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Our History
The Project began in 1996, as a result
of Frances encountering a lady with dementia in
an EMI (Elderly and Mentally
Inform) Ward at the local George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton,
while visiting as a
church volunteer in 1989. The lady was also blind and yet seemed to have
an
awareness which captured Frances' attention.
At the time Frances was leading a
Spiritual Development programme (Light Out of Darkness)
and the theme of the
programme that particular week was ‘finding God in my weakness’-
the relevant
scripture being was Romans 8.26-27. This lady with dementia made Frances aware
how special and unique each person is and that weakness can be strength.
The lady visited was instrumental in
this project taking off because no-one had recognised
that she too had a
spiritual life, which was overlooked on medical assessment.
Frances never knew
the lady’s name. The lady could not remember what it was – and yet she had
this
great awareness of God and others.
This was an inspirational visit. After
meeting this lady Frances continued to meet more and
more people in the
community with dementia. This highlighted the unmet spiritual and pastoral
needs of those suffering with dementia related illness.
From 1989 to 1996, with the
support and encouragement of others, ways of addressing this
need were considered, and the Pastoral Care Project was founded in 1996.
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