The National Day of Prayer is celebrated by Americans of many religions, including Christians of many denominations, including Protestants and Catholics, as well as Sikhs, Muslims, Hindus, and Jews, reflecting the demographics of the United States. On the National Day of Prayer, many Americans assemble in prayer in front of courthouses, as well as in houses of worship, such as churches, mosques, synagogues, and temples. 

     On April 17, 1952, President Harry Truman signed a bill proclaiming the National Day of Prayer into law in the United States. President Reagan amended the law in 1988, designating the first Thursday of May each year as the National Day of Prayer.  Since then it has grown to encompass luncheons, picnics, and even popular music performances revolving around praying for the nation.​

      The National Prayer Committee was formed in the United States in 1972. It went on to create the National Day of Prayer Task Force, with the intended purpose of coordinating events for the National Day of Prayer.  According to the Legal Information Institute, the President shall issue each year a proclamation designating the first Thursday in May as a National Day of Prayer on which the people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, and as individuals.

     At Martin Luther Campus, we strive to give every opportunity for prayer and spiritual growth.  We supports residents, families and staff to integrate Spiritual Health with their physical, mental and emotional well-being. We honor and respect diverse spiritual needs to each individual as well as making a wide variety of resources available to them.   

     

 
Our Memory Care program at Ebenezer now has a name – Dimensions.  Dimensions has five building blocks: wellness through person-centered, relationship–based care, innovative training, engagement, supportive environments, and family education and support.  We have gathered best practices in each of these realms and are giving our sites the tools they need to implement them effectively and consistently.  

I chose the name Dimensions not just because it sounds like the word dementia, but because of all the things the word demands that we think about, such as…

…The person with dementia has many different dimensions.   We can’t assume that what we see or hear or assume about a person is all of what is there.  We must be curious, patient and respectful as we work to discover the length, breadth and depth of each person’s history, personality, preferences, sense of purpose, habits, idiosyncrasies, hot buttons, skills (yes, these people still have skills) and strengths.    Their long-term interests and passions need to be encouraged.  These people still have a sense of humor and a need to laugh, even if that doesn’t seem obvious. 

…What about the spiritual dimension?  Did you know that some Native American cultures believe that persons with dementia are doing important spiritual work --- communicating with spirits at a level the rest of us cannot understand.  I love the inspiration this idea provides.  It spurs me to work hard to create more and more calm in our Ebenezer environments.  Imagine how we might honor and reward care partners and caregivers if we all agreed that persons with dementia were indeed doing the most important spiritual work on the planet!  Imagine the environments we would build for these folks!  Imagine the walking paths, the sense of peace and purpose, the accessibility of nature.  The spiritual dimension is indeed another dimension of the person to consider in order to give them the care they require.  What moments in their life do they hold as sacred?  When do they feel most at peace, most at one with all things? Where have they found solace during hard times in the past? It is important to ponder these questions, search for clues, and to ask the individual, if they are able and willing to respond to them.  

The point I am weaving around here is a theme I often remind myself and all those whom I train on various dementia care topics:  People with dementia are PEOPLE, first and foremost.  They have needs (to be filled) and quirks (to be enjoyed) just like the rest of us.  There are things that make them laugh (to be discovered and used as often as possible).  They have likes and dislikes (to be respected) good days and bad days (to be tolerated) and they have courage and resilience (to be admired and emulated). 
A person with dementia NEVER stops being a person.