Isaiah 46:4 “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”

An Aunt of mine is currently actively dying in place at her home. She has been blessed with a fine life, and at 95 years of age is ready to go home to the LORD.

My other Aunt, her sister – is 92 years of age at home aging in place and actively caring for her older sister. They’ve not been apart since they were born. Having never married, they lived with each other their entire lives. And up until just one month ago, went out daily (the 92 year old is driving her Lexus every day!) and have all their faculties in place- nothing medically wrong!  So, all in all very blessed. Very blessed indeed.

The process of watching someone die is difficult. Of course, at this age it is expected, as no one leaves here without parting from their “flesh.” But what joy to enter in heaven as the spirit goes up to the LORD, as it is promised. Amen!

I have spoken to all of the hospice nurses, who are phenomenal human beings. Thank God for their role in preparation and providing comfort and palliative care- who offer comfort to the family as well. However, sometimes people can be a little “harsh” in terms of older patients dying.

Sometimes people will disrespect an elderly patient in ways they are not even aware of.  One disrespectful way is by ignoring them when they speak. And by ignoring the patient they begin speaking to another person in the room while addressing their medical needs. I as an experienced person in the field of gerontology my entire career working in the Nursing Home Industry, have always found this frustrating and the height of insensitivity to the patient.

• Leviticus 19:32 “Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the LORD.”

They also seem to disregard their dignity and treat them as a non-entity. These individuals have had most of their independence stripped from them and find themselves in unfamiliar territory where workers in the nursing home are “controlling” when they eat, sleep, bathe, etc.  It’s a difficult transition.

I guess what I’m trying to convey here is. We are all God’s children, no matter our age. He loves us all. He particularly has mentioned “woe to those who take advantage of the widow and fatherless child.”  So, you can be assured He is NOT happy when people treat patients with a cavalier attitude. Nope not at all!

When you encounter an elderly individual, please know that they are not invisible, and their life is no longer useful. Instead, treat them with the respect and dignity and honor they all deserve. Recognize that most have had different roles in their lives, like spouse, mom, dad, grandparents, sister, brother, daughter and son, so on and so forth.  They are still useful and are viable until their very last breath when they are called home to their heavenly Father above.

• 1 Timothy 5:1-2 “Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.

Dignity and respect should be afforded to all individuals, regardless of age. Be humble in your approach and kind and loving as Jesus would have you do.

• 1 Peter 5:5 “In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’”

The next time you see an elderly person or encounter an aging family member, please remember that they are God’s children, no matter their age. And yes, they are blessed to live beyond a certain age, but that only solidifies that God still has a plan for them in their current status. That there is still unfinished work to be done, perhaps in them to reinforce their pathway to heaven. But the point is – respect them and treat them with love.

One day if you are fortunate, and God willing, – you will be the OLD person in the room. Don’t forget that, and remember God is watching!

• Psalm 71:9 “Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone.”

“Father, Thank You for my aunt’s longevity, and for watching over them, I pray that You continue to watch over them both, and pray her death will be peaceful, and that the aunt left behind be comforted by Your love and knowing she will see her again one day, and I lift up all those actively dying in place at this time, for their family members to have peace and comfort, and for all those who are caring for the sick, that they have patience and respect and love for them, and for those mourning the loss of a loved one, I pray all these things in Jesus’ name, Amen.”