Ageing, Disability and Spirituality: Addressing the Challenge of Disability in Later Life

by Elizabeth MacKinlay (Editor), Alan Niven (Contribution by), Christopher Newell (Contribution by), Lawrence McNamara (Contribution by), Kirstin Robertson-Gillam (Contribution by)

Overview

This collection examines theological and ethical issues of ageing, disability and spirituality, with an emphasis on how ageing affects people who have mental health and developmental disabilities.

The book presents ways of moving towards more effective relationships between carers and older people with disabilities; ways in which to connect compassionately and beneficially with the person's spiritual dimension. The contributors highlight the importance of recognizing the personhood of all people regardless of age and of disability, whatever form it takes. They identify factors inherent in personhood and provide ways of affirming and promoting spiritual well-being for older people with disabilities.

Valuable reading for practitioners in aged care, healthcare, chaplaincy, social and pastoral care, and diversional therapists, this book will also be of interest to older people, their families and friends.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781846427671
Publisher:	Kingsley, Jessica Publishers
Publication date:	02/15/2008
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	272
File size:	828 KB

About the Author

Elizabeth MacKinlay is a registered nurse and an Anglican priest. She is Director of the Centre for Ageing and Pastoral Studies at St Mark's National Theological Centre, Canberra, and a Professor in the School of Theology, Charles Sturt University. Elizabeth was Chair of the ACT Ministerial Advisory Council on Ageing in 2008 and is the ACT Senior Australian of the Year for 2009.
Christine Bryden has worked in the pharmaceutical industry and as a senior executive in the Australian Prime Minister's Department. Following her diagnosis with Alzheimer's Disease in 1995, she has been instrumental in setting up local support groups for people with dementia and has addressed national and international conferences. In 2003 she was the first person with dementia to be elected to the Board of Alzheimer's Disease International. Her first book Who will I be when I die? was published in 1998 and has been translated into several languages. She lives in Brisbane, Australia.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements. Preface. 1.Introduction: Ageing, Disability and Spirituality. Elizabeth MacKinlay, Charled Sturt University, Australia. 2. Remembering the Person: Theological Reflections on God, Personhood and Dementia. John Swinton, University of Aberdeen, UK. 3. Ethics, Ageing and Disability Laurence McNamara, Catholic Theological College, Adelaide College of Divinity, Flinders University, Australia. 4. New and Old Challenges of Ageing: Disabilities, Spirituality and Pastoral Responses. Elizabeth MacKinlay. 5. The Particular Needs of Older People with Intellectual Disabilities and their Carers: A Perspective from the Experience of L'Arche. Eileen Glass, L'Arche Australia. 6. Better Dead than Disabled? When Ethics and Disability Meet: A Narrative of Ageing, Loss and Exclusion. Christopher Newell, University of Tasmania, Australia. 7. Disabled or Enabled: Ethical and Theological Issues for Dementia Care. Rosalie Hudson, University of Melbourne, Australia. 8. On Relationships Not Things: Exploring Disability and Spirituality. Lorna Hallahan, Flinders University, Australia. 9. Scriptural Reminiscence and Narrative Gerontology: Jacob's Wrestling with the Unknown (Genesis 32) . Matthew Anstey Charles Sturt University, Australia. 10. Tracing Rainbows Through the Rain: Addressing the Challenge of Dementia in Later Life. Malcolm Goldsmith, Dementia Services Development Centre, Stirling, UK. 11. Dementia: A Journey Inwards to a Spiritual Self. Christine Bryden, author and advocate for people with Alzheimer's, and Elizabeth MacKinlay. 12. Bodhi, KarunÄ and MettÄ: Buddhist Perspectives for a Theology of Pastoral Care for the Ageing and Persons with Disabilities. Ruwan Palapathwala, University of Melbourne, Australia. 13. 'Who is God in the pit of ashes?' The Interplay of Faith and Depression in Later Life. Dagmar Ceramidas, Charles Sturt University, Australia. 14. Hearing the Voice of the Elderly: The Potential for Choir Work to Reduce Depression and Meet Spiritual Needs. Kirstin Robertson-Gillam, Hammond Care Group, Australia. 15. Humour and its Link to Meaning and Spirituality in War. Carmen Moran, University of New South Wales, Australia. 16. Pastoral Rituals, Ageing and New Paths into Meaning. Alan Niven, Churches of Christ Theological College, Australia. 17. Ageing, Disability and Spirituality: The Possibilities for Well-being and Care. Elizabeth MacKinlay. References. Contributors. Subject Index. Author Index.

Editorial Reviews

This book succeeds in challenging the reader to see dementia in a different framework, one in which there is profound wisdom about personhood and our values.'

The Church Times

'This book is a series of essays focusing on the feelings of older people later in life and how relationships are affected by disability...Elizabeth and her co authors have together looked at many different ways in trying to describe how those with disability communicate their personal spirituality and feelings about life.

NAPA

There is much that disabled and non-disabled people can learn from each other. This book goes a considerable way towards ensuring that this happens.

Quarterly Magazine of Christian Council on Ageing Plus

The authors come from several academic and practice disciplines - theology, nursing, social work, ethics, recreation and diversional therapy and psychology. Importantly, the book also includes chapters written or co-written by persons with dementia and disability themselves, and incorporates the voices of ageing persons with disability via practice examples and quotes from qualitative research. As a result, the book presents multiple viewpoints on how ageing, disability and spirituality are experienced as individuals as care partners, care professionals, and the wider community.

Dementia Journal