When You Can’t Be There….

3rd August, 2010 - Posted by admin - Comments Off

Our nursing homes in America are full, our lives are full, our elderly are lonely, and our hearts are tender towards this need.  "Joyfully loving and serving those confined to living in Nursing Homes" is our passion.
Some of our parents have been gone for many years, others have parents that are healthy and doing well on their own for now.  So we are reaching out with regularly scheduled visits every week, and have been so blessed by the elderly we come to know.

Some family’s members may not visit their moms or dads, their grandparents, their sisters, or brothers,   because maybe they don’t live nearby.  There is a poem we have on our web site entitled, "Don’t Come", I am not sure who wrote it, whoever it was knew first hand the need. Some don’t come because… they can’t …perhaps face it, or accept it, or know how to just visit.   Some don’t come because they can’t or are not paying for the care, perhaps a choice they hate, even if it is one they made. 

Be comforted, there are people who visit those in nursing homes that do not have family in that nursing home.  They are there when you are unable to be there. They are watching for the right care to be given, they are watching for the needs to be met.  Perhaps they don’t have any elderly family member at all in their lives any more, and choose to learn, share, care for someone who has no visitors.  That proves to be a blessing for everyone.   We recently had a young family join us on an afternoon visit, they even brought along their family dog.  The young boys are used to seeing the faces of the old; they carefully touch them, and sing along to a song or two, mostly give a smile and a "hello".  That day that smile lifted someones spirits…that all it takes.

Amazing Grace Ministries, wants to fill a void in as many nursing homes as they can for as long as they can.  Our Chaplains are there, when you may not be able to be.   
Here is a list of the services Amazing Grace provides to Nursing Homes:

• Worship Services/ Bible Studies – one hour a week singing of hymns, Reading of Scripture, Prayer, Message, and Communion.
• Visitations; Listen Talk and pray. Prayer for what he or she is grateful for or hopeful of.
• Sitting Vigil: At the time of pending death we sit with the person who is dying sometimes joined by the family.  This is a sacred time, and we treat it as such, providing companionship, support, comfort and blessing, listen and pray.
• Funeral Services/ Celebration of Life- as requested.
• Memorial ‘A time to Remember’- After a long time resident dies, or on an Annual Basis.  Remembering all who have died. Light candles, pray, special music.
• Emergency Services – Crisis care- When needed
• Holiday Celebrations- Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter
• Recourses for  Residents and Families – Booklets and Talks 
• Family Support Groups – As the Lord leads.        When placing your parent in a nursing home facility it is a difficult.  They are confronted with feelings of guilt, helplessness, inadequacy and fear.  Helping the caregivers, we empathize the need to take care of one’s own physical, emotional, and spiritual health.

The elderly are often left in the care of strangers.  Amazing Grace Ministers can build bridges of friendship from resident to staff to family.

We invite you to come visit our web site, and learn more about Caring for the Elderly. 
www.amazinggraceblessings.org