Meaningfulness and quality of end of life for people with dementia: a systematic review and 'best-fit' framework synthesis.
Introduction Dementia poses a unique challenge to traditional models of a 'good death'. Understanding what makes the dying process 'meaningful' offers a more nuanced approach to improving experiences at the end of life. Aim To develop a conceptual framework for meaningful dying in dementia. Methods...
| Publicado en: | Age & Ageing Vol. 55; no. 2; pp. 1 - 16 |
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| Autores principales: | , , , , |
| Formato: | Artículo |
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Oxford University Press / USA
Feb2026
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| Acceso en línea: | Ver este registro en EBSCOhost |
| fields | @attributes: recordID: 1 pdfLink: plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ssf&AN=192513160&site=ehost-live header: @attributes: shortDbName: ssf uiTerm: 192513160 longDbName: Social Sciences Full Text (H.W. Wilson) uiTag: AN controlInfo: bkinfo: jinfo: jid: 00020729 AGA jtl: Age & Ageing issn: 00020729 maglogo: N pubinfo: dt: Feb2026 vid: 55 iid: 2 pid: 622 pub: Oxford University Press / USA artinfo: ui: 192513160 10.1093/ageing/afag032 ppf: 1 ppct: 15 formats: tig: atl: Meaningfulness and quality of end of life for people with dementia: a systematic review and 'best-fit' framework synthesis. aug: au: Gabb, Liam T Williamson, Lesley E Evans, Catherine J Owen, Gareth Sleeman, Katherine E affil: Cicely Saunders Institute, King's College London, Bessemer Road, London SE5 9PJ, UK Cicely Saunders Institute, King's College London, Bessemer Road, London SE5 9PJ, UKPalliative Care, Brighton General Hospital, Sussex Community National Health Service Trust, Elm Grove, Brighton BN2 3EW, UK Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK su: Attitudes toward death Palliative treatment Social workers Respect Dignity Social worker attitudes Quality of life Spirituality Sociodemographic factors Psychology of caregivers Interpersonal relations Patients' attitudes Patient participation Treatment of dementia CINAHL database Descriptive statistics Systematic reviews MEDLINE Conceptual structures Attitudes of medical personnel Dementia Human comfort Caregiver attitudes Psychology information storage & retrieval systems Dementia patients sug: subj: Attitudes toward death Palliative treatment Social workers Respect Dignity Social worker attitudes Quality of life Spirituality Sociodemographic factors Psychology of caregivers Interpersonal relations Patients' attitudes Patient participation Treatment of dementia CINAHL database Descriptive statistics Systematic reviews MEDLINE Conceptual structures Attitudes of medical personnel Dementia Human comfort Caregiver attitudes Psychology information storage & retrieval systems Dementia patients keyword: concept formulation copyrightHolder:British Geriatrics Society copyrightYear:2026 good death https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afag032 inLanguage:en meaningfulness older people palliative care patient participation publisher:Oxford University Press qualitative research sameAs:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41734101/ terminally ill concept formulation copyrightHolder:British Geriatrics Society copyrightYear:2026 good death https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afag032 inLanguage:en meaningfulness older people palliative care patient participation publisher:Oxford University Press qualitative research sameAs:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41734101/ terminally ill ab: Introduction Dementia poses a unique challenge to traditional models of a 'good death'. Understanding what makes the dying process 'meaningful' offers a more nuanced approach to improving experiences at the end of life. Aim To develop a conceptual framework for meaningful dying in dementia. Methods A qualitative systematic review drawing on five databases, and 'best-fit' framework synthesis. Reported in line with PRISMA guidelines and GRADE-CERQual assessment of confidence. Qualitative and mixed-methods studies were identified that explored concepts related to quality of end of life in dementia. Framework selection was derived from theories of meaningfulness, a good death and personhood in dementia. The conceptual framework was refined working with people affected by dementia. Results Sixty studies, from 16 countries, were included. Five central themes were generated: '1. Changing identity', '2. Bodily comfort', '3. Connection & relationships', '4. Recognition of spiritual self' and '5. Contribution & legacy'. Underpinning and surrounding these were two themes: '6. Respecting the person & maintaining dignity', and '7. Finding coherences & making sense'. This final theme facilitates overarching sense-making, allowing for the conflicts and tensions between the other themes to be reconciled. Discussion 'Meaningful dying' emphasises making sense of the dying experience as a whole. By contextualising what is happening within the story of the individual, it facilitates personal dignity in the face of potentially unavoidable suffering. The framework provides conceptual guidance for making decisions on behalf of someone with dementia towards the end of life when mental capacity may be lost. pubtype: Academic Journal doctype: Article src: R language: English refInfo: copyright: @attributes: flag: N holdings: @attributes: islocal: N |
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