If you could see your loved one or someone you know with Alzheimer’s disease (or other dementia) laugh, clap their hands, smile, sing or hum—have them experience some love, comfort, peace, and joy, even if only for a little while, wouldn’t you want to know how?

First, for those who are unfamiliar with Alzheimer's disease or other dementias, here is a brief overview.

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.

Experiments

In an online article entitled “What Alzheimer’s disease teaches us about the soul” by Jennifer Graham, Desert News, last updated August 17, 2016, she talks about Rev. James Ellor, who several years ago when he was a chaplain at a nursing home with Alzheimer’s and dementia patients.  He decided to conduct an experiment putting together a modified worship service in which the patients could participate. He found some popular hymns and Bible verses from the early 1900’s to use in the service.  Note: Today, Dr. James Ellor is a Professor of Social Work at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. 

Dr. Antoinette Pinto-Sequeira, published an e-book entitled “Walking on Holy Ground: With Persons Suffering From the Alzheimer’s Disease,” © April 2014 by Impact Press.  In her book summary, she states about her book that it “explores the sacredness of the Alzheimer’s patients to acknowledge the sanctity of ministering to those suffering with the Alzheimer's disease. Her book provides ways to minister fruitfully to the Alzheimer’s patients and to address their yearning for God and simultaneously provide them with spiritual or soul care sustenance.”

Discoveries

Interestingly, Dr. Ellor discovered:

1. That even though some of the Alzheimer’s patients no longer recognized their own children, they did remember the first verse from some of their beloved hymns they grew up with, in addition to being able to recite some very familiar Bible verses like John 3:16 and Psalm 23 for example.
2. When the patients participated in this short, modified worship service, many would clap their hands and smile, some would hum the hymns and recite the Bible verses long after the service ended!  How glorious that is!

Dr. Antoinette Pinto-Sequeira, in her e-book, describes the major ingredients she discovered that were necessary to bring pastoral ministry for Alzheimer’s patients. These included:

1. Alzheimer’s patients were made in the image of God and His likeness, they carry within them their intrinsic, inherit human dignity which needs to be fostered, safe-guarded and revered.
2. Alzheimer’s patients carry within them the breath of God which is the SOUL wherein resides the Holy One. This is the divine connection that fuses and welds them in God.
3. Alzheimer’s patients are at the center of the pastoral ministry rather than the disease.
4. Alzheimer’s patients come first in the ministry rather than the caregivers who in the past have been the primary recipients.
5. To avoid the use of the cognitive model of pastoral care ministry as this method only confuses the Alzheimer’s patients.
6. The framework of the alternate non-cognitive model of ministry inspires the ministers to encourage spirituality with the purpose of facilitating positive changes in the lives of the Alzheimer’s patients.

Personally, I experienced an unbelievable change in the countenance and behavior of my mother one day when I started reading to her familiar Bible verses and playing CDs with some of her favorite hymns from her childhood. One of her favorites was the hymn “His Eye is on the Sparrow,” a Gospel hymn written in 1905.  Her behavior changed from one of being anxious and agitated, to calm and smiling!  She would even extend her arms out to me wanting to dance, even when she was in the late/end stages of Alzheimer’s disease.

After this encounter I experienced with my mother’s soul, I continued to experiment with different ways to provide her with ‘soul care’.  It was from these discoveries that Gifts2Bless.com evolved and is now online. We continue sharing, working with others in providing soul care, and will continue to make available to you as we learn more. We recognize the fact that everyone's situation is unique.

Different Views about the Soul

There are those who view the soul as electrical impulses of the brain which deteriorate, along with the memory, when the brain degenerates.  Others believe that a person’s level of cognition one cannot equate with the absence or presence of the soul.  Additionally, there is a phenomenon known as “terminal lucidity,” which is where a person who had cognitive impairments miraculously can converse rationally for a while just before passing away. That phenomenon provided some with the view that the soul or spirituality is hidden, not destroyed as the disease progresses. No one would say that the soul has departed, prior to death.

But Dr. Ellor states, “The soul is bigger than just cognition.”  He believes that people of faith, who were spiritual before getting Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia, continue to have spiritual needs even if they can no longer worship, praise, or fellowship in ways they could before getting the disease.  They did NOT lose their faith in God! 

3 Key Learning Points

Here are three key learning points derived from my personal experiences, Dr. Antoinette Pinto-Sequeira's e-book, and Dr. Ellor’s discoveries:

1. The soul is NOT affected by the disease and the soul does NOT die until death when it is freed. Alzheimer’s disease progressively destroys thinking skills and memory as neurons die and the brain shrinks, but the disease does not affect the soul. Some think that the soul may be trapped within damaged neurons of the brain when dementia is present. It is freed upon death.

"I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul" (Psalm 31:7 NIV).

2. ‘Soul Care’ for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients should focus on emotion and the spiritual senses (based upon Christian beliefs and values), NOT cognitive functions of the brain. People do not lose their sense of identity and will retain a sense of what was important to them in their pre-dementia lives.

"The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple" (Psalm 19:7 NIV).

3. ‘Soul Care’ should be an added dimension to the treatment of people with Alzheimer’s or other dementias. Even in the late stages of Alzheimer’s disease, patients can remember Bible verses, hymns, songs from their younger years. Playing these songs and having times for worship should be included as part of their soul care.

Want to learn more about "Soul Care”?

To learn more about “Soul Care” I have written several blogs entitled "Compassionate Love: Responding to One with a Desperate Cry," “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.