A new DVD highlighting the importance of meeting the spiritual needs of people with dementia and their carers has been launched by the Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN) at Salford Cathedral on 13 October. The event was well attended by representatives of the Dioceses of Leeds and Hallam, including staff from Catholic Care members of the Growing Old Gracefully project.
The DVD, titled "It's still ME, Lord...", focuses on good practice in meeting spiritual needs and serves as a useful resource for staff in care settings, Religious Orders, clergy and parish communities, hospital chaplains, as well as Eucharistic Ministers. Ben Bano, the inspiration behind the video said, "The film also shows good practice in supporting people with dementia and their carers at the community level."
Right Reverend Bishop Terence J. Brain, Bishop of Salford and Chair of the CSAN, said: "We hope this will be a valuable resource for people, in our Catholic communities and beyond, in supporting people with dementia. Whether we are mentally or physically frail, we are all created in the image and likeness of God, and our faith should be respected and cherished."
Philippa Gitlin, Director of Caritas Social Action Network, said: "Over recent years there has been increasing awareness of the spiritual and pastoral needs of people with dementia and their carers. As we focus on person-centred approaches to the care and support of people with dementia and recognise their dignity and rights, we need to ensure that their spiritual needs as well as the practice of their faith are both acknowledged and met."
Catholic Care, as a provider of care, is committed to establishing a new role, in partnership with others, that addresses the care of older people with dementia. We will promote the DVD to stimulate action that increases the opportunities to develop services that address both the spiritual and practical care of people with dementia.
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Catholic Care acts to support those in need of its services, especiallly the weak and the vunerable and it acts as an advocate for those unable to represent themselves
The primary purpose of the agency is to foster and influence a vision of how people can live together in Christian charity, love and justice, by taking the "Caring Church into the Community
