Abstract
The definition of “spirituality” poses a variety of problems for the development of theory and research, as well as practical problems for persons interested in promoting the spiritual well-being of older adults. Although any definition of “spirituality” is problematic, a definition is proposed that comes out of the writer's clinical experience and is relevant to his understanding of the aging process in different cultural and religious contexts. Two case studies are presented to illustrate the relevance of the definition to the experience of older persons from different cultural and religious backgrounds. Reflections on the case studies suggest ways that an appropriately trained “advocate” might have helped the persons in these illustrations make changes in their situations that might have improved the quality of their lives. Material from the case studies is also used to clarify differences among terms such as “spirituality,” “religion,” “religiosity,” and “piety.” The paper proposes to be a contribution to a theoretical foundation for studying and working with “spirituality” in older adults.
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Jernigan, H.L. Spirituality in Older Adults: A Cross-Cultural and Interfaith Perspective. Pastoral Psychology 49, 413–437 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010349501085
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010349501085