Dementia and Dignity: The Cognitive Impairment Support Initiative
The Anna Trust, with support from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, has initiated a program to train sisters in an understanding of and care for sisters experiencing any form of dementia, including Alzheimer’s Disease, in any area of the world. In partnership with the Avila Institute for Gerontology, founded by the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm, the program offers a gospel-based response to needs and an opportunity to increase skills among sisters to ensure appropriate and compassionate care.
Program Director, Sr. Siobhán O’Keeffe, SS.H.J.M notes that “This ministry is an expression of gospel compassion to our sisters at this sacred time of their lives. High quality training is essential so that all sisters appreciate the gift that sisters living with any form of cognitive impairment or dementia are to each one of us, and that sisters have the values, skills and confidence to respond to help sisters live well each day."
Program consists of a series of introductory webinars looking at the definitions of Alzheimer’s disease and recognizing and responding to its early signs and those of other forms of dementia. This will be followed by an advanced certificate-based training course offered through the Avila Institute with assistance from Maria College University, Albany, New York. The curriculum for this training will include such areas as ethics and practice in the global context, spirituality and dementia care, and the role of research in good dementia care.
Sr. Peter Lillian, O. Carm., Director of the Avila Institute, remarks that insights into the evolving studies of cognitive impairment help minimize stress among those with impairment and slow its progression. “As Religious, our stable core is our Religious life and making that connection for those living with dementia is a compassionate accompaniment on our journey together.”
The program will ensure best practices for sisters. Sr. Marie Nirmalini, AC, Chair of the Program Committee of The Anna Trust, notes, “caring for our elderly infirm sisters is our responsibility. We stand on their shoulders, and we owe them both not just compassion but excellent care that bears witness to the love of Jesus.”
Sr. Siobhán’s commitment to lead the program is personal as well as professional. “A period of severe illness once impacted on my memory and whole sense of well-being for 18 months. That experience left me with a greater appreciation of the vulnerability of people living with any form of cognitive disability and led me to professional training in dementia care and on to lead this commitment of The Anna Trust to our sisters.”
Sr. Peter concludes with an important reminder, “The disease is not the person. Each person must be seen as the person they truly are. The same person we have always known has a disease that can be managed with the knowledge we acquire.”
WEBINARS:
September 15th
Why study Dementia
October 15th
Caring With Foresight: Planning for the Wellbeing of Members in Religious Life
December 15th
Is Dementia Preventable
All the events will be held online in English, Spanish, Italian and French at 3:00PM (Rome Time).