Supporting Healthy Dementia Culture: An Exploratory Study of the Church

Abstract

This research used the church as an exemplar to identify how community institutions provide opportunities for individuals living with dementia to continue living in meaningful ways. Study results from this exploratory study indicated churches are moving towards dementia-friendly spaces, but additional assistance is required. Namely, support with the costs of physical infrastructure improvements, dementia education, adequate transportation, and social supports were identified. Due to the significant presence that the church has in lives touched by dementia, policy that acknowledges its contributions to health would help to legitimize the church as a health resource and promote inclusive community culture for individuals in the context of dementia.

Dementia-Related Education and Support Service Availability, Accessibility, and Use in Rural Areas: Barriers and Solutions

“…Similarly, only 48 per cent of physicians and 19.3 per cent of other health care providers in a rural Canadian sample reported that available support services for people with dementia and their caregivers were adequate (Dal Bello-Haas et al, 2014a). Day programming and respite care (particularly in-home, evening, weekend, and emergency respite) were the specific supports most frequently identified as inadequate or unavailable, in articles from North America, Europe, and Australia (Dal Bello-Haas et al, 2014a;Forbes et al, 2013;Innes et al, 2005;Innes et al, 2014;McDonnell & Ryan, 2014;Morgan et al, 2002;Morgan et al, 2015;O'Reilly & Strong, 1997;Plunkett & Chen, 2016;Putnam, Pickard, Rodriguez, & Shear, 2010;Smith et al, 2011;Teel, 2004). Several authors also reported insufficient or unavailable counseling and support services (Dal Bello-Haas et al, 2014a;Morgan et al, 2015;Smith et al, 2011;Teel, 2004).…”

“…The most frequently reported were geographic distance and transportation, identified in 15 studies across Canada, Scotland, Tanzania, and Australia (Andrews, Morgan, & Stewart, 2010;Clancy, 2015;Di Gregorio et al, 2015;Forbes et al, 2012;Herron et al, 2016;Innes et al, 2005;Innes et al, 2006;Innes et al, 2003;Innes et al, 2014;Morgan et al, 2002;Morgan et al, 2015;O'Reilly & Strong, 1997;Paddick et al, 2017;Plunkett & Chen, 2016;Smith et al, 2011). Services were not always locally available; therefore, distance and long travel times made access difficult (Di Gregorio et al, 2015;Herron et al, 2016;Innes et al, 2005;Innes et al, 2006;Innes et al, 2003;Innes et al, 2014;Morgan et al, 2002;Plunkett & Chen, 2016;Smith et al, 2011). Transportation was a large part of this challenge, reported by Innes et al (2005) as the service gap most frequently identified by people with dementia and their caregivers.…”

Dementia‐friendly faith village worship services to support African American families: Research protocol

“…Faith‐based institutions play a significant role in the lives of individuals living with dementia, primarily through the support provided for their and their family members’ quality of life (Hepburn & Johnson, ). Researchers have reported benefits for caregivers attending church and described the role religion plays for older adults living with dementia (Parisi et al, ; Plunket & Chen, ). However, there is little work exploring how participating together in religious practices (caregiver and person living with dementia) might promote the quality of life of these families.…”

“…In previous studies, researchers have looked at the relevance and positive outcomes related to church and worship attendance in persons living with dementia and caregivers. While the benefits of religiosity in families living with dementia have been well established Hodge, & Sun, 2012;Jing et al, 2016;Katsuno, 2003;Kevern, 2015;MacKinlay & Trevitt, 2010;Plunkett & Chen, 2015;Rathier, Davis, Papandonatos, Grover, & Tremont, 2015;Swinton, 2014)…”

“…In previous studies, researchers have looked at the relevance and positive outcomes related to church and worship attendance in persons living with dementia and caregivers. While the benefits of religiosity in families living with dementia have been well established (Epps et al, ; Hodge, & Sun, ; Jing et al, ; Katsuno, ; Kevern, ; MacKinlay & Trevitt, ; Plunkett & Chen, ; Rathier, Davis, Papandonatos, Grover, & Tremont, ; Swinton, ), no suggestions are given in recent studies for how to design or revise religious services in African American congregations to accommodate families living with dementia. Despite published literature on dementia‐friendly initiatives (Dementia Friendly America®, 2015), faith‐based activities and models are less prominent in the United States in comparison to the United Kingdom.…”