Edge United Methodist Church
Every Day God Engages People to Care for People
Jeremy helps congregations recognize how God is already engaging people to care, then connects those gifts with opportunities to support others
Remember the Whole Family When an aging parent begins needing more support, don’t forget about the adult children who may be helping behind the scenes. A simple question can make a difference: “How are you doing? How can our church support you and your family?” Sometimes the best thing a congregation can do is remind families that they don’t have to navigate aging alone.
Congregation Support: Memory Impairment People living with memory impairment and their families may begin pulling away from church at the very time they need their church community most. A congregation can help by creating a place where they continue to feel known, valued, and included. Simple Tips for Your Church Notice changes. If someone who regularly attends begins missing worship or activities, check in. Stay connected with the family. Ask what would make church participation easier for their loved one. Be patient. Give the person extra time to respond and don't correct every forgotten detail. Introduce yourself. Even if you've known someone for years, offering your name can remove the pressure of remembering. Keep inviting. Don't assume memory impairment means someone can no longer participate. Focus on the person, not the impairment. They still have gifts, relationships, faith, stories, and a need to belong. The goal isn't to create a separate place for people with memory impairment. It's to help them continue to have a place in the congregation.
SPOTLIGHT
A safe space for caregivers, over-50s, and anyone ready to earn income from home without sacrificing family, time, or peace. Feeling stuck in a 9–5, overwhelmed, or unsure how to start over... You’re not alone—and you’re not done. This community helps you: ✨ Build a work-from-home income ✨ Create a 2-hour workday business ✨ Learn simple digital income strategies for beginners ✨ Step into financial freedom without burnout ✨ Turn life experience into a legacy-building income No tech skills. No overwhelm—just simple steps and real support. Inside you’ll find: 💻 Beginner-friendly digital income guidance 📈 Passive income strategies for caregivers 🤝 Support, clarity, and community 🌱 Growth in mindset and income This is where you reclaim your time, your confidence, and your future. Your story doesn’t end here…This is your turning point. Hablamos Español Apoyamos a nuestra comunidad Latina en su camino hacia libertad financiera y crecimiento personal.
Eldercare Locator When an aging adult or caregiver asks the church for help, it can be difficult to know which services are available in their community. The Eldercare Locator is a nationwide public service of the United States Administration for Community Living. People can enter their ZIP code, city, or county to find local resources for older adults, caregivers, and families. Connect With Eldercare Locator Website: eldercare.acl.gov Call or Text: 1-800-677-1116 Email: eldercarelocator@usaging.org Online chat with trained staff is also available through the website. How It Can Help Eldercare Locator can connect families with local aging agencies and services such as: • Caregiver support and education • Transportation assistance • Meal programs • Respite care • In home and community services • Benefits and insurance counseling • Social programs for older adults • Assistance with remaining independent at home Ways the Church Can Help • Place the website and telephone number in the church newsletter and resource area. • Offer to help someone search by ZIP code if using the internet feels overwhelming. • Sit with a caregiver while they call or use the online chat. • Ask permission before contacting an organization on someone’s behalf. • Keep printed copies of local resources discovered through the locator. • Follow up to ask whether the person successfully reached the recommended service. Reaching Into the Community Use Eldercare Locator to identify the Area Agency on Aging serving your church’s community. Contact that agency, introduce your congregation, and ask about speakers, caregiver programs, educational materials, social opportunities, and ways the church can volunteer or partner. Invite caregivers and aging adults from the entire community to participate. They should not need to be church members to receive information, encouragement, and connection. Remember The church does not need to know every available program. It can become a trusted bridge that helps people find the right support in their own community. Connecting someone with a helpful resource is one way God’s grace moves beyond the church walls.
Alzheimer’s Association When someone begins experiencing memory changes, the person and their caregiver may feel frightened, confused, or alone. Church members may want to help but feel unsure about what to say or where to direct the family. The Alzheimer’s Association offers free support, information, education, and connections to local dementia resources throughout the United States. Connect With the Alzheimer’s Association Website: www.alz.org Free 24 Hour Helpline: 1-800-272-3900 Find Local Programs: Community Resource Finder The helpline is available every day of the year. Assistance is available in more than 200 languages through bilingual staff and interpreters. How It Can Help • Information about memory loss and dementia • Support following a diagnosis • Caregiver education and support groups • Help understanding changes in behavior • Communication and safety guidance • Connections to respite care and local services • Social engagement programs for people living with dementia Ways the Church Can Help • Share the helpline number in the church newsletter and resource area. • Offer a quiet place where a caregiver can make the call. • Help someone search the Community Resource Finder using their ZIP code. • Invite a local Alzheimer’s Association representative to provide a church program. • Encourage church volunteers to attend dementia education programs. • Follow up with the caregiver after sharing the resource. Reaching Into the Community Use the Community Resource Finder to locate education programs, support groups, social activities, and the Alzheimer’s Association chapter serving your area. Ask the local chapter how your church can host an educational event, provide meeting space, volunteer, or help caregivers feel less isolated. Invite the entire community rather than limiting the opportunity to church members. Remember The church does not need to be an expert on dementia to make a difference. It can listen, offer encouragement, and connect families with people who understand the journey. A simple connection can help a caregiver realize they do not have to walk alone.
