Spiritual Needs of Elderly

Kurzfassung/Abstract

Existential or spiritual concerns are especially important for older people and those faced with their fragility and mortality. In most cases, the elderly have to deal with their worries and needs alone, as several perceive low interest in their concerns. This chapter describes which spiritual needs were of relevance for the elderly living in retirement homes, assisted living homes or nursing homes, and what may trigger these. Findings from studies among the elderly from Germany, Poland and Italy are discussed. There were similarities in specific unmet spiritual needs, and significant differences that refer particularly to Religious needs and Existential needs. The underlying causes are probably multifactorial and involve cultural and religious differences, on the one hand, and negative mood states, feelings of loneliness and perceived daily life affections (and thus low self-care abilities and independence), on the other hands. The loss of connectedness and involvement were identified as crucial, and thus support concepts could start with these topics. These should be suited to facilitating the elderly’s social participation and inclusion, on the one hand, and their independence and generative giving abilities, on the other hand, which would help to maintain feelings of meaningfulness and psychosocial and spiritual well-being.