While sitting in the church pew as a child, I couldn’t fully appreciate how learning hymns and prayers would have such an impact on so many aspects of my life. At a young age, the brain doesn’t appreciate the foundation those basics provide in challenging times of your life. I started thinking about that while sitting with my uncle on his couch in his home on the Cape. I wondered about his early days of learning and about how he would have answered questions about it. I wished I had thought to ask him about attending church in a small town far away from here. But I didn’t ask that question, and there were many others I wished I would have thought to ask as he drew more inside himself every day. Dementia lessened his ability to engage in the world around him. But I know that a strong spiritual foundation was equally important to us both. I also know that despite living with dementia, his desire to have a close relationship with our Lord and Savior did not change. He liked going to church; it had been a place of comfort for him. He had volunteered there for many years. His faith was important in his life and in preparing for death, even though he could no longer express that devotion without help.
But this holds true for anyone living with dementia. If faith has been an important part of their life, that desire to continue that relationship with God does not alter. What changes is the ability to express or communicate that desire. That is why Evening Star ™ Worship Ministry for Persons Living with Dementia was written. Christians believe we were built to be in a relationship with God and each other.
Evening Star™ combines knowledge of what changes are experienced in the brain with dementia and the use of repetition, rhythm, and validation of emotions to engage someone living with dementia. Utilizing stored memories of hymns such as “This Little Light of Mine” can provide powerful moments of connection. Prayers we have recited hundreds of times can be finished by a person even after dementia has caused them to become largely nonverbal. All it takes is a little cueing to get them started, and long, beautiful prayers can emerge or even a beautiful hymn sung.
Evening Star ™ Worship Ministry for Persons Living with Dementia is not just designed for professional clergy. It is an easy-to-use handbook for anyone to facilitate a worship service for persons living with dementia. Included in the handbook:
- Vital information about vision and language skills through the stages of dementia
- Loving advice and useful tips on how to interact as the disease progresses
- A spiritual activities section for shorter interactions as dementia progresses
- User-friendly instructions
- Complete spiritual modules, order of worship, and much more
When using Evening Star ™, I witnessed joy in a woman when she began singing “This Little Light of Mine.” After singing together, I began a prayer. She soon took over praying aloud. It was so clear to see the woman she has always been as she prayed for her family, her community, and those less fortunate than her. Moments like this are powerful. Dementia does not take away that kind of power.
Lois Thomas, BSN, RN
Dementia Specialist
Learn more about Evening Star™ at the link below.