How can we help those who are in great sorrow and unable to communicate effectively or respond to their environment?  Did you know that compassionate love is one of the greatest and most powerful gifts you can share with another human being? 

Compassion vs. Compassionate Love

“Compassion” means someone else’s sorrow becomes your sorrow. Compassion accepts people for who they are, is forgiving, lifts them up, encourages, praises, and embraces their sacred sanctity of life. It takes character and integrity to be the one who is willing to act and make a difference. Compassion takes courage. Courage is action.

“Compassionate love” extends the definition of compassion to describe the respect, care, attitude, and motivation to improve the condition of and encourage the fullness of life in another person. Compassionate love involves the heart – it requires us to look deep within our own soul. God’s Word tells us that "God is love" (1 John 4:8 NIV) and “Love never fails.” (1 Corinthians 13:8 NIV). Love truly defines the heart of God.

A Desperate Cry (Psalm 142 NKJV)

Psalm 142 in the Bible is a prayer by David when he was in a cave, a plea for relief from his persecutors. David cries out for mercy because he is overwhelmed, faint, and alone (no one cares for his soul). Yet in his desperate need for help he cried out to the Lord knowing with certainty that the Lord would set him free (bring his soul out of prison).

One with a Desperate Cry:  Person afflicted with Alzheimer's Disease (in the Mid-to-Late Stages)

Overview of Alzheimer's and Dementia (https://www.alz.org)

An estimated 6.7 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s dementia in 2023.  By 2025, the number of people age 65 and older with Alzheimer’s dementia is projected to reach 7.2 million — an 7% increase from the 6.7 million age 65 and older affected in 2023. By 2060, the number of people age 65 and older with Alzheimer’s dementia is projected to reach 13.8 million Americans, barring the development of medical breakthroughs to prevent, slow or cure Alzheimer’s disease. (Read 2023 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures  Special Report 2023 by Alzheimer's Association.

Worldwide, 55.2 million people are living with Alzheimer's and other dementias and it is projected 153 million by 2060!

Dementia is a general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with one’s daily life.  Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia and accounts for 60-80% of dementia cases.

Alzheimer’s is a degenerative brain disease that is caused by complex brain changes following cell damage. The most common early symptom of Alzheimer’s is trouble remembering new information because the disease typically impacts the part of the brain associated with learning first.

As Alzheimer’s advances, symptoms get more severe and include disorientation, confusion, and behavior changes. Eventually, speaking, difficulty swallowing, and walking become difficult. With late-stage Alzheimer's, individuals lose the ability to carry on a conversation and respond to their environment.

People age 65 and older survive an average of 4 to 8 years after a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s dementia, yet some live 20 years with Alzheimer’s! This reflects the slow, uncertain progression of the disease. At the present time, there is no way to prevent, cure or even slow Alzheimer’s disease, but treatments for symptoms are available and research continues and is promising.

Compassion in The Holy Bible

The Bible is filled with stories and characters of compassion. Our God is full of compassion. Jesus demonstrated compassionate love throughout the New Testament Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. And we as Christians are called to be compassionate. Below are just a few of the Bible verses that point to the compassion of our God, Jesus our Savior, and we His people.

Our God, Full of Compassion

"Shout for joy, you heavens; rejoice, you earth; burst into song, you mountains! For the Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones" (Isaiah 49:13 NIV).

"The Lord is gracious and full of compassion,
Slow to anger and great in mercy.
The Lord is good to all,
And His tender mercies are over all His works" (Psalm 145:8-9 NKJV).

"Behold, we call them blessed who endured. You have heard of the perseverance of Job, and have seen the Lord in the outcome, and how the Lord is full of compassion and mercy" (James 5:11 WEB).

Jesus, Our Compassionate Savior

"When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities. And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick" (Matthew 14:13-14 KJV).

"As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.” Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother" (Luke 7:12-15 NIV).

"When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things" (Mark 6:34 NIV).

God Calls Us to be Compassionate People

"Therefore, God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, accepting one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive" (Colossians 3:12-13 HCSB).

"Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind" (Philippians 2:1-2 NIV).

How is it possible to share compassionate love with people afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease, other dementias, or brain disorders?

First, we need to see and understand from God’s Word that we are a living soul.

"And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul" (Genesis 2:7 KJV).

How may we share compassionate love with them?  By providing care to the soul.  “Soul Care” is the attention given to healing a wounded soul or in maintaining a healthy soul. When a person does not have the cognitive ability to effectively communicate or respond to their environment, then it becomes necessary for us to use non-cognitive methods as a way to encourage spirituality and promote positive changes in their lives. The focus is on the spirituality which animates “the Way, the Truth, and the Life” stirring and inspiring the soul within, through a Christian perspective.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6 NIV).

