{"title":"Loneliness, Religiousness, and Purpose in Life in the Oldest Old","authors":"M. Bondevik, A. Skogstad","doi":"10.1300/J078v11n01_03","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1300/J078v11n01_03","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Two groups of Norwegian individuals 80 years of age and older, one living in nursing homes and one in the community, were compared with respect to loneliness, religiousness, purpose in life (PIL), and age group. There were no differences in loneliness identified between groups with regard to residence. Community residents between 80–89 years reported significantly higher loneliness scores than did the age group between 90–105 years. A majority of all subjects reported religion to be important, but age group comparisons yielded non-significant results. Residents living in the community reported significantly higher PIL scores than did residents in institutions. In addition, the community group 90–105 years old reported significantly higher PIL scores compared to the age group of 80–89 years. Analysis of variance showed significantly higher (negative) correlations between loneliness and purpose in life than between these phenomena and religiousness.","PeriodicalId":81692,"journal":{"name":"Journal of religious gerontology","volume":"11 1","pages":"21 - 5"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2000-06-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1300/J078v11n01_03","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"66764532","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Collaboration of Churches and Service Providers: Meeting the Needs of Older African Americans","authors":"Anna Madison, Brenda McGadney","doi":"10.1300/J078v11n01_04","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1300/J078v11n01_04","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT This article describes a community outreach volunteer project designed to reach frail community-based older adults. The project is an example of church and secular agency collaboration in which the church provides leadership in volunteer recruitment and the agency provides training and outreach activity monitoring. The church's role in this project illustrates that small and medium-size African American churches can play an important role in mobilizing volunteer resources and can perform a linking role in helping secular agencies to gain access to frail, hard-to-reach, low-income older adults.","PeriodicalId":81692,"journal":{"name":"Journal of religious gerontology","volume":"11 1","pages":"23 - 37"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2000-06-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1300/J078v11n01_04","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"66765127","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A Word from the Editor","authors":"S. Sapp","doi":"10.1300/j078v11n01_01","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1300/j078v11n01_01","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":81692,"journal":{"name":"Journal of religious gerontology","volume":"11 1","pages":"1 - 2"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2000-06-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1300/j078v11n01_01","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"66764300","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Successful Aging: Focus on Public Policy and Spiritual Well-Being","authors":"G. David","doi":"10.1300/J078V10N04_06","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1300/J078V10N04_06","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT This article considers the importance of religious values for effective public policy on aging in the United States. An examination of the concepts of successful aging and spiritual well-being introduces a discussion of the necessary relationship between the two. Nine values from the Christian tradition that can serve as helpful guides for policymakers are outlined, followed by a look at relevant teachings of several of the world's religions that are becoming more important in the United States as the numbers of their followers grow. The article concludes with a discussion of the role religious values can play in making policy that will promote successful aging.","PeriodicalId":81692,"journal":{"name":"Journal of religious gerontology","volume":"10 1","pages":"65-80"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1998-11-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1300/J078V10N04_06","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"66764242","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Nourishing the Spirit in Long Term Care: Perspectives of Residents and Nursing Assistants on Sources of Meaning in Residents' Lives","authors":"S. Mcfadden, Maryellen Hanusa Bs","doi":"10.1300/J078V10N04_03","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1300/J078V10N04_03","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT A model of spirituality guided construction of interview questions that obtained information from nursing home residents and nursing assistants about opportunities to seek meaningful connections within the self, with other persons and the world, and with God. Interpretive analysis of the transcripts revealed that although nursing assistants regard their caregiving activities as significant sources of meaning, residents do not share this perception. Sources of meaning noted by both groups included personal memories, interactions with family and friends, opportunities to help others, treasured personal objects, and religious beliefs and behaviors. Implications for nursing assistant training are discussed, particularly regarding ways to encourage nursing assistants to attribute meaning to their work by recognizing the ways residents experience spirituality.","PeriodicalId":81692,"journal":{"name":"Journal of religious gerontology","volume":"10 1","pages":"9-26"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1998-11-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1300/J078V10N04_03","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"66764485","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Kaddish at Montgomery Place","authors":"J. L. P. A. Mph","doi":"10.1300/J078V10N04_02","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1300/J078V10N04_02","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":81692,"journal":{"name":"Journal of religious gerontology","volume":"10 1","pages":"3-7"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1998-11-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1300/J078V10N04_02","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"66764419","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"“Keener Than Any Two-Edged Sword”: Three Elderly Christian African-American Women Living in Poverty Interpret the “Living Word”","authors":"Helen K. Black Ba","doi":"10.1300/J078V10N04_05","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1300/J078V10N04_05","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Fifty elderly Christian African-American women living in poverty were qualitatively interviewed for a research project titled “Chronic Poverty and the Self in Later Life,” Part of the study focused on the women's spiritual and religious beliefs and the importance of these beliefs in the women's lives. Using three case studies from the 50 respondents, this article explores how each woman, in her unique interpretation of the Bible, found present meaning for a painful, impoverished past, enhanced her sense of self-esteem, and engendered hope for an improved future either in this life or the next. The major thesis of this paper is that the women created a personal hermeneutic (mode of interpretation) of scripture based on their life stories. Their interpretation of the Bible reflected a concrete relationship with a God who spoke to them through His living word at the juncture of their individuality.","PeriodicalId":81692,"journal":{"name":"Journal of religious gerontology","volume":"10 1","pages":"45-63"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1998-11-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1300/J078V10N04_05","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"66764592","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Religious Research in Gerontology, 1980–1994: A Systematic Review","authors":"Jeffrey S. Levin","doi":"10.1300/j078v10n03_02","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1300/j078v10n03_02","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":81692,"journal":{"name":"Journal of religious gerontology","volume":"10 1","pages":"3-31"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1998-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1300/j078v10n03_02","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"66763985","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A Community of Friends: The Sunday School Class as a Conduit for Social Contacts and Social Support Among Older Women","authors":"J. Stuckey","doi":"10.1300/J078V10N03_04","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1300/J078V10N03_04","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT This article discusses a small group of women in rural Ohio who have transformed their Sunday school class into a community of friends that not only affords spiritual support but also sustains regular social contact well into old age. A qualitative thematic approach was used to analyze the data. Church participation through the life course, common themes that emerged among the women interviewed, and a discussion regarding the role of churches in serving as conduits of intergenerational contact and social support for the elderly are presented.","PeriodicalId":81692,"journal":{"name":"Journal of religious gerontology","volume":"10 1","pages":"53-71"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1998-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1300/J078V10N03_04","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"66764631","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Religious Practice and Spirituality–Then and Now: A Retrospective Study of Spiritual Dimensions of Residents Residing at a Continuing Care Retirement Community","authors":"D. Baker, P. Nussbaum","doi":"10.1300/J078V10N03_03","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1300/J078V10N03_03","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Older adults at a church-related continuing care retirement community perceived themselves as being more spiritual in their later years and having a stronger emotional connection to their spirituality than when they were younger. Respondents were currently stable in their religious practice and spirituality, suggesting that changes occurred prior to the recent past, possibly around the time of retirement. This may uphold the notion that increased spirituality in the later years is a natural developmental phenomenon of the aging process. The association between religious coping and perceived health was noted, suggesting that religious coping may buffer perceived health from the negative impact of medical problems. The contribution to spirituality by physical environment and pastoral care was also noted.","PeriodicalId":81692,"journal":{"name":"Journal of religious gerontology","volume":"10 1","pages":"33-51"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1998-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1300/J078V10N03_03","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"66763752","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}