Biblical/Theological Presentation - For Kairos University

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This presentation is being made as part the requirements for a Doctor of Ministry degree from Kairos University (Sioux Falls, South Dakota) in January 2025.

Hello, my name is Gary Mitchell and as we begin, I would like to tell you a little about my journey to Kairos University. I attended Bible College more than fifty years ago, but afterwards the Lord led me into a law enforcement career that lasted forty years. I began as a police patrol officer and moved up the ranks to a senior executive position which led me to the federal government. And there, I was the director of the federal government’s law enforcement training accreditation program. I retired almost ten years ago and after my wife went to be with the Lord, I moved into a Continuing Care Retirement Community. At that CCRC I met my beautiful wife, Anita Callahan, who is also a Kairos student.

As we continue, I would like to tell you a little about my study of Continuing Care Retirement Communities. Because as a resident of a CCRC, I wish to serve my community by first understanding our religious and spiritual condition and then helping religious leaders in my area by providing them with an awareness of the community’s religious needs. While I am not the shepherd of the Christian flock at the CCRC where I live, I do try to help our chaplain with leading and nurturing the residents. In this role I do have the opportunity to speak about once a month at the Sunday services at our health center. For these reasons, my project falls under the category of shepherding. 

In the United States there are over two thousand Continuing Care Retirement Communities. These communities are also known as Life Plan Communities, offering a variety of long-term care options, allowing residents to access higher levels of care as their physical and medical needs increase. Newsweek in their 2024 Americas Best Continuing Care Retirement Communities publication notes these communities typically include Independent Living, Assisted Living, Skilled Nursing Care and or Memory Care.

In her article, ‘When’s the Right Time to Move Into a Continuing Care Retirement Community?’ Elaine Howley (2024) noted most CCRC residents range from 65 to 95 years of age with the average age being around 80 to 83 years. This matches preliminary data from the survey we conducted where the average for age for females was 83.11 years and males 83.83 years. 

Because less than one million people live in CCRCs across the country, I believe that there is a gap in our understanding of the religious attitudes and needs of CCRC residents. The gap comes because some equate religious needs and spirituality (Koenig, et al., 2000) as the same concept. All people face the spirituality of life whether they admit or understand the belief. It is a personal quest. On the other hand, there are unmet religious needs for some people because they are unable to continue worship as they did in their past religious tradition.

Because 68% of the American population identify with a Christian religion (Gallup, 2024), this project will examine the residents’ needs through the lens of Christianity. This project is significant because pastors, church leaders, and CCRC management will get to hear from older people living in CCRCs about their religious and spiritual condition and needs. This is important because many times organizations and churches create one-size fits all senior/older people programs based on what they think is important and not necessarily what the individual needs. In addition, this study will show older people that they are not alone in their need to continue worshiping the Lord.

As I go through the presentation, I will be referring to a survey created to assess the religious environment and needs of residents living in CCRCs. The title of the survey instrument is the Religious/Spiritual Attitudes Survey©. To date, the survey has been conducted at our CCRC in Lakeland, Florida.

In the world today there are some that say that aging is a disease and one day it will be cured. Andrew Steele a biogerontologist and author of the book Ageless (2021), is one of those persons; he believes that through healthy living and new science that biological immortality may be attained. But that is not what the Bible says, so what is the theology of aging? Frank Stagg, in his book The Bible Speaks on Aging (1981), notes theology of aging needs to consider ‘all people die’ (Exodus 1:6) and ‘God lives on’ (Exodus 3:6 & 16). Throughout Scripture, while age may be mentioned, there is no fixed age when a person reaches the prime of their life; Stagg, continues that a person’s wisdom, character, competence, and maturity are not functions of calendar age, but attributed to the ‘fear of the Lord.’ 

It wasn’t until ‘the fall,’ that God told Adam, “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.” Genesis 3:19. And Adam lived a total of 930 years, and then he died, Genesis 5:5 NIV. There are two things we can note in these two verses, first, Adam would work until he “returned to the ground” (no retirement) and eventually he died. 

