Spirituality is many things for many people. It can mean being spiritual with devotional practice, reading esoteric material, enjoying mantra, hymn, yoga, or prayer. What about as we age what is healthy for us and what does it mean to enjoy spirituality in our old age? How do we cope with our design that is aging and dying? It's something we all face one day, but not everyone becomes aware of this until it's too late. Old age and death is something we can be taught to understand and prepare for. You are not alone and although we might not have the best perspective on death it doesn't mean that can't change. There is a way to think about old age, life, and death that means we are prepared and not anxious or depressed. Death can even be met with joy and peace in a beautiful way.
According to justiceandpeace.org, the church teaches that human beings are endowed with inviolable dignity from conception to death and that this dignity must be respected and protected. (Catholic Teaching and Thought Related to Ageing | Justice and Peace Office) Catholics at the end of life, in sickness or old age, prepare for death through prayer, acts of love, the Sacraments of Penance (Confession) and the Anointing of the Sick, together with Holy Communion. (St Mary's University, 2016) With the hope being that you die in a state of grace, reconciled with God, and at peace with others. (St Mary's University, 2016)
Buddhists also have special directions for the old and dying. According to tourbandharma.org, Buddhist clergy often remind their followers about the closeness of death, emphasize the importance in getting to know death, and take time to prepare for their own demise. (Nguyen Tang, 2002) To prepare for death we behave in a manner which you believe is responsible, good, and positive for yourself and towards others. This leads to a calmness, happiness, and an outlook which contributes to a calm and controlled mind at the time of death. (Nguyen Tang, 2002)
Hindu texts like the Bhagavad Gita state that there is no birth nor death at any time and that the soul accepts new material bodies, giving up the old, and useless ones. (Britannica, 2023) The tradition of gesture of purification and marking of the face takes place upon the person's death. The traditional approach is to practice dietary restrictions, cleansing rituals, and modesty. Another tradition is to have family bring coins and clothes for the patient to touch and then give them away to the poor after death to symbolize the deceased person's generosity. (“How Is Hinduism Incorporated into Hospice and Palliative Care?”)
According to our partner careacademy training caregivers are to comfort the dying individual and help with their last wishes. They can place items by the bedside, call family members, or turn on music that can help. Different cultures have different methods of helping or comforting someone who is passing. This includes receiving visits from family, friends, or spiritual leaders like priests or monks. Caregivers can be very helpful in following your instructions on what you want to happen. To get in touch with one of our caregivers, complete a care plan form by clicking here.
Works Cited:
Catholic Teaching and Thought Related to Ageing | Justice and Peace Office. justiceandpeace.org.au/catholic-teaching-and-thought-related-to-ageing/.
St Mary's University. “What the Church Says about Death | Church and Death and Dying | the Art of Dying Well.” The Art of Dying Well, The Art of Dying Well, 2016, www.artofdyingwell.org/what-is-dying-well/a-good-catholic-death/church-says-death/. Accessed 13 Jan. 2025.
Nguyen Tang, Ven. Thich . “Buddhist View on Death and Rebirth.” Https://Www.urbandharma.org/Udharma5/Viewdeath.html, The Wordsworth Encyclopedia of World Religions, 23 Apr. 2002, www.urbandharma.org/udharma5/viewdeath.html. Accessed 13 Jan. 2025.
“How Is Hinduism Incorporated into Hospice and Palliative Care?” Crossroads Hospice and Palliaitve Care, crossroads hospice and palliative care, www.crossroadshospice.com/hospice-resources/spirituality-end-of-life-care/hinduism/. Accessed 13 Jan. 2025.