Layers of engagement: Staff perceptions of spiritual care in residential aged care. Issue 1 (2nd January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Blank, Mei-Ling; Wood, Sarah; Egan, Richard
• Is Part Of: Journal of religion, spirituality & aging. Volume 30:Issue 1(2018)
• Page Start: 78
• Page End: 98
• Publication Date: 2018-01-02
• Subjects: Aged care -- aged-care workforce -- spiritual care -- spirituality; Church work with older people -- Periodicals; Older people -- Religious life -- Periodicals; Older people -- Psychology -- Periodicals; Older people -- Social conditions -- Periodicals; Gerontology -- Periodicals; 261.8
• DOI: 10.1080/15528030.2017.1301844
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1552-8030

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Addressing the spiritual care needs of residents living in aged-care facilities should be an important dimension of quality care. We conducted semi-structured interviews with residential aged-care staff (including caregivers, nurses, managers, and chaplains) in New Zealand to explore how spiritual care is understood and operationalized. Many participants appeared to equate spiritual care with holistic care that respects the whole person. Participants discussed five types of spiritual care engagement requiring different skills, knowledge, and personal commitment, including information gathering, facilitation, companionship, end-of-life care, and counseling. Our findings suggest that the spiritual care that was offered by our participants, clergy and non-clergy alike, was predominantly informal and unplanned.