Help Your Aging Parent Stay Connected As parents age, church can remain an important source of friendship, purpose, and belonging. Adult children can help by asking: “What would make it easier for you to stay connected with your church?” It might be providing a ride, helping them attend an event, watching a service together, or simply keeping church friends connected. Sometimes supporting an aging parent means helping them continue to be part of the community they love.
Supporting Your Aging Parent As parents age, adult children often find themselves taking on new roles. The goal isn't to take over. It is to help your parent remain connected, involved, respected, and as independent as possible. Simple Tips for Families Ask before helping. Give your parent opportunities to make their own choices. Listen for changes. Pay attention when they mention loneliness, boredom, difficulty getting places, or changes in their daily routine. Keep them connected. Help maintain relationships with friends, family, church, and the community. Create something to look forward to. A meal together, favorite television show, phone call, outing, music, or simple activity can give purpose to the day. Talk about what matters. Ask about memories, interests, faith, family traditions, and things they still want to do. Be present. Sometimes your parent doesn't need you to fix anything. They simply need your time and attention. Supporting an aging parent isn't only about what they need help doing. It's also about helping them continue doing the things that make life meaningful.
Include, Don’t Isolate When someone in your congregation is experiencing memory impairment, they may need a little extra support to continue participating in church life. Start by remembering: “The person is still the person we know and care about.” Greet them warmly, introduce yourself when needed, give them time to respond, and continue inviting them to worship, meals, activities, and conversations. Memory may change, but the need for connection, purpose, faith, and belonging remains.
Make Choices Easier For someone living with memory impairment, even everyday decisions can sometimes become overwhelming. Too many choices can make it harder to participate and may lead to frustration. Instead of removing choices, try simplifying them. Simple Tips Offer two choices instead of an open ended question: “Would you like coffee or tea?” Use visual cues. Show the two shirts, snacks, activities, or other options when possible. Give them time to decide without immediately answering for them. Break bigger decisions into one small choice at a time. Pay attention to familiar preferences. Something they have enjoyed for years may make choosing easier. If choosing becomes frustrating, change the approach rather than pushing for an answer. Memory impairment may change how someone makes a decision, but it doesn't mean their choices no longer matter.
SPOTLIGHT
Spritual Eldercare
Hi there! I'm a nondenominational Christian chaplain with a ministry to elders, especially those with Alzheimer's and other dementias. This channel provides: + 86 videos of classic hymns and 20 Christmas carols, specifically arranged as sing-alongs for elders with dementia: slower, shorter, and in a lower key that usual, with easy-to-read lyrics. + More than a year's worth of full-length (~45 min) nondenominational church services, with hymns, scripture readings, interactive homily, poems, stories, and more, for elders who may no longer be able to attend their regular place of worship. + Bible study activity videos (15-20 minutes) to help you lead engaging, interactive discussions with elders. Please "like" the videos and subscribe to this channel, which will help others find these resources. You'll find more free resources on my website, SpiritualEldercare.com. I'm based in Boulder, CO. Please contact me if you have any questions or requests: elisa@spiritualeldercare.com Links Spiritual Eldercare spiritualeldercare.com Facebook facebook.com/spiritualeldercare/?ref=bookmarks Instagram instagram.com/elisabosley Linktree linktr.ee/spiritualeldercare
Create a Family Recipe Memory Box Turn an ordinary afternoon into a chance to talk, remember, and create something together. Ask your aging parent to help you start a Family Recipe Memory Box filled with foods that have been part of your family's story. Simple Activity: Find a small box, index cards, and a pen. Ask your parent to think of a favorite family meal, dessert, holiday dish, or recipe they remember. Write the recipe name on the front of a card. On the back, add a few details together: Who made it? When did you eat it? Was it served on holidays or special occasions? What makes it memorable? Don't worry if you don't know the actual recipe. The memory is the activity. Keep adding cards during future visits. You may eventually have a whole box of family food memories to share with the next generation. Boredom doesn't always require entertainment. Sometimes it just takes a reason to start talking.
Create a Family Trivia Game Turn family stories into a trivia game that can be enjoyed at home or shared with relatives. The goal is not to test anyone’s memory. It is to laugh, tell stories, and learn something new about one another. What You Need • Paper or index cards • A pen or marker • Family photographs for inspiration if desired How to Do It Think of an interesting fact about your family. Turn it into a question. Write the correct answer and two playful choices. Create five questions together. Take turns reading and answering the questions. Pause after each answer to share the story behind it. Question Ideas • Where did Grandma and Grandpa first meet? • Who was known for making the best dessert? • What was Dad’s first job? • Which family member traveled the farthest? • What unusual pet did someone once own? Make It Easier Ask the aging parent to tell a story while someone else writes the question. Use photographs to inspire ideas. If remembering details becomes frustrating, create fun questions about favorite foods, colors, music, or family traditions instead. Remember The best part of family trivia is not knowing every answer. It is discovering the stories that appear after each question.
Hello
Hi, I’m Jeremy. After more than 25 years of caring for others, I’ve learned the power of simply noticing, listening, and encouraging. I believe we are all caregivers in different ways, and every caregiver can be seen, heard, encouraged, and connected.
Click/Download To Read My Story
Share With Your Friends, Family, and Congregation Members
EDGE UMC is a US 501 (c)(3) public charity, EIN#59-0900989 Contributions to Edge UMC by individuals, corporations, and foundations are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.