Angela L. Smith

Spirituality and Meaning: A Qualitative Inquiry with Caregivers of Alzheimer's Disease

Abstract Alzheimers disease has been described as a complex chronic illness that is known to cause significant stress for its caregivers. It has created dramatic role alterations in families, has increasingly more biopsychosocial demands as it progresses, and often taxes caregivers to the point of compromising their own health and well-being. This study used qualitative analyses to explore the stories of Alzheimers care-givers. Of the 45 caregivers interviewed, all but nine mention an expression or significant event related to spirituality, whether religious or secular in nature. Specifically, twelve caregivers described a negative experience with their spiritual community, whereas twenty-four shared positive encounters. Findings supported the incorporation of a bio-psychosocial-spiritual model of healthcare to optimize caregiver well-being. Recommendations were given to assist family therapists in including spiritual beliefs and faith communities in the design and delivery of services.

Caregiver needs: A qualitative exploration

Abstract Alzheimers Disease is a complicated illness that has atre-mendous impact on all areas of life for both the patient and primary care-giver. This qualitative study is based on in-depth interviews with 45 primary caregivers of Alzheimers patients with mild to severe mental and physical symptoms. Caregivers offered narratives of their experience and how the disease and their interaction with multiple practitioners have impacted their lives. Spiritual, legal, financial, housing, medical, and emotional needs, concerns, and strengths were discussed. Results from this study include: (1) how the Alzheimers diagnosis and disease biopsychosocially and spiritually impacts primary caregivers, (2) how practitioners from diverse fields, family, and friends impact the caregiving experience, and (3) recommendations for mental health practitioners who wish to include a biopsychosocial approach in their system of care.

Including Families' Spiritual Beliefs and Their Faith Communities in Systems of Care

SUMMARY System of care (SOC) philosophy and principles were developed and systems of care are designed and implemented to improve the mental health services that are delivered to children and families. The identification and effective use of resources to assist families in managing their concerns and difficulties are important considerations with SOC. Flexibility including the use of traditional and non-traditional services and resources is central to SOC philosophy and practice. In terms of resource identification and utilization, the familys spiritual beliefs and their faith community are often underutilized or overlooked. Reasons for this are described in this article, along with the advantages of and strategies for including them in SOC.