A Ministry of Memory: Spiritual Care for the Older Adult With Dementia

2004 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 183-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon Fish Mooney
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Older Adult ◽  
Spiritual Care ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Elderly Persons ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Worship Services ◽  
Christian Worldview ◽  
Primary Focus ◽  
Progressive Cognitive Impairment

The primary focus of research related to spiritual and ministry needs of older people, historically and in the present, has been on those whose cognitive abilities are only minimally impaired. The older adult with a dementia like Alzheimer’s disease, however, has not received as much attention. This may be related to a lack of any theoretical framework from which to understand what may be happening to a markedly confused person spiritually, and how a person with progressive cognitive impairment might still be able to maintain a relationship with God and be ministered to by a God who may only be remembered vaguely, if at all. Elderly persons with dementia with a faith background rooted in the Judeo-Christian worldview are often able to respond to various rituals of their faith, verbally, physically, and emotionally. Common practices like familiar prayers, Bible readings, hymns, and attendance at worship services where collective memory is shared can serve as memory joggers to reconnect the person, not only to the faith community, but to a faithful God. A spiritual care ministry to older people with dementia can be considered a ministry of memory.

Older people dying with dementia: a nationwide study

2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (10) ◽  
pp. 1581-1591 ◽  
Author(s):  
Koen Meeussen ◽  
Lieve Van den Block ◽  
Michael Echteld ◽  
Nicole Boffin ◽  
Johan Bilsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
End Of Life ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
End Of Life Care ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Care Home ◽  
Life Care ◽  
Early Palliative Care ◽  
People With Dementia

ABSTRACTBackground: Large-scale nationwide data describing the end-of-life characteristics of older people with dementia are lacking. This paper describes the dying process and end-of-life care provided to elderly people with mild or severe dementia in Belgium. It compares with elderly people dying without dementia.Methods: A nationwide retrospective mortality study was conducted, via representative network of general practitioners (GPs) in 2008 in Belgium, with weekly registration of all deaths (aged ≥ 65) using a standardized form. GPs reported on diagnosis and severity of dementia, aspects of end-of-life care and communication, and on the last week of life in terms of symptoms that caused distress as judged by the GP, and the patients’ physical and cognitive abilities.Results: Thirty-one percent of our sample (1,108 deaths) had dementia (43% mildly, 57% severely). Of those, 26% died suddenly, 59% in care home, and 74% received palliative treatment, versus 37%, 19%, and 55% in people without dementia. GP–patient conversations were less frequent among those with (45%) than those without (73%) dementia, and 11% of both groups had a proxy decision-maker. During the last week of life, physical and psychological distress was common in both groups. Of older people with dementia, 83% were incapable of decision-making and 83% were bedridden; both significantly higher percentages than found in the group without dementia (24% and 52%).Conclusions: Several areas of end-of-life care provision could be improved. Early communication and exploration of wishes and appointment of proxy decision-makers are important components of an early palliative care approach which appears to be initiated too infrequently.

Meaning and practices of spiritual care for older people with dementia: experiences of nurses and care workers

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshihisa Hirakawa ◽  
Kyoka Yajima ◽  
Chifa Chiang ◽  
Atsuko Aoyama
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Spiritual Care ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Care For Older People

scholarly journals The Role and Meaning of Spirituality in Older People Living With Dementia: A Systematic Review

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
NATAŠA MLINAR RELJIĆ ◽  
ZVONKA FEKONJA ◽  
SERGEJ KMETEC ◽  
BLANKA KORES PLESNIČAR ◽  
FIONA TIMMINS ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Older People ◽  
Spiritual Care ◽  
Qualitative Assessment ◽  
Holistic Nursing ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Ebsco Host ◽  
Meta Analyses

Abstract Background: Spiritual care is a component of holistic nursing care, and it is a crucial element in providing person-centred care of older people living with dementia. The review aimed to find a deeper meaning and provide a profound interpretation of the role of spirituality from the perspective of older people living with dementia.Methods: The systematic review was conducted using Preferred Reporting for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Four databases: CINAHL, PubMed, Science Direct, EBSCO host and reference lists were searched for studies published by February 2020. The Qualitative Assessment and Review Instrument were used to assess the quality of studies, and the data were synthesised using thematic analysis. Results: Ten studies were included in the systematic review. Two main themes: (1) Spirituality as an inner source of power and (2) Spirituality as connectedness described the role and meaning of spirituality in older people living with dementia. Findings show the importance of spirituality as an inner source which gives people with dementia strength in facing dementia and also highlighted the role and meaning of connectedness with self, others and God. Relationships with family and the community is an essential reflection of spiritual life and represent a source of incentive and joy for older people with dementia.Conclusion: These findings provide new insights based on the qualitative perspective of older people living with dementia. This review offers nursing staff a broader and more in-depth insight into the role and meaning of spirituality as experienced by older people living with dementia and thus encourage the implementation of spiritual care as an integral part of providing holistic person-centred care.

