A Narrative of Spirituality and Ageing: Reflections on the Ageing Journey and the Spiritual Dimension

Abstract

Religion, in the context of healing and health, has a long history reaching back through the millennia influencing, and being influenced by cultures and societies. More recently, spirituality has become more widely recognised as a real component of healthcare. This article presents a brief reflection of the development of knowledge and practices in spirituality and ageing from an historical perspective, before considering more recent developments in these fields. Connections between understandings of religion and spirituality are considered, and especially in Western societal contexts, touching on the growing secularization of Western societies in general, and on the rise of spirituality within societies. The focus of the article, then moves to discussion of how different disciplines within health, ageing, and theology see spirituality and religion finally moves to a consideration of ways forward in research to inform theory and practice in the fields of spirituality and ageing. Understanding the context of narrative, personal and communal, and its place in making sense of being human and being in community, is woven throughout the article.