Dementia and Faith

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tamie

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I have been working in a nursing home for the last three months. As I observe the residents and see the degree of dementia many of them suffer I find I am greatly disturbed about one thing-Do those who are Christian still know who Jesus is even when they don’t remember who anyone else is? I keep pondering if I will remember Jesus if I end up suffering from this condition. Of course, right now, the thought that I might not remember Jesus makes me feel very sad. Opinions any one?
 
My granny had Alzheimers, and died in a nursing home.
She hadn’t attended a church or service in a long time.

Even when she was mobile, she just fell asleep during
the service, and as she got worse, she rarely spoke.

My thoughts on this are that even if she did forget with
her earthly mind, her heart did not. And even if it did, I
am sure beyond certain that HE did not forget her.

Though it made me sad as well, I never really worried about
it, b/c I knew that God knew her heart, and was in control.
 
that knowledge of Jesus is deeper than the intellect and does not require the intellect to bring the believer into communion with Christ, and is the direct action of the Holy Spirit. I believe this is also true of those with a developmental or mental impairment. In those souls who cannot begin or sustain knowledge of God through the intellect, memory and will, the Holy Spirit takes over and brings them close in the realm of being and awareness deeper than and independent of those faculties. IN fact, that is the realm we strive to reach in menatal prayer with those faculties and our very intellectual activity almost prevents us from achieving that closeness.
 
People afflicted with this terrible disease generally have difficulty in connecting with short-term memory, but some victims can remember things in the distant past with uncanny and vivid precision; I know this personally since several close relatives of mine fell victim to this monstrous disease.

I think that many people suffering from Alzheimers and/or Dementia will have memories of their faith, although they might not understand the significance thereof. It is important to realize that Christ will not forget us at any time least of all when we are in physical decline. He will continue to nurture the sick, and bestow His blessing upon them. In some ways, people suffering from such devastating illnesses are blessed in that they cannot form the requisite intent to commit sin. That, of course, serves little comfort to those who love and cherish the ill, and I pray for all concerned including the ill person and all people impacted thereby.
 
Thanks for the responses. I spoke with the Chaplain where I work and he basically said the same thing. It comforms me to know that if I do end up like the folks I work with, that Jesus will be there with me.
 
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