Wellness Domains
Spiritual, Emotional
Description
It is estimated that 80% of the spiritual needs of long term care residents are met by the activity professional. This program will guide the person with dementia to connect with their faith through objects, music and other religious symbols and artifacts.
Different spiritual preference memory boxes/books are needed for each religious affiliation.
Instructions
1. Artifacts to use in a tool kit or engagement scrapbook
Symbols of faith from their religion (cross, star of David, Menorah, Torah, Bible, Koran, Communion, candles, hymnals, Cresent Moon) www.religious-symbols.net
Daily devotions, favorite passages, well known religious figures/names
2. Engagement activities
- Artifacts of different textures, sizes, materials (sensory discrimination activity)
- Painting/coloring symbols, stained glass, holiday symbols (art activities)
- Praying in color individual or group sessions https://prayingincolor.com/
- Angel based discussions, art, writing
- Tying prayer blankets
- Hosting resident let prayer groups
- Normalizing activities such as polishing candle sticks, placing candles in holders, folding/holding prayer blankets/shawls/rosary beads/cloth from baptism, wedding, religious celebrations
- Biblical plants/gardening/flower arranging
- Holding hymnals/prayer books/turning pages
- Reading verses/inspirational quotes
- Music listening and singing
. 3. Cues and triggers for dementia
- Pictures of churches (similar to the childhood church)
- Stained glass windows
- Religious service program to hold/read
- Angels
- Religious art
- Alter pictures and artifacts
- Music of their religious/cultural preference/church bells
- Simplified activities using spiritual information such as crosswords, trivia, matching, sorting religious based holiday cards, sorting or organizing candles, folding programs, spiritual collages, flower arranging
Details
| Group Size | Time of Day | Duration | Acuity Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medium (5 - 8) | Morning Evening |
45 Minutes | Memory Care |
| Facilitator | Gender | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Programming | Coed |
Resources
see FICA Spiritual History Tool at https://smhs.gwu.edu/gwish/clinical/fica/spiritual-history-tool
https://prayingincolor.com/
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/spaces/biblical-garden-design.htm
see attached PDF
Supporting Research
Source: Harold G. Koenig, Aging and God: Spiritual Pathways to Mental Health in Midlife and Later Years
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