In this episode in the spirituality and dementia series, we engage in a passionate discussion about spirituality, care, and support of people living with dementia from a lens of diversity and culture. This episode features Roberta Bishop and Elder Mary Wilson, hosted by Rev. Faye Forbes and Lisa Loiselle.
Roberta Bishop, Operations Manager at the Rainbow Resource Centre in Winnipeg Manitoba has both professional and personal experience supporting those living with dementia. Professionally, she has witnessed the rapid decline of some members of Over the Rainbow, a social support group for 2SLGBTQ+ community members aged 55 plus or minus https://rainbowresourcecentre.org/support/groups/over-the-rainbow/#:~:text=A%20social%20support%20group%20for,Manitoba%20Association%20of%20Senior%20Centres. Her own experience with dementia on the personal side is with family members, including her Mother.
Elder Mary Wilson http://marywilson.ca, also from Winnipeg Manitoba is known to many as Grandmother Of Four Directions and Walks With Wolves. She is renowned in Canada and many parts of the world as a spiritual teacher, Spirit Walker, and Healer. As a traditional expert, Mary has touched many lives over the past forty years helping people heal, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. She is active in health research and has traveled worldwide presenting alternatives in Indigenous health. Mary shares her story of supporting her mother living with dementia in addition to a close friend who passed at a very young age from dementia. As a professional, it is her responsibility as a healer to also support community elders.
Although Roberta and Mary’s lenses are different, an important connection is the stigma and persecution 2SLGBTQ+ community members and indigenous Canadians have faced over many years. Both Roberta and Mary agree that individuals have to be respected and treated as individuals. It is important to bring people peace, joy, and happiness by continuing to provide them with the things they love and to continue to engage the spirit on one’s journey, whether that be dementia or another journey. They are both adamant that we need to stop hate and talk about love. We all need to recognize and acknowledge the hurt that has been inflicted on the 2SLGBTQ+ and Indigenous populations in Canada and to start the healing process. We can’t change history; however, we can learn from history so that history does not repeat itself!
What We Do Here Counts: Sharing stories of spirituality and caregiving, Season 3, Episode 31
COVID-19:Being a Caregiver, Season 3- Episode 30
Up Next! Season 3, Episode 28
Spiritual Care: Filling their Souls- #2 in our Spirituality Series, Season 3, Episode 27
Live for Today! Season 3, Episode 26
Being fully alive: How spirituality endures - Season 3, Episode 25
Happily Ever Older- Episode 24
A Pioneering Partnership
Changing Roles in Dementia Research: From subjects to participants: Season 3, Episode 22
Choices Season 3 Episode 21
Grassroots Changemakers Season 3, Episode 21
Dementia Friendly Communities: Season 3, Episode 19
Changing and Adapting: Reflection, Reframing and Reimagining Season 3, Episode 18
Changing and Adapting: Be Prepared
MAID & Bill C-7 – Medical Assistance in Dying
For This I am Grateful: Living with Dementia
Transitions– Looking Back and Looking Ahead
Transitions: Shared Care in Dementia
Transitions- A Rural Dementia Resource for rural communities
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