As we look back at the fifth chapter of Genesis, we see the family tree of Adam and all the generations after him got old and died, except for Enoch who “walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.” (Genesis 5:24). In Genesis 15, the Lord speaks to Abram in a dream saying, “You will go to your ancestors in peace and be buried at a good old age,” verse fifteen and later in chapter 25 verse 8 it says, “then Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age…” No fanfare, just the note that he had attained a good old age. Aging is natural and followed by death. 

While death may be the end of the aging process on this earth, we now have the hope that we will live forever though the work of the final Adam. Jesus proved he has power over death, as He lived, He was crucified, and  He rose from the dead, Luke 24:46. With that in mind, let’s look a little closer to aging. And as we have found in preliminary data from the central Florida CCRC, 66% (n=152) of the respondents reported their interest in spiritual things has grown during the past ten years. As people age, they want to know more about the end of life and spiritual things.

Gerontologist Dr. James Davies (2008) and other writers believe the Bible has three themes when it comes to aging: Divine Tribute, Definite Testing, and Distinct Triumph.

Let’s look at these themes beginning with Divine Tribute. In the distant past, in a world where infant mortality was high, war and strife were continuously present, and famine was always near, achieving old age was to be celebrated. As Moses was putting various laws together for the children of Israel, the Lord instructed him to add a law of Divine Tribute, “Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the Lord” Leviticus 19:32, NIV.

Again, as the children of Israel were about to enter the promise land Moses reminds the people of the Lord’s commandments and says, “Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you” Deuteronomy 5:16 NLV. In the New Testament we see a parallel thought as Paul writes, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother — which is the first commandment with a promise — so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” Ephesians 6:1-4, NLV.

God places value on older people and recognizes them in their old age. In Luke’s gospel we read about Simeon, he was just and devout man, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And when Jospeh and Mary brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, Simeon took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation. Luke 2:25-30.

God did not only remembered Simeon, but He also remembered Anna, a prophetess. She was of a great age and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, she did not leave from the temple but served God with fasting and prayers night and day. And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem. Luke 2:36-38 NKJV. Both were rewarded with getting to see the Messiah, in person, who they had been waiting for all those years, a revelation of Jesus that most in the world would miss.

As we continue looking at aging, we come to Definite Testing. Aging is not glamorized in the scriptures as Moses again recognized the life of the older person when he wrote, “All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan. Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away” Psalms 90:9-10 NIV. Moses understood the trials and tribulations of older people after leading the Israelites for more than 40 years. Years later King Solomon would write in Ecclesiastes 12 about the losses older people experience.

Aging comes with trials and tribulations; we can look at our own lives and see the effects of aging that began with the curse of Genesis 3, in which all human beings are destined to return to the dust from which they were created. But until then our lives will be like Adam’s as God said, “Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles shall bring forth for you, And you shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of your face, you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground.” Genesis 3:17-19 NKJV.

In a message titled, Not Dead Yet, Fighting Nine Fears of Old Age, John Piper (2023), the founder of Desiring God, and chancellor of Bethlehem College and Seminary, named nine fears people face as they age. I’m going to use the fears Dr. Piper named as the basis for the next part of my presentation. These are the same fears which can also be motivators causing some older people to move to CCRCs and other retirement communities. In 2nd Timothy 1:7, Paul writes, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." God does not want us to be controlled by fear, but instead He empowers us with strength, love, and good judgment. As I discuss each fear, I am also going to mention some preliminary data from the Religious/Spiritual Attitudes Survey©.

Number one: the fear of aging in general. Gerascophobia (Husain, et al., 2024) the fear of getting older, has been part of human existence for centuries as many have searched for the Fountain of Youth. Conquistador Juan Ponce de León even came to the city Florida where I grew up looking for it; now here is a funny story, in the city where I worked there was water flow over some rocks that was said to be a place where Ponce de León found the Fountain of Youth. Through the years tourists would come and drink the water, and some would bring jugs to take some water away, what makes the story even funnier was, there was no spring, it was just water coming from a city water system pipe that was allowed to run continuously.

