Cognitive Decline: Seniors Yearning For Purpose

The mystery of human existence lies not in just staying alive, but in finding something to live for.  

~Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Finding something to live for. It’s so true. Everyone needs to have a purpose in life, and as we age, that need doesn’t dissipate. As we reach our golden years, perhaps it even grows in importance.

Study Pinpoints Connection

According to a paper published last year in the Archives of General Psychiatry, having a reason to wake up in the morning might be even more critical than we imagined. Rush University Medical Center researchers have identified a correlation between life purpose and cognitive decline in individuals already showing biological changes indicative of Alzheimer’s Disease. Over the course of this study, the subjects with a greater purpose in life showed up to a 30% lower rate of cognitive decline than those scoring lower on the life purpose scale.

Finding a Purpose

Even during the late stages of Alzheimer’s, there was a lengthy spell where my mom would get up after dinner and clear the dishes. One by one, she would rinse and put them into the dishwasher. When she finished, she would wring out the washcloth and wipe off the counter top. For me, it brought back found memories of her in her own kitchen where she loved spending time.
No one asked her to clean up the dishes or showed her what to do. Mom clearly wanted to contribute, and although she couldn’t tell us, I’m sure clearing the dishes after each meal made her feel useful. One great advantage to the residential care home model is that residents can do these things, and I truly believe it significantly increases their quality of life. We all need to have a purpose, and as the latter stages of Alzheimer’s take hold, that might be as simple as helping out in the kitchen, folding towels, or even helping care for a pet or tending to a patio garden.
The importance of finding meaning in life is nothing new. In his book, Man’s Search For Meaning, WWII concentration camp survivor and Austrian psychiatrist Victor Frankl noted that the individuals who fared best under these horrific conditions were those that believed they had a mission or purpose that required their survival.

Does What I Do Matter?

Late one night, in my mom’s last few weeks of life, I listened to a particularly poignant conversation that remains etched in my mind. With everyone settled in for the evening, one of the ladies (I’ll call her Helen) wheeled her chair out into the living room. As had become a nightly routine, she asked the overnight caregiver the usual questions: Where am I? Why am I here? How long have I been here?
Wearing an expression of concern on her face, it was obvious that Helen was not quite satisfied with the answers she was getting. Finally she asked very pointedly, “What do I do all day?”
“Well, you keep busy visiting with the other ladies and doing puzzles. Sometimes we play cards…” the caregiver began.
“Yes, but do I do anything useful?” Helen asked. With that question, it felt as though time stood still.
Let’s face it, no matter our age, background or condition we yearn to have a purpose. When that dear lady, a college graduate and successful career woman asked if she did anything useful, it just broke my heart. It was a clear reminder that as long as we are able, we all want to make a difference…

(Courtesy: A Place for Mom)