• The McFaddens put together a great bibliography on spirituality, aging and dementia for their workshops.  You can get a copy here. 

• John McFadden has published a pamphlet, Aging, Dementia and the Faith Community; Continuing the Journey of Friendship, that can be downloaded here.  A nicely bound, printed copy can be ordered from Wipf and Stock publishers here.

• I've found the website, The Alzheimer's Reading Room, to be a helpful place for all things Alzheimer's.  Founded by Bob DeMarco as he was caring for his mom, Dottie, it traces his learnings as a caregiver and gives voice to other caregivers as well as providing updates on research.  His stories of his caring for his mom do a wonderful job of describing the shift in mindset that leads to the ability to give better care.  His article, "Rewiring my Brain and Stepping into Alzheimer's World" is a must read for anyone concerned with caring for those with dementia.  He also recently posed the question, "How Dementia Friendly is Your Church?"  The comments reveal quite a gap between hope and reality. 

Pilgrimage into the Last Third of Life  

by Jane Marie Thibault and Richard L. Morgan (Upper Room Books, 2012)  

Reviewed by Ed Linberg

In January and February of this year, I led a group of Senior Adults in discussing Pilgrimage into the Last Third of Life, a book jointly authored by Jane Marie Thibault and Richard L. Morgan, who have written many books addressing the concerns and needs of older adults. This collaboration may be the best resource they have offered to date.

Divided into seven chapters, each of which provides what the authors describe as a "Gateway to Spiritual Growth," they alternate sharing their thoughts on aspects of each of these seven gateways.

            1) "Facing Aging and Dying"

2) "Living with Limitations"

3) "Doing Inner Work"

4) "Living In and Out of Community"

5) "Prayer and Contemplation"

6)"Redeeming Loss and Suffering"  

7) "Leaving a Legacy" 

Every one of the seven group sessions were marked by stimulating conversation and deep sharing.   One of our participants in the group, Laura, a retired educator, shared this comment about her experience with both this book and our group.

                "I enjoyed the conversational style of the authors. It seemed as if they were talking with us. They were not "preachy" at all.

                The idea that living a long life is a gift we've been given was a concept I had considered. It led me to realize that it is important for us, as Senior Adults, to discover our calling so that we can contribute to the world in the years remaining to us.

                I was also struck by the idea that we Senior Adults have the opportunity to set an example for our family and friends about how we die. None of us wants to be in pain or be a burden to anyone.   Yet that may be what is in store for us. So how we spend our last days will be a beacon to guide our family and friends who, in time, will follow us into death."

Laura's thoughts, plus my own experience of reading and discussing this book with others, leads me to highly recommend it to any and all Senior Adults to help them reflect on and make decisions about how they will live during their "pilgrimage into the last third of their lives." I also agree with the thought that more than one of the members of our group expressed during the course, "This book would be a good book for people of any age to read and to discuss with others."

One additional word, in the back of the book there is an invitation to talk with Dr. Morgan via a conference call to his residence in the Pittsburgh area.  Our group did this by using Skype. We had a most enjoyable 45 minute exchange with him as part of our last session.

Ed Linberg is a retired pastor of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). He is a member of the Disciples' Pacific Southwest Region's Older Adult Ministry Committee. His reading and discussion of this book was done in conjunction with Senior Adults who belong to the First Christian Church, Fullerton, CA.

All through their presentation The McFaddens raised up the importance of communities of care as we face the crisis of dementia care in the years ahead.  They reminded us that dementia does not remove a person's capacity to enjoy friendship or share relationships with others and that the community may hold someone in memory even when their memory is fading.  They ended the day by sharing a vision of dementia friendly communities, where those with dementia are not stigmatized, and where there are a range of services that can meet the changing needs of person diagnosed and their carers over time.   In these communities every person with dementia can affirm:

• I was diagnosed early.
• I understand the diagnosis, and I make good decisions and provide for future decision making.
• I get the treatment and support which are best for my dementia and my life.
• Those around me and looking after me are well supported.
• I am treated with dignity and respect
• I know what I can do to help myself and who else can help me.
• I feel part of the community and I'm inspired to give something back.
• I can enjoy life.
• I am confident my end of life wishes will be respected; I can expect a good death.