scholarly journals 30 Dementia and Falls

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (Supplement_4) ◽  
pp. iv9-iv12
Author(s):  
Jacqueline Close
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
High Risk Population ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Risk Of Falls ◽  
Randomised Controlled ◽  
Occupational Therapy Intervention ◽  
Therapy Intervention

Abstract Cognitive impairment is a risk factor for falls and injury in older people. The profile of people with dementia reflects both physical and cognitive contributors to overall risk of falls. Over the years there have been a number of studies looking at falls and injury prevention in this high risk population. The approaches to intervention have varied with exercise being the most common modality of treatment. This presentation will unpack the role of cognition in postural stability and review the latest literature in the prevention of falls in older people with dementia. It will include presentation of data from a recently completed randomised controlled trial looking at a combined physiotherapy and occupational therapy intervention tailored to the participants’ cognitive abilities as well as pilot data looking at the feasibility of iPAD technology to deliver exercise to people with dementia in the home environment.

Cognitive Aging in a Precision Sport Context

1996 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 166-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bo Molander ◽  
Lars Bäckman
Keyword(s):  
Older Adult ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Cognitive Aging ◽  
Motor Performance ◽  
Intervention Programs ◽  
Laboratory Studies ◽  
High Arousal ◽  
Memory And Attention ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Principal Finding

Highly skilled miniature golf players were examined in a series of field and laboratory studies. The principal finding from these studies is that young and young adult players (range = 15-38 years) score equally well or better in competition than in training whereas older adult players (range = 46-73 years) perform worse in competitive events than under training conditions. It was also found that the impairment in motor performance on the part of the older players is associated with age-related deficits in basic cognitive abilities, such as memory and attention. These results support the hypothesis that older players may be able to compensate for age-related deficits under relaxed conditions, but not under conditions of high arousal. The possibility of improving the performance of the older players in stressful situations by means of various intervention programs is discussed.

High on God

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Wellman ◽  
Katie Corcoran ◽  
Kate Stockly
Keyword(s):  
Dark Side ◽  
Senior Pastor ◽  
Interaction Ritual ◽  
Group Loyalty ◽  
Worship Services ◽  
Homo Duplex ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Primary Focus ◽  
Two Sides ◽  
Do So

Humans are homo duplex, seeking to be individuals but knowing this is only possible in communities. Thus, humans struggle to integrate these two sides of their nature. Megachurches have been enormously successful at resolving this struggle. How do they do it, and what is it about their structure and rituals that makes so many feel as if they are high on God? The affective energies and emotional valences that characterize religious ecstasy are the primary focus of our study of megachurches. Empirically, humans want and desire forms of what Randall Collins calls “emotional energy.” Drawing on extensive qualitative and quantitative data on twelve nationally representative megachurches, we identify six desires that megachurches evoke and meet: acceptance, awe and spiritual stimulation, reliable leadership, deliverance, purpose, and solidarity in a community of like-minded others. Megachurches satisfy these desires through co-presence—being in the presence of other desiring people—a shared mood achieved through powerful musical worship services, a mutual focus of attention on the charismatic senior pastor who acts as an emotional charging agent, transformative altar calls, service opportunities, and small-group participation. This interaction ritual chain solidifies attendees’ commitment and group loyalty, and keeps them coming back to be recharged. Megachurches also have a dark side: they are known for their highly publicized scandals often involving malfeasance of the senior pastor. After examining the positive and negative sides to megachurches, we conclude that they successfully meet the desire of humans to flourish as individuals and to do so in a group.

scholarly journals Understanding the Link between Family Caregiver Quality of Life and the Care Provided to Older People With Dementia

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 153-154
Author(s):  
Afeez Hazzan
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Older People ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Family Caregiver ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Dementia is one of the most rapidly growing diseases in the United States. In 2018, the direct costs to American society of caring for older people with dementia was approximately $277 billion. Primary informal caregivers are mainly responsible for the care of older people with dementia including Alzheimer’s disease. Caregivers perform a myriad of duties ranging from shopping for their loved ones’ groceries, helping with medications, and managing finances. The caregiving role becomes more demanding as the disease progresses over time, and studies have shown that the quality-of-life (QoL) experienced by caregivers of older adults who have dementia is lower than the QoL of caregivers for older people who do not have dementia. To the best of our knowledge, there has been no research conducted to investigate whether lower caregiver QoL affects the level or quality of care that caregivers provide to persons with dementia. In the current study, we interviewed family caregivers living in Rochester, New York to inquire about their quality of life and the care provided to older people living with dementia. Further, caregivers completed the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) as well as a draft questionnaire for measuring the quality of care provided to older people living with dementia. Both quantitative and qualitative findings from this study reveals important relationships between family caregiver QoL and the care provided, including the impact of social support and financial well-being. The study findings could have significant impact, particularly for the provision of much needed support for family caregivers.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document