Always With You

Workshops

Always With You: The Comfort of Spirituality in Dementia Workshop Topics

‘Always With You: The Comfort of Spirituality in Dementia,’ grew out of a series of workshops which are available as selected topics. All workshops are fine-tuned to meet the concerns of your specific group. I offer a variety of workshops to assist congregations, pastors and caregivers in understanding and meeting the spiritual and emotional needs of those living with a memory loss illness and their loved ones.

 1. What is the Comfort and Peace of Spirituality for Those Living in the World of Dementia?

In this foundational overview we will:

• See how Alzheimer’s/dementia physically and emotionally impact the lives of the one with the diagnosis and those who love and care for them.

• Understand how procedural memory is the physical home of a spiritual life.

• Learn ways to keep and tell the life story of the one who is ill through spiritual memory activities and as ways that comfort the challenging behaviors that arise.

• Value the grace of connecting to their reality rather than ours.

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2. Caregivers Giving and Receiving Care

Caring for a loved one with dementia is both pain and privilege, a benefit and burden. It is not a journey to be taken alone.

• We will look at common needs and concerns, and ways to find support.

• You will learn how empathy is the most significant and loving aspect of caregiving, and how it is balanced by the healthy boundaries of self-care that guard against the overstepping of physical, emotional, and spiritual capabilities.

3. Spiritual Needs Nearing the End-of-Life

There are unique spiritual needs when Alzheimer’s/ dementia becomes a final illness.

• Just as with any other final illness, the one who is ill still needs to know that their life had value, meaning and purpose.

• We will look at the common caregiver experience of mixed thoughts about the long good-bye as a relief and yet an emptiness.

• We will look at some practical ways to prepare for this time, and how that can bring a more peaceful end.

4. Caring as a Congregation

The church is called to take the idea of “a spiritual home” as far as it can go as faith communities can offer a welcome and loving range of spiritual and emotional support as well as the familiar rhythms of church life, serving as a place of safety, welcome, dignity, and belonging.

• You will learn some key concepts about memory loss illnesses and caring ways to respond at different stages of the disease process.

• We will look at ways to adapt and create worship services to be Alzheimer’s/dementia friendly and barrier-free.

• We will explore a variety of practical tips for faith communities to support those who are ill and their caregivers.

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5. In the Beginning: A Conversation for Those Newly Diagnosed
Getting to a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s/Dementia is complex personally and medically as that
answer then brings many questions, concerns, denial and uncertainty. There are care plans and
decisions to be made, loved ones to be told and lifestyles to adapt. Adjusting to the diagnosis and
planning for the currently inevitable disease progression are the primary spiritual needs in the
early stages as the future once planned is now changed.
In this workshop we will:

• Explore ways to create a roadmap for the future and focus on quality of life that honorsyou and your values

• Normalize the experience to help reduce fear.

• Provide actionable tools for memory, behavior, and daily living.

• Build a support network and connection with others in similar situations. 

6. In Sickness and in Health: A Conversation for Spouses
“Grow old with me, the best is yet to be,” the poet Robert Browning wrote. That is the image we
have of our years together on the day we take the marriage vows of for better, for worse, in
sickness and in health. When years later, Alzheimer’s/Dementia comes into the relationship, it
upends lives and plans and shatters expectations, it can impact on a marriage unlike any other
relationships as a lifetime shared together is no longer remembered together.
In this workshop we will look at:

• Ways a marriage can be impacted

• You know your spouse, unlike anyone else can

• Caring for yourself as a caregiver

• Planning for the future