Siu Lai (Gwen) Lam
The "AHA" Moments: Spiritual Interventions and Memories of God in Dementia Care
Gwen graduated from ACTS Seminaries in 2023 with a Doctor of Ministry degree. She also holds a Master of Arts in Religious Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (Texas, USA) and a Master of Divinity from Presbyterian College and McGill University (Montreal, Quebec).
She is an ordained minister, serving in three churches for 17 years before responding to God’s call to extend her ministry to the healthcare community. She is now at her 12th year as a full-time chaplain at the Heights at Mt. View long-term care home with Baptist Housing Society. Since graduating from the DMin. program, she has been sharing her research findings at multiple settings, which include orientation with healthcare students, team members meetings, church groups discussion and individual support. Memory Café and Puppetry are the new programs added to spiritual care at her workplace.
Gwen finds peace and enjoyment on regular weekend hikes with her husband. She also considers harp music to be the most sacred sound and continues to learn and play the instrument in her spare time. Gwen and her husband have two adult daughters, with whom they build memories through Gulf Islands hops and overseas travels. She feels blessed for her family’s support and service in her ministries.
ABSTRACT
The purpose of the research project is to bring awareness of the relationship among three aspects: the “AHA” moments of memories of God, spiritual care interventions and dementia care. The “AHA”, God moments are present and can occur within dementia care communities.
Throughout investigation of this research project, learning experiences of the “AHA” moments, effective care practices and approaches, and proper/ appropriate spiritual care interventions that foster quality of life and well-being of people with dementia will be indicated.
The intent of the research project is never an attempt to out-play God’s intervention in the midst of human life journey. By recognizing the possibility of the occurrence of the “AHA” moments, and witnessing the truth of the existence, it supports the assumption that proper/appropriate spiritual care practices and interventions contribute to the quality of life and well-being of dementia care residents.
The research findings have yielded valuable insights and practical suggestions to support the subject matter. “Best ways”, meaning proper/ appropriate spiritual care practices and interventions, have been identified and tested (evidence based), and thus, answered the research question,
What are the best ways to effectively implement spiritual interventions for the benefit of people with dementia in connection with the “AHA” moments?