scholarly journals When Mind and Memory Flee …: Hymns and ministry to people with dementia

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham D. S. Deans
Keyword(s):  
Geriatric Patients ◽  
Memory Loss ◽  
Hospital Chaplain ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Therapeutic Value ◽  
Worship Services ◽  
Part Time ◽  
Hymn Singing

Drawing on his experience as a part-time hospital Chaplain, Graham Deans reflects on how in worship services for geriatric patients, the singing of familiar hymns very often had the effect of restoring lucidity and comprehension to the minds of dementia sufferers affected by memory loss and confusion. His paper considers therapeutic value of hymn singing and looks in some detail at particular examples of hymns focussed on ageing and dementia.

A Ministry of Memory: Spiritual Care for the Older Adult With Dementia

2004 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 183-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon Fish Mooney
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Older Adult ◽  
Spiritual Care ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Elderly Persons ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Worship Services ◽  
Christian Worldview ◽  
Primary Focus ◽  
Progressive Cognitive Impairment

The primary focus of research related to spiritual and ministry needs of older people, historically and in the present, has been on those whose cognitive abilities are only minimally impaired. The older adult with a dementia like Alzheimer’s disease, however, has not received as much attention. This may be related to a lack of any theoretical framework from which to understand what may be happening to a markedly confused person spiritually, and how a person with progressive cognitive impairment might still be able to maintain a relationship with God and be ministered to by a God who may only be remembered vaguely, if at all. Elderly persons with dementia with a faith background rooted in the Judeo-Christian worldview are often able to respond to various rituals of their faith, verbally, physically, and emotionally. Common practices like familiar prayers, Bible readings, hymns, and attendance at worship services where collective memory is shared can serve as memory joggers to reconnect the person, not only to the faith community, but to a faithful God. A spiritual care ministry to older people with dementia can be considered a ministry of memory.

Evaluation of Alzheimer's Australia Vic Memory Lane Cafés

2010 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 246-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Briony Dow ◽  
Betty Haralambous ◽  
Courtney Hempton ◽  
Susan Hunt ◽  
Diane Calleja
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Memory Loss ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Human Research Ethics ◽  
People With Dementia

ABSTRACTBackground: This paper describes the evaluation of the Memory Lane Café service in Victoria, Australia. The Alzheimer's Australia Vic Memory Lane Café model aims to provide a social and educational service to people living with dementia and their carers, family members or friends. Dementia is a serious health issue in Australia, with prevalence estimated at 6.5% of people over 65 years of age. Living with dementia has significant social and psychological ramifications, often negatively affecting quality of life. Social support groups can improve quality of life for people living with dementia.Methods: The evaluation included focus groups and surveys of people with dementia and their carers, staff consultation, service provider interviews, and researcher observation. The Melbourne Health Mental Health Human Research Ethics Committee approved the project. Participants included people with dementia (aged 60 to 93 years, previously enrolled in the Alzheimer's Australia Vic's six-week Living With Memory Loss Program), their carers, friends and/or family members, staff working in the Cafés, and service providers with links to the Cafés.Results: This evaluation found that Memory Lane Cafés promote social inclusion, prevent isolation, and improve the social and emotional well-being of attendees. However, Cafés did not meet the needs of all potential attendees.Conclusions: The evaluation recommended that existing Café services be continued and possibilities for extending the Cafés be explored. Based on evaluation outcomes, the Department of Health Victoria is funding four additional pilot programs in café style support services.

scholarly journals Explaining the effects of symptom attribution by carers on help-seeking for individuals living with dementia

Dementia ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 375-387 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Feldman ◽  
Jane Wilcock ◽  
Ingela Thuné-Boyle ◽  
Steve Iliffe
Keyword(s):  
General Practice ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Memory Loss ◽  
Behavioural Symptoms ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviour ◽  
Symptom Attribution

This study investigated the effects of carer attributions on help-seeking behaviour for people with dementia using interviews with 84 carers recruited through general practice. Memory loss was the most commonly reported first symptom but psychological and behavioural symptoms were also common at onset. In over a third of individuals help-seeking was delayed for a mean of 25 months (range 6–69, SD 19.3). Help-seeking between those who attributed symptoms to dementia, or to unknown causes, and those who attributed symptoms to personality, ageing, life events or other illnesses was statistically significant ( p < 0.001). No statistically significant associations between help-seeking and patient or carer characteristics were found. There is a need to raise public awareness about the range of symptoms suggestive of dementia. Assumptions that age and other conditions may be the likely cause of an individual’s cognitive decline needs to be challenged by practitioners. Attribution of symptoms to characteristics other than dementia delays help-seeking.

