Download or read book Mental Health and Spirituality in Later Life written by Elizabeth MacKinlay and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2014-01-02 with total page 180 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Explore pastoral strategies for dealing with mental health problems! Mental health is increasingly being recognized as an important issue in later life. This valuable book will help you examine this dimension of aging in the context of pastoral, spiritual, and cultural issues. It explores the relationship between mental health, spirituality, and religion in later life, including the search for meaning, cultural issues, spiritual issues, depression, dementia, and issues of suicide in older people. The first part of Mental Health and Spirituality in Later Life focuses on theology, ethics, and cultural issues in mental health and aging. The second part addresses issues of multidisciplinary practice, including a challenging chapter written by a woman with early onset dementia (Alzheimer's) and other chapters that present perspectives on the uses and meanings of ritual and symbolism in mental health and pastoral approaches to care. Part one of Mental Health and Spirituality in Later Life deals with issues of theology, culture, and mental health in later life, focusing on: the importance of a richly textured understanding of personhood as a prerequisite for constructing a picture of late-life mental health in the context of theology the relationship between culture, spirituality, and meaning for older immigrants—and their effects on mental health the adverse effects of a mental health system that reflects only the dominant culture of a society, leaving minority cultures vulnerable to misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatments that can do more harm than good a wholistic picture of aging that moves beyond the biomedical paradigm and demonstrates the power and potential of the human spirit in adjusting to and moving beyond suffering Part two of this valuable book addresses issues of concern to practitioners in mental health and spirituality for the aging, including: disruptive behavior among nursing home residents and common practices that fail to identify its causes or address the problem how some staff/resident interactions can produce suffering for all concerned—with case study outlines that illustrate the point memory loss and its effect on spirituality, self-worth, and the faith community pastoral care for people suffering with dementia—with practical information on helping them to make use of the power of prayer and to deal with loneliness, fear, and disempowerment an insightful look at a recent major study of residents in aged care facilities in Australia that explores the link between depression and spirituality risk and protective factors associated with suicide in later life and the treatment of depression pastoral interventions for depression and dementia

Download or read book Faith and Well being in Later Life written by Amy L. Ai and published by Nova Science Publishers. This book was released on 2009 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: According to the US Census Bureau, about 40 million Americans will be age 65 or older in 2010. By the year 2040, the population of older adults in the United States (US) will double to about 80 million, with the greatest rate of increase in those aged 85 years and older. This population-ageing trend is likely to parallel the increase in the incidence of disability and chronic conditions and to bring about challenges to late life well-being. Despite advances and popularity of science and technology over the past century, national surveys have consistently recorded high rates of religious or spiritual involvement in the US, especially among older persons and disadvantaged populations. In the past decade, scientific investigation in the protective effects of faith on physical and mental health has surged. Yet, how faith factors precisely influence health-related functions and well-being in late life remains under-investigated. Clearly, more comprehensive research evidence is needed to meet ageing Americans' spiritual needs. The chapters in this book explore common topics during the later part of life, including disability, declining functioning, nursing home residency, death-and-dying, terminal illness, heart failure, major medical operation, vision impairment, and exercise and fitness. In our interdisciplinary investigations, contributors include gerontologists from various disciplines and professions (i.e., psychology, sociology, social work, theology, public health, and medicine). All these empirical studies are based on social science theories. To meet the needs of a broad array of various audiences, they also offer some evidence-based implications for practices.

Download or read book Aging and God written by William M Clements and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2014-03-05 with total page 594 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This important book examines the relationship between religion and mental health throughout the life cycle, with a special emphasis on later life. It asserts that successful aging is possible regardless of physical health or environmental circumstances, and that religious beliefs and behaviors may facilitate successful aging. Aging and God thoroughly examines the effects of religion and mental health on aging and provides a centralized resource of up-to-date references of research in the field. It focuses on recent findings, theoretical issues, and implications for clinical practice and contains ideas for further research. In Aging and God, you’ll also find information on project design that can help you develop grant applications and carry out studies. Aging and God is a helpful book for both mental health and religious professionals. It helps mental health specialists better understand the spiritual needs of older adults and the impact that religion can have on facilitating mental health. It also describes how religion can be utilized in clinical practice and integrated into psychotherapeutic approaches to older patients. The book brings religious professionals current knowledge of the major psychological problems that older adults face and how religion can be used to help alleviate these problems. Full of pertinent information, Aging and God addresses theoretical aspects of human development, focusing on cognitive, moral, and religious faith development examines situations and disorders of particular concern to older persons and looks at how religion can be used as a resource applies research findings to the problem of meeting the spiritual and mental health needs of elders with chronic or acute health problems provides an in-depth look at end-of-life issues such as physician-assisted suicide Hospital and nursing home chaplains will find this book informative and encouraging, as will gerontologists, hospital administrators, and community clergy faced with increasingly older congregations. It gives mental health professionals new strategies to help improve the later years of older adults, and makes an excellent text for courses on religion, mental health, and aging. Middle-aged and older adults, as well as their families, will also find Aging and God enjoyable and inspiring as they attempt to grapple with the myriad adjustment and coping problems associated with aging.

