{"id":122863,"date":"2025-06-18T15:07:28","date_gmt":"2025-06-18T20:07:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/?p=122863"},"modified":"2025-06-18T15:07:30","modified_gmt":"2025-06-18T20:07:30","slug":"phd-student-explores-spiritualitys-role-in-dementia-care","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/2025\/06\/18\/phd-student-explores-spiritualitys-role-in-dementia-care\/","title":{"rendered":"PhD student explores spirituality’s role in dementia care"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Real-life experiences and personal values have inspired Peace Johnson\u2019s research into dementia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Johnson, a first-year PhD student at the UNMC College of Nursing, is currently researching the role of spirituality in dementia patients \u2013 a topic close to her heart as an African American, a Christian and someone who has firsthand experience with dementia and the challenges that come along with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy identity profoundly shapes my commitment to studying my community,\u201d she said. \u201cWhen I hear about dementia, I often envision it as an issue affecting other races and ethnicities, unaware that we, as African Americans, are actually twice as likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer\u2019s disease and related dementia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese realizations not only drive my research but also deepen its significance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Johnson said she specifically chose to focus on spirituality because it is a tenant of treatment through nursing, but one that sometimes gets pushed aside with dementia patients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNursing is about treating physical ailments, nurturing the whole person, and caring for their emotional, social and spiritual needs,\u201d she said. \u201cSpiritual care is often not included in initial care plans; it tends to be viewed as optional or provided only when deemed necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI seek to reintegrate and emphasize the profound significance of spirituality in nursing practice for those living with dementia, especially in African Americans.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She said one of the ways she hopes to accomplish this is by adapting Burkhart and Hogan\u2019s theory of spiritual care into nursing practice. This involves a two-tiered approach to spiritual care for individuals with dementia at nursing and organizational levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While her research is \u201cin the early stages,\u201d Johnson said she\u2019s had the opportunity to meet researchers with a similar focus, as well as African Americans living with dementia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her ambitions have led to a recognition, including receiving a Kinman-Oldfield Family Foundation Nancy and Ronald Reagan Alzheimer\u2019s Scholarship for 2025. She said that while she appreciates the award, it serves more as motivation to continue her groundbreaking work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis recognition is not a personal achievement, but a call to action for all of us as scholars in this field,\u201d she said. \u201cIt is a unique opportunity to honor president Reagan\u2019s legacy through my commitment to research, innovation and compassionate care.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Real-life experiences and personal values have inspired Peace Johnson\u2019s research into dementia. Johnson, a first-year PhD student at the UNMC College of Nursing, is currently researching the role of spirituality in dementia patients \u2013 a topic close to her heart as an African American, a Christian and someone who has firsthand experience with dementia and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":139,"featured_media":122864,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"92216,117872,114541,121587,116935,115047","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-122863","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","author_override-greg-forbes-unmc-college-of-nursing"],"yoast_head":"\nPhD student explores spirituality's role in dementia care<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Real-life experiences and personal values have inspired Peace Johnson\u2019s research into dementia. 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