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Faith, Aging, and Dementia

Experiences of Christian, Jewish, and Non-Religious Spousal Caregivers and Older Adults

Messiah College, Grantham, USA

Research consistently documents positive relationships among religion, spirituality, and outcomes related to well-being. The purpose of this study was to determine the degree to which spousal dementia caregivers and other older adults rely on religion and spirituality as coping resources. A total of 52 Christian, Jewish, and non-religious dementia caregivers - as well as matched comparison groups of non-caregivers - were interviewed. Qualitative data analysis yielded both common themes among the three religious groups as well as themes of distinction. The findings suggest that the search for meaning and purpose during stressful life events knows no religious or spiritual borders. Even among the non-religious and non-spiritual, purpose and meaning were found in other areas, including in caring for others, in friendships, or simply in the aesthetic joys of life.

Key Words: caregiving • coping • faith • religion • spirituality

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