If you're a chaplain or activities director at a senior community -- or if you have a loved one who lives there -- you might want to check out two new Spiritual ElderCare worship services for Palm Sunday and Good Friday (yes, just under the wire!), suitable for people with Alzheimer's and dementia. This is the … Continue reading Palm Sunday and Good Friday worship services for elders with dementia
It bears repeating: People with dementia aren’t “done.” They have led productive, valuable lives, and often they still love to help in whatever way they can—it's part of the human desire to feel needed and useful. "Letting" them help isn't about busywork, and your elder's usefulness isn't a fiction; tasks actually do need to be done, and … Continue reading How to help a person with Alzheimer’s feel useful
Sometimes people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias suddenly lash out in anger or break down hysterically. What should you do? Most of us aren’t that good at dealing with upset emotions and behaviors. And yes, they are upsetting. But I’ve found a few things that can help both you and your loved one. (If you … Continue reading What to do if a person with dementia becomes agitated
You’ll notice that in many of the worship services offered on this site, I include some kind of humorous story or jokes. In addition, during bible studies I often stop and point out amusing notes that pertain to the passage, like the stinky smell of sheep (Luke 15) or the image of the persistent widow […]
For many people now in eldercare settings, worshipping in community on Sunday was an inviolate tradition. It simply wouldn’t be Sunday without going to church! God is faithful to meet elders -- like the rest of us -- exactly where they're at. I believe that deep calls to deep (Psalm 42) as the Spirit communes … Continue reading Why — and how — to lead a memory-care worship service
Spiritual Eldercare 