All of the Assisted Living Residence facilities that we minister to have recently adopted a policy of separating the Dementia & Alzheimer’s residents from the elderly that are presently cognitive. In that process, decisions have been made that incoherent folks are not permitted to socialize in group settings with the cognitive residents for various reasons; this also includes Church services.
As a result of these changes in policy, we have been increasing our ministry into the Dementia & Alzheimer’s populations at Cypress Village, The Windsor at San Pablo and starting this month at Ashford Court (pro bono of course); this new service occurs following our 11:00 AM service at Ashford Court.
When a resident faces increasing cognitive disorders and is then placed into an unfamiliar locked down environment with people in like condition, it can be rather unsettling. However, we provide a comforting continuity for them as they still recall who we are, the old Hymns we sing together, and their Lord & Savior Jesus Christ!
We currently conduct 3 services on Sundays, 3 services on Tuesdays, and 2 on Thursdays in conjunction with the Beaches Ministerial Association. We continue to provide visitation in rehabs, hospitals, & personal room visits throughout the week.