Download or read book Faith and Health written by Thomas G. Plante and published by Guilford Press. This book was released on 2001-08-02 with total page 440 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume reviews and integrates the growing body of contemporary psychological research on the links between religious faith and health outcomes. It presents up-to-date findings from empirical studies of populations ranging from healthy individuals to those with specific clinical problems, including cancer, HIV/AIDS, and psychological disorders. Drawing on multiple perspectives in psychology, the book examines such critical questions as the impact of religious practices on health behaviors and health risks; the role played by faith in adaptation to illness or disability; and possible influences on physiological functioning and mortality. Chapters reflect the close collaboration of the editors and contributing authors, who discuss commonalities and differences in their work, debate key methodological concerns, and outline a cohesive agenda for future research.

Download or read book Losses in Later Life Second Edition written by R. Scott Sullender and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2020-06-29 with total page 198 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Achieve faith and understanding when dealing with the loss of a loved one or a major change in your life! Losses in Later Life: A New Way Of Walking with God, Second Edition, focuses on seven major losses: loss of youth, loss of family, loss of parents, loss of work, loss of spouse, loss of health, and loss of identity. This second edition has been reworked with new research to include updated information about the loss of independence and several additional losses not discussed in the previous edition. You will explore the path to becoming a spiritually mature person who has faith and is able to grieve, let go, and release what is lost in order to live a mentally healthy and rewarding life. With this valuable book, you will explore the issues of losses in later life from an approach that integrates psychology and spirituality to help you understand that loss is an inevitable and significant factor in the lives of people over the age of 40. Discussing the dynamics of loss and grief and defining spiritual health, Losses in Later Life examines common losses of the second half of your life from a positive perspective. Caregivers and anyone interested in the psychology and spirituality of aging will find excellent help and suggestions from Losses in Later Life. This book is a necessary tool for spiritually assisting your times of grief and confusion. With proven suggestions and advice, Losses in Later Life serves to enlighten your path through the later years and enrich your soul.

Download or read book Religion Health and Aging written by Harold Koenig and published by Praeger. This book was released on 1988-12-14 with total page 254 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book presents a comprehensive and scientific review of the research during the past fifty years on the relationship between religion and health in later life. It will help professionals gain awareness of the importance of religious and spiritual variables among older people. The widespread interest in religion among today's elderly suggests its value as a coping strategy and personal resource. Unlike any other in the field, this volume synthesizes both past research and new findings, including recent unpublished data, into a model of how religion might interact with other variables to help determine adaptation to stress in later life. Religion, Health, and Aging provides substantial contributions to both the applied and academic aspects of religion and aging. With over 500 references this work brings together research findings from a wide variety of disciplines and organizes them in an easily retrievable format. The introduction provides a theoretical framework and model of interactions. Subsequent chapters address the relationship between religious beliefs and attitudes and both mental and physical health. Next investigated are the impacts on health of private religious activity, community religious involvement, and personal religious experience. A model that demonstrates how religion might interact with stress and illness in later life is presented. Actual cases exemplify the role of religion in the lives of older people facing life-threatening illness. Perspectives from the disciplines of social gerontology, geriatric medicine, and the clergy are analyzed. A review is presented of the implications of research findings for professionals working with older persons. A detailed bibliography, list of publications, and organizations to contact for further information, provide access to further resources. The appendix contains a review of the development and validation of the Springfield Religiosity Schedule, an instrument measuring religious activities, attitudes, and beliefs of the elderly. Religion, Health, and Aging will serve as a centralized resource of significant value to gerontologists, physicians in psychiatry and medicine, nurses, educators, therapists, clinical psychologists, social workers, the clergy, and others whose professional and personal lives touch older people.

Download or read book Mental Health And Well Being In Later Life written by Cattan, Mima and published by McGraw-Hill Education (UK). This book was released on 2009-05-01 with total page 201 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Offers a look at the mental health and well being issues that affect adults in later life. Taking a holistic approach to mental health and mental health promotion, this book explores the debates around what is meant by mental health and mental illness and the wider social determinants of mental health.

