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The Challenge of Our Age: Dementia and the Church

Tuesday January 27 2015

The number of people with dementia in Scotland is forecast to rise by 75 per cent in the next 25 years. Jackie Macadam discovers some of the Church of Scotland projects trying to help.

NO-ONE wants to think about developing dementia, but most of us know someone who has developed the condition.

Though a great deal of research is going into treating and preventing the condition, for those diagnosed with it now or caring for someone who is affected, there are lots of initiatives to help turn a potentially frightening existence into living as fully as possible.

For many, one of the places they turn to first is their local church – and many are in the forefront of not only catering to those in their congregations who have been diagnosed, but also in looking towards the future and making their churches more accessible to people with dementia.

The Rev Barbara Sweetin, minister of East and Old Parish Church in Forfar, says she has always believed that the church should be at the heart of the community it serves.

“After arriving in Forfar I noticed that there seemed to be a high percentage of people with dementia, and I asked one of my elders, Pat Brodie, who worked for Alzheimer Scotland, if that was the case.

“Pat explained that Forfar was an ageing community and most of the people in the six local nursing homes and those attending the two day care units were people with Alzheimer’s and dementia.

The church is involved in several projects geared towards helping those with the diagnosis of dementia and their carers.

“Every Monday we hold ‘The Music Café’ where we sing old hymns, old Scottish songs, favourite songs from the musicals and many, many others.

“One congregation member who felt she couldn’t do much in the church volunteered to play the piano for us – and now only misses the club when she’s on holiday, so it’s been a great way of involving the whole church.

“Every second Friday we have ‘The Friday Fling’ where we have old style dancing and ceilidh dancing plus some modern favourites – like the Birdie Dance! It doesn’t matter if people actually dance – some just walk around the floor to the music – but it really doesn’t matter.

“I think I've been most surprised by the way that God is in the moment when we are working. It is all about being right there and present when working with those with dementia – and finding God in the here and now, even just in the tiny ways we can help.”

In Glasgow, St Andrew’s East church also have a raised awareness of dementia and the ways the church can make a real difference in the community.

There, the Rev Barbara Quigley says they are conscious that care homes normally provide a total package – care, social interaction and all their personal needs, but St Andrew’s East is trying to offer a chance to keep in touch with the outside.

“We have a dozen volunteers, mainly retired people,” she says. “We operate what is effectively a ‘youth club’ for the elderly, called ‘The Granary’.

“This kind of club has been a vision of mine for over 10 years, since I was a locum at Whitfield in Dundee.

“I guess my ultimate vision – maybe just a pipe dream, but still a dream – would be to create a purpose built centre with professional staff who could carry on what we’re doing. Maybe some day.”

The Scottish Government is also working towards dealing with the expected rise in cases of dementia as the population ages.

Since 2012, every health board must have a dedicated dementia nurse specialist to take the lead on driving up standards and improving the quality of life for people with dementia, their carers and their families within general hospitals.

CrossReach, the Church of Scotland’s social care arm, were the first care provider in Scotland to ensure at least one Dementia Ambassador is in place in every service they operate.

Pamela Mackay, a specialist Dementia Development Co-ordinator for CrossReach, says: “There are currently around 88,000 people living with a diagnosis of dementia in Scotland. Population changes would imply that in the next 25 years, the population with dementia is liable to increase by 75%.

“My role is very interesting, and very challenging at times. At CrossReach we are conscious that as we move into an era of people with dementia rightly becoming more and more involved in driving the provision of care today and in the future, we want to be an organisation that provides professionals on tap – not on top, because that’s where the people with dementia must be.”

This is an abridged article from February's Life and Work. Subscribe here.

Further reading:

How a partnership between a CrossReach care home and a Gaelic school is raising awareness and supporting people with dementia

An innovative project helping people with dementia express themselves through art

Dementia charity's pilot set to reach across Scotland