The role of spirituality among nursing home staff caring for residents with advanced dementia: a qualitative descriptive study

BACKGROUND: Experts recommend that people with advanced dementia receive palliative care focused on comfort and quality of life and including spiritual care. While expected to provide this care, the role of spirituality in the work of staff is not known. AIMS: To explore the role of spirituality in the work of nursing home staff caring for residents with advanced dementia. METHODS: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted using interview data generated from by a parent study, Assessment of Disparities and Variation for Alzheimer's Disease Nursing Home Care at End of Life (ADVANCE) and analysed using thematic analysis. FINDINGS: Four themes described how staff perceived spirituality to influence their work to comfort, guide, protect and make meaning. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding the role of spirituality in caring for nursing home residents with advanced dementia could help identify strategies that help staff draw on their spiritual resources.