Advice

INSIGHT

How does dementia affect faith?

A new research study in Wolverhampton may provide insight into how churches can help Alzheimer patients and their carers. LAURENCE DOPSON reports

A lot of people have dementia. Of those over 60 years old, 5% have Alzheimer’s disease. For those over the age of 81 the proportion is even higher – 20% or one in five.

Anyone can be affected. Novelist Iris Murdoch lost her memory and her ability to communicate, as her husband, Professor John Bailey, portrayed vividly in his books on her experience which were made into an epic film, Iris, starring Dame Judi Dench and Kate Winslet. President Ronald Reagan wrote movingly of going into the sunset of his life when he was diagnosed with dementia.

What effect does Alzheimer’s have on the individual’s spirituality? What if he or she is or has been a church or chapel goer? What effect does it have on the relative who becomes the patient’s care-giver, whose life is completely dominated and who can feel very isolated and unsupported?

Research into this aspect of dementia is being carried out in Wolverhampton this year, thanks to the legacy of Moira Low, who had seen Alzheimer’s in her grandmother and mother, and founded the Wolverhampton branch of the Alzheimer’s Society. It is based in the Memory Clinic at Penn Hospital, Wolverhampton, and is due to start in March.

“What we are interested to see is, first of all, what is the spectrum of belief, because no one has looked at that in a Memory Clinic population, and how does the patient’s spirituality compare with the carer’s?” said Professor David Jolley, of Wolverhampton University. “We do not know whether dementia will dampen or in some way distort the spirituality of the patient. Our assumption is that the carer’s (faith) will not be altered, but will have their usual feelings and beliefs.”

The literature on health and faith is now considerable and, David said, it consistently shows that people who have strong spiritual beliefs usually remain healthier and, when they have problems, have a personal structure that helps them to cope.

“Sometimes they get good support from their church or the equivalent,” he added. “The (question) is – is that actually happening?”

The study is likely to involve about 120 patients and 120 carers. In addition it will inquire into local faith leaders’ understanding and views of dementia. He explained: “The hope, and expectation, is this will yield deeper insights into individual experiences and guide us to better patterns of care for our patients, perhaps in closer cooperation with the faith communities.”

Everyone who comes to the Memory Clinic is being told about the research. The patients who will be invited to take part are those who appear to still have quite good memory functions and communication skills, and whose consultant feels they will be able to cope. Taking part is, of course, entirely voluntary throughout, and confidential.

“We will be approaching basically a patient-carer duo,” David added. “One of the things we want to do is use the same questionnaires for patient and carer.”

The questionnaire will look at health and quality of life. In addition about 25 patients and carers will be interviewed. Carers include husbands and wives, daughters and sons, and, occasionally, sisters, brothers, nieces and friends. The results of the research should be available by the Autumn

“We know there are some excellent practices in churches,” David added. “Some are very positive towards their people, as they grow older. But I am afraid our sense is that these are exceptional, and that there are many churches that are less confident and less positive in their responses to people.

“Part of what we need to do is find what our responsibility is towards the faith communities, in providing education and support for them, and whether or not the churches and their ministers would be receptive to that.

“We are hoping, of course, to equip ourselves to work better amongst the clergy, and to encourage them to feel they can work with us. At the moment the worlds tend to be rather separate. But I think much more could be done in collaboration, as part of what I hope we can achieve.”

People developing dementia retain their memory of the past longer than their memory of the present. One Brethren lady maintained her knowledge of the meeting place, although she could not remember what day it was, and therefore asked to go to the services. Where religion has played a big part in people’s lives, the underlying memory – the rituals, hymns and choruses – remain, despite the dementia. The atmosphere can be quietly recreated for them.

“Music and movement, such as dance, can often get through when ordinary words can’t,” David added. “One great sadness at the moment is that a relatively smaller group of people are spending their youth learning the rituals and becoming at ease with these songs.”

For helpful info and advice: www.alzheimers.org.uk/

Laurence Dopson is a freelance journalist based in Somerset

© Christian Family Network
is run by CPO, supported by
Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting,
Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.


