A literature review of spirituality in coping with early‐stage Alzheimer's disease
- 19 February 2008
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Wiley in Journal of Clinical Nursing
- Vol. 17 (5a), 88-97
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2702.2007.02126.x
Abstract
This paper presents a literature review focusing on the use of spirituality in coping by older persons with early-stage Alzheimer's disease from their perspectives. The purpose of this literature review is to examine the existing body of knowledge about spirituality in coping with Alzheimer's disease and to apply a spiritual framework of coping in organizing the literature to identify themes and gaps in knowledge. Despite the abundance of Alzheimer's disease research, little is known about how older persons with this devastating disease cope with the consequential losses. Maintaining a sense of normalcy and preserving self-worth are coping strategies reported by older persons with early-stage Alzheimer's disease. As spirituality is an effective coping resource for older persons with numerous psychological and personal losses in their lives, it may be an important coping resource for person with Alzheimer's disease. A literature search was conducted to find research published between 1990-2006 aimed at understanding spirituality in coping with early-stage Alzheimer's disease. Six research studies were reviewed. Findings suggest that persons with early-stage Alzheimer's disease draw from their spirituality and faith to find meaning and courage in facing the challenges of cognitive losses. Furthermore, they are able to provide rich information about their spirituality and the psychosocial aspects of living with Alzheimer's disease. Limited empirical knowledge compels the need for future research to explore how spirituality is utilized in coping with early-stage Alzheimer's disease. Enhancing persons' abilities to cope effectively with their diseases is an important goal of nursing care. Understanding how older persons with Alzheimer's disease cope with their memory loss is critical to the development of evidence-based interventions to minimize the stress of living with this disease.Keywords
This publication has 55 references indexed in Scilit:
- Putting a puzzle together: making spirituality meaningful for nursing using an evolving theoretical frameworkJournal of Clinical Nursing, 2006
- Understanding the Nature and Role of Spirituality in Relation to Coping and Health: A Conceptual Framework.Canadian Psychology / Psychologie canadienne, 2005
- Personal Spirituality of Persons with Early-Stage DementiaDementia, 2003
- Satisfactions and Challenges in Spiritual Faith and Practice for Persons with DementiaDementia, 2003
- Exploring the Meaning of Symptom Awareness and Unawareness in DementiaJournal of Neuroscience Nursing, 2002
- Opportunities for Enhanced Spirituality Relevant to Well AdultsInternational Journal of Nursing Terminologies and Classifications, 2000
- The meaning of spirituality: a literature reviewJournal of Advanced Nursing, 1997
- A Synthesis of Qualitative Research on Wellness-IllnessQualitative Health Research, 1994
- The Perspective of the Patient with Alzheimer's Disease: A Neglected Dimension of Dementia ResearchThe Gerontologist, 1993
- Simultaneous Concept Analysis of Spiritual Perspective, Hope, Acceptance and Self‐transcendenceImage: the Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 1992