The world is looking for a fountain of youth, but we have a promise from the Lord as Isaiah wrote, “Listen to Me, O family of Jacob, and all who are left of the family of Israel. You have been helped by Me before you were born and carried since you were born. Even when you are old, I will be the same. And even when your hair turns white, I will help you. I will take care of what I have made. I will carry you and will save you. Isaiah 46:3-4 NLV.

Number two: the fear of difficult decisions. One of the most complex decisions any person or family must make in life is where to live and as you age the decision becomes much more difficult. For older people, the decision is complicated because they do not want to be a burden on the family or others as they must see health care providers more often as their eyesight and driving abilities diminish.

In the first century the Apostle Peter was writing to those who were taken away from their homeland (2nd Peter 1:1) and he told them in 2nd Peter 3:11 & 12, “Turn away from what is sinful. Do what is good. Look for peace and go after it. The Lord watches over those who are right with Him. He hears their prayers...” As followers of Christ, we want to be in the place where God wants for us; so, some people move to a Continuing Care Retirement Community to help increase their peace of mind knowing they have access to various levels of care as they age. Currently, in our study, 89% (n=150) of respondents are grateful to live in a CCRC.

Number three: the fear of not having enough money. This is a fear not just of older people, it is a fear of many. But for the older person who sees their potential of earning money decrease and as expenses and inflation attack what they have, questions like “Will I outlive my pension or my 401(k)? or, Do I have enough in savings? I don’t want to be a burden to my family. We forget what it says in Psalm 50, from the New Living Version, “The Powerful One, God, the Lord, has spoken. And He calls the earth from where the sun rises to where the sun goes down. God shines from Zion, perfect in beauty… For every animal among the trees is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird of the mountains. And all things that move in the field are Mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you. For the world is Mine, and all that is in it.” The God that owns everything is willing to go beyond what this world has for His children, as He sent His Son Jesus Christ to pay the penalty of sin for us.

While many focus on money and wealth, Jesus himself in His discourse about worry in the sermon on the mount said, “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Matthew 6:31-34, NKJV).

When CCRC residents were asked about money and economics, 78% (n=150) agreed that they gave money to a place of worship and only 37% (n=152) agreed that humanity’s problems could be solved through better economic policies. 

Number four: the fear of being alone. Psalm 68:5 & 6 tells us the Lord is a father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, God sets the lonely into families, he leads out the prisoners with singing. I find verse six interesting as it says, ‘God sets the lonely into families’ Because as people age and begin to outlive their friends and even their family the fear of being alone can become real. What we have found is that living in a CCRC can help lonely older people to create new relationships as they live in close communities. I know in my case I took a new relationship to the highest earthly level as I married my neighbor.

Loneliness has reached epidemic levels (U.S. Surgeon General, 2023), in our country and results from perceived isolation or inadequate meaningful connections that has been part of the human existence since the creation of Adam as God said, “It is not good for man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18). Throughout the scriptures we see the loneliness of Moses (Numbers 11:14), Elijah (1 Kings 19:10), David (Psalm 25:16) and (Psalm 102:6-7), Paul (2nd Timothy 4:16-17), and even Jesus as he experienced rejection (John 1:11), misunderstanding (Mark 3:21), abandonment (Matthew 26:56), and isolation (Matthew 27:46).

But for every verse about loneliness, there are many more which lead us to the closeness of the Lord in our lives, for example Isaiah 41:10: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Or 2nd Corinthians 1:3-4: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”

And that is important for the CCRC residents as they are able to  “…encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing” 1stThessalonians 5:11. Or “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” Galatians 6:2. Unfortunately, even as older people live in close proximity to each other such as in a CCRC, there is still loneliness for some, most notably for males. In the Religious/Spiritual Attitudes Survey© we asked the question using a five-point Likert scale, “I feel lonely most of the time,” and 13% (n=154) of the respondents agreed with that statement.

