Religion, spirituality and dementia: Pastoring to sufferers of Alzheimer's disease and other associated forms of dementia

Elliot, Hazel

doi:10.3109/09638289709166569

Cited by 11 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 1 publication

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“…Over the past decades a number of studies on dementia and spirituality have been published, though mostly in a Christian pastoral context (Richards, 1990;Clayton, 1991;Hellen, 1994;Everett, 1996;Elliot, 1997;Webb, 2001;Stuckey, 2003;Westius & Petersen, 2006). To our knowledge, few scientific studies in relation to dementia and view of life have been published.…”

Section: De Men Tia D E M E N T I Amentioning

confidence: 99%

View of life in persons with dementia

2009

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Objective: To study the view of life in dementia. The view of life of an individual is defined as a conception of reality, a central system of values and a basic emotional attitude. Method: Interviews with persons ( N = 21) with mild to moderate dementia of the Alzheimer’s type. The interview data were interpreted with a phenomenological hermeneutical method. Results: Despite their cognitive deterioration it was possible to understand the view of life of the participants in the frame of their life story. Their view of life seemed to guide them towards selecting mainly emotionally powerful and value-oriented memories. No exceptional characteristics that could be traced to their dementia disease were found in the participants’ views of life. Conclusions: The view of life of the participants with mild to moderate dementia was vital for their life story and was not erased by dementia. Implications: In order to respect people with dementia as persons, caregivers should strive for gaining some knowledge of their view of life.

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Section: De Men Tia D E M E N T I Amentioning

confidence: 99%

View of life in persons with dementia

2009

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“…Along with the setting, socializing with others can be a great strength. Faith communities provide the means of being present and available for older adults and their family members to support their well-being (Elliot, 1997; Hepburn & Johnson, 2014; Stansbury et al, 2017). For persons living with dementia, a spiritual connectedness in their daily lives yields strength to cope and live with their condition (Agli et al, 2015; Scott, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Importance of Religiosity to the Well-Being of African American Older Adults Living With Dementia

Epps

Williams

2018

J Appl Gerontol

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This study was a post hoc analysis of a larger qualitative descriptive study exploring family involvement in health promotion activities for African Americans living with dementia where participants identified religious practices as meaningful health promotion activities. The purpose of this study was to explore ways in which religiosity may influence the well-being of older adults living with dementia. Semi-structured interviews were conducted among a sample of 22 family caregivers and 15 older adults living with dementia ( N = 37). Three themes emerged: Engagement, Promotion of Faith and Spiritual Connectedness, and Maintenance of Religious Practices. It is imperative for family caregivers to understand the important contributions of religious activities and beliefs to the well-being of their family member. This information might be of use for faith communities, policy makers, and health care providers in the provision of optimal person-centered care and the promotion of quality of life for persons living with dementia.

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“…The function of reminiscence and life review work concerning identity maintenance has also been discussed (Coleman 2005; Rathbone, Moulin and Conway 2008). For many elderly people, faith and spirituality play a major role in their life reviews and for the sense of identity (Melia 1999; Staude 2005), and several studies have examined spirituality in the context of dementia disease, with most focusing on pastoral care (Elliot 1997; Everett 1996; Hellen 1994; Richards 1990; Stuckey 2003; Webb 2001). As often in the discourse about life and health, in these studies personal beliefs are seen exclusively as expressions of religious faith or spirituality.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Views of life and sense of identity in people with Alzheimer's disease

Westius

Kallenberg

2010

Ageing and Society

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Making it possible for people with Alzheimer's disease to retain a sense of identity during the process of the disease poses a great challenge to care-givers, professionals and family carers. The aim of this study is to elucidate the role of the view of life of people with Alzheimer's in framing their sense of identity. Is their view of life a vital aspect of their sense of identity? ' View of life ' was interpreted as a vital aspect of sense of identity, understood as the individual's beliefs about their life history and about the attributes that characterised them. Twenty-one people with mild to moderate stages of Alzheimer's disease were interviewed about their life story. The narratives were interpreted using a phenomenological hermeneutic method. By telling their life story, the participants also narrated their view of life, i.e. their conception of reality, their central system of values and their basic emotional attitudes. By their own accounts, the origins of the narrators' central values and basic emotional attitudes were established in early life. They also expressed a sense of meaningfulness and continuity when looking back on their lives. The findings suggest that for a care-giver or confidant, having knowledge of a person with dementia's view of life is valuable when seeking to confirm that person's sense of identity.KEY WORDS -Alzheimer's disease, identity, life story, view of life, interviews, phenomenological hermeneutics.

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Religion, spirituality and dementia: Pastoring to sufferers of Alzheimer's disease and other associated forms of dementia

Cited by 11 publications

References 1 publication

View of life in persons with dementia

View of life in persons with dementia

The Importance of Religiosity to the Well-Being of African American Older Adults Living With Dementia

Views of life and sense of identity in people with Alzheimer's disease

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