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1) An incumbent should take responsibility for a seniors’ home that is clearly within that parish’s geographical boundaries.
2) Where parish boundaries are not clear, or where institutions are not evenly distributed throughout a city, the clericus should decide which parish will look after each seniors’s home.
3) Try to recruit a pastoral care team that will help build community, help bring the disabled down to the service and take a personal interest in them.
4) Train the pastoral care team well, so that they are able to establish and maintain good rapport with the residents, administrators, and nursing staff.
5) Look for team members that have a good way with seniors and that speak clearly enough to be heard by those with hearing difficulties.
6) Simplify the order of service, invest in large print format and recruit some good musical leadership.
7) Get the word out about the service times and maintain consistency. Make use of the notice board and announcement times and ask the residents to be reminding one another of the up-coming services. This reduces reliance on the already over-worked staff.
8) Ensure that through selection and training, the pastoral care team are sensitive to the changing medical problems and wishes of seniors.
9) Do not be too easily discouraged if the attendance is small at first. Real trust and real community take time to build. If people are finding worship meaningful and uplifting, word will spread.
Item XL
©2002 Ronald C. Ferris
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