I had to laugh when I started updating this week’s nondenominational worship service on beauty — because my hair is so long! I would love to rerecord this one but I’ve been down with a cold this week so it’ll have to wait 😆

Even so, the theme of beauty offers a lovely chance to encourage elders, including those with Alzheimer’s and other dementias, to recall beautiful things: what they love to see, hear, taste, touch, and smell. And to celebrate their beauty, which I think a lot of people miss.

Watch the 44-minute worship service on beauty here.

And here’s the written agenda.

PAC Certification in Progress!

I’m thrilled to announce that I’ve started fulfilling a long-held dream of mine: Earning a Certified Dementia Champion license through Teepa Snow’s organization, Positive Approach to Care. Although I have a lot of experience caring for elders with dementia (much of it learned 10 years ago in a live training with Teepa herself), I’ve long wanted to deepen those skills and gain certification.

I attended the online Champion Courses 1+2 yesterday and it was great! Next week I’ll take CC 3+4, and then I’ll embark on the Tier 1 certification. For those of you who donate to my ministry, my deepest thanks for helping to make these courses possible for me 🙏🏼

And in a real it’s-a-small-world blessing: Tracy W, another participant in the course, recognized me on the Zoom call and put this note in the chat:

Chaplain Elisa! We watch Spiritual Eldercare in our Memory Care home on a regular basis! We love you!

So sweet! 😇

Peace be with you,