SENTINEL WATCH April 17, 2006 Issue

WHO WILL TAKE CARE OF ME?

BEVERLY GOLDSMITH

ACCORDING TO the Australian Bureau of Statistics, it's estimated that seniors will make up around one-third of each state's population by 2051. With longevity increasing and an aging population, governments in Australia and elsewhere are wrestling with the question of who will care for older citizens in the future.

Discussions about this are often built on the expectation that most people will become unwell and incapacitated as they age. As a result, many individuals are asking, Should I remain on my own, live closer to younger family members, move into retirement accommodation, or reserve a place in a nursing home? Will I be able to care for myself?

The Scriptures encourage me to remember that our well-being is maintained by God. For example, in speaking of a God-given ability to remain alert and active, the Bible says in Psalms: "The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing" (92:12–14).