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SPIRITUALITY AND HEALTHY AGING Lee Poe, MS, LPC-S [email protected] OBJECTIVES 1: Provide a list of characteristics viewed as part of Aging Well 2: Define a perspective on Spiritual Health 3: Understand how Healthy Spirituality can help encourage Healthy Aging SPIRITUALITY OR RELIGION? Spirituality is a much broader topic when you consider all the ways it can manifest in different people’s lives Religion can be seen as specific representation of one’s spiritual beliefs and practices SPIRITUALITY Connection to that which is sacred, the transcendent. The transcendent is that which is outside of the self, and yet also within the self Often called God in western cultures Intimately connected to the supernatural extends beyond organized religion (and begins before it) RELIGION Involves beliefs, practices, and rituals related to the transcendent (God, Allah, Higher Power, Ultimate Truth, etc.) Adherents usually have specific beliefs about life after death and rules about conduct Includes not only beliefs, but also behaviors, rituals and ceremonies Usually involves an organized system of beliefs, practices, and symbols designed to: facilitate closeness to the transcendent foster an understanding of one’s relationship and responsibility to others THE OBVIOUS OVERLAP Researchers have long understood the overlap between these definitions and consequently, you will often find the designation R/S in research articles TRAITS OF HEALTHY SPIRITUALITY Provides some sense of self-worth and opportunity for redemption Provides a sense of awe or wonder Provides a means of connection with others Provides a means of connection with God Provides a sense of meaning in existence Provides a reason to hope and persevere Provides a framework for love Provides both boundaries and an openness to enjoy life Provides a reason for gratitude Adapted from Traits of a Healthy Spirituality by Melannie Svoboda, SND IMPORTANCE OF R/S AND HEALTH “As biomedicine makes enormous contributions to the cure of disease, there is widespread concern that medicine may be losing its soul. When technology, bureaucracy, and commercialization impinge upon the doctor patient relationship, the satisfaction of patients, and the morale of their physicians decline. Within this context, interest continues to grow in the deeply felt moral and spiritual dimensions of medicine. Americans spend about $1.5 billion annually on books on spirituality and religion, and about 40% have sought out complementary and alternative therapies. Medline contains 5000 citations on spirituality in relation to health research. (Continued on next slide) IMPORTANCE OF R/S AND HEALTH Recognizing the relevance of spirituality to patient care, national agencies and policy organizations such as the JCAHO (Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations) have mandated attention to patient spirituality as part of routine clinical care.” Dr. John Peteet, a psychiatrist at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston and an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School Online interview at http://projects.iq.harvard.edu/rshm/soul-medicine FEATURES OF HEALTHY AGING Physical Health Financial Security Productivity and employment Independence and autonomy Effective Coping Behaviors Optimistic Outlook Involvement with activities and other people HARVARD STUDY OF ADULT DEVELOPMENT “More recently, the study’s aging subjects have shown that one’s situation at age 50 has more to do with one’s health and happiness at 70 than what happened earlier in life. And surprisingly, the quality of vacations younger in life — a measure of the ability to play — is a better indicator of late-life happiness than income.” “The study highlights both controllable and uncontrollable factors that affect healthy aging. While there’s not much someone can do about parents’ social class, early family stability, or ancestors’ longevity, a person certainly has a say over whether to smoke, abuse alcohol, exercise, and keep weight down. The study also highlights the importance of a healthy, stable marriage to late-life happiness and underlines the importance of having mature coping mechanisms for the adversity sure to come.” Harvard Gazette February 2, 2012 http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2012/02/decoding-keys-to-a-healthy-life/ SPIRITUALITY AND PHYSICAL HEALTH Almost all R/S systems promote good habits when it comes to moderation, limitations on alcohol consumption, and other behaviors 1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” Ephesians 5:18 ESV And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit R/S AND FINANCIAL SECURITY Most R/S systems promote careful management of finances and compassion for the needy Proverbs 6:6-8 ESV “Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.” 1 Timothy 5:8 ESV “But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” R/S AND PRODUCTIVITY Colossians 3:23 ESV “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” Ephesians 4:28 ESV “Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.” R/S AND COPING/POSITIVE OUTLOOK Philippians 4:6-7 ESV “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Jeremiah 29:11 ESV “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” R/S AND STAYING INVOLVED Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” CONCLUSION Healthy Spirituality has at least an indirect positive impact on Healthy Aging by encouraging positive mental state, healthy behaviors and positive social interaction Healthy Spirituality can positively impact attitudes about end of life issues and personal self worth Healthy Spirituality can help people to evaluate their past differently, find redemption for failures, and see potential for leaving a helpful legacy for others Primary resource: Religion, Spirituality, and Health:The Research and Clinical Implications by Harold G. Koenig International Scholarly Research Network ISRN Psychiatry Volume 2012, Article ID 278730, 33 pages doi:10.5402/2012/278730 Harold G. Koenig Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Associate Professor of Medicine Durham, North Carolina Distinguished Adjunct Professor King Abdulaziz University Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia He is currently board certified in general psychiatry, and formerly in geriatric psychiatry, geriatric medicine, and family medicine. Dr. Koenig is Director of Duke University's Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health, and has published extensively in the fields of mental health, geriatrics, and religion, with over 400 scientific peer-reviewed articles and book chapters and more than 40 books in print or in preparation. He is considered by biomedical scientists as one of the world’s top experts on religion and health (http://www.biomedexperts.com/Concept.bme/18754/Religion). OTHER RESOURCES FOR FUTURE STUDY http://projects.iq.harvard.edu/rshm/ The Soul of Medicine: Spiritual Perspectives and Clinical Practice--John R. Peteet (Editor), Michael N. D'Ambra (Editor)