Chip Gaines, half of the now-famous "Fixer Upper" couple (who are just as cute as can be), created a cool contest, called #ChipStarter, to fund people's audacious dreams. I figured, hey, I have a dream ... why not enter? So I took the plunge and submitted a video and description for my dream of creating … Continue reading #ChipStarter: Music for elders with Alzheimer’s
How do elders with little to no cognitive ability access spiritual truths?
This week's eldercare worship service focused on compassion, especially as seen in the life of Mother Teresa, whose birthday was August 26. I often focus these services on some aspect of the life of faith. For this service, I printed out a large photo of Mother Teresa and held it up, asking "I wonder if … Continue reading Compassion and Mother Teresa
Often, when I tell elders that I’m a chaplain, the first thing they want to know is “who are you with?” They mean church. It’s a natural question, especially for the senior generation, who grew up with clear categories of religious denominations (Baptist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist, Episcopal, Catholic, etc.). Without making a short story long: … Continue reading What does it mean to be a chaplain?
I've been pondering why I don't see very much spiritual care happening for people with Alzheimer's and dementia. Despite research that seniors with dementia value and benefit from spiritual care, I haven't come across very many people or places that actually provide it. Why? There are probably numerous reasons, but I think the main disconnect … Continue reading Why is spiritual care for elders with dementia so rare?
Spiritual Eldercare 