The Committee recommends concurrence as amended as follows:
Whereas, the total number and percentage of the elderly of the population in
many countries the United States will continue to
increase into the next century; and
Whereas, the health care needs in the form of basic custodial
care for some of these elderly citizens will likewise expand; and
Whereas, all elderly persons, no matter how frail in body or mind, are persons of sacred worth to whom we owe a duty of care and respect; and
Whereas, individuals, families, and governmental bodies all incur a great and growing expense for this basic care; and the continuing ability to provide such care cannot be taken for granted; and
Whereas, the ongoing expense for this type of care could potentially bankrupt individuals, families, and the nation as a whole; and
Whereas, there is potential for conflict in providing for the health care needs of the elderly and the available workers whose tax dollars will be used to pay for such services; and
Whereas, present cost-cutting proposals and measures could mean fewer services and poor quality of care for the elderly population; and
Whereas, the people providing direct such care in
institutional settings like long term care facilities nursing
homes are very low paid among the lowest paid workers
in America; and
Whereas, the profit margins of some institutions are razor thin; and the needs of elderly residents compete with the needs of investors for a profit; and
Whereas, many so-called long term care facilities nursing homes
are no more than warehouses for large numbers of crippled bodies;
and
Whereas, in many instances the elderly resident of such an institution has survived most family members and has only a church body to visit or to express concern on his or her behalf; and
Whereas, Jesus has called his church to action on behalf of the weakest members of society (Matthew 25:34-40); and
Whereas, faith without works is dead (James 2:14-18); and
Whereas, there are potential curses for a church body for not responding to a need that is within our ability to alleviate (Matthew 25:41-46; Revelation 3:15-16);
Therefore, be it resolved, that The United Methodist Church will endeavor to:
Pray for God's guidance in this and all areas of ministry;
Undertake a timely, thorough study of the need for and provision of health and social care services to the growing elderly population;
Identify and publicize programs and institutions that seem to be successfully meeting the needs of elderly individuals and groups, with the idea that such successful approaches can be copied by others in their communities;
Focus locally upon the spiritual, physical, and emotional needs of long term
care facilities' nursing home residents and the
home-bound elderly, encouraging new or expanded services at the local church
level;
Explore the need for and development of new approaches in health and social
care delivery that provide quality care and fullness of life at
affordable reasonable cost for the elderly, their
families and friends, and society as a whole;
Research the potential for and promote the development of new technologies to help debilitated elderly individuals meet their basic needs for cleanliness, safety, and comfort at a reasonable cost while promoting job security and enhanced status for the health care workers directly helping the elderly; and
Mobilize the appropriate financial and personnel resources of the boards,
agencies, and institutions of the church to address this pressing concern.
vast resources of United Methodist individuals, groups, and
institutions to this end.
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
Calendar Item Text: 249-NonDis1996 United Methodist General Conference