Understanding Our Body vs. Soul vs. Spirit

We human beings are composed of three parts:  spirit, soul, and body. 

The Word of God clearly states that we have these three (3) parts:

"Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thessalonians 5:23 NKJV).

Each part (spirit, soul, and body) performs different functions or roles in our Christian lives. These are explained below under sections starting with The Body,  The Soul, and The Holy Spirit.

And it is the Word of God that can separate spiritual things which to us seem completely intertwined like the soul and spirit. This is not a literal separation or division but is a graphic explanation on how the Word of God is able to distinguish between good thoughts and evil thoughts, what is truly in our hearts, and the Godly and the ungodly.  The Word of God metaphorically discerns between the soul and spirit. 

"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12 NKJV).

The Body

The body is our physical person that will return to dust when our body dies. Our physical body has five (5) senses. These are sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch. God provided man with eyes to see, ears to hear, mouth to taste, nose to smell, and hands and feet to touch. Our body requires air, water, food, sleep, and sunlight.

The Soul

Your soul is you. It is your whole being. You are a soul that lives inside of your physical body. It is not something you can visibly see or touch. The soul is our humanity. It is our mind, will, and emotions, plus our way to express magnify/glorify/worship God Almighty. And if you are a Christian (meaning that you have prayed to accept and receive Jesus Christ as your personal LORD and Savior) then when you die, your soul goes to heaven and has eternal life with Jesus.

What air, water, food, sleep, and sunlight are to your physical body; then love, faith, hope, comfort, peace, joy, wisdom, and significance are to your soul.  Consider these senses as “spiritual” and beyond physical body senses. Soul care for people with Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other brain disorders needs to focus on spiritual senses based on Christian beliefs and values, NOT on the cognitive functions of the brain. They require spiritual support to nurture them through and may vary depending on what stage they are currently in of the disease. Read more in our blog “Soul Care: 3 Key Learning Points".

It is your soul inside of you that loves another person’s soul. So, when we “see and feel” each other as living souls, we see and feel each other in “the Truth.”  This awareness enables us to share compassionate love and do things that will “inspire the soul.”  

The Holy Spirit

As mentioned previously, we magnify/glorify/worship God in our soul (expressed through our humanity) but we need the Holy Spirit to express and experience God’s power and love. The soul is a channel to the Holy Spirit. First, we express our love to God by magnifying Him and then we move to the Holy Spirit where we experience His power and grace. It is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit which gives us insight and the power to do God’s will.

"Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, O my soul
While I live I will praise the Lord;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being"
(Psalm 146:1-2 NKJV).

"The moment they began their shouts and praises, the Lord set an ambush against the Ammonites, Moabites, and the inhabitants of Mount Seir who came to fight against Judah, and they were defeated" (2 Chronicles 20:22 HCSB).

The function of the person of the Holy Spirit is spiritual, our deeper connection to God. As Christians, it is the only way to connect with God. However, you can only use the Holy Spirit to express God’s love if you believe in God and you have received Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. The Apostle Paul clearly taught us that we receive the Holy Spirit the moment we receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. And if a person does not possess the Holy Spirit, he or she does not belong to Jesus Christ.

"For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink" (1 Corinthians 12:13 NIV).

"But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if it is so that the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if any man doesn’t have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his" (Romans 8:9 WEB).

Want to learn more about “Soul Care”?

To learn more about “Soul Care” I have written blogs entitled “Soul Care: 3 Key Learning Points,"  “9 Basic Needs of the Soul,” and "Musical Memories." More teachings are work-in-process, bringing you real-life experiences and discoveries as we continue to reach out to people with Alzheimer’s and other brain disorders, their caregivers, and facility staff.  You can also select the “Soul Care” tab on “The ‘Word’ In and Out of Season to Proclaim” page for related Scripture verses. 

Consider our specially-selected gifts for a variety of therapies:

Shop Robotic Pets Therapy and Music ♫ Reminiscence Therapy.  These gifts have blessed many who are:

• lonely, isolated, agitated, or anxious
• showing signs of depression or discouragement
• experiencing cognitive decline due to Alzheimer's and other dementias
• veterans facing unique factors for Alzheimer's due to service-connected injuries
• spiritually distressed and in need of soul care

Play Familiar Hymns and Recite Bible Verses

For people of faith, practice ‘Soul Care’ by playing CDs or downloading familiar hymns to play for your loved one or friend with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias. Read familiar Bible verses to them. Inspire the Soul! Shop Music ♫ Reminiscence Therapy and check out the digital download offering of Dementia-Friendly: Lyrics to 20 Favorite Sing-Along Hymns.

Never feel that it is too late to make a difference in a person’s life who is afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias. Discover how your soul is inspired as well and see your spiritual relationship with God forever changed.

We encourage you to share your story with us and add comments below.