Download or read book New Directions in the Study of Late Life Religiousness and Spirituality written by Susan H. Mcfadden and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2014-05-01 with total page 259 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Examine the questions of “how,” “what,” and “why” associated with religiousness and spirituality in the lives of older adults! New Directions in the Study of Late Life Religiousness and Spirituality explores new ways of thinking about a topic that was once taboo but that has now attracted considerable attention from the gerontological community. It examines various approaches to methodology and definition that are used in the study of religion, spirituality, and aging. In addition, it explores the ways that gerontological research can highlight the role of religion and spirituality in the lives of older adults. The first section will introduce you to new ways of thinking about research methodology and data analysis that can be applied to studying the complexity of older adults' religious/spiritual practice and beliefs. You'll learn several approaches to the study of phenomena that are both personal and also deeply embedded in community. The second section addresses issues of definition, exploring important questions that call for critical reflection, such as: “What are we studying?” “What social and psychological influences shape our thinking about definition?” and “Do the definitions used by gerontologists match those held by older people?” The final section moves the study of religion, spirituality, and aging beyond a focus on health and mortality to examine well-being more broadly in the context of the life experiences of older adults. Here is a small sample of what you'll learn about in New Directions in the Study of Late Life Religiousness and Spirituality: structural equation modeling—a statistical method designed to capture the dynamics inherent in the passage of time feminist qualitative methods for studying spiritual resiliency in older women spirituality as a public health issue the differences between groups of older people in the way they define religion and spirituality the psychosocial implications of two types of religious orientation—“dwelling” and “seeking” older women's responses to the experience of widowhood and to the question of whether their religious beliefs were affected by the experience how social context influences our decisions and our interpretations of people's religious beliefs, behaviors, and experiences the ways that people caring for a spouse with dementia rely on religious coping a model that delineates three different ways people relate to God in coping—and a study that asks whether these types of coping produce different outcomes for caregivers how people adjust to bereavement as a function of their beliefs about an afterlife

Download or read book Religion Personality and Social Behavior written by Vassilis Saroglou and published by Psychology Press. This book was released on 2013-07-24 with total page 441 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Psychological interest in religion, in terms of both theory and empirical research, has been constant since the beginning of psychology. However, since the beginning of the 21st Century, partially due to important social and political events and developments, interest in religion within personality and social psychology has increased. This volume reviews the accumulated research and theory on the major aspects of personality and social psychology as applied to religion. It provides a high quality integrative, systematic, and rigorous review of that work, with a focus on topics that are both central in personality and social psychology and have allowed for the accumulation of solid and replicated and not impressionist knowledge on religion. The contributors are renowned researchers in the field who offer an international perspective that is both illuminating, yet neutral, with respect to religion. The volume’s primary audience are academics, researchers, and advanced students in social psychology, but it will also interest those in sociology, political sciences, and anthropology.

Download or read book Handbook of Religion and Health written by Harold G. Koenig and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2023-05-12 with total page 1113 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "The 2001 edition (1st) was a comprehensive review of history, research, and discussions on religion and health through the year 2000. The Appendix listed 1,200 separate quantitative studies on religion and health each rated in quality on 0-10 scale, followed by about 2,000 references and an extensive index for rapid topic identification. The 2012 edition (2nd) of the Handbook systematically updated the research from 2000 to 2010, with the number of quantitative studies then reaching the thousands. This 2022 edition (3rd) is the most scientifically rigorous addition to date, covering the best research published through 2021 with an emphasis on prospective studies and randomized controlled trials. Beginning with a Foreword by Dr. Howard K. Koh, former US Assistant Secretary for Health for the Department of Health and Human Services, this nearly 600,000-word volume examines almost every aspect of health, reviewing past and more recent research on the relationship between religion and health outcomes. Furthermore, nearly all of its 34 chapters conclude with clinical and community applications making this text relevant to both health care professionals (physicians, nurses, social workers, rehabilitation therapists, counsellors, psychologists, sociologists, etc.) and clergy (community clergy, chaplains, pastoral counsellors, etc.). The book's extensive Appendix focuses on the best studies, describing each study in a single line, allowing researchers to quickly locate the existing research. It should not be surprising that for Handbook for the past two decades has been the most cited of all references on religion and health"--

