God's Faithfulness and Dementia: Christian Theology in Context
Christian theology concerns the practical, contextual realities of life in the church and the world. What does this mean for a person with dementia? While much dementia care focuses on deficits, this article promotes a different starting point: God's faithfulness rather than our forgetfulness....
Main Author: | |
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Format: | Electronic Article |
Language: | English |
Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
Journals Online & Print: | |
Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
Published: |
Routledge
[2016]
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In: |
Journal of religion, spirituality & aging
Year: 2016, Volume: 28, Issue: 1/2, Pages: 50-67 |
Further subjects: | B
God's faithfulness
B Love B persons in relation B Trinitarian fellowship B Remembering B Dementia |
Online Access: |
Volltext (Verlag) |
Summary: | Christian theology concerns the practical, contextual realities of life in the church and the world. What does this mean for a person with dementia? While much dementia care focuses on deficits, this article promotes a different starting point: God's faithfulness rather than our forgetfulness. Using case studies from residential aged care, opportunities for meaningful pastoral care are explored, inviting us to see in the person with dementia a deep connection with ourselves. Drawn from a theological understanding of God as three personsFather, Son and Holy Spiritperson-centered care invites us into relationships of mutuality and reciprocity not dependent on words. Pastoral care of families is manifest through personal relationships where all aspects of dementia, including death and dying, can be discussed openly. Grounded in God's faithfulness, the first and final word is love. Hope lies in the belief that we have already been found. We are blessed by the grace of God, called into community where the insightful and the forgetful flourish together. |
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ISSN: | 1552-8049 |
Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal of religion, spirituality & aging
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Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1080/15528030.2015.1041669 |