Conceptualizing psychological well-being in cognitively-impaired older persons

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.