title: Conceptualizing psychological well-being in cognitively-impaired older persons.
abstract: This article addresses a neglected area within nursing knowledge development: appropriate conceptual frameworks for guiding care of institutionalized, cognitively-impaired elders. Following a review of possible conceptual frameworks, psychological well-being, as defined by Lawton (1983), is proposed as an appropriate framework for guiding knowledge development and care of this elderly population. Two aspects of psychological well-being, positive and negative affect, may be appropriate indicators of the concept in cognitively-impaired elders. Instruments for measurement of psychological well being are also discussed. The implications of using psychological well-being as a conceptual basis for both research and nursing care are presented.
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Burgener
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chiverton
mesh_terms: D000339:Affect; D000368:Aged; D015400:Clinical Nursing Research; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D005851:Geriatric Nursing; D006801:Humans; D007326:Institutionalization; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011788:Quality of Life