Download or read book Faith In The Future written by Harold Koenig and published by Templeton Foundation Press. This book was released on 2012-05-01 with total page 226 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: div After an interview in Newsweek about his book Spirituality in Patient Care and his research in religion and health, Dr. Harold Koenig became the international voice on spirituality, health, and aging. In this book, Faith in the Future, he is joined by two other experts on aging and human development. They present a compelling look at one of the most severe issues in today’s society: health care in America. How will we provide quality healthcare to older adults needing it during the next thirty to fifty years? Who will provide this care? How will it be funded? How can we establish systems of care now to be in place as demographic and health-related economic pressures mount? Alongside the sobering reality of our country’s challenges, there are reasons for optimism. Innovative programs created and maintained by volunteers and religious congregations are emerging as pivotal factors in meeting healthcare needs. Summarizing decades of scientific research and providing numerous inspirational examples and role models, the authors present practical steps that individuals and institutions may emulate for putting faith into action. “/div>

Download or read book Religious Influences on Health and Well Being in the Elderly written by K. Warner Schaie, PhD and published by . This book was released on 2004-06-15 with total page 328 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "What makes the book's approach so captivating is that each...chapter is written by a different researcher in the study of religion and health. These researchers are responsible for significant portions of the existing literature and methodologies found in this field today....The versatility of the book warrants special mention. It is effective as a survey of work that has already been done on this topic. At the same time, it serves as a wellspring of ideas for new research....This work makes a valuable contribution to the present understanding of research on religion and health. It also serves as a road map to help chart directions for future endeavors in the field."--Sociology of Religion This volume focuses on the ways in which religious institutions, religious practices, and religious organizations impact the health and well-being of older persons. Topics examined include: the conceptualization and measurement of religion in late life the relationship between religious coping and possible stress reduction the role of forgiveness as an alternate mediator how social class, gender, and race can influence the specific effect of religion and religious institutions in a diverse aging society Contributors include L. Chatters, K. Ferraro, L. K. George, E. Idler, S. McFadden, and K. Meador.

Download or read book Religion in Aging and Health written by Jeffrey S. Levin and published by SAGE Publications. This book was released on 1993-10-20 with total page 279 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: How does religion influence one′s aging and health? Religion in Aging and Health brings together key scholars and scientists from several fields to advance epidemiologic and gerontological research into the role of religion in physical and mental health, psychological well-being, and other psychosocial and health outcomes. The first part of the volume contains four chapters that provide a theoretical context for this field, and addresses such issues as hope, forgiveness, the psychodynamics of faith and belief, and coping. The second part seeks to advance the methodological sophistication of research in this area and emphasizes measurement and design issues and the study of religion, aging, and health among African Americans. With contributions from such distinguished people as Harold G. Koenig, David B. Larson, Robert Joseph Taylor, and Dan G. Blazer, Religion in Aging and Health is essential reading for all those interested in gerontology, psychology, sociology, nursing and health, and social work. "There is an extensive literature documenting the salutary effect of religion on human health and well-being. Yet, this literature is largely ignored in mainstream medicine and social science. The essays in this book take stock of the empirical studies, reflect on the reasons why they have had such little impact, and provide direction for future reflection and research." --Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease "Levin′s book lives up to its subtitle. It is a solid castigation of researchers who have long ignored the role of religion in late life mental health. . . . Anyone doing quantitative research on religion or health or aging can benefit from this book′s suggestions. . . . Author and subject indexes finish off this well-edited book." --Clinical Gerontologist "This volume is supported by thorough sets of references and by perceptive suggestions for further study and research. The time is right for a creative partnership between practical theology and social gerontology to further this debate." --Church of England Newspaper "The book′s stated purpose is to provide theoretical and methodological resources to support a growing body of research on the interactions among religion, aging, and health. Overall, the book makes a substantial contribution toward its goal. In addition, it makes a significant contribution by reviewing substantive knowledge in a number of areas related to the central topics. . . . The material is readable and jargon is kept to a minimum." --Robert C. Atchley, Director, Scripps Gerontology Center, Oxford, Ohio "These essays show that when it is conceptualized more carefully, and measured with greater precision, religiosity may be a surprisingly powerful predictor of health status and general life satisfaction, especially among the aging." --George W. Patterson in Religious Studies Review

Download or read book Finishing Well written by IAN KNOX and published by SPCK. This book was released on 2020-06-18 with total page 222 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: ‘God’s purpose for us is to show, as we get older, that he gives us his strength and, through our experiences of him, his wisdom,’ says Ian Knox. ‘God is not finished with us. In our later years we are not only to be blessed, but to be a blessing and bring a blessing.’ As we get older, some of us grow more frenetic in our anxiety to demonstrate that the force is still with us. Others withdraw, often quite abruptly. What is God’s view of ageing? The Bible has much to say, and many stories to tell, about those who did great things, those who did ordinary things well, those who prayed, those who used their gifts, those who suffered, those who went right to the end – and those who, in later years, got it absolutely wrong. How are we going to face the prospect of ageing? Will we subside, give up? Or shall we view retirement as a gift from God, an opportunity to reach out to others? Our older years are full of possibilities, not least of which is that of helping others find Christ.

