From The Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh web site on August 2010:

In Ministry: Karen Schaeffer

Karen Schaeffer’s personal experience with aging loved ones in her family sparked a passion to bring new life to those at the end of life and their families. She also hopes to see the elderly more integrated into the life of parishes in the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh, both giving and receiving.

Several years ago, Karen Schaeffer witnessed her mother-in-law, Julia Schaeffer, fight the debilitating effects of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Julia remained home and bedbound for eight years and was primarily cared for by her husband of sixty-four years, Francis. Macular degeneration limited Francis’ vision but not his ability to provide his wife with good and loving care. Julia and Francis frequently refused to consider the option of moving into a long-term care community to receive 24/7 assistance, battling their illnesses and decline in their own home. They died within 5 weeks of each other during the winter of 2005. During this time, Schaeffer witnessed Julia and Francis’ devotion and care, as well as the devastating toll of a long-term illness on both the sufferer and the caregiver. “Our society encourages and promotes independence—the exact opposite of the humble acknowledgement that we need God and the assistance of His children. This desire to remain independent can have dangerous consequences on our frail and elderly population,” reflected Schaeffer. This firsthand experience started Karen on the path to eldercare ministry.

At the time, Karen was a stay-at-home wife and mother of three teenagers and desired to complete her college degree. Schaeffer remembers, “I had started and stopped my undergraduate education a number of times during my child-rearing days; but then, my desire to complete my degree was fostered by my husband’s call to ordained ministry.” Schaeffer’s husband, John, is a postulant for ordination in the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh and a part-time seminarian in the Masters of Divinity program at Trinity School for Ministry. Together they hit the books. Part of her studies at Geneva College included a 15-month Applied Research Project to determine how to effectively minister to the needs of the growing senior population of Christ Church in the North Hills. Because of her research and program recommendations, many Christ Church seniors now appear to be well connected to the parish community. Schaeffer graduated from Geneva College in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Community Ministry and is continuing her studies in a graduate gerontology program at Kansas State University.

The lessons Karen learned from both her extensive research project and family experience influenced her decision to become an eldercare advisor after graduation. Recently, she has formed her own eldercare and senior ministry consulting firm. Age & Dignity Consulting (http://www.ageanddignity.com) provides assistance to families who need guidance about eldercare options in Western Pennsylvania and also helps faith-based organizations with senior ministry concerns.“I enjoy finding an eldercare solution that can enhance the life of a senior. Something as simple as transportation assistance to church can help brighten the life of a senior,” she said.

Schaeffer is quick to point out that it is not just about enhancing the lives of seniors, but also finding ways that senior can enhance the life of their communities. “I believe that seniors can transform the world with participation in Bible study, lay ministry prayer teams, and work as teachers and mentors in cross-generational activities. Tapping into the wisdom and experience of this group of graying disciples can be transforming.”

Her ministry to the elderly follows the pattern laid out by the Bible. God commands throughout the Old and New Testaments to care for and respect the elderly, she said. God commanded the people to provide care for aging widows (Deuteronomy 14:28–29) and to show the elderly respect and honor (Leviticus 19:32). And in the New Testament, believers are reminded to honor them (1 Timothy 5:3). “With this biblical standard in mind, we need to look at our aging population—both in and out of our pews. Our pews are filled with aging parishioners; however, many of our elderly find it difficult to even walk through the front door of our parishes and remain isolated at home,” noted Schaeffer. Demographics point to an anticipated rise in the elderly population due to the increase in life expectancy. For this reason, Schaeffer encourages parishes to assess whether they are adequately addressing the needs of their senior population. “Researchers have found that elderly people who are more involved in, and committed to, their faith tend to enjoy better physical and mental health than older adults who are not religious,” she noted.

Schaeffer and her husband currently attend Church of Our Savior in Glenshaw. They have been members of the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh for nearly 20 years. Karen is happy to provide assistance to clergy, pastoral teams, and families throughout the diocese who are confronted with eldercare concerns. If you believe that you can use some assistance with your senior ministry endeavors, or if you have parishioners or family members who need assistance with eldercare concerns, Schaeffer would be happy to help. She can be reached via email.

Karen Schaeffer stands with one of her clients, Roland Pinkston, a resident at a retirement home in the North Hills.

Age & Dignity Consulting, LLC • Pittsburgh, PA • 724-933-7350