This book explores the spiritual dimension of ageing and investigates the role of pastoral and spiritual care in helping the frail elderly cope with end-of-life issues. Focusing on the experience of nursing home residents and anecdotes gathered in interviews, MacKinlay sensitively presents the struggles facing older people in need of care.

Preface. 1. The spiritual dimension of ageing and people in need of care. 2. The studies of frail older people and staff in aged care. 3. Assessment of spirituality and spiritual needs: A developmental approach. 4. Meaning of Life and frailty in the later years. 5. Wisdom, final meaning, the spiritual journey and frail older people. 6. Spiritual reminiscence: provisional and final meanings in frail older people. 7. The spiritual journey and mental health amongst older adults in need of care. 8. Meeting the challenge: older people with memory loss and dementia. 9. Worship and use of ritual among older people: different cultures, different religions; working in multi-faith and multicultural societies. 10. Vulnerability and transcendence, living in a disintegrating body and failure to thrive. 11. Vulnerability, transcendence and living with physical health problems. 12. Relationship and intimacy needs among nursing home residents. 13. Grief, death, dying and spirituality in an aged care facility. 14. Ethical issues in the fourth age of life. 15. The model of spiritual growth and care in the fourth age of life. 16. References. Appendix 1: Assessment of the Spiritual Needs of Older Adults - 1st Level. Appendix 2: Assessment of the Spiritual Needs of Older Adults - 2nd Level. Appendix 3: Group topics for spiritual reminiscence. References. Index.