For 12 years, Shirley Robinson worked as a nurse’s aid for a senior services organization in St. Louis.
She used her spiritual gifts and God-given talents to minister to the elderly of the city. She spent five days a week, eight hours a day with her clients — most of them elderly, many of them sick, some of them alone and dying.
Shirley, recently retired, graciously shares a few tips on how to minister to the aging members of the Greatest Generation. (Oh, yeah, she’s also my mother!)
Take the time to sit and talk
“Most of them just want to talk. They want to know what you’re doing because it helps them remember what they were doing at your age. They might not remember what happened yesterday morning, but they remember what they did years ago with their children.
Listen and empathize
“When they’re complaining about how they feel, let them talk and let them know you understand what they’re saying. Agree with them. It’s a way for them to vent.”
Take time to pray with them
“We say a prayer before I leave. They enjoy that. Then I give them a good hug.”
***
Read a Hands and Feet Marketing profile about Shirley and how she discovered her passion for ministering to the elderly.