Elderly & Special Needs Outreach Tools and Ideas

ELDERLY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Yardwork

• Rake leaves

• Shovel snow

• Clean rain gutters

• Wash windows

• Mow lawn

Offer rides to church or appointments.

Help with unloading groceries/heavy items.

NURSING HOME

Flowers
Provide fresh flowers taking time to help place them in the room.

Listening Ear
Provide a "listening ear" to the residents.

Church Service
Provide a church service at a nursing home.

Read and Pray
Offer to read short devotionals and pray for residents. This could easily be a group outing where groups of 2 would visit with residents.

Senior Party
Throw a fun “Senior Party” complete with live music, food, games, and decorations.

HOSPITAL
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Waiting Room
Provide free coffee, energy drinks, and snacks to staff and those waiting in the emergency room. Consider offering to pray for those who give their consent.

Treatment Areas
Serve healthy snacks to patients of chemotherapy.

Children's Ward
Deliver small gifts to patients and families in the children’s ward (toys, care packages, etc.).

Special Visits
Make yourselves available as clowns, balloon artists, magicians, etc. to visit with children.

SPECIAL NEEDS KIDS OR ADULTS

Fun Days
Hold fun days for children with special needs and their families to relax and enjoy themselves.

Pen-pal
Start a pen-pal program with special needs people. Write letters and send small treats.

Embrace the beauty of compassion with simple outreach tools and ideas that uplift seniors and individuals with special needs, helping them feel valued, included, and loved. On this page, you’ll find practical church outreach ideas you can use right away to serve these precious members of your community with dignity and care.

Ready to turn these ideas into an actual plan for your church?

Use the Outreach Planning Handbook, a simple outreach planning tool designed for churches of any size.

Need help turning these elderly and special needs outreach ideas into a clear, doable plan for your church? The Outreach Planning Handbook is a step‑by‑step outreach planning tool that helps you choose the right ideas, schedule visits and events, and follow up with people and their families. Use it alongside these ideas to keep your outreach compassionate, organized, and gospel‑centered.