Joy Schmidt, Dementia Care Specialist, Dane County
There is a worldwide movement to make our communities Dementia Friendly. A dementia friendly community is a place where individuals with dementia are able to live good, comfortable lives. Where they have the ability to live as independently as possible and continue to be engaged in their community. It is also a place where they are met with patience and understanding and given support when necessary.
Many churches in Wisconsin are joining the movement. “It became harder for us to go to church as his behavior changed, I was embarrassed,” said a caregiver of a person living with dementia. Churches are typically places where people are accepting, kind, compassionate and caring. They are safe places where we can practice our beliefs without criticism and feel supported by others. So, why would we need to become, “Dementia Friendly?” As the individual living with dementia changes, there can be a lack of understanding by those around them. As the person loses the ability to filter what they say and there is a loss of understanding of social norms, sometimes people start to pull away.
“We’ve lost our friends. They don’t feel comfortable around him anymore. I’m really alone now.” This is what we hear from many caregivers, especially spouses. Providing the day-to-day care of a spouse or loved one living with memory loss, Alzheimer’s disease and other cognitive disorders, is extremely difficult. Caregivers are often worn out and saddened by the losses they experience daily in the person they love. This can be compounded by the loss of social supports when they can no longer go to church or other places they enjoy due to the challenges for the individual. Dementia Friendly Churches are educating their staff, volunteers and members about what dementia might look like and how they might better support the members of their congregation who are experiencing this. Being a Dementia Friendly church also means taking steps to increase the level of support for people with dementia and their caregivers, as well as improving signage in the church to help people who might be confused.
In Dane County alone, 26 churches have become Dementia Friendly. Each church makes its own good faith determination of whether it has met the criteria to call itself a Dementia Friendly church. If you would like more information about how to join this movement, contact your county’s Aging & Disability Resource Center and ask for the Dementia Care Specialist.