By Ward Tanneberg

After pastoring many years in the San Francisco East Bay city of Dublin, Dixie and I retired to Palm Desert in Southern California. (Doesn’t everybody dream of doing this?) We had a lovely 3-bedroom home, all on one level, our last stop before heaven. But four years later, we gathered up our stuff and returned to the Seattle area where we had enjoyed our early married years. There, we proceeded to plant fresh ministry roots. We served a wonderful congregation for seven more years as executive pastor, then retired again. (The standard joke in our family is, “How many more times can Dad flunk retirement?”)

Today we live on the third level of a low-rise 35-year old condominium in downtown Bellevue, Washington. We thought it would be for a few years, then on to something else. That was 1999. Looks like we’re staying. We have a corner apartment Dixie has made lovely and comfortable, with the master bedroom upstairs. I know, we “should be living on one level, not two,” as we grow older. You may be right.

But look out our window at Downtown Park. Walk with us across the street to Mall shops, restaurants, movie theaters, grocery stores. A major hospital two miles away. A bedroom turned into a writing den. Our 63 condo neighbors—Asians, Eastern Europeans, Jews, Arabs, Catholics, Protestants, Muslims, agnostics and atheists; a melting pot of the world right here in our urban dwelling. In the distance we see Mt. Rainier from our living room. On warm summer evenings we eat on the deck overlooking a busy city street and pretend we’re in Paris. So, we’ve decided we can live with the stairs because nothing is ever perfect (not even in Palm Desert).

It’s called aging in place. When you look around your home with all its shortcomings, you may dream of a better life in California or Arizona or Florida. If it fits your budget, consider two weeks or a month in Florida or the desert as a good winter visit. But for now, take a deep breath and let it out slowly. You already have a home you can grow old with, neighbors you can live with, people you can volunteer with, ministry to be involved with, and 14 coffee shops you can walk to!

Okay, for the coffee shops to happen like that, you may have to move next door and be our neighbor.

You can find lots of resources to make aging in place easier and safer. For lifestyle tips and tricks for your home, visit goCASA.org. Jan Kinzel writes a series on downsizing and throws in a great recipe to boot.

Geriatric care managers help caretakers and aging family members create an aging-in-place plan that includes home safety information. On the Internet you can find helpful information from the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers and the National Aging in Place Council. There are private businesses available to evaluate your situation. Check to see if your town or city has an Aging in Place Council.

Your Turn: For Second-Half/Intergenerational Ministry Leaders

1. How can you help older individuals find contentment in aging in place? Are there practical ways your congregation can get involved in making it asker and safer for seniors to stay in their homes?

2. The Apostle Paul said, “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation (Philippians 4:12, NIV). How can you encourage a spirit of contentment in both older and younger believers?

3. What are practical ways seniors can minister within their own neighborhoods?

4. Consider inviting a geriatric care manager to speak to your congregation about issues and needs for aging family members living at home.

5. Anyone can be an expert. Become or appoint a willing volunteer to become the resident expert on resources available for older individuals and couples.

CASA 50+ Network is your resource–and your forum to share ideas, suggestions, comments, or questions with other ministry leaders. We love to hear your thoughts regarding supporting older adults as they find ways to continue ministry and age in place with contentment.

Ward Tanneberg is president emeritus of CASA 50+ Network. He has been youth director, college public relations director, adjunct professor, writer, novelist and pastor in three churches. His latest novel, Redeeming Grace, is a 2015 Bronze Medal Illumination Book Awards winner. www.wardtanneberg.com