Here with Us: A Parish Guide to Serving People with Dementia

Some of the most forgotten members of society are those who struggle to remember, speak, and understand. And yet people with dementia and their caregivers make up a substantial segment of many parishes around the world. How are parish communities called, as Christ's disciples, to help them? Here, Michael Swan looks past cultural assumptions and provides the latest information about this life-limiting illness to help parishes respond with effective programs and care. You will find useful information about: Simple, practical ideas and strategies; The key role volunteers play in compassionately caring for people with dementia; Ways your parish can reach out to the wider community for support. The Mass and the sacraments are gifts to be shared, Swan says. "Whenever the parishioner with dementia is included, then that gift is truly given and received by all. This is how your parish can be really present to those who feel the absence of the world they once knew." Book jacket.