We used to have an outside church come in, however they had an issue within their church and could no longer volunteer and reaching out to other churches has been unsuccessful.
Today we had a service lead by a caregiver, we started with music, she did a brief devotional then we ended with an activity surrounding the devotional.
This seemed to go smoothly, however was quite short. Any ideas on how to extend this to 45 minutes or so, any resources for devotionals?
Hi Susan I had to extend religious services from time to time because volunteers ran them and they were kind of short First make a song book of hymns or perhaps you have one Choose the residents favorites This could be an activity extension Some of my favorites are This is the day Jesus loves me Amazing grace The old rugged cross In the garden Count your blessings This song happens to be one of my favorites because it can lead to a discussion about what the residents are blessed with Along those lines we did the ABC's Of what we are thankful for or whatever is related to an upcoming holiday I like to alternate songs and discussion In fact you can discuss the hymns you are singing you can talk about going to church I like to discuss them too Also you can discuss upcoming holidays and how you are going to celebrate them Another good topic for discussion is kindness and forgiveness Here are some ideas on golden Carers that might be helpful to you https://www.goldencarers.com/15-ways-to-celebrate-world-prayer- day/4386/ https://www.goldencarers.com/samples-of-prayers/4174/ I hope this helps
Try to come up with an order of worship to use as your starting point for each service. Use common elements of a worship service: - greeting - opening prayer - hymns or songs - scripture readings - message/sermon - The Lord's Prayer - The Apostle's Creed - more hymns - closing prayer - benediction
Once you have your structure, fill in the pieces each week. You'll find scripture readings that most denominations use each week in The Revised Common Lectionary (https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu).
We've found that adapting a children's message works well for residents. Include an object or visual element that you can show/pass around. Do a show & tell, and and encourage your residents to share. Here are some sites to explore: - Sermons 4 Kids (www.sermons4kids.com) - This one also has crosswords, word searches... - Sermon Writer (www.sermonwriter.com/childrens-sermons/) - Worshiping with Children (worshipingwithchildren.blogspot.com) - On the Chancel Steps (onthechancelsteps.wordpress.com)
For music, go for familiar hymns, if you can figure out what your residents know. Kids songs from vacation bible school work well, too. He's Got the Whole World in His Hands, Do Lord, Jesus Loves Me, The B-I-B-L-E, I'm in the Lord's Army, Deep & Wide, This Little Light of Mine, I've Got the Joy, Joy, Joy (down in my heart). Kum Ba Yah. You can use the motions to the songs to get them moving.
For more filler, check out some of Missy Buchanan's books (missybuchanan.com/books).
There is a very helpful book called 'Brain and Soul Boosting For Seniors' by the Pilgrim Friends Society, it is a spiritual programme for people with dementia or mild cognitive impairment and consts of 15 sessions with Bible stories, and associated activities and hymns. www.pilgrimsfriend.org.uk not free but worth a look
You Tube - Spiritual Eldercare has weekly non-denominational services for dementia, they can be used for all levels, the hymns are on the screen in big print or you can print out a book for free,
What a blessing to have found the Golden Carers website, our residents love the activities, particularly fond of visual and musical quizzes. Oh, what fun!! Thanks to all to those at Golden Carers and everyone who contributes to making this website an invaluable tool in ones' toolkit.
We used to have an outside church come in, however they had an issue within their church and could no longer volunteer and reaching out to other churches has been unsuccessful.
Today we had a service lead by a caregiver, we started with music, she did a brief devotional then we ended with an activity surrounding the devotional.
This seemed to go smoothly, however was quite short. Any ideas on how to extend this to 45 minutes or so, any resources for devotionals?
Memory Care
I had to extend religious services from time to time because volunteers ran them and they were kind of short
First make a song book of hymns or perhaps you have one
Choose the residents favorites
This could be an activity extension
Some of my favorites are
This is the day
Jesus loves me
Amazing grace
The old rugged cross
In the garden
Count your blessings
This song happens to be one of my favorites because it can lead to a discussion about what the residents are blessed with
Along those lines we did the ABC's Of what we are thankful for or whatever is related to an upcoming holiday
I like to alternate songs and discussion
In fact you can discuss the hymns you are singing you can talk about going to church
I like to discuss them too
Also you can discuss upcoming holidays and how you are going to celebrate them
Another good topic for discussion is kindness and forgiveness
Here are some ideas on golden Carers that might be helpful to you
https://www.goldencarers.com/15-ways-to-celebrate-world-prayer-
day/4386/
https://www.goldencarers.com/samples-of-prayers/4174/
I hope this helps
PS I noticed there are a lot of Susan's that use Golden Carers. Susan's must be awesome carers! :D
- greeting
- opening prayer
- hymns or songs
- scripture readings
- message/sermon
- The Lord's Prayer
- The Apostle's Creed
- more hymns
- closing prayer
- benediction
Once you have your structure, fill in the pieces each week.
You'll find scripture readings that most denominations use each week in The Revised Common Lectionary (https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu).
We've found that adapting a children's message works well for residents. Include an object or visual element that you can show/pass around. Do a show & tell, and and encourage your residents to share. Here are some sites to explore:
- Sermons 4 Kids (www.sermons4kids.com) - This one also has crosswords, word searches...
- Sermon Writer (www.sermonwriter.com/childrens-sermons/)
- Worshiping with Children (worshipingwithchildren.blogspot.com)
- On the Chancel Steps (onthechancelsteps.wordpress.com)
For music, go for familiar hymns, if you can figure out what your residents know. Kids songs from vacation bible school work well, too. He's Got the Whole World in His Hands, Do Lord, Jesus Loves Me, The B-I-B-L-E, I'm in the Lord's Army, Deep & Wide, This Little Light of Mine, I've Got the Joy, Joy, Joy (down in my heart). Kum Ba Yah. You can use the motions to the songs to get them moving.
For more filler, check out some of Missy Buchanan's books (missybuchanan.com/books).
Good luck!
Thank so much for that information it is very valuable and I'm sure it will help Susan and others
great free resource