		INSIGHT How does dementia affect faith? A new research study in Wolverhampton may provide insight into how churches can help Alzheimer patients and their carers. LAURENCE DOPSON reports A lot of people have dementia. Of those over 60 years old, 5% have Alzheimer’s disease. For those over the age of 81 the proportion is even higher – 20% or one in five. Anyone can be affected. Novelist Iris Murdoch lost her memory and her ability to communicate, as her husband, Professor John Bailey, portrayed vividly in his books on her experience which were made into an epic film, Iris, starring Dame Judi Dench and Kate Winslet. President Ronald Reagan wrote movingly of going into the sunset of his life when he was diagnosed with dementia. What effect does Alzheimer’s have on the individual’s spirituality? What if he or she is or has been a church or chapel goer? What effect does it have on the relative who becomes the patient’s care-giver, whose life is completely dominated and who can feel very isolated and unsupported? Research into this aspect of dementia is being carried out in Wolverhampton this year, thanks to the legacy of Moira Low, who had seen Alzheimer’s in her grandmother and mother, and founded the Wolverhampton branch of the Alzheimer’s Society. It is based in the Memory Clinic at Penn Hospital, Wolverhampton, and is due to start in March. “What we are interested to see is, first of all, what is the spectrum of belief, because no one has looked at that in a Memory Clinic population, and how does the patient’s spirituality compare with the carer’s?” said Professor David Jolley, of Wolverhampton University. “We do not know whether dementia will dampen or in some way distort the spirituality of the patient. Our assumption is that the carer’s (faith) will not be altered, but will have their usual feelings and beliefs.” The literature on health and faith is now considerable and, David said, it consistently shows that people who have strong spiritual beliefs usually remain healthier and, when they have problems, have a personal structure that helps them to cope. “Sometimes they get good support from their church or the equivalent,” he added. “The (question) is – is that actually happening?” The study is likely to involve about 120 patients and 120 carers. In addition it will inquire into local faith leaders’ understanding and views of dementia. He explained: “The hope, and expectation, is this will yield deeper insights into individual experiences and guide us to better patterns of care for our patients, perhaps in closer cooperation with the faith communities.” Everyone who comes to the Memory Clinic is being told about the research. The patients who will be invited to take part are those who appear to still have quite good memory functions and communication skills, and whose consultant feels they will be able to cope. Taking part is, of course, entirely voluntary throughout, and confidential. “We will be approaching basically a patient-carer duo,” David added. “One of the things we want to do is use the same questionnaires for patient and carer.” The questionnaire will look at health and quality of life. In addition about 25 patients and carers will be interviewed. Carers include husbands and wives, daughters and sons, and, occasionally, sisters, brothers, nieces and friends. The results of the research should be available by the Autumn “We know there are some excellent practices in churches,” David added. “Some are very positive towards their people, as they grow older. But I am afraid our sense is that these are exceptional, and that there are many churches that are less confident and less positive in their responses to people. “Part of what we need to do is find what our responsibility is towards the faith communities, in providing education and support for them, and whether or not the churches and their ministers would be receptive to that. “We are hoping, of course, to equip ourselves to work better amongst the clergy, and to encourage them to feel they can work with us. At the moment the worlds tend to be rather separate. But I think much more could be done in collaboration, as part of what I hope we can achieve.” People developing dementia retain their memory of the past longer than their memory of the present. One Brethren lady maintained her knowledge of the meeting place, although she could not remember what day it was, and therefore asked to go to the services. Where religion has played a big part in people’s lives, the underlying memory – the rituals, hymns and choruses – remain, despite the dementia. The atmosphere can be quietly recreated for them. “Music and movement, such as dance, can often get through when ordinary words can’t,” David added. “One great sadness at the moment is that a relatively smaller group of people are spending their youth learning the rituals and becoming at ease with these songs.” For helpful info and advice: www.alzheimers.org.uk/ Laurence Dopson is a freelance journalist based in Somerset © Christian Family Network is run by CPO, supported by Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting, Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.