Intergenerational programs have been shown to benefit people across the lifespan. Children demonstrate more interactive and cooperative play, increased empathy and mood management, and improved academic performance. Adults—including parents of young children and caregivers of older relatives—experience better family communication, less worry and social isolation, and greater access to respite care. Older adults benefit from increased strength and balance, decreased social isolation, and improved quality of life. All ages become more accepting of differences and feel more connected to others. – The Center for Aging Research and Education

Whether or not generations live together, fostering greater interactions among generations instead of keeping them separate offers many benefits to everyone involved. 

In the New Testament, the church as the body of Christ is often described as having both ethnic and social diversity. Rather than compartmentalizing people into groups based on age, race, gender, or privilege, many diverse individuals are brought together into one body. And each one is worth just as much as the other, regardless of their age or social status.

Whether an individual feels socially connected to others or not, the aging process is still difficult. It’s not easy to lose strength and status, knowing that your prime years are behind you.

Although we often don’t emphasize this in our culture today, it’s helpful to remember that aging is a privilege. Not everyone gets to experience the aging process and all that it entails, including seeing younger generations grow up and moving through life’s milestones. Both the young and the old, as well as everyone in between, should remember that each day is a gift, and not treat aging as something to be looked down on.

We should also remember the Bible’s command to treat older people with courtesy. This doesn’t mean that you have to allow an older person to mistreat you, but it is a general injunction against ageism. We must not allow prejudice to blind us to the value of older and wiser perspectives, and we must not ignore the needs of older people, including their intangible needs for love, support, and companionship.

Wisdom often accompanies old age. One of the blessings of supporting the elderly is being able to hear about their lives and the things they’ve learned over the years. Having a negative or dismissive perspective on old age can cause us to miss out on the value and support older people have to offer.

With the increasing potential for loneliness in old age comes God’s reminder that he will never abandon his children, even in old age. In Isaiah God says, “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” (Isaiah 46:4, NIV) 

You can never outgrow being God’s child. You may find through the years that as your felt dependence on him grows, you experience more and more of the blessings of his care and love. Psalm 23:6 promises that God’s goodness and mercy will follow us throughout our lives.

Old age is a time in which the busyness and responsibilities of life are decreasing, and our need to receive help and support from others is increasing. If you or your loved one is struggling with the aging process, Christian counseling for the aging process may be helpful.

In a culture that overemphasizes youth and offers all kinds of treatments to prevent the appearance of aging, fear of aging can be a very real anxiety that often starts even when someone is still young. If you are struggling with a fear of aging, or if you are currently moving into old age, counseling for the aging process can help you cope with your fears and develop a healthier mindset about growing older.

If you are interested in Christian counseling for the aging process, please call our office at Texas Christian Counseling to find out more about scheduling your first session, or contact us online today.

Resources:

• https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/status-older-people-ancient-and-biblical-worlds
• https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-aging.html
• https://www.verywellmind.com/what-are-individualistic-cultures-2795273
• https://www.verywellmind.com/what-are-collectivistic-cultures-2794962
• https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2022/03/24/the-demographics-of-multigenerational-households/
• https://care.nursing.wisc.edu/2022/03/03/our-house-the-benefits-of-intergenerational-housing/