Pastoral Presence and Non-Verbal Communication Strategies for Church Members Living With Dementia

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to provide effective non-verbal communication strategies for pastors (and laypersons) who have a genuine concern for dementia afflicted parishioners and loved ones. A persistent problem is that carrying out proper ministry to congregants with severe cognitive challenges is not an easy task, and because it is very difficult for pastors to help their dementia-diagnosed parishioners maintain consistent ecclesial involvement, patients often wind up entirely disconnected from church fellowship. In thesis form, congregants living with dementia are regularly marginalised from church fellowship, thus lacking Christian connection, often not receiving proper pastoral care, but this should not be the case, as biblically prudent ecclesial ministry necessarily entails providing a pastoral presence for those suffering from serious cognitive decline. Therefore, the theological analysis and literature review herein present clinically proven (and biblically supported) non-verbal communication strategies intended to improve the quality of ministry provided to Christian dementia patients. This research is significant in that it aspires to effectively help the numerous dementia sufferers who often go without proper care in the churches and at home.