scholarly journals Stress in the Volunteer Caregiver: Human-Centric Technology Can Support Both Caregivers and People with Dementia

Medicina ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 56 (6) ◽  
pp. 257
Author(s):  
Barbara Huelat ◽  
Sharon T. Pochron
Keyword(s):  
New Technologies ◽  
Medication Management ◽  
Memory Loss ◽  
Resource Network ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
The People ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Home Based ◽  
Stress Burden

Background and Objectives: Currently, one in eight people over the age of 65 have dementia, and approximately 75% of caregiving is provided by volunteer family members with little or no training. This study aimed to quantify points of stress for home-based caregivers with the aim of reducing stress for them while concurrently supporting quality of life for the people with dementia whom they cared for. The overreaching purpose was to increase our knowledge of the caregiver stress burden and explore potential technologies and behaviors to ease it. Materials and Methods: We interviewed home-based and professional caregivers regarding causes of emotional and physical stress and methods they used to alleviate it. Results: This study found that: (1) dementia symptoms created a burden of stress for home-based caregivers primarily in the areas of medication management, memory loss, hygiene care and disruptive behaviors; (2) home-based caregivers identified “finding available resources” as the most important source of stress relief; (3) a minority of home-based caregivers possessed a resource network and knew how to find resources but all professional caregivers were able to find resources and support; (4) home-based caregivers combated dementia symptoms with positive distractions and human touch with little use of technology, since it was mostly unknown; and (5) facility-based caregivers were knowledgeable and readily used dementia-based technology. Conclusion: Since professional caregivers have access to technological resources that our home-based caregivers lack, one might logically conclude that we should transfer technology used by professionals to those with dementia. However, great caution needs to be in place before we take that step. Successful technology should address the human experience as home-based caregivers try to use new technologies. Human-centric technology addresses the needs of both people with dementia and the home-based caregiver.

Exploring Boundaries to the Benefits of Lifelogging for Identity Maintenance for People with Dementia

2016 ◽  
pp. 213-227
Author(s):  
Paulina Piasek ◽  
Kate Irving ◽  
Alan F. Smeaton
Keyword(s):  
New Technologies ◽  
Memory Loss ◽  
Digital Camera ◽  
Identity Maintenance ◽  
Image Recording ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Number Of Factors ◽  
Descriptive Approach ◽  
Person With Dementia

In the absence of a medical cure for some forms of memory loss caused by dementia, new technologies specialised in pervasive image recording are being incorporated into practical interventions. Lifelogging is the digital capture of life experiences typically using mobile devices such as SenseCam. This lightweight wearable digital camera passively captures up to 3,000 images a day. Lifelogging results in personal, recent visual prompts, potentially encouraging the sharing of personal memories. The authors' research investigated the incorporation of lifelogging technology into a therapeutic approach to support people with dementia by using the case study method, an exploratory and descriptive approach. SenseCam therapy aimed to stimulate the cognition of a person with dementia, with maintenance of their personal identity as its primary goal. There is limited literature on practical recommendations on how to use lifelogging devices and their effect on people with dementia. The results from the authors' research indicate a number of factors that should be considered when using lifelogging technology with people with dementia. This paper explores the boundaries to the benefits of using lifelogging technology for identity maintenance in dementia. Implications of not working within these boundaries show clear potential for risk of undermining the human rights and potentially the wellbeing of people with dementia.

Seven Capacities of Music That Underpin its Therapeutic Value in Dementia Care

2019 ◽  
pp. 41-64
Author(s):  
Olivia Brancatisano ◽  
William Forde Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Dementia Care ◽  
Integrative Model ◽  
Levels Of Analysis ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Memory Recall ◽  
Therapeutic Benefits ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Therapeutic Value ◽  
Neurological Conditions ◽  
Multiple Levels

Music is often employed as a therapeutic tool for individuals with dementia, facilitating memory recall, fluent speech and recovery of other cognitive and noncognitive abilities. There are several current discussions of the mechanisms that underlie these therapeutic effects, but no integrative model that can account for the benefits of music on multiple levels of analysis. Thompson and Schlaug (2015) proposed that seven capacities of music may be especially relevant to its therapeutic value for a range of neurological conditions; namely, that music is persuasive, engaging, emotional, personal, physical, and social, and that it encourages synchronization in rhythm and pitch. This chapter elaborates on this model by considering how each of these seven attributes of music has therapeutic benefits for people with dementia.

