What is Generational Compassion?
One in seven Americans is elderly. In 2011, the first baby boomers will reach retirement age. In a society that increasingly worships youth it is no wonder that those who are approaching old age fear it. But why fear growing old? Perhaps it is because we feel we will be forgotten, feel unneeded, unlovely, and out-of-touch with a rapidly changing world.
Generational Compassion is committed to seeing the fear transformed to hope, based on a simple premise: do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Many of our elderly population are in nursing homes where they are away from their families and life-long friends. Many are lonely and depressed. What if those of us who have not reached retirement age remembered them with visits, encouraging conversation, kind gestures, eye contact, and touch? What if we remembered these people as human beings who have a real story to their lives? Not just old people, but teachers, soldiers, doctors, mechanics, lawyers, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, and good friends. Inside a wrinkled exterior resides a real person waiting to be seen, enjoyed and loved. Those who witness these "awakenings" often receive as much (or more) from the person visited as they came to offer. The joy of connecting with one who thirsts for relationship helps to ease any of our fears of the elderly and their circumstances
Generational Compassion is committed to seeing the fear transformed to hope, based on a simple premise: do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Many of our elderly population are in nursing homes where they are away from their families and life-long friends. Many are lonely and depressed. What if those of us who have not reached retirement age remembered them with visits, encouraging conversation, kind gestures, eye contact, and touch? What if we remembered these people as human beings who have a real story to their lives? Not just old people, but teachers, soldiers, doctors, mechanics, lawyers, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, and good friends. Inside a wrinkled exterior resides a real person waiting to be seen, enjoyed and loved. Those who witness these "awakenings" often receive as much (or more) from the person visited as they came to offer. The joy of connecting with one who thirsts for relationship helps to ease any of our fears of the elderly and their circumstances
More About Generational Compassion
Generational Compassion is a community outreach arm of Emmanuel House, a spiritual formation center that is committed to developing reflective and missional leaders headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas. GC was established in 2010 as the culmination of years of thinking about the needs of the elderly by Precious Atchison, who along with her husband, Liam, co-directs Emmanuel House. Emmanuel House is the educational division of Lothlorien Retreat and Study Center, a 501c3 organization that was formed in 2002.
Here is what Precious says about GC:"The Nursing Home is my mission field. Six years ago my mother's health care needs necessitated her becoming a resident of the nursing home. I never dreamed I would let this happen to my mother, and yet through a confluence of many factors, entering the home became the best option for her. What an awakening occurred in me from the first moment I went through the doors of that place with my mother! I soon not only saw my own mother and her needs, but I saw dozens of other elderly people--people who had led productive and even exciting lives who had ended up in this same place. Some had family members who rarely came to visit, and others had friends and family who were regular fixtures at the home. I realized I had thought of these people as old and old fashioned, but I began to see them as real people who had their own stories. As I began to approach my mother's co-residents as real people with their own stories I began to make many new friends.
"Often, I enter the doors of the nursing home wanting to be intentional about saying hello, offering someone a cup of water, helping to push them in their wheel chairs to where they want to go, visiting at meal time, singing, listening and smiling. But what I have found is the mission field within me. My older friends often say things that so affect my life I just have to write them down when I come home. They remind me of what is important.
"The mission of Generational Compassion is to facilitate relationships between generations. My goal is to offer compassion that brings Christ to and through the generations by:
Here is what Precious says about GC:"The Nursing Home is my mission field. Six years ago my mother's health care needs necessitated her becoming a resident of the nursing home. I never dreamed I would let this happen to my mother, and yet through a confluence of many factors, entering the home became the best option for her. What an awakening occurred in me from the first moment I went through the doors of that place with my mother! I soon not only saw my own mother and her needs, but I saw dozens of other elderly people--people who had led productive and even exciting lives who had ended up in this same place. Some had family members who rarely came to visit, and others had friends and family who were regular fixtures at the home. I realized I had thought of these people as old and old fashioned, but I began to see them as real people who had their own stories. As I began to approach my mother's co-residents as real people with their own stories I began to make many new friends.
"Often, I enter the doors of the nursing home wanting to be intentional about saying hello, offering someone a cup of water, helping to push them in their wheel chairs to where they want to go, visiting at meal time, singing, listening and smiling. But what I have found is the mission field within me. My older friends often say things that so affect my life I just have to write them down when I come home. They remind me of what is important.
"The mission of Generational Compassion is to facilitate relationships between generations. My goal is to offer compassion that brings Christ to and through the generations by:
- Raising awareness of community, churches, and individuals about the realities facing the elderly. Sometimes simple information makes a huge difference in how people view older people. I often ask, 'Do you know what happens when a baby or your children come to visit the elderly? It is a huge and encouraging event for him or her! It does so much more than make their day!
- Helping younger generations see the elderly as real people with their own stories and the dignity of a past that made an important and necessary contribution to the blessings we all now enjoy. They need to be remembered and allowed to tell their stories to a curious audience that is open to change and that acknowledges the need for the wisdom of the past. They are also remarkably interested in those who visit them and enjoy--as we all do--listening to stories as well as telling them.
- Providing training for visitors: Most of us need to learn to be better listeners and to have a healthy curiosity. We offer simple two hour training on engaging with the elderly and some of the issues and needs they are facing.We also offer shadowing experiences: Those who are interested in connecting to the elderly population will be paired with someone who has developed listening and conversational skills..
- Offering projects that help people gain exposure to the elderly and enter their world: We plan to interview a variety of elderly people and ask them to pass down to us what is important about life. We need to hear from these silver-haired folks, many of whom have lost it all, and what remains is the most important. I want to invite you to lean in and listen.We want these video interviews tol be used as part of raising awareness as well as helping others to capture the vision of GC."
Generational Compassion a news feature
Kathy Quinn of Kansas City's WDAF Fox 4 News, residents and workers at Overland Park Nursing and Rehab, and other friends surprised Generational Compassion founder Precious Atchison with a March 2012 "Pay It Forward" award! Precious was so surprised and grateful. Watch what happened below.
If you already watched that segment and have come to this website looking for more information, we are glad you came! Here are some links for you to click:
What is Generational Compassion?
I would like to volunteer for Generational Compassion!
I would like to listen to a story about Generational Compassion!
I would like Precious to come speak about helping the elderly!
If you already watched that segment and have come to this website looking for more information, we are glad you came! Here are some links for you to click:
What is Generational Compassion?
I would like to volunteer for Generational Compassion!
I would like to listen to a story about Generational Compassion!
I would like Precious to come speak about helping the elderly!
Generational Compassion is a ministry of Lothlorien RSC PO Box 4559 Overland Park, KS 66204-0559
Lothlorien RSC is a 501c3 organization. All donations are tax deductible.
Lothlorien RSC is a 501c3 organization. All donations are tax deductible.