Training Days - Dementia and Spirituality
There is a growing awareness of the spiritual needs of people with dementia and their families and of the need for them to be welcomed and included in the parish community. The DVD training resource ‘It's still ME, Lord', was launched in October 2009 and as part of the next stage of the project Caritas Social Action Network organised a series of training workshops aimed at those involved in ministry and outreach for people with dementia and their carers. The first series of training days took place in Spring 2010 at several locations across the country.
The workshops were linked to the objectives of the National Dementia Strategy to raise awareness and understanding of dementia. During the course of the day, as well as looking at person centred approaches to the care and support of people with dementia, attendees explored ways in which parishes and deaneries may develop as communities of welcome, effective ministry, and support for carers and families.
The workshops were intended to be of interest to a wide range of people with responsibility for the pastoral care of people with dementia and their families, including:
- Diocesan, Deanery and Parish leads for pastoral care for people with dementia.
- Marriage and Family Life Coordinators.
- Hospital and Care Home chaplains.
- Carers and Co-ordinators of Carer Support groups.
The learning outcomes of the workshop supported a number of qualifications, for example optional units of NVQs in Health and Social Care. Further details are available on request. The objectives of the workshops were that each participant should leave with an understanding of the following:
- The onset and course of dementia.
- Working with the person rather than the dementia - a strengths-based approach.
- Pastoral Care for people with advancing dementia - communication skills and good practice in Eucharistic ministry.
- Understanding and meeting the spiritual needs of carers and families.
- Parishes and Deaneries as communities of welcome - examples of good practice, for example outreach to care homes.
- Developing an action plan in working with people with dementia and their families.
The workshops were facilitated by Ben Bano, of Telos Training Ltd. Ben is a trainer in Spirituality and Dementia as well as being a Eucharistic Minister. He produced the recent DVD ‘It's still ME, Lord'. A guest speaker to contribute to particular parts of the program will also participate. Click here for Ben Bano's biography.
Where do we from here? What are our next steps as a parish or deanery? As a follow-up to the DVD 'It's still ME, Lord...' and the training workshops on dementia and spirituality, CSAN and Ben Bano have produced a guide for facilitators of parish and deanery discussions on the subject. Click here to download the guide.
