Turn to Houses of Worship for Information about Memory Care

Why not turn to each other? Why not first, last, and always turn to the person for whom they care for and about? Is it a good idea to encourage caregivers to turn away from themselves and turn towards religious leaders? For folks who find little value in turing towards a set of beliefs which does not explain why bad things happen to any kind of people where should they turn? Libraries? Google? Why don't they too turn toward their loved ones and try harder and perhaps different to seek to better understand the feelings and beliefs of those they care for?

Spirits, forces, channelers, spokespersons for various proclaimed prophets,  sitting in houses that represent various religion's dieties, listening to spiritual leaders who usually admit they have no answers for the spiritual questions people in pain bring with them. Why did this happen to me? What happened to forgiveness? What did I do to deserve this? Won't you please make this better for me and my family? - is this good for caregivers? good for people with dementia?

Just because many people come here on Saturday or Sunday should it be encouraged for caregivers  

There is such an immediate need for information, there is such an immediate need to understand how and why caregivers are so stressed out, there is such an immediate need for folks arbitrarily forced into the same boat to learn how to naviage, is this the best use of everyone's time and energy to come to a house of worship?

The specialness of religions, of the human spirit does not begin, reside nor end in houses of worship. It resides in all of us every second of every day. If we haven't found it by now I doubt sitting on a padded pew will reveal it to us. We could, and probably all should meet in the community library, the nearest neurologist's office, and even better with all of our friends and family members, including the person who is living with the disease. Stress reduction comes from within, never from without. We decide to be stressed and we decide not to be stressed. Where we are sitting at the moment has little to do with our decision.

If we could all appreciate this, and turn towards each other rather than towards someone else we would all be better off. This is what I beleive.

Richard 

Thanks Eric for this post.  I think we can see through our posts that many of those facing Alzheimer's turn to their faith and prayer when they are sick and ailing.  I suspect some of us find comfort in the belief that their is a higher power who can get us through the tough times.

To Richardtaylorphd's point, (reply above) we must all rely on each other in good and difficult circumstances.  For those who do not have an organized religion - friends and family can most certainly be a huge support.

All the best, sue