Dementia's Illumination of the Sacred

Abstract

"Where am I? Will somebody please tell me where I am?" Alice calls in polite despair. I explain that we are in a nursing home in Church Street, Fitzroy. She nods and remarks politely that she thinks she knew someone who went to that place once. I settle back into feeding my Dad, who suffers from advanced Alzheimer's disease. Two minutes later, Alice asks me again, "Excuse me dear, could you please tell me where I am?"