www.creativeladiesministry.com

[Hallie]

Hello! I love this website!! I am a soon to be (female) licensed Assemblies of God Pastor!! I am a single and 29. God has called me to minister as a Chaplain to nursing homes and hospitals as well as ministering in the local church to those 60 and older. In fact the ministry is called J.O.Y. Ministries (Just Older Youth). God is doing some incredible things!!

I have ran into a snag when it comes to researching on great ministry ideas for our elderly. There is just not enough out there on creative ideas for senior adults and especially nursing home residents. I was wondering what wonderful ideas you creative women could share with me. The majority of those I work with have Alzheimers.

For example - I recently had a Sno-Cone party at the nursing home and had the Missionettes come and serve the people it was a great sucess and the best part was that it became an outreach to residents that normally wouldn't come because it was "church".

Thanks for all and any of your great ideas!!

His Servant - Hallie

[creativ4]

Hi Hallie,

Glad you found the website. I get lots of emails asking me about resources for the elderly, but you are right. There just doesn't seem to be much out there on the subject.


Have you seen Focus on the Family's (James Dobson) Focus Over Fifty? You might gain some insight there.
http://www.family.org/focusoverfifty/

This is from them too. A great article.
http://www.family.org/focusoverfifty/articles/a0023215.html


Here is one place that has a few resources and tips for working with the elderly.

Faithful Friends
http://www.faithfulfriends.org/topten.html

Hope these help you.
_________________
Joy and blessings,
Julia

[OkieLady]

Hi Hallie,
My mother is in the nursing home(she is 93 years old) and suffers from dementia. I visit her every other day at least and have found the people there are so very precious. My daughter, son-in-law and two granddaughters and I have services on the 2nd Sunday of the month and on Tuesday evenings. Our people love to sing the old hymns. Tonight we were unable to go and my sister said as she left our little people were singing HOW GREAT THOU ART without music....beautiful sounds echoing thru the hall. It made me cry that we weren't there but so glad they carried on without us. My daughter homeschools her girls and is planning to have several of the other homeschooled children go in December for a Happy Birthday Jesus Party. We have done the party with our children for years and decided this year we would include the nursing home. We plan to decorate and take a birthday cake and pass out stuffed animals to each resident. You will find they will bless you more than you will ever know. They are so forgotten so much and even when they don't seem to realize you are even there I believe their spirit man still hears your prayers and your songs, etc. Many times there have been people that were agitated and loud at the beginning of the singing and soon they calmed down and it seemed like a very special peace from God covered them. God bless you in your ministry. Sylvia Moore from Oklahoma