In late March, we included a news item (HERE) that spoke of how our materials are being used in creative ways in Seniors Care Facilities in British Columbia, Canada. The man who came up with the idea to use our stories with his Memory Care friends is Dr. Daryl Busby. Dr. Busby is a long-time friend and previously served as Academic Dean of the Canadian Baptist Seminary. Daryl was kind enough to write us with an update on how God is using Simple Stories in the facilities that he serves. Here is his note:

Tom:

I have begun using the materials with some groups and here is what we are learning.

Reading the story slowly is vital. And clearly! 

Using a picture or image with the story helps…we think…

For some, a tactile opportunity is helpful. So, the story of the good shepherd while passing around lambs wool for the readers to feel.

Music…music… music. This helps our brains (and reinforces memory).

Finally: some assessment is less definable, but facial or brief verbal words. One man, who had been part of a “new earth” spiritual group responded, “When you read that story today, it had power.” He looked for the words to use, in an ever decreasing vocabulary.

Today, Rebecca* read a story from her new “bible”. It was the story of Jesus at the well. She has moderate dementia, but can still read…and with gusto. She laughed at the line wherein the woman confessed she had had five husbands. ” Oh my” she laughed. She read with feeling and passion.

Rebecca loves Jesus and loves to read about His grace. I will try to tape her reading at some point, but will need to get permission

Thanks for doing this. Our Nurse Educator asked me, with some degree of surprise,” Hasn’t someone already written simple Bible stories for seniors with dementia?” It seems not. We celebrated this material and its suitability for our dear seniors.

We are always surprised at just how God puts our material in places and uses it in ways we would never have anticipated.

*Respect for patient privacy prevents us from using Rebecca’s actual name.