Because of our new social norm’s loneliness is not only harming older people it is also prevalent among younger people as well; it is an issue we should all pay attention to and pray about. 

Number five: fighting the fear of being useless. Right along with fear of loneliness is the fear of being useless. Ralph Winter, founder of the U.S. Center for World Mission said, “Men don’t die of old age in America. They die of retirement” (Haanen, 2019). Which means, built into men’s lives is the need to be productive. In my Socio/Cultural presentation I will spend much more time discussing this fact, but for now we know that God has a purpose for each of us.

That purpose for the non-Christian it is to find God and to glorify Him, and to enjoy Him forever. And for the Christian it goes beyond that, we are called to be light bearers, as Paul writes to the Philippians, Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life…(Philippians 2:12-16 NKJV).

Number six: the fear of affliction. If you are of my generation; the older generation you probably remember "Turn! Turn! Turn!", also known as "To Everything There Is a Season", by Pete Seeger (1959), and made famous by The Byrds in 1965. The song uses Ecclesiastes 3 to look at the seasons of life from the 30,000-foot view, while when we read Ecclesiastes 12, we see the afflictions of old age from the ground level. The chapter has been described as a poetic description of advancing age as we will see here from the Amplified Bible (AMP).

Remember [thoughtfully] your Creator in the days of your youth [for you are not your own, but His], before the evil days come or the years draw near when you will say [of physical pleasures], “I have no enjoyment and delight in them”; before the sun and the light, and the moon and the stars are darkened [by impaired vision], and the clouds [of depression]return after the rain [of tears]; in the day when the keepers of the house (hands, arms) tremble, and the strong men (feet, knees) bow themselves, and the grinders (molar teeth) cease because they are few, and those (eyes) who look through the windows grow dim; when the doors (lips)are shut in the streets and the sound of the grinding [of the teeth] is low, and one rises at the sound of a bird and the crowing of a rooster, and all the daughters of music (voice, ears) sing softly. Furthermore, they are afraid of a high place and of dangers on the road; the almond tree (hair)blossoms [white], and the grasshopper (a little thing) is a burden, and the caperberry (desire, appetite) fails. For man goes to his eternal home and the mourners go about the streets and marketplaces.

It sounds bad and it is for the older person who was active and vibrant just a few years before. In our survey less than 25% (n=160) felt their health was very good to excellent while more than one-third said their health was fair to poor. In a related question 60% (n=141) reported having a physical health problem that limited their activity. These questions were followed up by asking respondents “how happy are you in your life?” of 160 respondents 86% said they were happy to very happy with life. Because as Paul tells the Corinthian church in 2nd Corinthians 4:16–18, This is the reason we do not give up. Our human body is wearing out. But our spirits are getting stronger every day. The little troubles we suffer now for a short time are making us ready for the great things God is going to give us forever. We do not look at the things that can be seen. We look at the things that cannot be seen. The things that can be seen will come to an end. But the things that cannot be seen will last forever (NLV). 

Number seven: the fear of dementia. This is one of the most difficult fears to deal with, none of us wants to struggle with or lose our memory. If we lose our memory, we aren’t ourselves anymore, or at least we aren’t the person the world remembers us as. Because dementia is growing at epidemic proportions many Life Plan Communities are adding memory care resources. But as I read and thought about the fear of dementia, I kept coming back to Psalm 23. I know we aren’t to cherry pick or proof text scriptures, but Psalm 23:4, ‘Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me,” resonated with me. This is the care we want. Unfortunately, by the very nature of the condition we have not been able to know what the needs of people are using the Religious/Spiritual Attitudes Survey.

Number eight: the fear of failing faith. I remember in my growing up years when it came to testimony time some little old lady would stand up, and say I’ve really been struggling with the devil, and I hope I make it to the end. Many times, as the struggles of life do overwhelm the older person, we need to remind them as Paul told the Roman church, If God isfor us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8:31-32, NKJV). Paul then goes on to ask, Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35-38, NKJV).

