Spirituality and caring for the older person: a discussion paper.

Abstract

Holistic healthcare to the older person is important. Spirituality is considered to be the very essence of being and for some is what motivates and guides us to live a meaningful existence. Nurses caring for the older person need support in responding to their spiritual needs in order to ensure that they are appropriately and successfully met. The aim of this paper is to explore these needs and highlight some evidence indicating how this care can be implemented and therefore ultimately influence nursing practice.