en speaks to Carl Knightly, CEO of Faith in Later Life, which aims to inspire and equip Christians to reach, serve and empower older people in every community, through the local church; and to encourage older people in their faith.
en: How are those supporting older people viewing this past nine months of varying restrictions on our lives?
CK: Whilst times remain very difficult with the new strain(s) of the coronavirus and hospitals under pressure, it will be a huge relief to many to see that the UK has commenced offering Covid vaccinations. And with over 2.4 million people having already received their first vaccination, we can see light at the end of the tunnel, and with it the possibility of even hugging a friend or visiting a loved one in a care home.
en: We know that Covid is more likely to affect older people. In what other ways have older people been challenged by the past year?
CK: It feels like a lifetime ago since the first lockdown last year, and since then we have been faced with challenges to health, wellbeing and liberty, with older people disproportionately affected. We will hold different views on how things have progressed, but it has been distressing to see older people (many of whom were already profoundly lonely1), losing loved ones to the pandemic, or shielding at home in a bid to try and stay physically healthy, but nevertheless struggling with a lack of social contact.
en: Has it all been bleak? Tell us about some of the encouragements from the past year.
CK: Thankfully many of us have discovered a refreshed sense of neighbourliness; and coupled with Christian initiatives such as the free ‘Daily Hope’2 telephone line, with its gospel-centred ‘Hymns we love’ reflections, the story hasn’t all been bleak. The road back to a sense of normality will not be swift so, whilst the vaccine will play a critical part, as Christians we must each continue reaching out to the older people around us with the eternal hope we have.
en: How can we best reach out safely to an older neighbour?
CK: If we know our older neighbours, then let’s pick up the phone and see how they are. If not, then how about popping a note through letterboxes offering a listening ear, practical help with shopping or even just sharing the ‘Daily Hope’ phone line. And of course, we can pray.
