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SOCIETY AND
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THE AGED:

TOWARD"

^ V RECONCILIATION

A Statement of the

Catholic Bishops

of the

United States

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SOCIETY AND THE AGED:

TOWARD RECONCILIATION

A STATEMENT OF THE CATHOLIC BISHOPS

OF THE UNITED STATES

May 5, 1976

I. THE AGED

1. America today faces a great paradox: It is

an aging nation which worships the culture,

values and appearance of youth. Instead of view-

ing old age as an achievement and a natural

stage of life with its own merits, wisdom and

beauty, American society all too often ignores,

rejects and Isolates the elderly.

2. In an Increasingly mobile nation, where the

single-generation family as well as the extended

family is weakened, the elderly often find them-

selves cut off from their families and their com-

munities; about 14 percent of elderly men and

41 percent of elderly women live alone or with

nonrelatives. Even large numbers of elderly

persons not lacking for material goods find

themselves unwanted and out of place.

3. Society has come to take a negative view of

the elderly. This can be seen in the increasing

tendency of families to rely on institutions to

care for their elderly members, and In repeated

efforts by some government officials to cut ser-

vices and benefits for the elderly in order to ease

the burden of inflation on the rest of society.

4. Society’s negative image of the elderly rein-

forces their own negative self-image. The result

of this unfortunate process is a tragically wasted

human resource. The elderly are denied their

God-given right to develop their potential to the

fullest at every stage of life; at the same time,

society is denied the fruits of that development.

5. In rejecting the elderly we do more than

perpetuate injustice: When we reject any stage

of human life, we are in effect rejecting a part of

ourselves and our connections with the human

community. Perhaps we react to the elderly as we

do because they are an unwanted reminder of

our own mortality.

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6. The Biblical commandment to “Honor your

father and mother” (Deut. 5:16) reminds us that,

above all else, the family ought to be a place of

love, respect and caring for the aging members

of society. But often this is not the case. Many

elderly people are physically, culturally, psycho-

logically and spiritually isolated from their fam-

ilies and the rest of society; equally as important,

society has become isolated from this group

which composes ten percent of its membership.

7. The break between generations is weakening

our values as a nation and creating a form of

discrimination—against the elderly—which paral-
lels more widely recognized forms of discrimina-

tion against minorities, women, the poor or the

unborn.

8. Such a wound demands healing. Such a sepa-

ration calls for reconciliation. This requires a re-

thinking of personal attitudes in the light of

gospel values. Our first task is to restore to the

elderly the dignity and sense of worth which they

deserve.

9. As religious people and followers of Jesus,

who calls us to reconciliation and love, we must

pledge ourselves, our communities, our influence

and our prayers to bringing about this recon-

ciliation between society and its elderly.

II. HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE ELDERLY

10. The elderly do not forfeit their claim to

basic human rights because they are old. But a

brief look at the plight of many elderly people

shows that they are in fact being denied those

rights. The reconciliation we seek begins with

recognition of our responsibilities to the elderly

to insure their dignity and worth so that they can

enjoy their God-given rights. As Pope John has

said:

“Every man has the right to life, to

bodily integrity, and to the means

which are suitable for the proper de-

velopment of life; these are primarily

food, clothing, shelter, rest, medical

care, and finally the necessary social

services. Therefore, a human being

also has the right to security in cases

of sickness, inability to work, widow-

hood, old age, unemployment, or in

any other case in which he is deprived

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of the means of subsistence through

no fault of his own,”

(Pope John XXIII, Peace on Earth)

A. The Right to Life

11. The right to life is the most basic human

right in the sense of being the pre-condition for

realization of all the others. But the right to life

of the elderly Is under constant attack, both

direct and Indirect.

12. On one level, the elderly, along with the

sick and the handicapped, are the targets of a

“mercy killing” mentality which would dispose

of the unwanted. Even well-meaning legislative

efforts to cope with complex questions about

when and when not to use extraordinary techno-

logical and therapeutic means to preserve life

pose genuine dangers, particularly since some

would place fateful decisions solely in the hands

of physicians or the state.

