Spirituality and Aging Research
At the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA), knowledge gained through research is valued. Even more important is that knowledge becomes practice, to enhance life for older adults.
Research generated through the RIA’s Spirituality & Aging program housed at Grebel is directly supporting spiritual care in long-term care (LTC) through resources provided online to the LTC sector. By surveying LTC homes throughout Ontario and interviewing spiritual care providers (SCPs), I’ve found that less than half of homes employ anyone in that role, and that many homes feel underequipped to meet spiritual needs.
Initial recommendations coming from the research encouraged every LTC home to hire a SCP, so as part of my work with the RIA, I created a practical resource for administrators, including information about spiritual care, a job description, and interview questions.
To meet further needs identified through research, we’ve piloted an online program to deliver spiritual care training that recognizes the unique context of LTC (including aging and end-of-life issues, dementia, multi-faith care, family counselling, and healthcare team skills). On the RIA website, watch for the upcoming release of three new spiritual care resources for supporting inclusive spiritual care, end-of-life, and spiritual well-being in dementia.
