Calendar Item Text: 249-NonDis

Understanding Calendar Item Numbers

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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.

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Calendar Item Text: 249-NonDis1996 United Methodist General Conference