March 31st, 2021: Senior Abuse


We heard about different horrendous conditions of nursing homes and senior homes around this time last year as Covid-19 claimed many lives of elderly folks across the country. Various governments and politicians vowed that they seek to change things, and business is not as usual. "Is it really?" we might want to ask. What I have heard from folks who work in these facilities is we have hardly done enough.


Senior abuse doesn't just take place in these places. More abuse has been done by those who are supposed to take care of them. Some of them suffer from loneliness and abandonment because their kids don't even come for visits. Some are damaged because kids take advantage of their finance. Some children humiliate their elderly parents because they don't remember things and they don't make sense.


We are willing to embarrass our elderly publicly, knowing quite well their cognitive awareness is failing. These folks cannot process their thoughts, follow notes, recall details of events correctly, seem to look for words, and are unable to converse comfortably. That is also abuse.



As we prepare for Easter, let us take another look at how Jesus cares for us because of our helplessness. He promises that He is going to be there. Jesus protects us from our human conditions by telling us about the Holy Spirit. He pays for the price of our human brokenness. Jesus comforts us. He let us know that we don't need to be afraid of the darkness of our souls.


So love your elderly parents as God has loved us.


1 Timothy 5: 8


"But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."

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