In the survey we asked if the person was more confident in their religious beliefs than when they were young adults. Eighty-three percent (n=155) of the respondents agreed they were more confident while the rest felt neutral or disagreed. In this group of respondents’ women were slightly more confident than men. 

Before continuing to the ninth fear, the fear of death. I want to mention an antidote for most of the fears that Doctor Piper named. In the health care industry, they have coined the term “hostage bargaining syndrome” (Berry, et al., 2017); I will talk about more that in my Socio/Cultural presentation. For now, I’ll talk about the antidote, the antidote is someone who will listen. Yes, we know God hears our prayers and we have examples in Deuteronomy 26:7, 2nd Kings 20:5, Luke 1:13, and in other places; but for the person who becomes a prisoner of life… that friend, that neighbor, that pastor, or that respected authority figure who will actively listen without judgement makes a tremendous difference in helping the older person understand the fear is not the end. 

Number nine: the fear of death takes us to our final theme Distinct Triumph. While the fear of death is very real to some people as the end of life nears, there is Distinct Triumph for the child of God. We are familiar with Paul’s statement, in Philippians 1:20-22for to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to leave and be with Christ, which is far better.

Psalm 116 is called a thanksgiving psalm by Matthew Henry (1706). Henry notes the writer, presumed to be David, describes troubles and deliverances he has experienced in his life. In the middle of the psalm David writes, What should I give to the Lord for all the good things He has done for me? I will show Him my thanks for saving me with a gift of wine and praise His name. I will keep my promises to the Lord before all His people. The death of His holy ones is of great worth in the eyes of the Lord. For sure I am Your servant, O Lord. I am Your servant, the son of the woman who served You. You have set me free from my chains. I will give a gift of thanks to You and call on the name of the Lord. Or as the NKJV says in verse 15, Precious in the sight of the Lord. Is the death of His saints.

In our survey 94% (n=161) of the respondents said that they were part of the Christian faith and 87% (n=153) agreed that dying is an important part of life. In a related question, I am afraid of dying, 73% (n=152) disagreed while only 12% agreed that they were afraid of dying; that is less than the national average of 20.3% which was found in a 2017 Chapman University survey (Morrow, 2024).

As people age, their bodies begin to show the results of the fall of humankind with diminished physical and psychological abilities. The Psalmist wrote, “He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters (Psalms 23:2, NKJV), and many have done that by moving to CCRCs. Even in those green pastures many older people still experience the problems of loneliness, loss of a sense of meaning, how to manage retirement, fear of death and dying, grief, and other spiritual and mental health needs. As their lives diminish, they become part of the ‘least of these’ needing a shepherd who will care for them to the end.

Why do I study this? For me I look at my world and see many older people living in the past, living in their memories, we all do it but as we get older it becomes more pronounced. And because of that, many older people have allowed their walk with the Lord to slip into the past. They no longer have a vibrant relationship with God. What I hope to do with this information is make it available to church leaders, so they help lead older people into a rich life in the Lord. 

As John 10:9-11 says about Jesus, I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have itmore abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. (NKJV).

Biblical References

Old Testament

Genesis 2:18

Genesis 3:17-19 

Genesis 3:19 

Genesis 5:5 

Genesis 5:24 

Genesis 15:15  

Genesis 25:8 

Exodus 1:6 ‘all people die’ 

Exodus 3:6 & 16 ‘God lives on’  

