UBC Press Palliative Care, Ageing and Spirituality book Paperback 144 pages

This sensitive and compassionate book provides older people who arenearing the end of life and their loved ones, as well as theprofessionals who work with them, with a greater depth of understandingof spiritual issues surrounding death and dying.Illustrated with the experiences of many older people, it exploresimportant themes such as grief and loss; fear; pain, distress andsuffering; acceptance; transcendence; prayer; the healing ofrelationships; and intimacy, and shows that the final journey towardsdeath can be one of the most spiritually meaningful times in the lifeof an older person - a time in which there is still hope, and in whichthe person who is dying and their loved ones can grow spiritually,strengthened by the difficult times they face together. Spiritualissues for older people with dementia who are nearing the end of lifeare also explored, as are ethical and moral issues in death and dying,and the ways in which bereaved partners and relatives may come to termswith the loss of a loved one.This concise and accessible book will be a valuable resource forthose in the caring professions and a rich source of guidance andsupport for older people who are nearing the end of life and theirfamilies.