Nursing Homes: Dying for Company
Nursing homes are one of the fastest growing populations in the United States. There are literally thousands of people today living in nursing homes who have never had anyone visit them once. A great number of them never receive visitors. And many of these residents will die within the first two years of living there. Are these two facts related? Are people literally dying for company? I believe there is strong correlation that this is true.
Today, there are over 1.5 million residents in the U.S. in Nursing Homes. Of these residents, 60 percent receive no visitors at all if they have no relatives living nearby. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, when a person moves into a nursing home, their number of visits declined by half, regardless of their age. What do all these numbers mean? It means that when people are forced to enter a nursing home due to declining age, inability to care for oneself, by disease, or by accident, they are often forgotten by society.
Another sad statistic is that people do not live very long after they enter a nursing home. Research indicates that between 50 to 60 percent of people admitted to care homes die within the first two years. Even worse, the mortality rates are highest in the first six months of entering into a nursing home.
The church I am pastor of has a deacon’s mother living in one and recently, one of our members has had to enter such a facility. One of my favorite things to do is to visit these residents there. I read out the Bible to them or I just sit and listen to them and help them catch up on what’s happening in the church or in their community. I sometimes have dinner with them. However I don’t restrict my visits to only those residents whom I know. Many of these men and women are literally dying to have someone to talk to. They thrill to have someone to just sit and listen to what they want to say. They love to have someone hear them speak of their lives when they were active in the community, working, or raising their children. I have just begun a Wednesday night Bible study there.
I write letters to prisoners in state prisons and in Death Row but I truly believe a large part of the forgotten ones are those who are confined, by no choice of their own, to nursing homes. Being out of sight, they are frequently out of mind. I feel it is one of the most enjoyable experiences that I have. To have these people share their life with you is so enriching to me. I urge you to visit someone in a nearby nursing home, an assisted living center, or a facility such as these, because many of them are dying – dying for company. I believe it is what Christ would have us do and if He were here, He Himself would be doing.
About Jack Wellman
Jack Wellman is a freelance writer and Christian author who writes for several websites and online publications. With a BA in history and degrees in science and education, his primary focus is on theology, apologetics and doxology. Jack is also Senior Pastor of the Mulvane Brethren Church.
Willz Rich
Thank you for this article. I am in a job which oversees ministry by our churches to those who are in nursing homes and shut-ins. I recently did a paper in shich Iused the following statistics: There are 1440 minutes in a day – in general terms nursing home residents sleep 480 of those -eat 90 of those- watch Jepardy 30 of those and by statistical averages have 86 minutes of attention from nurses and nurse’s aides. If there is an activity program they spend 60 minutes being entertained. That leaves 664 minutes (11 hours) of the day in which there is no life maintainance or people contact going on. Imagine if you sat in a wheel chair or bed for 11 hours every day without a visitor. I personally would not like to live long in that state.
Jack Wellman
Hello Mr. Rich. I appreciate your kind words. Truly you have a heart for those who are deemed by society as having lived out their purpose but I know many of these precious people are prayer warriors and prayer is not the only thing or least that they can do but the very most. Incidentally, I would be interested in your ministry sir to see what this involves since I am presently out of work and am considering expanding this much needed and most rewarding of ministries. Thank you.
Cat
Hi Jack…Just thought I would look up your church online…I read statement of Belief for Brethran churches. I can say that I don’t think I would like the extreme form of the church but I can see that from the cross on top of your church, you are not part of that! The basic statement of belief sounds much like the baptist, of which I am currantly. It also sounds much like the old non-denominational church that I was raised in and that is disapearing in the Charismatic movement. I was surprised however about your struggle within your congregation on community service and missions as the importance of both were mentioned within the statement of the Church! I also noticed that the same statement says that they wished to keep things simple doctrinally and to me that means that the church wanted to avoid legalism! I recieved an education on the Brethran church and a better understanding of what you and your family are trying to accomplish, even if it is an uphill battle…Maybe it is time to remind those in the congregation of what that statement of belief statement stresses so clearly!
Stand strong in his work and God Bless…Cat
Sonia Dorsey
Thenk you for the article. Well written! A reminder of the commission!
Sean Wichert Sr.
+1, This is a powerful article brother Jack.
Gary Linton
Great article Jack!!! Keep up the good work.