{"id":3814,"date":"2013-03-21T09:06:39","date_gmt":"2013-03-21T09:06:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/?p=3814"},"modified":"2015-02-16T10:53:10","modified_gmt":"2015-02-16T10:53:10","slug":"are-older-people-a-problem-or-a-blessing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/50plus\/are-older-people-a-problem-or-a-blessing\/","title":{"rendered":"Are older people a problem or a blessing?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>What does society say and what does God say?<\/p>\n<p>I believe this image encapsulates society\u2019s picture of an older\u00a0person, a rather troubled and passive older man.\u00a0In my work as Director of Outlook Trust, I meet many older people\u00a0both in Churches and in the Community who feel on a very deep\u00a0level that society has a very negative image of them which they do\u00a0not deserve.<\/p>\n<p>Here are a few of the things that society says about older people coupled\u00a0with I believe, some of the things it thinks but doesn\u2019t necessarily speak\u00a0out;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>They are a social problem-a nuisance-a burden.<\/li>\n<li>They will bankrupt pension, health and other welfare systems.<\/li>\n<li>They are non-productive and a drain.<\/li>\n<li>They are past-it\u2019 and out of touch with modern life<\/li>\n<li>They are undesirable or ugly with little or no value<\/li>\n<li>They are invisible, irrelevant, not important, nuisances.<\/li>\n<li>They are rarely portrayed as being wise and understanding.<\/li>\n<li>Ageing is denied to keep away the reality of growing old and a person is a \u2018failure\u2019 if they have grey hair and wrinkles.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>So, based on the above, I believe that society looks upon older people and older age as a <span style=\"font-size: medium;\">GREAT BIG PROBLEM<\/span>, but what is God\u2019s view?<\/p>\n<p>I believe this image encapsulates His view and understanding and I am happy to say, many of our Outlook Members live their lives based on these truths;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Old age is a blessing from God\u00a0(Deuteronomy 5 v 33 \/Psalm 92 v 13 &#8211; 15 \/\u00a0Isaiah 46 v 4)<\/li>\n<li>Older age is the fulfilment of a life devoted to God &#8211;\u00a0\u2018He has made all things new, past sins forgiven, abundant and\u00a0eternal life\u2019 (2 Corinthians 4 v 16-18)<\/li>\n<li>Wisdom is an attribute of older people who depend on God\u00a0(Proverbs 9 v 10 &#8211; 12\/ Proverbs 3 v 13 &amp; 15 &#8211; 16)<\/li>\n<li>Older age is a general part of God\u2019s purposes for life &#8211;\u00a0(Genesis 25 v 8 &#8211; 1 \/ Chronicles 29 v 26 &#8211; 28 \/ Job 42 v 16 &amp; 17)<\/li>\n<li>Older people have continuing moral responsibilities and a mentoring role &#8211;\u00a0(Titus 2 v 2 &#8211; 4)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Although older age has its problems, in God\u2019s sight older people and older age are certainly not a problem, but rather A <span style=\"font-size: medium;\">BLESSING<\/span>.<\/p>\n<p>The two views, society\u2019s and God\u2019s are as the above shows, diametrically opposed. It is this truth we encourage not just our Members to believe and live by, but to every older person we say live up to and in these truths and not live down to what society says of you.<\/p>\n<p>As ever with Christian love<\/p>\n<p>Norman Critchell<br \/>\nDirector <a href=\"http:\/\/www.outlook-trust.org.uk\" target=\"_blank\">Outlook Trust<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"linkwithin_hook\" id=\"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/50plus\/are-older-people-a-problem-or-a-blessing\/\"><\/div><script>\n<!-- \/\/LinkWithinCodeStart\nvar linkwithin_site_id = 897245;\nvar linkwithin_div_class = \"linkwithin_hook\";\n\/\/LinkWithinCodeEnd -->\n<\/script>\n<script src=\"http:\/\/www.linkwithin.com\/widget.js\"><\/script>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.linkwithin.com\/\"><img src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.linkwithin.com\/pixel.png?w=750\" alt=\"Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...\" style=\"border: 0\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What does society say and what does God say? I believe this image encapsulates society\u2019s picture of an older\u00a0person, a rather troubled and passive older man.\u00a0In my work as Director of Outlook Trust, I meet many older people\u00a0both in Churches and in the Community who feel on a very deep\u00a0level that society has a very [&hellip;]<\/p>\n<script>\n<!-- \/\/LinkWithinCodeStart\nvar linkwithin_site_id = 897245;\nvar linkwithin_div_class = \"linkwithin_hook\";\n\/\/LinkWithinCodeEnd -->\n<\/script>\n<script src=\"http:\/\/www.linkwithin.com\/widget.js\"><\/script>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.linkwithin.com\/\"><img src=\"http:\/\/www.linkwithin.com\/pixel.png\" alt=\"Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...