Recently added articles from Generations:
Religious and Spiritual Supports for Late-Life Meaning
Jul 01, 2008; ... For many, religion and spirituality are important resources for coping with the challenges of aging. ...talk of God, talk of faith, makes people squirm. They'd rather gab about their new Hummer ... or American Idol-anything but religion. If you're one of those who's started nibbling at ...
Mortality and Respect: Aging in the Abrahamic Traditions
Jul 01, 2008; ... Implications for elders and families today. Of the world's estimated six and threequarter billion people, about two billion are Christians, somewhere between one and one-anda-half billion are Muslims, and around 12 to 14 million are Jews. Thus almost one-half of people living today are ...
Journeying into Elderhood: Reflections on Growing Old in Asian Cultures
Jul 01, 2008; ... Learning, adjustment, and mentoring. In Asian cultures, the journey into the uncharted realms of elderhood is at its best a pilgrimage-an adventure of continual learning, adjustments, and most important, mentoring what is good and admirable. One such journey and the moral topography that ...
Two Spiritual Journeys Converged
Jul 01, 2008; ... Notes along the way. To journey on our own is to have the time and space to uncover ourselves," observes Alister McGrath (1999, p. 9). "To travel with others is to allow them to identify the strengths and weaknesses we manage to hide from ourselves, and be supported as we try to engage ...
Guest at the Door: Spirit Waiting to Be Invited
Jul 01, 2008; ... How professionals who work with elders can participate effectively in conversations about faith. As I was growing up, my mother taught me that religion and politics were not appropriate topics to discuss in social situations. They were too deeply felt and emotionally laden. Two people ...
Our Guest Editors
Jul 01, 2008; ... Talk about religion, spirituality, and meaning in later life. Surveys of older adults reveal that religion and spirituality can be an important source of strength for facing the challenges of aging, as people who work with elders already know. They also know that later life raises or ...
Spirituality, Meaning, and the Experience of Aging
Jul 01, 2008; ... The author draws on his work as a gerontologist and his own journey. Spirituality is a popular topic now. For example, as of October 2007, Amazon.com listed 130,595 book titles dealing with spirituality. People over 40 are primary consumers of literature, workshops, retreats, and ...
Synagogue Responses to the Spiritual Revolution in Aging
Jul 01, 2008; ... New rituals for an expanding lifespan. A congregation recently decided to begin developing programs for its growing older adult population. "Tentatively at first," the invitation to their membership read, "and soon with our full energies, we aim to engage, support and celebrate the joys ...
Building Partnerships with African American and White Churches to Promote a Good Old Age for All
Jul 01, 2008; ... The Alabama 'town and gown' model. Churches are often untapped resources to help the growing population of older adults to age well (Roff et al., 2006). Our Alabama "town and gown" model for organizing community-based, senior ministry associations relies primarily on harnessing the ...
Houston Faith Communities Collaborate on Memory Care Day Center
Jul 01, 2008; ... The Seniors Place. According to the Alzheimer's Association (2006), more than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease, and this number may grow to 16 million by 2050. Older adults with memory loss gradually lose the ability to function independently and make sound decisions ....
Aging Catholic Clergy: A Silver Lining Revealed
Jul 01, 2008; ... Older people as providers, as well as recipients, of pastoral care. As a 59-year-old Catholic pastor, I am well aware that the average age of active Catholic clergy in the United States is climbing at an accelerated rate, given the long-standing scarcity of replacements and the high age ...
Muslim Faith Communities: Links with the Past, Bridges to the Future
Jul 01, 2008; ... Effects on physical and mental well-being. Conversations with older Muslims suggest that they glean many health benefits from the practice of Islam. Among the religious beliefs that guide behaviors and result in these health benefits are the dietary restrictions associated with a ...
Forgiveness and Healing in Later Life
Jul 01, 2008; ... The spiritual contribution to counseling elders. Mary's pastor of twenty-five years is confused. He thought he knew what to do in a crisis and has often counseled people who were angry at one another. But the situanon or Mary (age 65) and her brother Bill (age 67), who have not spoken to ...
Understanding Prayer, Worship, and Religious Ritual
Jul 01, 2008; ... Elements most traditions share. Fundamental to all other desires is the desire for happiness. Both secular and sacred writings attest to this. Indeed, the founders of the United States indicated that life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness were inalienable rights. In the Bible, Psalm ...
Purposeful Lives, Civic Engagement, and Tikkun Olam
Jul 01, 2008; ... Longevity brings new opportunities. How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a. single moment before starting to improve the world. -Anne Frank In all the world's religions, disciples are called to do unto others as they would have others do unto them, to minister to ...
The Role of 'Faith-Based' Social Services Programs for Older People
Jul 01, 2008; ... Context and controversies of government support. So-called faith-based social services are a demonstration of the words found in Ecclesiastes (1:9), "There is nothing new under the sun." Religious groups, organizations, and institutions have long provided help to their members and in ...
Maintaining Spirituality in Institutional Settings
Jul 01, 2008; ... An essential component of long-term cure. Helping to enhance the spiritual well-being of older people in institutional settings is a challenge to those who provide care for elders and to their families and friends as well. The story of my own mother and her spiritual journey provides a ...
Spiritual Challenges and Hope in Sharing Care
Jul 01, 2008; ... Ways to foster a sense of meaning and purpose. Given the myriad challenges experienced by people in caregiving relationships, the spiritual challenges are often minimized. Yet support for all concerned depends on addressing such challenges for the person giving and the one receiving ...
Finding Meaning in Engagement: 'I May Be Old, But I'm Fun!'
Jul 01, 2008; ... A few good examples. When I received an invitation to write a piece for this issue of Generations, my first thought was that spirituality, aging, and meaning in later life was a wonderful theme Inspirational! Motivational! Rooted in solid research! What could be more important than ...