2017-03-22-Caring for the Elderly

Session

Lesson

Prolotheos: “It is at the two extremes of human life, childhood and old age, where human beings are at their most dependent on others. A child can’t survive without proper care and neither can old-aged people when their physical and mental strength is in decline. A child, however, is heading toward growth and greater development. Aged people are experiencing poor conditions and are headed towards death. Both children and the elderly need care, but, at this time let’s think about caring for old people, which has often been neglected. Caring for the elderly speaks volumes about your civilization on Urantia. What does caring for the elderly entail?

“Caring for the elderly entails Respect. Respect should be given to elderly people. It is not in essence different to the respect for all human beings at any other age. What is to be respected is not primarily the age, but human life. Indeed, some aged people may not be worthy (?!) of your personal respect, but each must be treated with respect as should any human being of any age. Respect is an attitude; it’s expression, however, it is an action that takes into account the condition elderly people experience, and expressing it accordingly, always considering their frailty, limitations and special needs.

“Caring for the elderly entails Compassion. Compassion stresses the quality of respect given to the elderly. Indeed, to show compassion for the needs of elderly people speaks more about you than it does about them. Compassion is an attitude that reveals an important life-value: goodness and love. Compassion is both a sentiment and an attitude. It means that you feel the need of the elderly people and you are willing to do something about it, even if it is just a comforting word or small gesture of solidarity. Being compassionate for the elderly moves you both internally and externally, in feeling and action.

“Caring for the elderly entails Assistance. A direct result of the practical aspect of compassion is real assistance. If there is something that elderly people need most of all, it is assistance. Assistance is to offer and give actual help to real needs. It should not render elders inactive and prevent them from doing what they still can. What they really need is help with their limitations and others fully making up for their inabilities. Being precise, your assistance to the elderly recognizes their remaining strengths besides your reassuring their personal dignity. Show your care by giving them assistance with mobility, eating, hygiene and companionship.

Closing

“Therefore, my pupil, neglect not the elderly. Respect is basic and universal. Respect the elderly because you respect humanity in all phases of life. Compassion is not a universal capability. Only those with enough selflessness are capable of bestowing it, and the elderly need it a lot. Everybody needs some help, but the elderly need assistance with the basics of life and without it, their lives cannot subsist. Caring for the elderly is very rewarding because oftentimes they cannot return the favor, so you know how valuable is your caring for them. I am Prolotheos, your teacher and tutor on High. Peace!”