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Dr. Pat Otwell on her work with those with Alzheimer’s
Guide to Ministering to Alzheimer’s Patients and Their Families
Many of us have little, or no, knowledge of Alzheimer’s ministry unless we have a reason to learn about it. My “reason” was that I served as chaplain at three nursing facilities in Paris, TX, from 1983-1997.
Although I had the rare opportunity of writing my own job description prior to employment, I did not include “ministering to Alzheimer’s patients and families” because so few people were affected at that time and there was little awareness of the illness.
Yet, during those fourteen years, I had the privilege and challenge of being on the cutting edge of this largely uncharted territory of ministry and gained experience in virtually all aspects: assisting in nursing facility placement and adjustment, providing day-to-day spiritual care for patients and families, providing crisis ministry during hospitalizations, developing and facilitating an Alzheimer’s support group, and officiating at funerals.
Pastors and chaplains have often neglected some of society’s seemingly so-called “least of these” because they think they don’t know what to do or say. Or, they erroneously believe nothing can be done spiritually for Alzheimer’s patients. Quite the contrary!
While Alzheimer’s ministry may be one of the most-neglected ministries, perhaps, it is one of the most needed! With more and more people touched by Alzheimer’s disease, the question is not, “Will I minister to these patients and families?” Chances are you will whether you want to or not. The actual question becomes, “How effective will my Alzheimer’s ministry be?” The answer lies partially in the amount of time and effort you are willing to expend. Alzheimer’s patients and families need and deserve your “best” ministry! Along the way, you may surprisingly discover Alzheimer’s ministry to be a “fulfilling” rather than a “feared” ministry. Believe it or not, it can even be a FUN ministry!
Guide to Ministering to Alzheimer’s Patients and Their Families is a resource that comes to the rescue! Through this book I want to share with you what I have learned. It is based upon my experience in ministry, extensive reading, and the responses of family members to a questionnaire I developed pertaining to spiritual journeys of patients and families. In this book, I explore essential elements of Alzheimer’s ministry: nature and stages of Alzheimer’s; the desire to minister; theological understanding of God, Alzheimer’s patients and families, and self as minister; grief and guilt as related to Alzheimer’s; communicating with Alzheimer’s patients; spiritual needs and implications for spiritual care to patients and families; ethical issues and the role of ministry in decision-making; models for ministry; faith, hope, and love; blessings that can result as a result of the disease; and resources. Appendices include the questionnaire; statistical analysis of the questionnaire; scripture selections; and sample programs, services, and forms.
Guide to Ministering to Alzheimer’s Patients and Their Families is designed for pastors, priests, chaplains, pastoral counselors, church leaders, healthcare professionals, and seminary students. This reference work makes an excellent addition to church, seminary, medical, and public libraries.
Dr. Pat Otwell received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Mercer
University (1968); Master of Education degree from the University of Georgia (1972); Master of Religious Education (1977), Master of Divinity (1979), and Doctor of Ministry (1986) degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. In addition, she completed two-and-one-half years of Clinical Pastoral Education at hospitals located in Georgia, South Carolina, and Maryland. Dr. Otwell served as chaplain at Cherry Street Manor, Cherry Street Annex, Parkview Convalescent Center, and Cherry Street Apartments (1983-1997), Paris Adult Day Care Center (1992-1996); and Colonial Lodge Retirement Center (1991-1996) in Paris, Texas. In 1986, she organized the Alzheimer’s support group there and facilitated it for eleven years. Pat was consultant for the Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders Unit at Cherry Street Manor (1994-1997) and offered training for employees on that unit (1996-1997). Previous publications include: A Chaplain-Led Ministry to Families of Alzheimer’s Disease Patients Through the Development and Utilization of a Support Group (Doctor of Ministry Project Report, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1986); “A Hobby That Ministers,” (Christian Single, 1986); and “Reflections,” (Christian Single, 1984). Pat is a retired Clinical Member of the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education and a retired Associate Chaplain of the Association of Professional Chaplains. She currently resides in Ormond Beach, Florida, and enjoys a writing ministry, playing the piano, and walking along the beach!
Guide to Ministering to Alzheimer’s Patients and Their Families is published by Taylor & Francis under its Routledge imprint and can be purchased on-line through the Routledge Mental Health web site and Amazon.
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