Dementia and the Church: Memory, Care, and Inclusion

Mary McDaniel Cail calls upon extensive personal and professional experience to offer insight, context, and concrete guidance for congregations and leaders seeking to better serve the growing percentage of the population experiencing life with dementia. Churches have vital roles to play, Cail explains, in showing those living with the difficulties of dementia the "soul-quieting God" who promises we will never be forgotten. By recognizing and supporting the full humanity of all people, congregations and leaders can help both patients and caregivers live more fulfilling lives.Cail pairs poignant stories with practical advice for developing a holistic "memory ministry." Dementia and the Church includes detailed plans for congregational learning activities, advice on programming, and many resources, in addition to pragmatic information about dementia. A gifted storyteller, Cail crafts her prose with care and intention. Readers will develop "informed compassion," as Cail phrases it, learning how to accept, pray with, relieve, and comfort all who cope with these increasingly common challenges.Note: To find links to the book's online resources, visit the book page on the author's website and use the expandable chapter-by-chapter guide. Read more