Creating a Culture of Care and Support for People struggling with Dementia and Alzheimer’s

On May 3, 2025, our Christian Education & Leadership Development Team hosted a special workshop at Elmvale Presbyterian Church with keynote speaker Dana Friesen, who shared meaningful insights into how churches can better serve congregants affected by dementia and caregiving challenges. Click here to watch Dana’s presentation.

After coffee, participants could choose one of three breakout sessions:

1. 1. Caring for the Caregivers (Therapist Sarah Joy Covey)
   2. Best Practices for Pastoral Care Visitation (Rev Dr. Heather Malnick)
   3. Resources for Caregivers (See links below from the Alzheimer’s Society).
      • Welcome to Dementia 101
      • Supporting Communication
      • Delirium, Depression and Dementia

About Dana Friesen:
Dana Friesen was raised as a missionary kid in Germany and Austria and as a pastor’s child across Canada. She made the decision to follow Jesus at a young age and was profoundly influenced by her parents’ example of serving others with integrity, self-sacrifice, and joy. Dana holds an honours bachelor’s degree with a double major in Global Studies and Psychology and a master’s degree in social work, specializing in research, community development, and policy analysis. While in university, Dana’s father began to exhibit symptoms of what would later be diagnosed as Lewy Body Dementia, a journey that significantly impacted her family. She and her mother shared full-time care giving responsibilities, which opened her eyes to the many challenges of long-term illness and its effects on families. This experience shaped the focus of her master’s thesis, which surveyed over 200 Christian congregations across Canada to assess the tangible supports available to members, such as practical help, emotional support, and theological perspectives on the church’s role in caregiving. Drawing from both personal experience and academic research, Dana offers meaningful insights into how churches can better serve congregants affected by dementia.

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