Christian Counseling for the Aging Population

As we journey through life, we are reminded of the significance of aging in the scriptures. The Bible celebrates the wisdom and experience that comes with age, acknowledging it as a testament to the Lord’s providence and enduring care.

Isaiah 46:4 offers a comforting promise, assuring us of God’s unwavering presence throughout our lives, even as our hair turns white with the passage of time. This verse embodies the Lord’s commitment to His children, promising to nurture and carry us through every season, including the challenges and joys that accompany aging.

Whether due to a generational or cultural stigma related to therapy, simply not considering it to be important, or a lack of awareness surrounding mental health issues in the aging population, this age group can often go without the help that could benefit them. Counseling the aging population can make a significant difference in their well-being and improve the quality of their last years of life.

Christian counseling provides a faith-based approach to mental health in the older years, connecting with clients at the intersection of their beloved faith traditions and an integrative therapeutic approach. Finding a Christian counselor to connect with can provide solace, connection, and direction for the later years of life.

What are the mental health concerns of aging?

Mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, risk of suicide (the highest of any age group), substance dependency, and behavioral problems affect the aging population as well as younger generations.

In other words, mental health, behavioral disorders, and lower-level struggles aren’t merely a “young people problem.” They can affect people of all ages, even people from the “greatest generation” (those alive during the Great Depression and World War II), who are least likely to seek out therapy or counseling.

Perhaps an older person has struggled with one or more of these concerns for decades, or they’ve recently developed symptoms. Either way, counseling can help. Additionally, the elderly have unique concerns such as Alzheimer’s and dementia, which impact a combined 10% of Americans of retirement age. A counselor can work in conjunction with a medical doctor or team to form a treatment plan for symptom management and mental health.

Older people may struggle to adjust to all the life changes and transitions that come along with aging. These transitions would be difficult for anyone, even without the physical component of aging. As people age and mental health is discussed, it may be tempting to blame the aging process.

While this may sometimes be true, the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT), notes that “The vast majority of older people are happy and satisfied with their lives.” It’s more common to struggle with a psychological disorder in middle age than in old age.

The ABCT adds that:

“Thus, when older people experience marked psychological distress and impairment, the aging process itself cannot be held accountable. Rather, changes in the social or physical surroundings, the absence of supportive relationships, or longstanding difficulties should be considered as contributing factors to the development and maintenance of distress among the elderly.” 

In other words, it’s not just the aging process itself, but the associated changes in circumstance that tend to exacerbate mental health concerns in this age group. Consider all the transitions that older people undergo: losing loved ones their age, managing declining health and strength, changes in living situations, adult children being absorbed in their own lives, vast cultural shifts, and living in a society that doesn’t tend to respect or value old age.

Older people are less likely than middle-aged or young people to seek mental health treatment. The more that support can be provided, the better the outcomes are likely to. With the added burdens of aging, prioritizing mental health becomes even more important in elderly populations. Their later years can be cherished and enjoyed, not simply endured.

Counseling goals for the aging population.

So, we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. – 2 Corinthians 4:16

What are some common goals for counseling older people? According to Good Therapy, they include:

• Treating symptoms of dementia or other medical concerns, working with medical providers as needed.
• Facing anxiety about mortality and death.
• Finding meaningful outlets and activities.
• Supporting caregivers.
• Dealing with grief and loss.
• Cultivating a solid support system.
• Managing emotions.

Other common goals might include adapting to changes in circumstance and physical changes, as well as managing any interpersonal issues. As you can see, there are unique concerns related to aging, but there are also aspects of mental health that can affect any one of us.

Suzanne Degges-White, president of the Association for Adult Development and Aging, says that healthy development is always a goal for any individual, no matter their age group:

“As adults move into each new developmental stage – and development doesn’t just stop at 18 – they may experience a need for support, guidance, and normalization of the emotional responses to each stage. Personal and professional transitions are important at any age.”

To manage responses to these common struggles, Christian counseling also reinforces Scriptural truths of God’s love, care, and protection for us through all the difficulties of life.

Overcoming barriers.

O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come. – Psalm 71:17-18

A Christian counselor can help you or your loved one work toward mental health goals in a compassionate, faith-based setting. Older people can make progress and see significant improvement through counseling, despite seeming “set in their ways” or skeptical about therapy.

How does age affect therapy? Therapy has been shown to be highly beneficial even in a nursing home setting and with dementia patients. Counseling provides connection and a chance for someone to listen to an older person’s stories.

Although old age is not valued in today’s American culture, Scripture teaches us to respect those who are older than us and that old age should be honored (Proverbs 16:31, Deuteronomy 32:7).

In other cultures, and throughout history, older people were accorded honor and often lived with their families, who helped care for them throughout their later years. Whether or not communal living is possible, providing support for older people is crucial, from the years just before retirement to the most advanced years.

The Bible also shows us that God is with his children even as they age and become more feeble:

Even to your old age, I am he, and to gray hairs, I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save. – Isaiah 46:4

But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. – Isaiah 40:31

In youth and middle age, we may not want to think about the process of aging, but it is a natural and inevitable part of life. We can truly bless the lives of our older friends and relatives by providing support and a listening ear whenever possible. We also might be surprised by what we must learn from them if we take the time to listen.

If you or your loved one is looking for Christian counseling related to aging concerns, contact our office today or browse our online directory of counselors. Your first session is risk-free. Don’t hesitate to reach out today.