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Home/Service & Outreach/Ministry to those with Alzheimer’s Disease

Ministry to those with Alzheimer’s Disease

 

Godly Play and Memories

My mother has Alzheimer’s. We recently moved her to a nursing home where she could receive the 24-hour-a-day care she needed in order to be safe. So I was particularly interested in a workshop led by The Rev. Lois Howard, Deacon at a recent Christian Education Day in Lexington, Kentucky. Lois has a ministry of presence and relationship with folks who have dementia. And she brings Godly Play to them.

A certified Godly Play trainer, Lois is a remarkable woman with insight and passion for the Story – God’s Story and the stories of those who have lost their recent memories. She speaks of sitting alongside them, holding their hands, and offering a hug or two. Weekly she brings Godly Play to nursing homes to awaken their “religious” memories.

Religious rituals seem to be embedded deeply in the brain. Lois refers to these as “ritual memories.” They include Bible stories, scripture verses, songs and hymns learned as children. Using the figures from Godly Play seem to trigger memories from these people and they love to hold them and touch the multi-sensory materials.

Principles for Ministry to People with Dementia

People with dementia, even advanced dementia, still possess six things (regardless of cognition):

  1. Value
  2. A name they prefer
  3. Feelings
  4. A spirit
  5. A life story
  6. The present moment

Alzheimer’s Disease was first described by German physician Alois Alzheimer in 1906. Every 71 seconds someone develops Alzheimer’s; there are currently 5.2 million people living with some form of Alzheimer’s in the United States. And the number is growing, especially as Baby Boomers age.

My mother sings hymns from time to time, as well as some golden oldies such as “I love you truly” and “Ain’t She Sweet.” I think I’ll bring the Parable of the Good Shepherd with me on an upcoming visit. Perhaps she and her new friends at the nursing home will enjoy remembering a story of God’s love.

 


Sharon Ely Pearson is a 30+ year Christian formation veteran, currently serving as an editor and the Christian Formation Specialist for Church Publishing Incorporated. Wife, mother, grandmother, and author, she enjoys connecting people with each other and the resources they need for growing in the knowledge and love of Jesus.

 

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August 16, 2011 By Sharon Ely Pearson

Filed Under: Disability & Inclusion, Service & Outreach, Service & Outreach Popular Tagged With: adults, Alzheimer's disease, elderly, Godly Play, special needs

About Sharon Ely Pearson

Sharon Ely Pearson recently retired as Editor & Christian Formation Specialist with Church Publishing Incorporated (CPI) with 35+ years of experience in Christian formation on the local, judicatory, and church-wide level. Known for her knowledge of the variety of published curricula across the Church, she has also had her hand in the birthing of numerous books, including the best-seller, Call on Me: A Prayer Book for Young People and the 6-book series of Faithful Celebrations: Making Time for God. A graduate of Virginia Theological Seminary (2003) and a lifelong Episcopalian, she lives in Norwalk, Connecticut with her husband John, a 17.5 lb. cat named Shadow, and Chobe, a 7-year-old, tennis-ball-fetching, rescue black lab. They have two adult children (both teachers) and a 5-year-old granddaughter who is a budding environmental activist. Follow her at www.rowsofsharon.com.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Brook Packard

    August 16, 2011 at 12:06 pm

    so important – thank you for posting.

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