3059 Edition
October 11~17, 2010
Church Ministry News
Taiwanese churches’ ministry and response to an aging population
Reported by staff reporters
Written by Lydia Ma
A recent typhoon in Taiwan brought to the surface many social problems, including neglected and helpless elderly people who must fend for themselves. Since there aren’t many social welfare programs in existence in Taiwan, the responsibility for taking care of the elderly has usually fallen on family members or religious organizations.
One of the distinctive aspects of PCT is its involvement in the social issues of the day. Hence, it is no surprise that a PCT church – Shuang-Lien Presbyterian Church – would include running a senior home as one of its key ministries.
Social workers interviewed for this report have commented that churches are great places to connect with people and seniors can benefit a great deal from churches because the latter can help them get connected, get information, become motivated, and become active and helpful participants of their society.
One PCT church’s ministry to seniors
Shuang-Lien Presbyterian Church in Taipei has won 3 national awards in the past few years for managing one of the best senior homes in the nation. Not only is this facility spacious, it’s surrounded by beaches and mountains. With an excellent team of physicians and wheelchair-accessible facilities, Shuang-Lien Elderly Center has also served as one of the local branches of PCT Pine Life University for seniors.
Shuang-Lien operates a separate senior daycare center, participates in community outreach programs and continues to offer leisure, medicine and travel programs for seniors. There are currently more than 400 residents living in Shuang-Lien Elderly Center.
As for registration fees, the center charges residents according room size and whether they stay in a one, four, or six-people bedroom. Monthly registration fees typically range from NT$19,000 to NT$34,000.
Christian hospital-affiliated senior homes
Kaohsiung Christian Hospital’s Ark Senior Home, a hospital and senior home operated by the Lutheran Church, recently became the center housing the highest number of seniors with Alzheimer’s disease. One of the distinctive aspects of this home is that pastors visit every week and lead worship services followed by personal visits. The hospital has also partnered with members of the community and established a daycare center for seniors.
Another nursing home in Kaohsiung affiliated with St. Joseph Catholic Hospital specializes in taking care of seniors with chronic diseases. Not only is this center staffed 24-hours every day, it also hires physicians, therapists, pharmacists, nutritionists, etc. to provide quality assistance to seniors. The center coordinates its residents’ schedule to include group activities and spiritual counseling.
A Christian social worker’s perspective
One Christian social worker we’ll call Miss Shan observed that many religious organizations like to visit and help out at senior homes as part of their charitable works. But if they’re not careful or considerate, they may wind up becoming a burden instead of becoming helpful volunteers.
Miss Shan explained that sometimes religious organizations become too bossy and condescending toward seniors and forget they’re supposed to perceive things from the perspective of an elderly person seeking companionship.
To illustrate her point, she said she saw some Christians organizing choir performances at senior homes rudely barge into a senior’s bedroom and drag a poor senior out to hear the choir sing. In most cases, before this senior has a chance to really get to know these volunteers, the day is over and the volunteers prepare to leave.
One-time outreach events like this one are probably best suited for elderly Christians who already know what to expect, feel comfortable in that kind of setting, and merely want to attend a church service. Such events rarely build relationships or friendships or trust between seniors and volunteers.
In contrast, “Buddhist volunteers have a long-term strategy when it comes to volunteering at senior homes. They tend to come more often and commit to visiting elderly people for the long haul,” Shan pointed out.
Shan underscored that many elderly living in senior homes are bed-ridden and suffer from low-self esteem. It is often difficult for them to open up their hearts to total strangers. “That’s why I think long-term commitment and regular visits are the most important aspects of volunteering. Truly, volunteers don’t need to possess a lot of skills – they just need to be there and willing to listen.”
