In the Diocese of Lichfield, we have various resources which we are using with churches, to help them become more dementia-friendly churches at the heart of dementia-friendly communities. We’re glad to share these resources – and they are available for anyone to download/use.
- Diocese of Lichfield Overview of Dementia-friendly Church - Embarking, Embedding, Extending booklet
- Dementia-Friendly Churches Audit
- Passport of Spiritual Connections
- Memory Boxes
- Dementia & Spirituality booklet
- Fridge Info - An overview of key practical contacts and information for people affected by dementia
- Dementia Coordinator in Local Churches
- Dementia-Friendly Churches Certificate
- Dementia-Friendly Churches Affirmation by David Richardson
- Care Home dementia-friendly service and notes, with or without communion – from Rev Vic Van Den Bergh (now retired)
Dementia-friendly Services
- Singing from the Heart dementia-friendly service
- Boats and Staying Afloat dementia-friendly service
- Fruitfulness and Harvest dementia-friendly service
- Strength for the Journey dementia-friendly service and slides.
And the following services raising awareness about dementia
- Head to Heart – service using 'Head to Heart' video resource (see below) held at All Saints, Kings Heath, Birmingham
- Format of Songs of Praise Service Raising Awareness, using three different pictures to explore dementia and spirituality
Prayers
- Prayer for people affected by dementia
- Prayer for people facing unchosen challenges
- Share a Prayer through Dementia – 2023 Dementia Action Week Prayers from our dementia-friendly churches network
- Prayer for our churches
Diocese of Lichfield video resources on dementia
We have a suite of videos which are only available to churches participating in our Diocese of Lichfield Dementia-Friendly Churches Network:
- Our four-session 'Dementia-friendly Churches' course in bite-sized chunks and a sister/fifth session on 'Dementia & Spirituality' – this is a suite of 22 videos and these notes give an overview of the contents of these videos.
- Four excerpts from Su Parker Hallcroft’s play The Disappearance of Eliza Grey, each about five minutes long, giving a different way in to exploring some key issues about dementia/life.
If join the Dementia-Friendly Churches Network, you are welcome to ask for access to these resources. Further, there is an open invitation to anyone within and beyond the Network to contact Hazel Twig Collective to discuss the possibility of staging a performance of 'The Disappearance of Eliza Grey'.
- Dementia Action Week 2023 – Bishop Michael and “Praying from the Heart”
- Revd Sam Johnson's presentation, describing his exploration of the interplay from studying spirituality, theology (and how to be a vicar) alongside his expereinces of working with those living with dementia:
- From 2019 - Ellesmere became the first Dementia-friendly Deanery:
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From 2020, “Dementia-Friendly Churches – the story so far in Lichfield Diocese”
- Also from 2020, a video giving the national perspective of the growth of dementia-friendly churches across the UK. (Both videos were sponsored by Staffordshire University).
- From 2020 Dementia-Friendly Churches Training Day, Bishop Michael focuses on the three themes of “listening, participating and learning” in this 10-minute video:
- From the October 2020 Dementia-Friendly Churches Training Day, opening 45-minute session giving an overview of our work, as well as sharing Clive and Barbara Rogers’ experience of dementia and giving headlines of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on people with dementia, and also including Bishop Michael’s words:
Other video resources on dementia
- 'Head to Heart: Shared Family Reflections on Living Through Dementia' – Sarah Thorpe’s family’s lived experience of dementia – with accompanying blog and endorsement from Rev Professor John Swinton - there’s a choice of viewing the whole video, which is about half an hour long, or viewing an individual free-standing section, perhaps a 3-minute clip.
- 'The World Turned Upside Down', a film about communication around dementia, inviting reflection on why and how conversations go badly or work well and what helps maintain good conversations, with accompanying screening pack.
- Christine Bryden, who lives with dementia, gives an insider’s perspective on what you can do to help a person with dementia.
- Henry in a Nursing home responding to music.
- Gladys Wilson responding to touch and singing.