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Synopsis
Spirituality and Ageing presents the experience of ageing as an opportunity for spiritual reflection and affirmation of life. The contributors are religious and spiritual leaders and ethical thinkers from a range of different backgrounds. They define 'spirituality' not just as a religious concept but as the fulfilment of the universal human need for purpose, values and relationships - a sense of wholeness in life.
This spiritual dimension helps people face the emotional and psychological challenges of growing older, such as memory loss, dementia, bereavement and fear of death. Existing systems of social care often focus on the material and physical needs of older people; this collection proposes that the spiritual needs of older people are as vital a consideration for their welfare. Through their spirituality, older people can attain a fuller appreciation and understanding of life, which can also inform and enrich the lives of others.
Spirituality and Ageing
Deborah Kuhn Bruley
This is an easy-to-read, multi-perspective collection of essays, devotionals, practical tips, and overviews of selected religions, written by clergy, university professors, and ethicists. The stated purpose is to provide "varied approaches to spirituality in aging." Many religious perspectives are seen, including Methodist, Russian Orthodox, Jewish, Roman Catholic, Anglican, Episcopal, Quaker, Hindu, Sikh, and Muslim. The audience is clergy and lay pastoral workers, social workers, and older persons themselves. The editor also wants to provide a "framework of spirituality" to be used by social workers assessing spiritual needs as well as pastoral care providers. Almost one-third of the book deals with dementia. Throughout, many of the contributors seem to equate aging primarily with loss of function, memory, and relationships. However, a few of the authors are very upbeat, including Ursula King in her chapter "Spirituality, Aging and Gender." The most scholarly chapter, with the most current and varied references, is Shirley Firth's "Spirituality and Age in British Hindus, Sikhs, and Muslims." This chapter is also interesting because of its many passages quoting Hindus, Sikhs, and Muslims interviewed by Firth. Some chapters, notably Crampsey's "The Lord's Prayer: A Prayer of the Aging," are more devotional in tone, and could be used as part of a prayer and meditation time. In stark contrast is Treetops's "The Memory Box," with its practical guidelines and instructions for assembling items to spark reminiscences in the elderly whose memory is fading. This book is very uneven in its tone, subject matter, usefulness, and quality of writing. The index format is confusing anddifficult to use. Nurses might find Barnum's Spirituality in Nursing: From Traditional to New Age, (Springer Publishing, 1996) more helpful; and those persons caring for the demented would find Hellen's Alzheimer's Disease: Activity-Focused Care, 2nd Edition (Butterworth-Heinemann, 1998) more informative and useful. However, portions of this book are thought-provoking.