Spiritual Support for People Affected by Dementia: A Scoping Review.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Psychology
• Healthcare Research

Background:

• Dementia care necessitates a holistic approach, with spiritual support offering meaning and solace to individuals and their caregivers.
• Existing research on psychosocial interventions for spiritual support in dementia care requires systematic mapping across the disease trajectory.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically map existing research on psychosocial interventions providing spiritual support for people with dementia and their caregivers.
• To explore the breadth of research concerning spiritual support in dementia care, including interventions, service delivery, and activities.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive scoping review of electronic databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library) was conducted.
• Included studies were assessed for quality using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool and findings were interpreted with people with dementia and family caregivers.

Main Results:

• Twelve papers met eligibility criteria, reporting on interventions for people with dementia, caregivers, staff, care environments, and inclusive worship.
• Most studies were exploratory (only one RCT), with limited longitudinal data and inconsistent outcomes.
• Interventions originated from the USA, Europe, Australia, Taiwan, and Canada, primarily in community and residential care settings.

Conclusions:

• Spiritual support in dementia care should be personalized, multifaceted, and incorporate creative activities reflecting individual preferences and diverse backgrounds.
• There is a significant need for future research employing longitudinal observational and intervention designs to better track changes and improve outcomes over time.