"A Little Bit of Their Souls": Investigating the Concept of Dignity for People Living With Dementia Using Caregivers' Blogs

Background: Dignity is an important component of quality of life and a core value of family nursing care. Few studies have explored dignity in community-dwelling adults with dementia. Methods: This study used blogs written by caregivers to explore the concept of dignity in dementia caregiving. A template analysis of blogs written by family caregivers of people with dementia was conducted. Findings: Four themes were defined a priori in relation to Jacelon's model of dignity: perceived value from others, self in relation to others, behavioral respect, and self-value. Caregivers wrote about experiences that related to each of the four a priori themes from Jacelon's model. In addition, the theme of dignity by proxy was derived from the analysis. Conclusions: By understanding the concept of dignity in the context of dementia family caregiving, interventions and services can be developed to improve family quality of life through dignifying, family-focused care.