Contemplative Practices and Early-Stage Dementia

"Contemplative Practices for Persons with Early-Stage Dementia and their Family Care Partners: Fostering Well-being and Connectedness"

This study proposes to examine the feasibility and acceptability and trends in outcomes of training of persons with dementing disorders and their loved ones in contemplative practices. The project proposes to employ two meditation techniques--mindfulness and compassion--to structure interventions for persons with early-stage dementia and their family caregivers. The interventions are intended to promote positive personal and relational outcomes in the everyday lives of these dyads undergoing a prolonged and wrenching change in their lives. There have been no published efforts that focus therapeutic activities on issues of connectedness or personhood using mindfulness or compassion practices in this clinical population.

Using mixed qualitative and quantitative research methods, this innovative exploratory project will enable us to begin to address questions concerning the use and efficacy of contemplative practice for persons with early-stage dementia and their family caregivers.

Main researchers: Susan Bauer-Qu & Kenneth Hepburn, School of Nursing; Lobsang Tenzin Negi & Barbara Patterson, Dept. of Religion; James Lah, School of Medicine; Amishi Jha, University of Pennsylvania