Revista de Enfermagem e Cuidados

Emotional and Spiritual Pain and Suffering of Older People with End-of-Life Dementia from the Perspective of Nurses and Care Workers: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Yoshihisa Hirakawa

Although a number of studies have dealt with the emotional pain and suffering of older people with dementia, most of the research done so far has approached the topic from the standpoint of Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD) treatment. To acquire comprehensive insight into the emotional and spiritual pain and suffering of older people with end-of-life dementia beyond the scope of BPSD, we explored the emotional and spiritual pain and suffering of older people with end-of-life dementia as observed by nurses and care workers. As the results, we extracted eight dimensions of emotional and spiritual pain such as “they do not let me do the things I want to do” or “I am given medical treatment against my will”. We conclude that our results help enhance the quality of end-of-life care provided to older people with dementia who are often unable to voice their pain and suffering.