Upperhill News

Grandparents and elderly persons have been urged not to judge themselves by the limitations that may come with old age, but to remain hopeful in the knowledge that God will not forget them, even amid the challenges of that stage of life.

The Parish Priest, Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Catholic Church, Adigbe, Abeokuta, Rev. Fr. Gabriel Adesoye Oyebola, gave the admonition during the Parish’s annual get-together and Health Enlightenment Package held at the Sacred Heart Catholic College, Abeokuta to commemorate the 2026 World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, instituted by Pope Francis in 2021.

The event, themed, “I will never forget you” (Isaiah 49:15), was the fourth consecutive edition organised by the Church’s Education Committee to celebrate grandparents and elderly members of the parish.

Oyebola said elderly persons should not feel abandoned or define their worth by the physical and social changes associated with ageing.

“The Lord does not forget us. Our elders should not feel forgotten. They should not judge themselves by the state of their old age. A lot of them have been super productive while they were younger, so they should not judge themselves by this stage of their lives. They should dig deep; there are still things they can do for humanity . Even if it is words of mouth that is left, they should draw hope from it. They should draw strength from the fact that God does not forget His people,” Rev. Fr. Oyebola said.

The cleric urged the elderly to keep their families united and maintain close relationships with their children, noting that research had linked strong family bonds with longevity.

“This older generation should not allow the intended dichotomy with the younger generations to take place. If the younger ones pull back, they should come closer. We need continuity; we need to marry the old and the young together. There are a lot of things that young people suffer that could have been avoided if they had good interaction with the elderly. We need to really bridge that gap,” the clergy said.

Oyebola also advised the elderly to prioritise their health and avoid placing their future entirely in the hands of the government or employers.

He commended the Education Committee for its commitment and consistency in organising the programme, adding that the church was exploring ways to provide financial support for the annual event.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Education Committee, Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Parish, Adigbe, Abeokuta, Dr. Olu. Ola. Aikulola, said the church valued members across all age groups and organised the annual get-together and Health Package to honour grandparents and elderly parishioners.

Aikulola, a retired Permanent Secretary in the Ogun State Civil Service, also urged participants to take proper care of their health.

In a talk on health insurance, a health insurance expert, Mr. Stephen Olokede, advised the elderly to be more conscious and proactive about their health by embracing suitable health insurance packages to support healthy living.

Olokede added that elderly parishioners could also consider enrolling in the Catholic Men Organisation scheme, which requires an annual fee of N7,000 and provides a N500,000 benefit to the next of kin of a participant after the participant’s death.

Also speaking, a mental health nurse, the Psychogeriatric Unit of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta, Miss Eunice George, said elderly men and women should prioritise their health through regular medical check-ups, a balanced diet, adequate water intake, moderate exercise and good relationships with God and fellow human beings.

George advised the elderly to be cautious in the use of mobile phones and social media, warning that older persons were often targets of scammers.

In another presentation titled, “Practical Demonstration to Function Well as an Aged”, a mental health nurse at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta, Mr. Oluwapelumi Johnson, urged older persons to ensure there are railings around the stairs while advising them not to isolate themselves but to share their thoughts with trusted people.

In the final presentation, titled “Age Gracefully”, a clinical psychologist at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta, Hope Nwosu, said elderly persons needed to accept changes in their bodies, care for their mental well-being, avoid suicidal thoughts and embrace positive thoughts and words.

Speaking on behalf of the elderly participants, Chief Benedict Sodeke and Mrs. Bosede Owokoya commended the Education Committee and the church for consistently celebrating them, assuring that the knowledge gained during the programme would be put to good use in improving their health and living conditions.

The celebration also featured brain teasers, colour shading and other recreational activities.