I’ve been working on an article about why spiritual care is so helpful for people with Alzheimer’s and dementia … and it’s finally finished!
There are two versions: the first is 2 pages back-to-back, so it’s easy to print as a handout. The second is 4 pages … because I had more to say 🙂
Just click on either image to download the document.
Two-page version:
Four-page version:
I’m indebted to Dave K., a pastoral counselor/chaplain at a memory care residence in Virginia Beach. He sent me a very nice email a couple of weeks ago, which really helped me to focus the title and format:
“I was wondering of you know of an article … to help family members understand the importance of spiritual care for those who have dementia but in an outline form or easy to understand for ‘laymen.’ I have some spouses who are themselves elderly and I wanted a simplified message I could give family members to understand the value of spiritual care with their family members. It needs to be brief … and easy to understand. Something like…’Five ways those with dementia can benefit from spiritual care’ etc.”
I’ve already sent Dave these PDFs, and I hope you find them useful too. If you have more ideas and have seen other benefits, please comment below.
Spiritual Eldercare 
Elisa, Great points and action items. Saving these. Do I see the outline for a book? I’m sure you could add real life anecdotes that illustrate these points. Like the Dignity section. Pet peeve of my parents was being spoken to by a 20-yr-old LPN as if my they were a deaf, dumb children. Some places suggest the formal use of surnames and titles (Dr.) unless invited by the resident to use their first name. You know all this. I think you could take this paper further, with amusing and inspiring examples. – Doug
Sent from Mail for Windows 10
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Doug, thank you for the encouragement! I love your idea of adding anecdotes — I write down things like that nearly every day.
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I am really enjoying your bible lessons. The nursing home where I teach sunday school are really enjoying my lessons. You are doing a wonderful job. Th;anks, Joyce Dupree
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Joyce, that’s great to hear! Thanks so much.
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