The Committee on Aging is offering a 90 minute workshop for Meetings or quarters, "Growing and Aging in the Spirit." Please contact us if you would like to schedule a workshop.

 


Read the Friends Journal Issue on Aging

 

 

Quaker Aging Resources: A collaborative project ofNew York and Philadelphia Yearly Meetings, the project was designed to assist meetings and individuals in responding to the needs of aging Friends, including age related changes, chronic illness or disability.The resources are intended to uphold a culture of care for the body, mind, spirit and community of the individual which is consistent with our Quaker faith, and address the following needs:


Statement of Purpose

The Committee on Aging is concerned with the needs of aging people and their caregivers and the ways New England Yearly Meeting, quarterly meetings, and individual monthly meetings can address those needs. It aims to increase awareness of the aging process, including its challenges and opportunities. Its role includes assisting Friends and the wider community to recognize, cherish and learn from the knowledge, wisdom and experiences of our more aged Friends.

Committee Members 2012

To contact the committee write to the Clerk, Committee on Aging at:

by email:

aging (at) neym (dot) org

or:

c/o NEYM
901 Pleasant St.
Worcester, MA



Committee on Aging

2011 Annual Report

This year's Committee on Aging is filled with a vibrant and lively group of dedicated workers who bring diverse experience and enthusiasm to our meetings. We continue to meet at the homes of some of our members, especially our elder members' home whenever possible, thereby honoring our commitment to our mission, "to cherish and learn from the knowledge, wisdom, and experience of our more aged Friends."

We also have followed our newly developed concern for the needs of aging people, their caregivers, and the way New England Yearly Meeting, quarterly meetings, and monthly meetings can address those needs. We developed and piloted a workshop called "Growing And Aging In The Spirit," which we offered to three quarterly meetings (with more to come). The workshop encourages participants to ponder and discuss readings and queries about their experiences of body, mind and spirit in the inevitable process of aging, as well as "Befriending Our Own Mortality" from a 2007 Weed lecture by Thomas Gates. Our commitment is to increase awareness of the challenges and opportunities that lay before us.

We continue to improve and add to our Library/Resource lists of pamphlets, books, films, and information that can be accessed online.

The tasks before us are: 1. To broaden the ages and gender diversity of our committee. 2. To continue to seek more input from meetings and individuals as to how we can identify and assist the wants and needs of our elders, their families, friends, and caregivers.

The committee is grateful for the support and interest from the Nominating and Sessions Committees. It helped us focus the spirit and life of the committee.

— Eleanor Cappa, clerk