Donald Sensing has a post about Ministries for the Youth and Elderly

In it, he quotes this piece:

Reading Christian newspapers, I am continually confronted by churches seeking youth pastors. As far as I recall, I have not read one which focused upon the needs of the elderly in the congregation.

People over the age of 50 often comprise the greater part of the congregation. They have their special needs. Many are facing the closing years of life – and with it the prospect of sickness and death. To their needs many churches seem deaf.

Subjects that come within the category of ageing and death would be regarded as morbid and consequently avoided. The elderly are left to work things out for themselves without hearing what the word of God has to say about these matters.

Why must the emphasis be so frequently on the needs of youth?

Donald Sensing Responds:

But advancing the age brackets finds a shift on attendance. The United Methodist Church (mine) for example is not especially well attended by young adults, but we are the uncontested champion above about 50 years or so.

...

But I frankly don't see churches providing assistance and spiritual care for them, mine and me included. But we should.

In my experience, (Also, largely in the Methodist Church) I do see a large emphasis on the Elderly. It isn't that there is a specific pastor assigned to issues for the elderly, Its that most of the primary functions of the church is focused on the needs of the Elderly. Generally, they are the ones who run the church, and have for years, and the Pastor and various members spend a large, large amount of time and efford dealing with the Elderly. It isn't specified as such, simply because the needs and wants of the Elderly are built into what the church already does.

Those who have been around for years, leading church committes, building, maintaining and running the church... the elderly are disproportionately represented in that group.

It's only natural. Those with authority and in leadership positions tend to take care of thsoe things that are important to them. Over time, the people with the most responsibility, will be the older members of the church, and as such, the needs of the elderly are almost incorporated into everyhing the church does.

As for Children, or Youth? That's an entirely different story. They, obviously have very little say int he day to day running of the church, or the priorities different things are given, or funding, etc. Their parents may have slightly more, but for the large part, their parents will be in the youngest group of adults in the Church, the ones not yet running the committees, etc. The natural tendency is for the Church to take care of the needs of the Older, and to overlook the needs of the younger generation, simply based on the interests and needs of who is in charge.

No, Obviously, I don't want to make this seem like a power struggle between kids and the elderly, it's not. The Church should be capable of catering to both groups, and serving both their needs. Its just that unless a Church specifically makes an effort to go out of their way and focus on children (Via a youth pastor, etc.) this can be overlookde far more easily, than the influence of people who have run the church for years.

While some churches may occasionally neglect the needs of their seniors, the needs of their children, youth, and particularly their young adults will tend to be overlooked, unless a church goes out of its way to make sure they are not.