13. A more subtle, although no less serious,

threat to the right to life of the elderly is a social

system which, by ignoring their poverty, loneli-

ness and despair, denies them the means and

sometimes the very will to live.

14. Sociologists tell us we are nearing a time

when the elderly will be divided into the “Young-

Old,” age 55-75, and the “Old-Old,” over 75.

The “Young-Old” will be a relatively healthy

group, capable of entering second careers and

influencing social patterns. The “Old-Old” will

feel more clearly that they are simply awaiting

death. As President Kennedy once said: “It is

not enough to add new years to life; our objective

must be to add new life to those years.”

15. The elderly have a right to “new life”: not

just to material survival, but to education, recrea-

tion, companionship, honest human emotions,

and spiritual care and comfort.

16. Finally, in reflecting upon the right to life

of the elderly, one must note that in America

women live longer than men. There are 143

women over age 65 for every 100 men. To talk of

the problems of the elderly, then, is to talk in

particular of the problems of elderly women who

In their declining years may feel more painfully

than ever the burdens of society’s discrimination

against women.

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B. The Right to a Decent Income

17. The elderly, often living on fixed incomes,

are among those who suffer disproportionately

from society's economic ills of recession and

inflation. The costs of food, medical care and

housing (including fuel) have risen much more

sharply than overall consumer price increases;

moreover, these areas take up some 70 percent

of the income of the elderly, as opposed to less

than 60 percent of the income of the non-aged.

18. Some 22 percent of the elderly have in-

comes below the 1971 federal poverty level and

half have Incomes below $5,000. Social Security

and Supplemental Security Income payments, in

these circumstances, remain inadequate to main-

tain a decent standard of living. Inflation eats

away at the value of savings. Many of the elderly

do not have pensions, and there are serious

problems in existing pension plans.

C. The Right to a Job

19. Polls reveal that 85 percent of the American

people are opposed to mandatory retirement

ages, these often force able-bodied people out of

their jobs when they still have much to offer and

need the satisfaction of a meaningful job. Older

workers are frequently forced out of work by

technological change and are handicapped in

seeking new employment by discrimination on

the basis of age. A recession at any time may

force many older workers into premature retire-

ment which can be spiritually and financially

draining.

I

20. Even those elderly who are not seeking re-

muneration for work are under-utilized: Some two

million elderly Americans willing to do volunteer
'

work do not have such opportunities available. :

D. The Right to Health Care
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21. Health care is a basic right, but it is often
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regarded as an expensive luxury. Despite pass- !

age a decade ago of Medicare, millions of elderly

people still lack adequate medical care.
I

22. The percentage of health care costs for the

elderly paid by Medicare has dropped in recent

years and will probably continue to drop. Medi-

care does not pay for preventive health care,

which means that many elderly persons will

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develop health problems unnecessarily and will

receive treatment only when their problems

become serious.

23. In addition, Medicare does not pay for such

necessities as prescription drugs, eyeglasses,

hearing aids, dentures or dental care, all of which

become extraordinarily expensive when measured

against the income of most elderly persons.

24. Although only five percent of the elderly live

in institutions, nursing home care is a serious

problem. Well publicized scandals have arisen

concerning the operations of some nursing

homes, where patient care Is sacrificed while

operators amass huge profits. Large numbers of

elderly people are institutionalized needlessly

for want of simple services, such as visiting

nurses or homemakers, which would help them

remain in their homes.

25. Mental health care for the elderly is even

more Inadequate than physical health care. An

estimated one-third of the elderly in mental

hospitals are there because they have nowhere

else to go. Physical illnesses such as diabetes,

anemia, or simply over-medication may produce

behavior patterns in the elderly which are mis-

taken for senility.

E. The Right to Eat

26. A 1971 Administration Task Force on Aging

declared that the elderly are the most severely

malnourished group in society. Poor nutrition is

a major factor in the incidence of poor health

among them.

