Biopsychosocial Holistic Approach

Addressing spirituality with the elderly has a lot of significance in social work practice. Spirituality informs the elderly that are an important part of the larger society. Spiritual exercises or practices are designed to help the elderly learn to stay centered. One result of this centeredness is a great reduction in worry and anxiety. Another is living in the moment. There is peace and serenity with spirituality (Oxhandler, 2017). There is also a dwelling on what is now and the potentials within the now, and less anger about the past or fear about the future. Living like this is bound to keep the elderly happy and balanced. If social workers address spirituality with the elderly, they will help them create a condition that is less stressful, and conducive to good mental health.

A significant spiritual-based intervention for the elderly is spiritual counseling. Through this, old people can learn and understand spiritually and how they can achieve their spiritual well-being. During spiritual counseling, social workers listen to elders as they talk about their losses and re-live their stories (Sytsma et al., 2018). They offer the encouragement and hope that helps toward bringing healing and some sense of peace. Counselors also help them remember the days they consider special such as anniversaries and care about the things that matter to them. They also encourage them to participate in spiritual activities such as attending services, praying, and meditating. Social workers also connect the elderly with spiritual programs such as television shows, visits from their spiritual leaders, and community groups.

The use of spirituality with the elderly is effective in helping them deal with challenges during late adulthood such as the fear of death and feelings of loneliness. The spiritual connection will help the elderly understand how their actions match their deeply held spiritual values and create some internal satisfaction that can lead to a successful late adulthood process (Sytsma et al., 2018). Using spirituality also helps them engage in examining their own spiritual beliefs in the context of their religious upbringing or chosen religious practice. Many of the problems that the elderly present to therapy ultimately stem from a lack of faith. Thus, the social worker must embrace the spirituality of the elderly no matter the differences.

I think a significant intervention that can integrate spirituality is a strength-based approach. From a strength perspective, an elderly client may have a strong Christian religion and spirituality and value for one another. The strengths perspective views the good aspects of an elderly person and expands those aspects to help the client overcome adversity through the strengths acquired (Oxhandler, 2017). An elderly person may have strengths in the Christian values and teachings, emotional support from his family, and the ability to overcome different challenges in life. With this person, I would use their strengths to encourage his spiritual connection to therapy.

References

Oxhandler, H. K. (2017). Social work field instructors’ integration of Religion and spirituality in clinical practice. Journal of Social Work Education, 53(3), 449-465. https://doi.org/10.1080/10437797.2016.1269706

Sytsma, T. T., Schmelkin, L. A., Jenkins, S. M., Lovejoy, L. A., Lapid, M. I., & Piderman, K. M. (2018). “Keep the faith”: Spirituality as a contributor to resiliency in five elderly people. Journal of Religion, Spirituality & Aging, 30(4), 314-324. https://doi.org/10.1080/15528030.2018.1441095