Crisis in caring?

Nurses have recently been promised a pay increase, but will it be enough to attract young people into the caring professions ...?

Pilgrim Homes is a Christian charity founded in 1807. Inspired by teachings from the book of Job (Job 29.12-13), a group of young people began a work by giving small pensions to elderly Christians living in appalling poverty. That work has grown over two centuries into a network of residential provision that ranges from sheltered accommodation through to nursing care. The guiding force of every Pilgrim Home, and the rock upon which it stands is the Lord Jesus Christ. It strives to provide spiritual as well as physical and emotional support to all its residents and, in so doing, to glorify the Lord.

Throughout Scripture we are all called by God to live out his love and mercy, to extend it to those around us, particularly the frail and lonely and to demonstrate caring support to the family of Christ.

Jesus's own command: 'As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another' (John 13.34-35), should ring through the heart and life of every Christian. Jesus gave us no 'get out clause' that permits us to stop loving someone when they become old, frail or dependent. Jesus made provision, even in his dying moments, for his own mother to be cared for in a Christian home (John 19. 26-27).

Government policy

From the opening of the first Home in the early 19th century until late into the 20th century Pilgrim Homes operated their residential accommodation in an environment regulated by love and the desire to serve Christ. Since the 1984 Registered Homes Act, government legislation has had an enormous impact on residential care. The 1990 Community Care Act further affected many aspects of how we operate and the newly enacted Care Standards legislation will bring ever greater pressures to bear on those of us simply striving to provide the warmth and love of an extended family home. New environmental requirements, ever more stringent staff training commitments and lack of Government funding to support these demands will undoubtedly see the demise of many small providers.

As the proportion of our ageing population increases and the number of care providers decreases, it is perhaps more important than ever that Pilgrim Homes and similar Christian care providers survive the rigours of legislative control and grow in strength.

It is an area that needs great prayer. Optimising resources, discerning the needs of future generations, planning the right mix of traditional care provision while developing new strategies and modern alternatives will not be an easy task.

Lack of staff

However, the most immediate crisis in care is the lack of staff. This is certainly not a problem unique to Pilgrim Homes, it is the lament of every care provider in our country today.

We live in a culture that primarily promotes the rights of the individual, a culture that bombards us with the refrain, 'Take care of number one'. Sadly, even as Christians, we often forget that 'number one' should be the Lord Jesus Christ, and most of our society is oblivious to that concept. The 'gods' more commonly served by the populace are power, wealth, status, strength. In such an environment, who will want to 'care'?

Being a carer is not an easy option. It needs patience, dedication, a love for people, and above all a desire to contribute to a better quality of life, sometimes to the detriment of one's own, for those who would otherwise be struggling to cope. It involves working unsocial hours, regularly giving up weekends and bank holidays and it can be physically and emotionally demanding. In our topsy turvy world where values are so distorted, such dedication is neither respected nor rewarded.

Low pay

Is it, then, any wonder that the care sector is in crisis? On a secular level, there is a desperate need for an attitude change that must start with government and cascade downwards. Government ministers talk about the dedication of our trained nurses and the fact that their skill and commitment have been underpaid for too long. Nobody would disagree with that but who is talking about the army of 'untrained' staff who, day by day and night by night, help the aged, infirm and disabled to manage the basic activities of daily life in hospitals, nursing homes, residential accommodation and private dwellings throughout our country? Why is it not glaringly obvious to those same government agencies, that this absolutely essential team of patient, loving, dedicated care staff deserve the same consideration?

Central Government recognises that we have an increasing elderly population and is redirecting funds to new initiatives that may provide more cost effective care in the future. Unfortunately, existing, traditional care providers are the current casualties. Local authorities, in many cases, are paying less now in real terms than they were paying five years ago for those in residential care. In such circumstances, it is impossible for care providers to increase staff pay to realistic levels.

I am concerned that until we, as a nation, begin to educate our young people about the need and the value of this type of work, and reward it accordingly, it is going to become increasingly difficult to attract staff to caring jobs. A government initiative in schools would reach the wider audience of potential carers, making them aware of training opportunities. However, we cannot expect a positive response until our young people know that if they reach out to care for others, they will be valued, supported and offered ongoing career prospects.

God's honour?

In the current climate, you may wonder what there could possibly be to attract anyone to caring. 'By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another' may be all the incentive you need. How will the world recognise us as Christ's disciples if, as Christian care providers, we cannot find sufficient staff to offer that care to a standard that will honour our Lord? The most modern of homes will be of no avail without sufficient, dedicated staff.

While I am gravely concerned for the future of the care service as a whole, my immediate priority is the need within Pilgrim Homes and other Christian care providers. I am saddened to see that the wider Christian community has, at times, lost sight of its responsibility to the extended Christian family. All too often, a church fellowship considers it has discharged its responsibility to an elderly member in need by placing him in Christian care. That elderly pilgrim still needs friendship and support from the local fellowship and the home in which he will spend the autumn of his life may desperately need staff.

Personal privilege

The Lord himself promises that when we give even a cup of cold water to one of his disciples, we will not lose our reward. Christ spent his ministry and finally gave his life in service for each of us. Being called to serve him by serving our fellow believers is a wonderful privilege. A resident will so often comment: 'You shouldn't have to do this for me,' when I help them, especially with very personal care. I remember telling one tearful resident that if the Lord Jesus thought she was worth dying for, she was certainly worth the small task I was performing for her! Caring is not a burden when Jesus calls you to care.

Perhaps for me personally, the greatest privilege has been seeing the truths of Scripture fulfilled. Paul tells us, 'Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day' (2 Corinthians 4.16) It is easy to see that outwardly we are wasting away. The decay and death of our fallen world is evident all around us and we see it so graphically in the increasing frailty of body and mind among the elderly for whom we care. Yet, praise God, we see too, that 'inwardly we are being renewed.'

When a dear soul who was born in the 19th century is one moment convinced that her mother is still alive and the next is praying with such depth of understanding for a dear friend that only the Holy Spirit could have revealed such need, then we know that 'inwardly we are being renewed.' When a godly lady of 90, who suddenly finds that the home she lived in for six happy years must close and she must find a new home, can pray: 'Lord I never expected to have to move at my age, but you must have a reason. Show me your purpose,' can we doubt that the she will 'walk and not be faint' (Isaiah 40.31)? When pain, frustration and frailty clouds the day to day existence of some residents but the glory of the Lord shines from their faces, then my own heart is refreshed as God's promises are daily renewed and confirmed.

I am convinced that the Lord will provide the staff needed to care for his people. Is he calling you to this service? Undoubtedly, he is calling many who have not yet responded to this repeated cry for help.

Diane Eldrett is manager of the Pilgrim Home in Haslemere, Surrey. The home is one of 11 Pilgrim Homes in the country, and has 29 residents and 35 staff. Diane attends Bethel Baptist Church, Upper Hale, Farnham.

Diane Eldrett comments on both the secular and Christian caring sectors

Government policy

Lack of staff

Low pay

God's honour?

Personal privilege

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