Spiritual care for the elderly: an integral part of the nursing process.

In the preamble to the constitution of the World Health Organization, health is defined as ". . . a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity." This definition emphasizes that man is more than just an individual free from sickness. It identifies three aspects of wellness - body, mind and spirit - which can be changed by behavior or style of living. Every individual consciously or unconsciously demonstrates behavior which affects his sense of well-being.

Nurses and other members of the health care team are well able to competently take care of patients' physiological and psychosocial needs. However, spiritual healing has been often ignored or only partially undertaken, especially in the area of geriatric patient care. To provide total or holistic health care to clients and their families, we must think about the three major areas of body, mind and spirit.

Spiritual care is an integral part of the nursing process for the elderly. What is spiritual care"? It involves meeting those needs of the patient that transcend but at the same time intervene his physiological and psychosocial needs. The spiritual aspect of man involves finding deeper meaning in everything, including life, sickness, and even death. Such understanding is essential for the overall well-being of the patient. …