Dementia Care
The books in this list offer both first-hand accounts of dementia, theological reflections, and dementia-friendly worship resources for congregations. If you’d like to learn more about dementia, see our resource guide.
Jarem Sawatsky, Dancing with Elephants: Mindfulness Training for Those Living with Dementia, Chronic Illness, or an Aging Brain (Red Canoe Press, 2017)
The author writes from the perspective of someone with Huntington’s disease, and shares stories from his own life along with spiritual practices and helpful tools for coming to terms with dementia or chronic illness.
John Swinton, Dementia: Living in the Memories of God (Eerdmans, 2012)
This book develops a practical theology of dementia for caregivers, people with dementia, ministers, hospital chaplains, and medical practitioners as the author explores two primary questions: Who am I when I’ve forgotten who I am? What does it mean to love God and be loved by God when I have forgotten who God is?
Kathy Fogg Berry, Robin Dill, Steven M. Glazer, Richard L. Morgan, and William B. Randolph, eds., Dementia-Friendly Worship: A Multifaith Handbook for Chaplains, Clergy, and Faith Communities (Jessica Kingsley, 2019)
This handbook by 45 different authors from diverse faith traditions provides practical help in developing services and creating dementia friendly faith communities. It gives an understanding of the cognitive, communicative and physical abilities of people with dementia and shows what chaplains, clergy and lay persons can do to engage them through worship.
John Swinton, Becoming Friends of Time: Disability, Timefullness, and Gentle Discipleship (Baylor University Press, 2018)
This book explores a theology of time as both a gift and a calling rather than a commodity. Time is a gift of God to humans, but is also a gift given back to God by humans. Swinton wrestles with critical questions that emerge from theological reflection on time and disability.
