transpersonal aspects of advanced dementia

People with advanced dementia likely face existential and spiritual issues similar to those with other life-limiting illnesses and may experience spiritual distress, yet professional carers often lack the skills to assess and address these needs, leading to inadequate spiritual care. Interviews with seven professional carers in the U.K. and thematic analysis suggest that trauma-informed care and innovative support are needed. A broader conceptualization of spirituality should be embedded in care practice to reflect diversity and acknowledge exceptional human experiences. The potential for transpersonal development in people with diminished cognition and therapeutic use of non-ordinary states of consciousness require further investigation.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Individuals with life-limiting illnesses contend with pressing existential and spiritual issues and may experience spiritual distress. Dementia is a life-limiting neurocognitive illness, but there is poor knowledge of the existential and spiritual needs of people in the advanced stages. Professional carers often lack the knowledge, skills, and confidence to assess and address these needs. Consequently, people with advanced dementia generally receive inadequate spiritual care. This research, employing the method of Intuitive Inquiry, explored the existential and spiritual needs of people with advanced dementia by interviewing seven professional carers in the U.K. and analysing the data using thematic content analysis. The findings suggest that individuals with advanced dementia likely contend with existential and spiritual issues just as others with life-limiting illnesses do and can experience spiritual distress. Trauma-informed care and innovative ways of supporting them is needed. A wider conceptualisation of spirituality requires embedding in care practice is required to reflect spiritual diversity and acknowledge that people with advanced dementia may have exceptional human experiences. The capacity of people with diminished cognition for transpersonal development, and the potential therapeutic use of non-ordinary states of consciousness, requires further investigation.