Episode 5: Dementia friendly church, with Debbie Thrower

The Roots for Churches podcast

Debbie Thrower, the founder of Anna Chaplaincy, is an Anglican licensed lay minister and former broadcaster. She shares statistics on the rising rate of dementia in an aging society, highlighting the urgent need for churches to consider how we care for those with dementia.

Anna Chaplaincy, which is part of BRF Ministries, came into existence out of Debbie's personal experience dealing with her parents' complicated health issues. She now trains a team of pastoral volunteers who are based around the country to help with the emotional and spiritual care of the elderly.

Debbie shares how dementia can be prevented, particularly through regular social interaction and social engagement that often happens at Church. We discuss the experiences of those living with dementia (and their partners), the potential disruptions to church activities, and the necessity of maintaining social connections . Debbie emphasizes that one's value as God's child remains intact regardless of the cognitive deterioration dementia brings.

With training, awareness and care, churches can help mitigate the challenges dementia patients and their families face. We discuss the benefits of all-age services and the power of inclusive worship. The ultimate goal is to establish a church environment that is welcoming and inclusive to everyone, prompting us to rethink our ways of dealing with dementia.

We touch on safeguarding vulnerable adults and the vision of Anna Chaplains to become a nationally recognized symbol for spiritual care for the elderly, like McMillan nurses. Find more resources and training on their website www.annachaplaincy.org.uk.