Leviticus 19:32 

Numbers 11:14  loneliness of Moses 

Deuteronomy 5:16

Deuteronomy 26:7

1st Kings 19:10  loneliness of Elijah

2nd Kings 20:5

Psalm 23:2 

Psalm 23:4 

Psalm 25:16  loneliness of David 

Psalm 50 

Psalm 68:5-6 

Psalm 90:9-10

Psalm 102:6-7  loneliness of David 

Psalm 116 

Psalm 116:15 

Ecclesiastes 3

Ecclesiastes 12

Isaiah 41:10 

Isaiah 46:3-4 

New Testament

Matthew 6:31-34

Matthew 27:46  Jesus experienced isolation

Matthew 26:56  Jesus experienced abandonment

Mark 3:21  Jesus experienced misunderstanding

Luke 1:13 

Luke 2:25-30 

Luke 2:36-38

Luke 24:46

John 1:11  Jesus experienced rejection

John 10:9-11 

Romans 8:31-32 

Romans 8:35-38

2nd Corinthians 1:3-4

2nd Corinthians 4:16–18, 

Galatians 6:2 

Ephesians 6:1-4

Philippians 1:20-22 

Philippians 2:12-16 

1st Thessalonians 5:11 

2nd Timothy 1:7 

2nd Timothy 4:16-17 loneliness of Paul 

2nd Peter 1:1

2nd Peter 3:11-12 

Other Media References

America‘s Best Continuing Care Retirement Communities 2024: Methodology. (2024). https://d.newsweek.com/en/file/469060/abccrc-2024-methodology-updated.pdf and https://www.newsweek.com/rankings/americas-best-continuing-care-retirement-communities-2024/florida. 

Berry, L. L., Danaher, S. T., Beckham, D., Awdish, R. L. A., & Mate, K. S. (2017). When Patients and Their Families Feel Like Hostages to Health Care. Mayo Clinic Procedures. September 2017; 92(9):1373-1381. www.mayoclinicproceedings.org http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2017.05.015

Davies, J. (2008). A Practical Theology of Aging: Biblical Perspectives for Individuals and the Church. Christian Education Journal: Research on Educational Ministry, 5(2). https://doi.org/10.1177/073989130800500203

Gallup. (2024, March 29). How Religious Are Americans? https://news.gallup.com/poll/358364/religious-americans.aspx

Haanen, J. (2019, March 4). Saving Retirement. Christianity Today. https://jeffhaanen.com/saving-retirement-christianity-today-cover-story-march-2019/

Henry, M., (1706). Matthew Henry Bible Commentary. Psalm.116.1 - 116.19. https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Ps.116.1-Ps.116.19

Howley, E. K. (2024, January 8). When’s the Right Time to Move Into a Continuing Care Retirement Community? https://health.usnews.com/senior-care/articles/whats-the-best-age-to-move-into-a-ccrc

Husain, W., Ijaz, F., Husain, M. A., Achraf, A., Isa, H. M., Trabelsi, K., Pandi-Perumal, S. R., Pakpour, A. H., & Jahrami, H. (2024). Gerascophobia or Excessive Fear of Aging Scale (GEFAS): Development, validation, and exploration of psychometric properties of a brief instrument using classical testing theory and item response theory. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics 128 (2025) 105599.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2024.105599

Koenig, H. G., McCullough, M., & Larson, D. B. (2000). Handbook of religion and health. New York: Oxford University Press.

MIT.CALcooperative. (2024). Religious/Spiritual Attitudes Survey. Lakeland, FL

Morrow, A. (2024, April 24). 6 Reasons Why Dying Is Scary: How to cope with an unhealthy fear of death. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/scared-to-death-of-death-1132501#:~:text=Why%20are%20we%20scared%20of,to%20the%20people%20we%20love.

Piper, J. (2023, March 16). Not Dead Yet, Fighting Nine Fears of Old Age. ApplePod Cast. Desiring God Foundation. Source: desiringGod.org. https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/not-dead-yet

Seeger, P. (1959). Turn! Turn! Turn. subtitle "To Everything There Is a Season.” Recorded by The Byrds On October 23, 1965

Stagg, F. (1981). The Bible Speaks on Aging. Broadman: Nashville, TN.

Steele, A. (2021). Ageless: the new science of getting older without getting old. First American edition. New York, Doubleday

U.S. Surgeon General. (2023). Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community. Washington, DC. https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-social-connection-advisory.pdfIn the midst of a busy and chaotic world, it can be difficult to find inner peace. However, through meditation, mindfulness practices, and connecting with nature, it is possible to cultivate a sense of calm and tranquility.