Abstract
Demographic changes have placed age-related mental health disorders at the forefront of public health challenges over the next three decades worldwide. Within the context of cognitive impairment and neurocognitive disorders among elderly people, the fragmentation of the self is associated with existential suffering, loss of meaning and dignity for the patient, as well as with a significant burden for the caregiver. Psychosocial interventions are part of a person-centered approach to cognitive impairment (including early stage dementia and dementia). Dignity therapy (DT) is a therapeutic intervention that has been shown to be effective in reducing existential distress, mood, and anxiety symptoms and improving dignity in persons with cancer and other terminal conditions in palliative care settings. The aims of this paper were: (i) To briefly summarize key issues and challenges related to care in gerontology considering specifically frail elderly/elderly with cognitive decline and their caregivers; and (ii) to provide a narrative review of the recent knowledge and evidence on DT in the elderly population with cognitive impairment. We searched the electronic data base (CINAHL, SCOPUS, PSycInfo, and PubMed studies) for studies regarding the application of DT in the elderly. Additionally, given the caregiver’s role as a custodian of diachronic unity of the cared-for and the need to help caregivers to cope with their own existential distress and anticipatory grief, we also propose a DT-dyadic approach addressing the needs of the family as a whole.
Highlights
Demographic changes have placed mental health, quality of life (QoL), and levels of functioning in the elderly at the forefront [1,2]
Recent findings regarding the effectiveness of Dignity Therapy (DT) in the main filed of its application, namely end of life and palliative care, will be introduced as a premise to the following review on DT applied in gerontology
As Chochinov [13] indicated, that the introduction of DT to the geriatric population is fraught with challenges since elderly individuals may not typically perceive themselves to be dying, leaving it uncertain whether the intervention resonates as meaningful or fitting, and cognitive impairment should be evaluated in terms of having the chance to respond accurately and reflectively on a broad range of important and meaningful issues
Summary
Demographic changes have placed mental health, quality of life (QoL), and levels of functioning in the elderly at the forefront [1,2]. In Europe, where 30% of the population will be over 65 by 2050 [3], the impact of psychological disorders very common in old age, such as depression, anxiety, and somatoform disorders, are growing public health concerns [4,5,6]. These aspects are even more marked if we consider the problem of cognitive impairment and neurocognitive disorders (mild to moderate dementia and dementia), since these conditions markedly increase vulnerability and dependency and decrease the individual’s sense of self and dignity [7,8].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
