title: Residents' and caregivers' views on spiritual care and their understanding of spiritual needs in persons with dementia: A meta-synthesis.
abstract: Aims To synthesize research that investigated how residents and caregivers view spiritual care, come to understand the spiritual needs of people with dementia, and how caregivers provide care congruent with peoples' needs. Methods and study design Meta-synthesis using Noblit and Hare's meta-ethnography. A synthesis of eight qualitative, empirical, primary studies that explored spiritual care in the context of dementia care was performed. Findings Spiritual care for persons with dementia was described in the forms of (i) performing religious rituals that provides a sense of comfort and(ii) coming to know the person, which provides opportunities to understand a person's meaning and purpose, and (iii) attending to basic needs provides an opportunity to appreciate others' vulnerability and humanness. Conclusions Spiritual care intended to help persons with dementia to express their faith and religious beliefs, and help persons with dementia experience meaning in life, connectedness to self, God/deity and other persons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Faculty of Public Health, Hedmark University College, Elverum, Norway; Department of Nursing Science, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Liv S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Ødbehr
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Social Studies, Telemark University College, Porsgrunn, Norway; Institute of Health Sciences, Centre of Caring Research-Sothern, Faculty of Health and Social Studies, Telemark University College, Porsgrunn, Norway.
authors.forename: Solveig
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hauge
authors.affiliation: Center for Psychology and Religion, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Oslo School of Theology, Ottestad, Norway.
authors.forename: Lars J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Danbolt
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Faculty of Public Health, Hedmark University College, Elverum, Norway; Department of Nursing, Nesna University College, Nesna, Norway.
authors.forename: Kari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kvigne
mesh_terms: D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D010327:Pastoral Care; D029181:Spirituality
keywords: dementia; meta-synthesis; spiritual care; spiritual needs; spirituality