Christian responses to 21st Century demographics

LEEDS IS NOW A DEMENTIA FRIENDLY DIOCESE

CHRISTIAN RESPONSES TO 21st CENTURY DEMOGRAPHICS

As life expectancy increases, there are new challenges for us as Christians. Growing Old Grace-fully seeks to provide opportunities to explore these in a safe and supportive environment

LEEDS IS NOW A DEMENTIA FRIENDLY DIOCESE

Amongst the thousands of people who attend our church services each week, there are a significant numbers of people living with dementia and their carers. Our Diocesan Action Plan is now listed on-line and will be launched at the Caritas Day of Reflection.

FACING THE LOSSES OF LATER LIFE

As we live longer and grow older we can find that our life is constricted in various ways. How do we approach this positively? How do we prepare to face our own death?

Ideas for and from parishes.

Download our free 88 page guide with practical ideas to support the growth of later life friendly parishes.

Across the Diocese of Leeds

Welcoming Older People: ideas for and from parishes

"Welcoming Older People: ideas for and from parishes", our guide on learning from and caring for older people, is available to download free (you need to register) or you can order a ring bound copy for a donation of £5. For parishes or groups in the Leeds Diocese, printed Guides are free. To find out more or to book a short session in your parish, please get in touch.

Dementia and the Eucharist

It is important that priests, deacons or extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist feel comfortable when offering communion to a person with dementia. Here are some Guidelines for offering communion to a person living with dementia.

Events Calendar

Sep

Wed

Being Old. Being Bold. Still Living in Faith. Sheffield Conference @ Central United Reform Church

Tickets

Sep 25 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Open to all. Conference fee of £30 (£25 to CCoA Members) includes all preparatory material, lunch and all refreshments.

Conference September 2019

BEING OLD, BEING BOLD

Living by faith, seeking truth, and accepting challenge

Are you interested in making more of life for older people in the Church? You are invited to join CCoA for a conference.

This is a rare opportunity to hear what can be done AND to discuss what you are doing.

The day will include:

David Jolley, Honorary Reader The University of Manchester; retired Consultant and Professor of Old Age Psychiatry, reflecting on Intergenerational Fairness & Provision
Helen McCormack, currently Ministry with Older People Development Worker, Northallerton asking Special Need or Special Contribution?
Rita and Paul Conley, The Salvation Army reporting on Older Prisoners, New Ways of Working
Albert Jewell, retired Chaplain in MHA and Methodist minister discussing People with Dementia: a Christian Response

AND

Contributions from participants on local Church activity
Inter-active Musical Interlude with a Sheffield U3A Ukulele Group

Christians on Ageing is a resource to the Churches and a voice for older people. This conference will help to plan new ways of giving support, spreading ideas and promoting good practice.

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Oct

Thu

Dementia friendly performance: La bohème @ The Grand Theatre

Tickets

Oct 24 @ 2:30 pm – 5:00 pm

Opera North will welcome those living with dementia and their families, friends and carers for a relaxed performance of Puccini’s La bohème on Thursday 24 October at 2.30pm at Leeds Grand Theatre. This popular tale of tragic romance is underpinned by Puccini’s beautiful music, here performed by an international cast of singers and full symphony orchestra.

During the production, bright lighting and loud noises will be reduced. Quiet spaces outside the auditorium will be available and there will be a relaxed attitude to people leaving and returning if people need a break.
Opera North is thrilled that its first ever dementia friendly performance compliments ‘Music for Dementia 2020’, a national campaign that highlights the positive social impact music has on those living with dementia.
Find out more about Opera North’s dementia friendly performance, along with tailored adaptations the Company will make for this performance online or by emailing access@operanorth.co.uk.

Price: £15 per person. Group bookings welcome with a free ticket for bookings of ten of more.

Tags: Dementia-friendly La Boheme Opera North

September – October 2019 Sep – Oct 2019

Food: is it Important in our Memories of Family and Parish?

By pippabonner August 5, 2019 August 5, 2019 Growing Older, Intergenerational

On my way back from a recent Growing Old Gracefully related meeting I serendipitously listened to a Radio 4 Food programme called: “What’s so Special about the Food our Grandmothers Cook?” It recounted some of the tasty and not so tasty meals grandchildren had experienced from grandmothers. The programme reflected Continue reading

Supporter Thelma Laycock shares her poetry

By Carolb56 July 24, 2019 July 24, 2019 Growing Older

Thelma Laycock lives in Leeds and has been a supporter of Growing Old Gracefully since it began. Although she has always written poetry, since retiring from teaching it has become one of the most important aspects of her life. She has published 4 anthologies of poetry and has had work Continue reading

Soul Midwives

By Carolb56 July 7, 2019 July 7, 2019 Death and Dying

If you didn’t see it when first published then this is an interesting article to read about death and dying. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/jun/25/soul-midwives-felicity-warner-end-of-life-care Continue reading

Being Kind to yourself

By Carolb56 June 28, 2019 June 28, 2019 Growing Older

A reflection from John O’Donohue about kindness to ourselves as we grow older. This is taken from a Facebook post asnd is a short extract fro his book Anam Cara. JOURNEY OF THE SOULOne of the qualities that you can develop, particularly in your older years, is a sense of Continue reading

Seeking is Seeing

Quote

By pippabonner June 5, 2019 June 28, 2019 Prayer

I have recently discovered this Prayer, from an anonymous source, which I find very reassuring. I hope you find it helpful too: Seeking God is as good as seeing God. Who, but a saint, Would know so clearly That the journey is the reality, The steps are sight, The effort Continue reading