Download or read book Aging and God written by Harold George Koenig and published by Routledge. This book was released on 1994 with total page 544 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This important book examines the relationship between religion and mental health throughout the life cycle, with a special emphasis on later life. It asserts that successful aging is possible regardless of physical health or environmental circumstances, and that religious beliefs and behaviors may facilitate successful aging. Aging and God thoroughly examines the effects of religion and mental health on aging and provides a centralized resource of up-to-date references of research in the field. It focuses on recent findings, theoretical issues, and implications for clinical practice and contains ideas for further research. In Aging and God, you'll also find information on project design that can help you develop grant applications and carry out studies. Aging and God is a helpful book for both mental health and religious professionals. It helps mental health specialists better understand the spiritual needs of older adults and the impact that religion can have on facilitating mental health. It also describes how religion can be utilized in clinical practice and integrated into psychotherapeutic approaches to older patients. The book brings religious professionals current knowledge of the major psychological problems that older adults face and how religion can be used to help alleviate these problems. Full of pertinent information, Aging and God addresses theoretical aspects of human development, focusing on cognitive, moral, and religious faith development examines situations and disorders of particular concern to older persons and looks at how religion can be used as a resource applies research findings to the problem of meeting the spiritual and mental health needs of elders with chronic or acute health problems provides an in-depth look at end-of-life issues such as physician-assisted suicide Hospital and nursing home chaplains will find this book informative and encouraging, as will gerontologists, hospital administrators, and community clergy faced with increasingly older congregations. It gives mental health professionals new strategies to help improve the later years of older adults, and makes an excellent text for courses on religion, mental health, and aging. Middle-aged and older adults, as well as their families, will also find Aging and God enjoyable and inspiring as they attempt to grapple with the myriad adjustment and coping problems associated with aging.

Download or read book Religion Spirituality and Aging written by Harry R Moody and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2012-12-06 with total page 366 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Learn how to make a more positive impact with your social work with the aged Religion is an important coping mechanism for many aging adults. Religion, Spirituality, and Aging: A Social Work Perspective presents the latest research that shows how religion and spirituality can improve quality of life for elders. Respected social work researchers and scholars provide insight and practical methods for fostering positive aging while also considering how spirituality and religion can affect practitioners themselves. The full range of advantages and ethical implications are discussed in clear detail from a social work viewpoint. Case studies plainly illustrate the positive impact that the inclusion of spirituality and religion in an aging person’s life may have on their physical and mental welfare. Organized social work in the early twentieth century actively tried to distance itself from its roots as a form of religious charity in favor of becoming a scientific and professional endeavor. Religion, Spirituality, and Aging once again bridges the gap between social work and spiritual matters by presenting penetrating articles that discusses the issues of the aging soul while examining ways to improve care. Creative strategies are offered to contribute to the spiritual side of aging while considering every implication and ethical question. The compilation is extensively referenced and includes helpful figures and tables to clearly illustrate data and ideas. Religion, Spirituality, and Aging discusses: the latest social work trends and attitudes toward spirituality prayer, meditation, and acts of altruism as interventions an empirical study of how social workers use religion and spirituality as an intervention ethical considerations and best practices religion and spirituality during long-term care the “Postcards to God” project dreams and their relationship to the search for meaning in later life a spiritual approach to positive aging through autobiography dementia and spirituality creating new rituals for sacred aging spiritual master Henri Nouwen’s principles of aging—and his approaches to caring for older people an interview study on elders’ spirituality and the changes manifested in their views of religion Religion, Spirituality, and Aging is a remarkable reminder that elders are our future selves. This erudite, well-reasoned examination of aging and spirituality from a social work perspective is crucial reading for social workers, human service professionals who work with the aged, and gerontology scholars.

Download or read book Methods in Religion Spirituality Aging written by James W. Ellor and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2013-10-18 with total page 257 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Since the 1971 White House Conference on Aging in the United States, the need to move from religiosity into new areas such as Spiritual Assessment and Spirituality has emerged. This movement has picked up momentum among scholars, particularly in terms of research in the area of Spirituality. While spirituality as a term is employed in many new studies, this term continues to defy the quest for a single definition and method. This book is divided into three sections. In the first the authors reflect on the philosophical and theological issues presented by these terms from a variety of both cognate and practical methodological approaches. The second section offers insights from the major professions of sociology, psychology, public health, nursing and social work. The final section offers insight and assistance to researchers and authors on specific religious traditions. This book will be important for anyone working to develop such practical tools as spiritual assessment forms to those who engage in more formal scholarly investigation.