\" style=\"border: 0\" \/><\/a>","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":5895,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[319],"tags":[582,581,580,583,579,557],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/CVM-50plus-blog-640x360.jpg?fit=640%2C360&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7PoLK-Zw","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4748,"url":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/50plus\/reaching-out-to-older-men\/","url_meta":{"origin":3814,"position":0},"title":"Reaching Out to Older Men (part 2)","date":"31 October 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Continuing on from last week, here is part 2 of a presentation by David Shipley: Preparing for later life In order to cope with these changes, as men get older, they need to engage with other interests and other social networks, to re-introduce themselves to their partners and families and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;50 Plus&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/CVM-50plus-blog-640x360.jpg?fit=640%2C360&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":3535,"url":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/50plus\/grey-hair-and-wrinkles\/","url_meta":{"origin":3814,"position":1},"title":"Grey hair and wrinkles","date":"3 January 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"There are nearly 12 million people of pensionable age in the UK today and the number is rising. The latest research shows that only around 16% attend church regularly. Many older people are out of touch with the Christian faith at the very time when they may be seeking an\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;50 Plus&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/CVM-50plus-blog-640x360.jpg?fit=640%2C360&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":4651,"url":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/50plus\/age-means-you-are-still-valuable\/","url_meta":{"origin":3814,"position":2},"title":"Age means you are still valuable","date":"25 September 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Age means you are still valuable Saga is that well known organisation that focuses on the over 50\u2019s and is often the butt of a comedian\u2019s jokes but a recent survey has calculated that middle age doesn\u2019t start until you have reached 53. Also it has been said that life\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;50 Plus&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/CVM-50plus-blog-640x360.jpg?fit=640%2C360&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2371,"url":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/50plus\/what-is-civilisation\/","url_meta":{"origin":3814,"position":3},"title":"What is &#8216;Civilisation&#8217;?","date":"15 March 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"One definition of 'Civilisation' is 'how a society cares for the vulnerable ... the sick, the old, the homeless and the weak.' There are 376,000 older people living in 10,000 care homes in England. Many do not have access to a geriatrician, who could significantly improve their quality of life\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;50 Plus&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":3725,"url":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/50plus\/extended-families\/","url_meta":{"origin":3814,"position":4},"title":"Extended families","date":"21 February 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Many older people have to survive all week without a single visitor, let alone a handshake or a hug from someone. Yet some cutting-edge social projects are bucking the trend by deliberately sticking older people in the same room as the parents and toddlers. The older people in these studies\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;50 Plus&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/CVM-50plus-blog-640x360.jpg?fit=640%2C360&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2153,"url":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/50plus\/are-we-wasting-our-resources\/","url_meta":{"origin":3814,"position":5},"title":"Are we wasting our resources?","date":"12 January 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"In a recent survey conducted by SAGA, respondents put the age at which someone in the UK is deemed to be old at 59, whereas in most other European Countries it\u2019s the mid-60s. This seems to contradict what we hear so often that the new 40 is 60 and the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;50 Plus&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3814"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/27"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3814"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3814\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5588,"href":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3814\/revisions\/5588"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5895"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3814"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3814"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3814"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}