Spirituality and positive view of ageing in modern society

Abstract

Aging is part of the natural life cycle of an organism. From birth to death, aging is the element that ties all segments of life together. All over the world aging population is growing rapidly. Such a huge population which had been at the service of our society since so many previous years, cannot be ignored. Now the principles of Positive Psychology are captured in a new term specific to later life- namely, aging. Positive ageing is a theoretical approach to gerontology that draws from both disease prevention and wellness literatures to emphasize the individual's attitudes used to enhance longevity and the quality of life (Ellor, 2005). The significance of spirituality and positive ageing is rapidly growing, with an increasing elderly population . Now researches on spirituality and aging have increased recently, owing to overwhelming evidence of positive health outcomes linked to spirituality and religious participation. Spirituality has direct and indirect influence on physical and mental well-being. Understanding individual spiritual perspectives becomes increasingly important, given the issues of loss, physical illness and mortality that are confronted in old age. This article reviews literature and research on spirituality, positive ageing as well as spiritual interventions to promote positive view towards ageing. In conclusion the practices of Positive Ageing, if adopted in early life and refined over the years as we age, will give us a strong foundation to support health and quality of life and may also promote well being for future generations.