Spirituality, Religion, and Aging

Foreword Preface About the Author Invitation PART I * PRINCIPLES OF SPIRITUALITY AND RELIGION FOR GERONTOLOGICAL PRACTICE Chapter 1 * The Importance of Spirituality and Religion for Gerontology Aging in a Postmodern Time Practical and Orienting Definitions Portrait of Religion and Aging in the United States The Demographics of Old Age Intersectionalities Among Spirituality, Gender Identity, and Older Age A Brief History of Spirituality Across Disciplines Assumptions About Religion and Spirituality The Legacy of Aging in Modern Times New Directions Clinical Aspects of Later-Life Spiritual Journeys Summary Questions for Discussion Introduction to Meditation Exercises Meditation: Breath Exploring Your Spirituality: Introduction Exploring Your Spirituality: Basic Questions Exploring Your Spirituality: Connect With Nature Websites Chapter 2 * Defining Religion and Spirituality: Professional and Practical Philosophies Shifting Foundations Religion and Spirituality: What Do They Mean? Who or What Is God? Professional Definitions of Religion Background of Spirituality and Its Relevance for Aging Other Aspects: Existential Well-Being, Spiritual Well-Being, Spiritual Suffering, and Spiritual Care Spirituality, Standards of Care, and the Professions Summary Case Study: Spiritual Suffering and Spiritual Crisis Questions for Discussion Meditation: Relaxation, Also Known as Body Scan Assignment: Interview an Older Adult Exploring Your Spirituality: Objects of Meaning and Memory Websites Recommended Reading Chapter 3 * Values and Ethics With Older Adults Empathy, Compassion, or Sympathy Virtue Ethics Religion and Ethics Spiritual and Existentialist/Humanist Ethics Nonviolence and Interreligious Harmony Ethical Theory for Practice in Brief Value Dimensions for Practice Boundaries in Ethical Practice End-of-Life Ethics End-of-Life Case Intergenerational Ethics The Rights of Older Adults Madrid International Plan of Action on Aging, 2002 and Beyond Generosity, Spiritual Wealth, and Service Summary Questions for Discussion Meditation: Changing of the Seasons Exploring Your Spirituality: Spiritual-Ethical Will Exploring Your Spirituality: Vision Exploring Your Spirituality: Scent Websites Recommended Reading Chapter 4 * Religion and Spirituality in Theory Why Does Theory Matter? Social Gerontology Perspectives and Theories Theories of Individual Behavior Developmental and Transpersonal Theorists Humanism Transpersonal Psychology Theories of Positive Aging, Successful Aging, and Strengths Theory Integration Summary Case Study: Letha Bainbridge Questions for Discussion Meditation: The Tree That Was Planted the Day You Were Born Exploring Your Spirituality: Developing a Spiritual History Exploring Your Spirituality: Defining a Peak Experience Websites Recommended Reading Chapter 5 * Religion and Older Adults Judaism Christianity American Indian Religion/Spirituality Islam Hinduism Buddhism Confucianism Daoism Integration of Religious Philosophies and Aging Summary Questions for Discussion Assignment: Framing the Landscape of Religious Ritual Assignment: Sacred Spaces Exercise Meditation: Present Moment Awareness Exploring Your Spirituality: Rhythm and Movement Exploring Your Spirituality: Pilgrimage Websites Recommended Reading PART II * PRACTICE DIMENSIONS OF SPIRITUALITY AND RELIGION IN AGING Chapter 6 * Spirituality and Religion in Clinical Assessment What's Important About Religion and Assessment? Mental Health Assessment The Clinical Assessment Process With Spirituality Clinical Assessment Protocols Rapid Assessment Instrument Protocols Spiritual Distress Assessment Summary Questions for Discussion Meditation: Focused Attention Exploring Your Spirituality: Discernment Exploring Your Spirituality: Emotional Mindfulness Exploring Your Spirituality: Composition of the Place Website Recommended Reading Chapter 7 * Religious and Spiritual Interventions With Clients Section 1: Philosophical Approaches to Therapy With Older People Section 2: Mid-Range Interventions of Care Section 3: Micro-Level Individual Spiritual Care Activities Summary Questions for Discussion Meditation: Bringing Yourself Together Exploring Your Spirituality: The Labyrinth Exploring Your Spirituality: Building Intentional Spiritual Places Websites Recommended Reading Chapter 8 * Spirituality, Religion, and Health Definitions of Health Aging and the Body: Failing Health Historical Views on Religion and Health From Holistic Historical Renderings to Modern Cultural Health Considerations Suffering Views of Health From Religious Perspectives Research on the Intersections Between Religion and Health Caregiving Prayers, Rituals, and Symbols Hope, Meaning/Purpose, and Mental Health Summary Case Study: Health and Spirituality Questions for Discussion Meditation: Taste Exploring Your Spirituality: Touch Exploring Your Spirituality: Taste and Savoring Websites Recommended Reading Chapter 9 * Spirituality in Emotion, Depression, and Anxiety Emotions and Their Meaning Emotion and the Sacred Indicators and Etiology of Depression Depression Types Depression as Cultural Marker Epidemiology Eudaimonia Other Depression-Like States: Demoralization, Desolation and the Dark Night of the Soul, and Despair Research Related to Depression and Religion Interventions Spiritual Interventions and Depression/Desolation Anxiety Anxiety Interventions Summary Case Study: Depression and Spirituality Questions for Discussion Meditation: Self-Compassion With Movement Exploring Your Spirituality: Regret Exploring Your Spirituality: Fighting Fear Exploring Your Spirituality: Gratitude Websites Recommended Reading Chapter 10 * Memory, Dementia, and Spiritual Care Memory and Growing Older Types of Dementia and Behavioral Indicators Delirium, Depression, Thyroid, Vitamin Deficiencies, Alcoholism, and Other Temporary Causes of Dementia Prevalence of Dementia Disclosure of AD and Related Dementia: A Counseling Concern Another Perspective on Dementia Spirituality and the Self Understanding Need-Driven, Dementia-Compromised Behavior Literature Related to Spiritual Aspects of Dementia and Dementia Care Practice Religious and Spiritual Practice Principles for the Person With Dementia Arts-Based Interventions Summary Questions for Discussion Meditation: Walking Exploring Your Spirituality: Sound Exploring Your Spirituality: Tonglen Practice to Increase Compassion Websites Recommended Reading: Information for Professionals Recommended Reading: Memoirs on Dementia Chapter 11 * Spirituality at the End of Life The Nature of Dying Spirituality at the End of Life: Historical Context Older Adults in Hospice Care Modern Palliative and Hospice Care National Consensus Project Guidelines A Spiritual Care Model Spiritual Care at the End of Life: Spiritual Practices Communication at the End of Life Summary Questions for Discussion Assignment: Spirituality, Religion, and Loss Meditation: Refreshing the Senses Exploring Your Spirituality: Creating Your Own Obituary- An Opportunity for Reflection Exploring Your Spirituality: Plan Your Memorial or Funeral Service Exploring Your Spirituality: A Meeting With Death Websites Recommended Reading Chapter 12 * Integration Integration of Religion and Spirituality With Professional Practice Functions of Religion Trends in Spirituality A Practical Philosophy or Practical Theology Spiritual Orientation Dissimilarity Between Client and Practitioner Working With Spiritual Unease and Distress in Disasters Evaluation Interprofessional Practice and Spirituality Self-Care and Mindfulness: Spiritual Awareness Contemplative Practices for Renewal Self-Compassion A Personal Note on the Challenge of Spiritual Integration Summary Questions for Discussion Meditation: Color Exploring Your Spirituality: Balance and Equipoise Exploring Your Spirituality: Self-Integration Websites Recommended Reading Chapter 13 * Lessons for Building Spiritual Resilience and Epilogue Section 1: Lessons For Building Resilience Section 2: Epilogue Benediction Parting Thoughts Questions for Discussion Assignment: Visioning Meditation: A Meditation With Music-The Great Bell Chant Meditation: A Meditation With Movement-Five Ages Dancing Meditation: A Meditation Using Hands or Fingers Meditation: MBSR Mindfulness Eight-Week Course Exploring Your Spirituality: Working With Light Exploring Your Spirituality: Participation and Reciprocity Exploring Your Spirituality: Laughter and Joy Website Recommended Reading Appendix: Older Adult Definitions References Index

