Isn't it funny how we remember how much we disliked attending Sunday services as children? But your parents insisted on you going even though you would have preferred to stay in with a big bowl of morning cereal and the television instead. It turns out that creating that habit in you was not only beneficial to your soul, but it was also beneficial to your health.

The American Medical Association conducted a study that found that persons who attend church services on a regular basis "had a better probability of living longer lives in the long run." Over the course of two decades, the researchers followed a cohort of more than 76,000 women.

These women worked as nurses, and the majority of them belonged to either the Catholic or Protestant faiths. Moreover, 13,000 of these women had died by the end of the survey's time period. When the researchers compared the women who attended church services to those who did not, they discovered that those who did attend services were 33 percent less likely to be among the deceased. Researchers also discovered that the favorable effect lessened when the study participants' attendance at church dropped during the course of the investigation.

So, what is it about going to church that makes people live longer lives?

Loneliness Among the Elderly

While feeling lonely and depressed, it's fairly uncommon to experience your loneliness on a bodily level in addition to experiencing it psychologically and emotionally. Humans are social animals, and we require a sense of belonging in order to thrive.

As a result of our fundamental need for company, our bodies have a negative reaction to being isolated. In fact, research has discovered that people who are chronically lonely have a higher risk of developing major health problems such as heart disease, metastatic cancer, stroke, and neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

Loneliness affects seniors more than any other group of people. Over forty percent of seniors, according to a study performed at the University of California at San Francisco, experience recurring feelings of loneliness on a regular basis.

Religious services provide senior citizens with a supportive group to which they can belong when they go on a regular basis. Going to church not only allows you to surround yourself with people who share your values, but most churches also offer activities and amenities that are specifically tailored to the needs of older adults.

Healthy Habits are encouraged by the church.

Attending religious services enables us to live healthier lifestyles that are based around the structure offered by good habits, which is in addition to the social side. The Bible gives us suggestions for living a long and healthy life, including the following:

In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, the apostle Paul says, "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who lives within you, whom you have received from God?" You were not born into this world; you were purchased for a price. As a result, honor God via your body.

And do not get intoxicated on wine, for that is debauchery; rather, be filled with the Spirit, according to Ephesians 5:18.

Exodus 15:26: If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in his eyes, and pay attention to his instructions and observe all of his ordinances, I will not bring upon you any of the diseases that I brought upon the Egyptians; for I am the Lord, your healer.

As a result of following the directions provided by Scripture, we live better and longer lives since the Bible's instructions tell us to do so. To summarize, the church instructs us to live modestly and with reverence for our bodies, for they are God's creation.

Providing assistance to senior citizens in getting to church

Transportation is one of the most significant difficulties that prevents seniors from attending church on a regular basis. As we grow older, our reactions become slower. As a result, many older persons are unable to drive independently because of safety concerns. When it comes to elders, a lack of movement and personal autonomy can be extremely frustrating.

There are numerous transportation options available for seniors who are unable to drive, including public transit, rideshare services, and taxicabs, to name a few examples. However, as members of the same church, we can all do our lot to assist elders in their efforts to join us throughout the day on a daily basis.

This year, many of us chose to assist elders as a kind of almsgiving during the Lenten season. This spirit of service should continue beyond March, and I encourage you to volunteer to support elders in your congregation by arranging rides for them at various times throughout the year.

The church is beneficial to the body in the same way that it is beneficial to the soul. It is not only possible to avoid loneliness by spending time with your congregation, but the lessons we learn from one another also motivate us to take care of our bodies in a way that is pleasing to the Lord. Senior citizens will be able to live longer and happier lives as a result of this.

Discuss with your church elders whether you could volunteer to drive elderly members to services on a weekly basis if you wanted to support seniors in your congregation.