People are asking more and more questions about life and meaning as they are growing older and living for longer. There are increasing opportunities to engage with spiritual well-being later in life. This book provides a comprehensive study of spirituality and ageing, with newly updated material on recent developments in this field.

Elizabeth MacKinlay is a registered nurse and an Anglican priest. She was the inaugural Director of the Centre for Ageing and Pastoral Studies at St Mark's National Theological Centre, Canberra, and is a Professor in the School of Theology, Charles Sturt University. Elizabeth was Chair of the ACT Ministerial Advisory Council on Ageing ending her term in 2008 and the ACT Senior Australian of the Year for 2009.

1. Ageing societies and the spiritual dimension. 2. Religion, faith, spirituality and the psychosocial dimension. 3. Building an understanding of spirituality and ageing: a model of spirituality and ageing. 4. Baby boomer ageing and spirituality: same or different? Elizabeth MacKinlay and Dr. Richard Burns. 5. Building an understanding of spirituality and ageing: a model for spiritual growth and development. 6. Models of spirituality in ageing: a multifaith perspective. 7. Meaning in Life: from provisional meaning to final meanings - a spiritual process. 8. Types of ultimate meaning and images of God. 9. Responses to ultimate meaning in life: religious. 10. Response to ultimate meaning through experience and activity. 11. The spiritual journey in ageing. 12. Perceptions of self-sufficiency and vulnerability in ageing: transcending disabilities and loss. 13. Wisdom and the move from provisional to final meanings. 14. Hope, fear, despair and the final life career. 15. Humour, laughter, spirituality and ageing. 16. Spirituality, relationship and issues of isolation in ageing. 17. Living in a hyper-cognitive society: issues of cognitive decline, personhood and spirituality. 18. A picture of spirituality and ageing. 19. The spiritual dimension of ageing: meeting the challenges and roles in spiritual care for aged care professionals and pastoral practitioners.