The Leveson Centre for the Study of Ageing,
Spirituality and Social Policy
The Wells of Life
moments of worship with people with dementia – suggestions for
action
Gaynor Hammond and Jackie Treetops, Faith in Elderly People, Leeds,
26 pages, £4.00.
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resources from the Leveson Centre
Review by Alison Johnson (Centre Consultant)
Gaynor Hammond and Jackie Treetops have considerable experience of
working with people with dementia – Gaynor as a nurse and project
worker concerned with spiritual needs and Jackie as a priest. This
booklet is written from their concern that people with dementia are
primarily people and despite their illness have the same spiritual
needs as any other members of the community. The overall theme of
the booklet is to look at moments of worship with people who have
dementia and how these moments bring added quality to life.
The booklet begins with a consideration of spirituality and looks
at the way in which people with dementia live in the moment. This
is illustrated by the story of a lady whose face shone with delight
during the celebration of her birthday with family and friends –
but the next day complained that no one ever visited her! This is
followed by practical advice on acts of worship with illustrations
from the seasons of the year and details of the Memory Box reminiscence
work and the development of Friendship Groups which are the hallmarks
of Faith in Elderly People.
A concluding chapter which will be of great value to relatives, staff
and Christian visitors explores the question of forgiveness and absolution
in relation to people with dementia and their carers.
Some readers may be irritated by the mixture of first and third person
narrative but this does not detract from the moving and inspirational
accounts of the ministry both authors have carried out in Leeds nor
from the helpful suggestions and advice they offer to anyone concerned
with the spiritual needs of people with dementia who is asked to conduct
services of worship or be pastorally involved with them.
Alison Johnson (Centre Consultant)
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by the Leveson Centre