Illustrating dementia

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 241-250
Author(s):  
Nigel Smith
Keyword(s):  
Subjective Experience ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Memory Loss ◽  
Care Staff ◽  
Community Arts ◽  
The Past ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Self Worth ◽  
Past Life ◽  
Scholarly Discourse

Debate about dementia commonly elicits horror and despair. Yet, dementia is a syndrome of many distinct brain disorders. While progression is expected, memory scores are highly variable in dementia. Illustration plays a part by emphasizing the shrivelled brain of advanced Alzheimer’s. Texts typically refer to wasting in the Alzheimer’s brain although it is selective and may be absent in some cases. Scans emphasize the anatomy of dementia rather than its variability and potential for relearning. Zombies have become associated with symptoms of dementia in both scholarly discourse and popular conversation. A combination of these metaphors and the implication of ‘brainless behaviour’ may contribute to the stigma around dementia and ‘malignant practices’ reported among care staff, such as mockery and disparagement, which disempower people with dementia. However, people with dementia can describe their own experience. An increasing number of memoirs, blogs and podcasts explore the subjective experience of living with dementia. Art by people with dementia reveals persistent creativity and may help them to retain a sense of identity and self-worth. My animated documentary, Mute, illustrates the past life of ‘Frank’, a man with advanced dementia. The technique of charcoal reduction, with its subtle residue of past images, is a metaphor for the selective memory loss typical of Alzheimer’s dementia. The theme of animation therapy in mental health and community arts has gained support in recent years. I discuss the scope for co-produced animations by people who have dementia and the skills required by arts health workers in this field.

Electronic memory aids for people with dementia experiencing prospective memory loss: A review of empirical studies

Dementia ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 1994-2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra C King ◽  
Corinna Dwan
Keyword(s):  
Prospective Memory ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Memory Loss ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Memory Aids ◽  
Software Applications ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Further Development

This paper details a review of the literature on the use of electronic aids for prospective memory for people with dementia. Key findings of the review are that: electronic memory aids show potential for supporting people’s prospective memory but the devices and software applications need further development in order to function reliably; sample sizes of studies are often very small, limiting the generalisability of their findings; few studies of devices are conducted in users’ home environments; and most of the studies focus on the effectiveness of the electronic memory aid, rather than outcomes for users, such as improved daily functioning, quality of life, or social connectedness. The review concludes that future studies with robust devices are required that explicitly focus on the varying needs and capacities of people with dementia, in order to generate additional evidence for the effectiveness of electronic memory aids for this cohort.

Why caregivers of people with dementia and memory loss don't use services

2005 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 537-546 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henry Brodaty ◽  
Cathy Thomson ◽  
Claire Thompson ◽  
Michael Fine
Keyword(s):  
Memory Loss ◽  
People With Dementia

Pakistan

2019 ◽  
pp. 61-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Nasar Sayeed Khan ◽  
Muhammad Iqbal Afridi ◽  
Afzel Javed
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Life Expectancy ◽  
Memory Loss ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
World Health ◽  
Average Life Expectancy ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Number Of Individuals

Pakistan is one of the largest and most populated nations of South Asia and ranked sixth among the most crowded countries in the world, with a population exceeding 196 million. Because of a lack of research and the cultural setting, it is exceptionally hard to obtain an exact number of individuals suffering from dementia. However, the extrapolated prevalence of people with dementia in Pakistan is around 200,000. Compared to developed countries, only 4.2% of the Pakistani population are aged above 65 years, possibly due to an average life expectancy of 66 years for both genders . Although no specific data on elderly people with dementia in Pakistan are available, it is estimated that 8–10% of the general population aged above 65 years suffer from chronic memory loss. According to the latest 2014 World Health Organization data, Alzheimer’s disease/dementia-related deaths in Pakistan reached a total of 1776 or 0.16% of total deaths. Pakistan currently has the largest generation of young people ever recorded in its history, who will be at risk for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease by 2050, at which time, life expectancy would be expected to continue rising. Thus, the economic burden of treating patients with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia will increase considerably.

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