Dignity Therapy and the past That Matters: Dialogues with Older People on Values and Photos

ObjectivesDignity therapy (DT) is recognized as a valid form of support for terminally ill patients who have to manage trauma and loss. Given the positive evidence associated with DT, finding ways of adapting it for the older people warrants consideration.MethodsThe study examines if DT can be improved with the use of an album of family photographs, in order to process the sense of loss of dignity and past traumas. Sixteen institutionalized participants were surveyed, via mixed methods.ResultsQuantitative data were collected with the help of the Patient Dignity Inventory, and the qualitative analysis was based on generativity documents.ConclusionResults confirmed the feasibility of this approach for this cohort.