27. The Food Stamp program, hot meals pro-

gram and other efforts are a help to the elderly,

but they still do not reach all those in need. The

elderly are also threatened by new Food Stamp

proposals. Some would increase the amount the

elderly must pay for Food Stamps or create un-

reasonable assets limitations which would force

them either to forfeit Food Stamps or sell their

valuables, possibly their homes; other proposed

regulations determining Food Stamp benefit lev-

els could result in a decrease in benefits for

many of tl;ie elderly.

28. Inadequate income Is not the only reason

why many of the elderly have poor diets. Lack of

proper kitchen facilities, nutrition education or

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simple lack of companionship and incentive to

eat are also factors.

F. The Right to a Decent Home

29. America has a severe housing shortage

which, like other economic problems affects the

elderly more than most. Forty percent of the

elderly live in homes which lack such facilities as

central heating, hot water or inside toilets.

(Seventy-seven percent of the elderly live in rural

areas.)

30. Many elderly persons live in homes they

own as the result of a lifetime of work, but are

threatened with losing their homes because of

waning physical strength, rising fuel and mainte-

nance costs, and regressive property taxes.

31. Housing is particularly important to the

elderly because they are often virtually trapped

in their homes by lack of transportation and

fear of crime.

32. Less than half of those over 65 are licensed

to drive. Many, particularly those in rural areas,

do not have access to mass transportation, which

is often costly when it is available.

33. The elderly, particularly in urban areas, live

in fear because of their particular vulnerability to

such crimes as burglary and mugging, as well as

“white-collar” crimes such as price-fixing and

fraud.

G. The Right to Equal Treatment

34. Members of minority groups in America

face special discrimination at all age levels.

Minority elderly persons suffer discrimination on

account of their race in addition to their age,

their poverty, and often their sex.

35. A serious problem facing some minority

elderly is a language barrier which may prevent

them from obtaining medical and social services

to which they are entitled. The same barrier may

prevent them from participating in the social and

recreational life of their communities and neigh-

borhoods or the liturgical life of their churches.

III. THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH

36. The Church is many things—a community
of faith, a community of individuals, and families

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and a voice in civil society. If the Church is to

help reconcile society and the elderly it must act

In all these roles. The elderly look to the Church

for strength and assistance. They want the

Church to be a community where they experience

the comfort of the forgiving Lord, and the hope

of the risen Lord. The elderly need the concern,

joy and presence of a caring Christian com-

munity.

A. As Individuals

37. No institutional effort can be successful un-

less we examine our own Individual attitudes and

actions. We must ask ourselves how we treat the

elderly In our own families and communities.

38. Do we treat them with the respect and dig-

nity which they deserve? Do we try to draw out

the best in them and share ourselves with them?

Do we carry our fair share of their financial sup-

port? Do we make an effort to try to understand

and meet their special needs? Are we kind and

patient?

B. As Families

39. The family Is the basic unit of any com-

munity and Is itself an expression of love. We

cannot emphasize enough the critical role of the

family In caring for their aging loved ones and

keeping them in their midst as valuable, con-

tributing members. The family is where the elder-

ly feel most comfortable and accepted. We call

on each family to weigh carefully its obligation

to care for an elderly father or mother, uncle or

aunt.

40. Should elderly family members require a

form of institutionalization, the obligations of the

family remain. Responsibility for their well being

cannot be left to health care professionals and

social service agencies alone. Often, only rela-

tives and friends can provide the love and per-

sonal attention that humanize the sometimes

lonely experience of institutional care.

C. As A Community

41. We take pride in the fact that the Catholic

community has always made special efforts to

care for the elderly; but we also acknowledge

with humility that there is much still to do.

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42. One valuable task which can be performed

at the parish level is simply to locate the “hid-

den” elderly In order to bring them into parish

and community life and help them obtain com-

munity and government services to which they

may be entitled but which they do not receive.

