Could It Be Dementia?: Losing Your Mind Doesn't Mean Losing Your Soul

by Louise Morse, Roger Hitchings

Dementia is in the headlines on a daily basis, and plenty of information is readily available, but none of it deals with the spiritual implications, a gap this book ably fills. This tender book explains what dementia is and offers practical advice to families, caretakers, and churches.

224 pages, Paperback

First published March 28, 2008

Reviews

[Becka the Book Girl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Synopsis:

The authors are a manager and a trustee with Pilgrim Homes, a group of Christian residential care homes in the United Kingdom. The book first addresses an understanding of the human brain, including the mind/spirit/soul connection. It then progresses through discussions of the symptoms of dementia, possible causes and prevention, diagnosis, treatment and long-term care, and effects on families.

Comments:

Dementia, particularly Alzheimer's Disease, has been part of my family's life for over thirty years; I've had at least four relatives diagnosed to date. Many people I know also have family members or friends who are affected.

This book is quite probably the best of many I have read on the subject, and the only faith-based one. While some of the examples given are specific to systems and agencies in the UK, the great bulk of the information is universally applicable to anyone dealing with dementia in some form. It provides adequate and accurate medical information in language understandable to the average reader; practical guidelines to help determine whether symptoms are truly dementia, or some other similarly-manifesting illness or imbalance; and perhaps most importantly, affirmation and hope that even when a person's mind is adrift, his soul is still safely in God's hands and able to commune through the Spirit in ways beyond human understanding.

I would like to be able to place this book in the hands of every family, friend, pastor, and counselor dealing with the challenges of dementia. It achieves a rare balance of practicality and sensitivity, infused with a refreshing and soothing assurance of God's faithfulness.

[Trisha DeBoer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is valuable. I never thought that dementia-sufferers were in danger of losing their soul, but this book addresses spiritual issues regarding Alzheimer's Disease and other similar dementias in a caring and biblical manner. Each chapter starts off with a verse or two from the Bible, and then continues with practical information on what the journey is like. One of the best lines in the book is, "Two of you make the journey, but only one comes back." I amended this to say, "A family makes the journey, and returns one the less." I sincerely appreciated the constant affirmations that God indeed still DEEPLY cares about the one who suffers from dementia, and that the Holy Spirit still dwells in that person. Knowing that is one thing; being reminded of it by another person is a totally different thing. Some of the theology was a bit different than my own, but in all reality, I think that the benefits of reading this book FAR outweighed any hesitation I might have in recommending it because of some of the theology. Truly, we cannot simply be waiting for the "pie in the sky" at the end of life, but at the same time, it is helpful to remember that when people near the end of their time on earth, that hope can be of great comfort. There is ALWAYS value in the here and now, but there is also something to be said about impending rest and God's never-ending care for us. This book has Trish's seal of approval.

[Keren Lilley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really helpful book - only reason I didn't finish it was that I had to switch to reading that helped me to wind down while caring for parents with dementia....

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a brilliant little book about dementia and its implications for the sufferers, carers, and communities. It covers both the scientific side - what causes dementia and how it affects the brain, along with ideas that may help prevent it - and the more practical / spiritual side of how to deal with it. Lots of emphasis on viewing a person with dementia as a real, whole individual, rather than as an embodied condition, and there are practical ideas for how to relate to and help them and those caring for them. Some of the ideas are for individuals, some are for churches as a whole.