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Interest in spirituality and aging has increased recently, primarily owing to empirical research overwhelmingly demonstrating the various health benefits of spirituality and religious participation [1,2]. Studies have also shown that spirituality tends to increase during later adulthood [3-5]. Interestingly, this trend of increased spiritual growth and religious activities in older age people continues in modern society, despite significant secularization of the society compared with 50 years ago. Spirituality moderates positive relationships with various measures of life satisfaction, psychosocial wellbeing, both physical and mental health, and is helpful in the quest for meaning and purpose in life [6]. Understanding an individual's spiritual perspective becomes increasingly important, given the issues of loss, physical illness, disability and mortality that are confronted in old age [2]. In this broad review of the topic, the trends for spiritual development in older age in the modern society will be discussed, as well as gerontological theories of resurgence of spirituality in old age, the existing evidence of close relationships between spirituality and mental health, physical health and successful aging, the objectives for professional training in spirituality assessment in clinical settings, research findings in neurobiology of spirituality, and the efficacy of spiritual interventions in aging adults. This article presents a perspective on the importance of understanding individual spirituality as a way of developing personalized patient-centered healthcare according to modern societal priorities.
Spirituality & aging in modern society
Increasing longevity in modern society puts the spiritual needs of older adults at the forefront of societal priorities in providing care for the elderly. Nonetheless, Western society continues to struggle with antiaging attitudes, which tend to ignore the talents and creative contributions of older adults, expressed in the lack of opportunities for either vocational retraining and employment, or community service. Additionally, retirement communities catering to older adults tend to place an emphasis on activities rather than the spirituality of creativity [6]. Historically, the elders of society functioned as transmitters of sacred knowledge and rituals. They established an awareness of the culture and roots that are necessary for the health and growth of the community [6]. With the growing population of older adults, the role of an elder in the society should be expanded, to enrich and give meaning to lives of its aging citizens.
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