St. Irenaeus Health Ministry hosted a workshop on Alzheimer’s disease on Oct. 21. at their Parish Hall in Cypress. The workshop combined a power-point presentation filled with information about the disease, physical Capacitar exercises to energize and relieve stress, and spiritual songs and prayers to strengthen and inspire people. It fulfilled the Mission of Health Ministry “to promote and encourage health of Body, Mind and Spirit through education and support for the community.”
Health Ministry Board Member, Betty Borowski opened the meeting with a beautiful prayer for those afflicted with Alzheimer’s, their families and their caregivers. Board Member Rosemary Lewallen, continued praying by leading the singing of the inspirational Prayer of St. Frances.
Lewallen then introduced the guest speaker, Patty Mouton. Mouton is currently Vice-President of the Orange County Chapter of Outreach and Advocacy of the Alzheimer’s Association and Co-Chair of the Medical Coalition of Orange County Physician’s Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (O.C.POLST). Mouton is a member of St. Timothy’s Parish in Laguna Niguel and has been a liturgical musician at St. Timothy, St. Edward and the Mission Basilica. She has been active in the Pastoral Care Program at Mission Hospital, and as a volunteer with hospice care and vigil programs for the actively dying.
Mouton came prepared with a wealth of information from the Orange County Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. Her topic focused on “Understanding Alzheimer’s and Supporting Our Love Ones Physically, Emotionally and Spiritually,”
Mouton said that 5.4 million people in the United States have Alzheimer’s disease at this time and it is one form of dementia. She distributed the Alzheimer’s Association publication, “Basics of Alzheimer’s Disease, What It Is and What You Can Do,” that stated that dementia is a general term for the loss of memory and other intellectual abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life. It also stated that Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia accounting for 60 to 80 percent of dementia.
“There are 70 different kinds of dementia and not all dementia is Alzheimer’s,” said Mouton.
Some dementia may be caused by a stroke, vascular problems, thyroid problems, a physical injury to the brain, diabetes, or different illnesses that may be able to be treated. She encouraged everyone to see a doctor to verify whether a person has Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. Primary care doctors may be the first ones to talk to and they would refer the patient to a neurologist, psychiatrist or psychologist who specializes in diagnosing and treating memory problems.
“Alzheimer’s is a progressively degenerative disease and that there are no drugs at this time that can stop Alzheimer’s,” she said. “However, there are a few drugs that are being used to help relieve and stabilize some of the symptoms.” There are preventive measures such as exercising body and mind, keeping active socially, eating a healthy diet and avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol are encouraged by the Alzheimer’s Association.
“The Alzheimer’s Association is the largest contributor to fight Alzheimer’s, second only to the Federal government,” said Mouton. There is a need for legislative advocacy to continue educational research, improve care services and make policy changes in order to end Alzheimer’s.
According to Mouton, the first symptom of Alzheimer’s was noted in Bavaria in 1906 when a woman could no longer iron shirts. It was a time when shirts were stiffly starched and ironed and the woman could no longer remember what to do. (Forgeting how to iron clothes may not be a symptom today since many wash and wear clothing do not need ironing).
As a Pastoral Care Minister and as part of what she called “Palliative Chaplaincy,” Mouton demonstrated how she spoke directly to people with Alzheimer’s, asked simple questions and hugged people. She quoted Maya Angelou and said that “people may not remember what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” She also said that we should make things easier for people and even if they cannot say “I love you,” you can tell them that you love them. “We are more than what we know and think,” said Mouton. “Each person has a value as a person and we need to integrate Body, Mind and Spirit in caring for people with dementia and pray with and for them. Make them feel loved and productive.”
Mouton then introduced Ree Taylor, a Capacitar facilitator at St. Irenaeus. Capacitar
Means “to empower” in Spanish. Taylor demonstrated and led the group in doing simple but effective Tai Chi practices and also breathing and visualization techniques to energize or relax.
With these practices and techniques, and other Body-Mind-Spirit practices that she teaches in monthly evening workshops at St. Irenaeus, Taylor hoped to empower people to live with peace, well-being and the energy to tackle life’s daily stresses. Prayer and Scriptures can also be part of Capacitar. Taylor ended her Capacitar session with hands joined in prayer and a Namaste Bow as she thanked and blessed God and the community.
Mouton then announced that brochures and representatives from Divine Hospice Care in Buena Park were available that night in the hall for those who needed Hospice Care.
She ended her presentation by praying the Irish Blessing and prayed for all those who suffered from Alzheimer’s, saying “Let me be your servant. Let me be like Christ to you.”
Director of Health Ministry at St. Irenaeus Church, Sr. Rita O’Connell thanked the speakers and all who came to the workshop. She concluded the workshop by asking everyone to join in praying the “Glory Be to the Father.”
For more information about the Orange County Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, contact Patty Mouton at 949-955-9000 or online at www.alz.org/oc. For Capacitar workshops at St. Irenaeus, contact Betty Borowski at 714-826-0760. For information about Hospice Care, contact Eleanor D’Ambrosio, RN, at Divine Hospice Care, Inc. at 714-523-5030, or www.DivineHospiceCare.com.