"Professor Holly Nelson-Becker's groundbreaking book provides a holistic framework of knowledge, values, and clinical practices that promote gerontological practitioners' comfort and competence to address spirituality and religion. Her subtitle key word 'illuminations' is apropos. Nelson-Becker deftly integrates understandings from social work, nursing, psychology, counseling, health sciences, chaplaincy, and other fields to craft an interdisciplinary approach that is sensitive to the vulnerabilities and strengths of aging and dying that reveal, as she said, "openings for light." She synergizes profound insights with practical daily life realities. She presents these insights with scientific acumen and poetic sensibility. All of this is supported by her extensive experience as a clinician, researcher, educator, and pastoral minister. The resulting approach to gerontological practice respects diverse religious and nonreligious expressions of clients' spiritual journeys and supports the professional and spiritual growth of clinicians. I enthusiastically recommend this book." -- Edward R. Canda, Director of the Spiritual Diversity Initiative "Religion and spirituality play an important role in the lives of older adults. This book will be an important resource to aid helping professionals to become more aware of this fact and integrate this awareness in their work. The book will also be helpful to clergy and chaplains who frequently provide care to older adults and their loved one but rarely have any training in gerontology. The book includes helpful discussions of important topics including spiritual assessment, care for those with dementia and care at the end of life." -- George Fitchett "Spirituality is a vital part of aging and this book is a comprehensive resource providing both theoretical and clinical insight to understand the complex aspects of spirituality for older people. The text is an outstanding guide for all disciplines." -- Betty Ferrell "In this essential and insightful book for our times, Holly Nelson-Becker draws upon current research and scholarship regarding spirituality, religion, and aging from a range of disciplines and shares stories, examples, and anecdotes from her own work with older adults and their families. Readers will appreciate this approach of bringing together findings from scientific research and insights from practice and presenting them in an easy to understand language and style. One of the key strengths of this book is its accessibility and applicability for practitioners. Although high-quality research is being conducted and published, oftentimes this work is not reaching health practitioners, social workers, and therapists who are serving older adults and their caregivers. This book has the potential to connect research and practice audiences around these important topics. Given the continuing increase in the population of older adults from varied ethnic and cultural backgrounds and the spiritual and religious challenges they experience, the book includes a continuing discussion of diverse faith traditions and their implications for mental health practitioners. Another important strength of the book is its emphasis on active learning. Each chapter includes discussion questions, meditation exercises, spiritual exercises, and case studies aimed at engaging readers in using what they are learning. Internet and other resources are also included to help interested readers in obtaining additional information on topics of their interest. These pedagogical features further contribute to the books' overall goal of preparing students and health care providers to address psychological and spiritual needs of older people from varied ethnic and cultural backgrounds. This text is a timely and relevant contribution to the growing body of work on spirituality, religion, and aging that has the potential to further knowledge, have meaningful impact for multiple audiences, and ultimately improve the lives of older adults." -- Chandra M. Mehrotra, PhD Occasionally, I read a book that illustrates what can happen when clinical experience meets research and scholarship meets compassion and wisdom. When these all come together, you have a work that appeals to practitioners, educators, students, and those we seek to serve. Each of the chapters could stand alone as a journal article-taken together, they provide a blueprint for spirituality in older adults. -- Stanley G. McCracken, Ph.D., LCSW, RDDP