As part of its effort to reach more seniors with resources on aging well, the Chatham Council on Aging is preparing to turn to a new group: religious leaders.
The COA is hosting a clergy summit on August 12 at the Chatham County Agricultural and Conference Center in Pittsboro. The effort is being co-led by Blaise Mercandante, a student at Duke Divinity School and a summer intern with the COA.
Mercandante told the News + Record that pastors and religious leaders often play a big role in the life of seniors, but may not know what’s available to them to help the aging population.
“Churches increasingly are finding their congregations to be older and older,” he said. “You’re going to see most of the people in the church have white hair. (Pastors) are the people that people trust. But when we talk to the pastors, they seem to be unaware of what resources are available and may not be related to their denomination and specific to the church.”
According to the Pew Research Center, adults 50 and over make up 52 percent of the Americans that attend religious services once a week, compared to 17 percent of 18-29 year-olds and 32 percent of 30-49 year-olds. With Chatham County’s aging cohort increasing — 41 percent of the county’s population is expected to be 60 or older by 2036 — the COA is taking multiple approaches to reach that group with resources and help.
Dennis Streets, the agency’s executive director, said he’s always been “impressed” by how involved older adults have been with faith communities, and sees religious groups as an important part of serving that demographic. He said churches have taken over Meals on Wheels routes from the agency and that religious groups often help with home repair projects.
“I have always been a firm believer that a partnership between the faith communities and our public and private nonprofit agencies is vital,” he said. “It takes all of us to help meet the needs. There will never be enough public funds.”
The summit is designed to kickstart bringing “the faith-based community into alignment with other service providers” helping the aging population, Mercandante said. Breakfast will be provided at the event, which is currently scheduled to start at 8 a.m., followed by conversation and discussion. The ideal response, Streets said, is for growing awareness of opportunities and the closing of gaps between those needing help and the help available to them.
“It really does take all of us working together,” he said. “The faith community can’t do it alone, and we can’t do it alone, and that’s the importance of coming together.”
Mercandante, a 66-year-old taking on divinity school as a second career, pointed to the Christian Bible’s example of why people of faith should get involved in helping seniors.
“This is a way to show love for another,” he said. “The idea of caring for your mother and father, therefore seniors, is woven throughout the Bible. (God) wants us to care for one another, and I can’t see a better example of doing that than what this would be.”
Those interested in attending the summit should contact Mercandante at blaise.mercandante@chathamcouncilonaging.org.
Reporter Zachary Horner can be reached at zhorner@chathamnr.com.