Book contents
- Dementia and Society
- Dementia and Society
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Contributors
- Additional material
- Preface
- Chapter 1 Different Perspectives on Dementia
- Chapter 2 From History to Intervention
- Chapter 3 Personhood, Identity and Autonomy
- Chapter 4 Living Meaningfully with Dementia
- Chapter 5 Quality of Life of Persons with Dementia
- Chapter 6 Living with Dementia
- Chapter 7 Informal Care for Persons with Dementia
- Chapter 8 Risk Factors and Non-Pharmacological Prevention of Dementia
- Chapter 9 An Empowering Dementia Environment
- Chapter 10 The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Well-Being of People Living with Dementia
- Chapter 11 Care Planning and the Lived Experience of Dementia
- Chapter 12 Societal and Ethical Views on End-of-Life Decisions in Dementia
- Chapter 13 Driving and Dementia
- Chapter 14 Social and Private Costs of Dementia
- Index
- References
Chapter 4 - Living Meaningfully with Dementia
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 26 May 2022
Book contents
- Dementia and Society
- Dementia and Society
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Contributors
- Additional material
- Preface
- Chapter 1 Different Perspectives on Dementia
- Chapter 2 From History to Intervention
- Chapter 3 Personhood, Identity and Autonomy
- Chapter 4 Living Meaningfully with Dementia
- Chapter 5 Quality of Life of Persons with Dementia
- Chapter 6 Living with Dementia
- Chapter 7 Informal Care for Persons with Dementia
- Chapter 8 Risk Factors and Non-Pharmacological Prevention of Dementia
- Chapter 9 An Empowering Dementia Environment
- Chapter 10 The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Well-Being of People Living with Dementia
- Chapter 11 Care Planning and the Lived Experience of Dementia
- Chapter 12 Societal and Ethical Views on End-of-Life Decisions in Dementia
- Chapter 13 Driving and Dementia
- Chapter 14 Social and Private Costs of Dementia
- Index
- References
Summary
Meaning in life has recently grown into an important study domain within psychology, with accumulating evidence pointing to the experience of meaning as an important aspect of human functioning and a psychological strength in challenging times. It may therefore be a prime candidate for supporting the functioning of adults with dementia, but there is room for improvement in the integration of meaning in life into dementia research and practice. To facilitate progress in this area, the current chapter provides a broad introduction on meaning in life and dementia. We first discuss the state-of-the-art in meaning in life research - its conceptualization and important correlates. Next we discuss the available empirical work on the experience of meaning for people with dementia. This is followed by a reflection on how meaning in life can be understood in terms of a felt sense and a relational construction, demonstrating our societal responsibility in supporting a meaningful life for people with dementia. We end with some suggestions on how we may seek to do this.
Keywords
- Type
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- Information
- Dementia and Society , pp. 63 - 80Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2022
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