Abstract
In Wales, dementia patients should have a CTP completed which contains 8 domains, one of which is concerned with social/cultural/spiritual needs (Domain 7). A small audit suggested that this domain may not be regularly completed thus dementia patients’ spiritual needs may potentially go unmet.
Aims/method
1. Literature review of spiritual care in dementia.
2. Thematic analysis of Domain 7 of a purposive sample of 150 CTPs (with Domain 7 completed) collected from wards and community settings in 3 Health Boards to see what is documented about dementia patients’ social/cultural/spiritual needs.
3. Focus groups with staff to explore their views on completing Domain 7.
Results
There is a dearth of literature on spiritual care in dementia.
Analysis revealed that the main focus in Domain 7 was on social needs such as engaging in meaningful activities and helping patients maintain social connections. Spiritual needs were mainly documented with reference to patients’ religious affiliation and associated religious rituals/practices.
Focus groups with staff revealed that they found this domain difficult to complete because they were unsure of what it meant or how to meaningfully assess and appropriately respond when patients could not make their spiritual needs and care preferences known, especially when acute episodes masked the ‘essence of the person’. Staff acknowledged that spirituality was broader than religion but found it difficult to know how to document these broader aspects and would value further education. Staff reported that Domain 7 was one of the least frequently completed domains.
Conclusion
There is need for further education of staff in addressing the spiritual aspects of dementia care.
Aims/method
1. Literature review of spiritual care in dementia.
2. Thematic analysis of Domain 7 of a purposive sample of 150 CTPs (with Domain 7 completed) collected from wards and community settings in 3 Health Boards to see what is documented about dementia patients’ social/cultural/spiritual needs.
3. Focus groups with staff to explore their views on completing Domain 7.
Results
There is a dearth of literature on spiritual care in dementia.
Analysis revealed that the main focus in Domain 7 was on social needs such as engaging in meaningful activities and helping patients maintain social connections. Spiritual needs were mainly documented with reference to patients’ religious affiliation and associated religious rituals/practices.
Focus groups with staff revealed that they found this domain difficult to complete because they were unsure of what it meant or how to meaningfully assess and appropriately respond when patients could not make their spiritual needs and care preferences known, especially when acute episodes masked the ‘essence of the person’. Staff acknowledged that spirituality was broader than religion but found it difficult to know how to document these broader aspects and would value further education. Staff reported that Domain 7 was one of the least frequently completed domains.
Conclusion
There is need for further education of staff in addressing the spiritual aspects of dementia care.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication status | Published - 21 Sept 2017 |
| Event | 8th International Nursing and Midwifery Student Conference in Spiritual Care 2017: Spiritual Care - a resource in nursing - School of Nursing, Copenhagen, Denmark Duration: 21 Sept 2017 → 22 Sept 2017 Conference number: 8th |
Conference
| Conference | 8th International Nursing and Midwifery Student Conference in Spiritual Care 2017 |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | Denmark |
| City | Copenhagen |
| Period | 21/09/17 → 22/09/17 |
Keywords
- spirituality
- dementia
- care and treatment plans
- CTPs
- Wales
- spiritual wellbeing
