title: Older adults with Alzheimer's disease in a faith community.
abstract: In the first phase of this study, focus groups were conducted with 12 clergy to explore how to meet the needs of Alzheimer's disease patients and their families. The clergy reported that although they do reach out to these families, they have not received formal training, so they often do not know what families need. Members of their congregations who are trained in working with Alzheimer's patients need to partner with the clergy in reaching out to these families. Although this article mainly focuses on the clergy's perspective, in the second phase of the study, caregivers and early-stage Alzheimer's patients were asked to describe their experiences of spiritual connections related to Alzheimer's disease.
authors.affiliation: Social Work Department, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA. ctompkin@gmu.edu
authors.forename: Catherine j
authors.initials: Cj
authors.lastname: Tompkins
authors.forename: Jeanne M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Sorrell
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D001294:Attitude to Health; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D002977:Clergy / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006379:Helping Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010327:Pastoral Care; D011361:Professional Competence / Q000592:standards; D024382:Professional Role / Q000523:psychology; D033303:Protestantism / Q000523:psychology; D012068:Religion and Medicine; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012944:Social Support; D029181:Spirituality