Former Presbyterian Moderator, Very Rev Dr Ken Newell has insisted that supporting the elderly in our community is a "call from Christ". As part of Age Awareness Week, Fitzroy Presbyterian Church where Dr Newell is minister, will be hosting a play entitled 'The Long Habit of Living' written by Richard Caulfeild Goodman on Sunday 7 October at 7pm.
This event, which is free of charge, is part of Age Concern's Events Calendar and will deal with the importance of dignity, independence and proper care for individuals in an ageing population.
After the play the audience will be invited to take part in a discussion on some of the issues raised by it, including; What does it mean to lose independence and dignity as we age? Is a care-home the end? Should we have the right to die with dignity? How do we judge carers of dementia sufferers?
The cast are all members of Fitzroy Presbyterian and all of them have experienced first hand some of the difficulties and issues that the play raises. The actors include historian Philip Orr, Val Newell, wife Very Rev Dr Ken Newell, community worker Sandra Mulholland, and Dorothy Ramsey who is in charge of pastoral care for the elderly in Fitzroy.
"The society today in which the Church works has an increasing number of elderly people," commented Dr Newell. "Many of these people live alone, others live in sheltered accommodation and quite a number in nursing homes. The Bible encourages us at every point to give to the elderly the respect, appreciation and care that they deserve.
"God himself urges us to make this a priority, but at a time when life becomes more difficult, elderly people feel most vulnerable, especially in their homes. Many have been attacked, robbed and traumatised. Others have been mugged on the streets. Never before has there been such a call from Christ to support and stand up for the elderly people in our society.
"This play flags up some of the most important issues elderly people face and will make us weave into our faith a new passion to promote their welfare and appreciate their gifts, faith and experience. Facing such issues is itself an act of worship."
Endorsed by Age Concern, Elma Greer from the organisation spoke of the importance of the play in increasing awareness.
"The greater number of people living into older age is a cause for celebration, especially when we realise that on average people in this country live for 30 years longer than people in developing countries.
"There are over 250,000 people of pensionable age living in Northern Ireland - that is 16 per cent of the population and it is estimated that this figure will rise to 24 per cent in 2013.
"However life can also be difficult and challenging. In particular, when people become frail and vulnerable they may need to consider moving out of their own homes. Approximately 11,300 older people live in nursing or residential homes in Northern Ireland.
"The play reading of "The Long Habit of Living" helps us to explore these emotions. This is a carefully researched and thorough picture of the current state of options open to the aging, written by a playwright who is himself in his 70's. We see a complex, funny and challenging picture of 'Destiny's Waiting Room'."
Richard Caulfeild Goodman has been a playwright for over 20 years. Based in San Francisco, he is a member of Talespinners, a group dedicated to using interviews as the foundation for contemporary drama. The producer of the play and person credited with bringing it to Fitzroy is Frances Anne Collins, who is originally from Oregon, USA and who has collaborated with Caulfeild Goodman on a number of projects including the highly acclaimed Dancing in a Whirlwind in San Francisco. Speaking from personal experience, Mrs Collins said,
"Everybody will face these issues one day and western society is not ready for it. We've lost the extended family and aren't ready for the emotional impact of watching someone you love become incapable of sustaining themselves."
Issued by Sarah Harding, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
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