An audience of 150 family and professional caregivers heard from renowned Christian author and recognized authority on faithful aging, Missy Buchanan, on Tuesday at the Great Hall of First Presbyterian Church in Fort Worth. She keynoted the inaugural Spirituality and Dementia Symposium presented by the James L. West Center for Dementia Care.
Ms. Buchanan kicked off the event with her message, “Building Community in the Wilderness,” which emphasized the difficult experiences that families face when a loved one develops dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
“If there’s one thing I want people to take home today is the ‘Imago Dei’ – that every person is made in the Image of God,” said Ms. Buchanan. “Even when their brain may not function as it once did, even when they have terrible days, they are still made in the image of God. That, in turn, helps us see how to react so we can build a relationship with them.”n
Following the keynote, attendees heard from faith experts (members of the clergy) and dementia authorities who shared insights on successful ways to care for and love someone facing dementia.
One of the most compelling points was, “Someone with dementia is a person to love, not a problem to be solved.” Additional insights included:
· Loved ones experiencing dementia may show temporary improvements, but their condition will deteriorate rather than improve
· It’s important to love the person with dementia even though their actions may make them less lovable
· Adult children are often in denial of the dementia condition or are passive participants, saddened to see the decline of their loved one
“We created this event to help caregivers and family members realize that faith plays a very significant role in the dementia journey,” says Cheryl Harding, Ph.D., President/CEO of The West Center. “Most families experience a heightened presence of God as they travel along the road of dementia, and many have questions about how faith and dementia interconnect. This symposium provided some timely insights and answers.”
The presenters included Reverend Danny Mack; Dr. Jacquetta Chambers; Rev. Elizabeth Boulware; Gilbert Marez, PhD., Senior Pastor, Camino de Par Christian Church; Jaime Cobb Tinsley, Vice President of Dementia & Caregiver Education at the James L. West Center for Dementia Care; and Hollie Glover, LPC, Director of Education & Family Support Service at James L. West.
All attendees received a free dementia and brain health guide. This resource is also available as a bilingual (English/Spanish) e-book (Website: https://www.jameslwest.org/education/dementia-and-caregiver-education/).
