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Committee calls church to respond to needs of older adults

8/21/2003 News media contact: Kathy Gilbert · (615) 742-5470 · Nashville, Tenn.

By Kathy L. Gilbert* United Methodist News Service

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS)-The United Methodist Committee on Older Adults, the denominational agency responsible for responding to the older adult concerns, has sent an urgent call to action asking the church to pay attention to the "declining quality of life for older persons."

Some of the issues raised are the high costs of drugs, tax cuts for the very wealthy that significantly reduce funds for health, education and basic services, and undermining regulations that protect worker's rights and pension guarantees.

The committee is concerned that many public policies put into place to help older adults are being weaken and eroded.

"Some of the policies of the government are turning away from hard work that has been done to help alleviate the problems faced by older adults," said Emmy Lou John, Aurora, Ill. The call to action was passed at the Aug. 15-17 meeting of the committee held in Nashville.

John points out that the baby boomer generation especially needs to pay attention to what is happening.

"Every seven seconds someone is turning 60 in this country," she said. "They see life in a different way from those of us who are experiencing those problems now. We want to prepare them so it won't be such a shock."

"We felt as the United Methodist agency for older adults, we needed to bring these concerns to the attention of persons who can help alleviate the problems," said Hazel C. Bennett, Greenwood, S.C.

"We are hoping United Methodists will speak to their government representatives and help to bring about some changes," she said.

The issue of affordable drugs is especially concerning, John said.

"I don't have the answers. I just know how expensive it is and how people have to make choices between drugs and food," she said. "Who is to say that our senior years are just suppose to be about drugs and food and a roof over our head. We are also concerned about the spiritual and emotional life of people."

John said the committee is not telling people what side to be on in these issues but to just be well informed.

"We are just asking people to please think these issues through and not just listen to the high cost paid ads that the pharmaceuticals are putting on prime-time television."

The United Methodist Church needs to be a church for all God's people, she says.

"The saddest thing to me is to see older persons who have given their entire life to the church, and when they get old are just forgotten and not made to feel special and part of this marvelous body that we call the church of Jesus Christ."

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*Gilbert is news writer for United Methodist News Service.

Text of the urgent call to action follows.

The United Methodist Committee on Older Adult Ministries is deeply concerned and troubled about the declining quality of life for older persons. We call to your attention the following issues that impact the spiritual and physical well-being of older persons in the United States and worldwide.

Â· Privatization of public services.
Â· High cost of pharmaceuticals that fuel exorbitant profits for drug companies at the expense of adequate health care for older persons.
Â· Tax cuts for the very wealthy, which have significantly reduced funds for health, education and basic public services.
Â· Undermining federal regulations protecting worker's rights and pension guarantees.
Â· Vast increase in military spending that has reduced other public expenditures.
Â· Diminishing the role, influence, and worldwide programs of the United Nations system while failing to cooperate in a world community.
Â· Dismantling environmental treaties that have compromised human health, including older persons.

We ask you to study, pray, reflect, have public dialogue and take action to counter the negative effects of these public policies.

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