43. Parish structures offer many opportunities

for leadership in helping the elderly: community
j

dining rooms, “day care,” home visits and tele-
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phone reassurance services; car pools and other

transportation aids; recreation; continuing edu-

cation programs.

44. We must not only help continue the educa-

tion of the elderly. We must guarantee effective

education for all age groups about the aging

process, the rights of the elderly and their poten-

tial for more active and satisfying lives.

45. Catholic hospitals and other health care

Institutions have a special responsibility in meet-

ing the needs of the elderly, as do all forms of
j

Church social service agencies.
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46. More coordination of services and outreach

are needed in diocesan as well as local pro-

grams. There are special needs and opportunities

in the areas of low-cost housing, supervised

housing, transportation and job training. Many

dioceses have already sponsored low income

housing programs for the elderly. We support

these efforts and encourage wider participation

In low Income housing programs by other dioc-

eses and religious orders.

47. The Church at all levels has a responsibility

to seek out the elderly for their input into policy

decisions and to provide them with opportunities

for meaningful work, both as employees and

volunteers.

48. The Church also must make provisions for

retired priests and religious to live in a dignified

manper. Special attention must be given to com-

munities of religious women, which face particu-

lar fihancial hardship in caring for retired sisters.

Adequate pension plans for all Church employees

are essential.

D. As Public Policy Advocates

49. In this statement we have called on Indi-

viduals, families, the Church, and community

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groups to assist the elderly in realizing their

human rights and living decent lives. We also

recognize, however, that some problems require

the attention of society as a whole, through

legislative and governmental action.

50. We must raise our voices clearly and effec-

tively as advocates for the elderly on public

policy matters. Elderly people cannot compete

with well-financed interest groups for national

resources; like other basically powerless groups,

the elderly stand to lose the most in times of

economic crisis.

51. Many of the needs of the elderly will only

be met adequately when the needs of others are

met through a national policy guaranteeing full

employment, a decent income for those unable

to work, equitable tax legislation and compre-

hensive health care for all. But a number of

significant steps can be taken in the interim:

• Continued opposition to euthanasia and

“death with dignity" legislation which gives un-

due power to the state or to physicians.

• A thorough review of the Social Security

system to insure its continued stability.

• Continued opposition to cutbacks or ceil-

ings on the Social Security cost-of-living index

for the elderly which reflects actual increases in

their living expenses.

• Reform of Medicare to provide coverage for

preventive care, dental care, prescription

drugs, devices such as eyeglasses and hearing

aids and increased and more readily available

home health care services to allow the elderly to

avoid unnecessary institutionalization.

• Establishment of stricter standards for

nursing homes and strict enforcement of those

standards.

• Opposition to Food Stamp program changes

which would penalize the elderly.

• Expanded nutrition, education, job training

and recreation programs for the elderly.

• Special efforts to meet the transportation

needs of the elderly.

• More low-income housing for the elderly.

We strongly endorse continued congressional ex-

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pansion and administration backing of the very

successful Section 202 program. We further urge
that the interest for Section 202 loans be set at

the lowest possible rate.

• Continued reform of the pension system,

and wider availability of pensions.

• A higher priority for mental health care for

the elderly.

• An end to age discrimination in hiring and

flexibility in setting retirement ages.

• Special attention to programs to reduce

crime against the elderly.

IV. Toward Reconciliation

52. Healing the rupture between society and its

elderly members requires a major effort to

change attitudes as well as social structures. In

undertaking this task we are not simply meeting

the demands of charity and justice. We are ac-

cepting our own humanity, our link with past

and future and, thereby, our link with the Creator.

To do this is to add new life to the final stages

of growth because Christ said, “I have come that

they may have life and have it to the full.” (John

10 : 10).

Additional information on the aging, program

resources and listings of useful books and audio-

visual materials, have been included in the

National Conference of Catholic Bishops' Re-

spect Life Program, 1312 Massachusetts Ave.,

N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005.

1976

Publications Office

UNITED STATES CATHOLIC CONFERENCE

1312 Massachusetts Avenue N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20005

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