Spiritual practices for dementia care of Black persons: An integrative review

It is crucial to identify practices that effectively meet the unique spiritual needs of Black persons living with dementia. Currently, ≈ 7 million individuals in the United States are affected by dementia, a figure that is expected to rise alarmingly to nearly 13 million by 2050. National statistics indicate that Black persons are twice as likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias as Whites. Health care often focuses on physical health at the expense of addressing the person's holistic needs, including emotional and spiritual well-being. This review focuses on literature related to spiritual practices for dementia care in a specific population, Black persons living with dementia. The Whittemore and Knafl framework was used for this integrative review. Findings are summarized through the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Nine studies met the inclusion criteria. Three main thematic categories were found: (1) Transformative faith-based programs to address the spiritual needs of Black persons living with dementia, (2) spiritual practices adapted to support caregiving experiences, and (3) spiritual practices tailored to both caregivers and the Black persons living with dementia. While caring for caregivers is important, it is equally crucial to focus on the unique challenges faced by individuals living with dementia. Most of the programs highlighted in this review aim to improve caregiving experiences. There is a lack of literature dedicated to developing practices specifically for individuals diagnosed with the disease. A notable gap exists in targeted practices that meet the unique spiritual needs of Black persons living with dementia. Future research should focus on developing spiritual interventions that address these essential needs.