“IGNITE A CULTURE CHANGE IN AMERICANS’ ATTITUDES TOWARD AGING TO RECOGNIZE OLDER ADULTS AS A RESOURCE THAT SUPPORTS THE GREATER GOOD OF SOCIETY AND CAN HELP SOLVE SOCIETY’S PROBLEMS.” - White House Council on Aging 2015

Dear Friends of Elder Source,

This may be most important communication you have ever received from Elder Source! So please forgive me for generically addressing this letter!

Every ten years the White House convenes a Conference on Aging. I will be pulling comments from that conference in this important ministry update. The first quote is essential to understanding the focus and the need for organizations like Elder Source.

WHCOA: “First, we must acknowledge our demographic reality. The U.S. continues to experience incredible demographic transformation. Over 10,000 baby boomers are turning 65 every day, and the fastest growing demographic in the U.S. is women over age 85. This age wave will continue into the next decade and beyond. To help every American enjoy a longer, better, more active and independent life, our society needs to be able to effectively engage the challenges and fully embrace the possibilities inherent in an aging population.”

ES RESPONSE: I refer to the age wave as the Age Wave Tsunami, and have enclosed a blog concerning the group mentioned above, women over age 85. I hope you will take time to look it over. The last line of the WHCOA quote above goes to the heart of a key element of our ministry – engaging society in an aging population. Here are a few of the tools we are employing.

“Who Is My Neighbor?” – A five-step plan for churches wanting to engage seniors.
“A Time to Grieve.” – A booklet given to family members who have lost a senior loved one.

WHCOA: “We must also take advantage of technology. Since the last White House Conference on Aging, held 10 years ago, technology has transformed what it means to age in America. An increasing array of web-based technologies, robotics, and mobile devices help older adults access the services they need, stay connected to family and friends, and remain active and independent.”

ES RESPONSE: We started employing technology in our senior outreach over five years ago when we began developing our own Christian-based materials in partnership with a for-profit company that sells technology to senior care communities. The following statement from IN2L.com summarizes the value they place on our ministry that is reaching over 2700 senior care communities in all 50 states. “Elder Source resources are very valuable to our customers living in senior care communities. They allow our seniors to stay connected to their religious beliefs and practices. When so much in their lives is changing, this connection can be a source of strength and solace to them. The content is high quality, accessible, and can be used in group settings or individually. We are thrilled to offer this programming from Elder Source!”

In addition to the IN2L partnership, we recently launched our own free mobile app. We are looking to use the app in the following ways.

IN2L will be using the app on their tablets and will be able to link it to their computers. They will also be helping us to market the free app to corporations like Brookdale Senior Living, the largest owner of senior care communities in the nation.
The app will also be used by hospice, home health, and home service organizations.
Churches will able to use the app in visiting homebound seniors as well as those in care communities.
Sermonaudio.com has offered to be the sole provider of sermon content for our new app.

WHCOA: “IGNITE A CULTURE CHANGE IN AMERICANS’ ATTITUDES TOWARD AGING TO RECOGNIZE OLDER ADULTS AS A RESOURCE THAT SUPPORTS THE GREATER GOOD OF SOCIETY AND CAN HELP SOLVE SOCIETY’S PROBLEMS.”

ES RESPONSE: Can I be honest with you? If the above were presently true, you would be getting an individually addressed letter because we would have the funding to pay the staff to help in a variety of ways. If the above were presently true, we would see churches openly loving, inspiring, valuing, and engaging seniors following passages like Titus 2, where the older men and older women are teaching and training the younger men and women.

Igniting a cultural change in America’s attitude towards the aged begins with a soul-searching look in the mirror. We are the face of aging in America today and tomorrow. We must support organizations that are on the front lines, like Elder Source, with our time, talents, and treasure.

Will you stand with us? Here are some ways to do so.

Tell your church or small group about us.
Tell your contacts in the senior care and service industry about us.
Become a regular financial supporter.
Help us secure individual and corporate sponsors.
Most importantly, pray for us!

A funding seminar speaker listed a number of creative ways to get your attention and get a one on one meeting with you in hopes of getting a donation or getting you to increase your donation. He even mentioned steps to take to overcome your rejection, like showing interest in your dog. I am happy to say that is just not my style, and I find it a bit distasteful. Yes, I would like to meet with you in person, by phone, or email to answer any questions you may have. Please feel free to contact me. I will leave the sales pressure and conviction to the Holy Spirit and the outcome to God.

With God’s help, we (you and I) can ignite a cultural change in America’s attitude towards the aged.

Sincerely,
Stan Means