Living with Elder Wisdom

Abstract

This study is based on interview research with over a hundred creative elders. Their spirituality is explored through their life experiences as re-interpreted in later years. Spirituality is often expressed in non-religious language. They speak of inner empowerments: cultivating self-esteem, harvesting memories, transformative turning points, life-long learning, themes of humor and gratitude, and encountering mortality. They also explore outward empowerments: developing new purposes, welcoming possibilities, fostering more freedom, cultivating family and friends, forming intentional communities, and taking on larger social causes re peace, justice and ecology. This elder spirituality manifests important changes in their earlier views of religion.

Cultivating Community Wellbeing: Guiding Principles for Research and Practice

“…-Andy Rooney Academic Perspectives The first principle of relation is reexamination of and reconnection with our elders. Numerous studies exist, mostly within indigenous science and scholarship, demonstrating the importance of capturing the wisdom of our elders (Berrin 1999;E. Bianchi 2005;Christensen and Poupart 2012;Turner et al 2000).…”

Humor, Aging, and Life Review: Survival Through the Use of Humor

“…It remains so until one can no longer process information, including experiences from social interaction. As Bianchi (2005) states, "creative elders are able to move beyond negative cultural stereotypes of being old by cultivating their inner resources. There is no one way of tapping into the talents and skills developed over a lifetime, qualities that have become part of one's core personality" (p. 321).…”

“…Humor can help to relieve the nagging pain or discomfort through blaming the incident rather than oneself as humor mitigates the negativity. Bianchi (2005) points out: "Laughter is one of the most distinctive human traits; it can be an act of faith in the face of death and of the tragic events that surround a long life. Humor can protect us from becoming stuck in resentments, and thus opens us to living with gratitude" (p. 323).…”

“…These are all questions that bring to the fore the quest in that last stage of life to bring meaning to a lived life. As Bianchi (2005) states, "The very telling of our Downloaded by [Anadolu University] at 08:33 26 December 2014 stories, especially when we share vulnerabilities, is a spiritual act, a quest for personal meaning at deeper levels" (p. 321). The Irish have a saying: "You cry a tear when a child is born and you have a party when someone dies."…”

Content Areas for Curriculum Development: Spirituality and Social Work

“…Literature on spirituality reflects its salience to a broad range of areas with which social work intersects viz. the elderly (Bianchi, 2005;Ewing, 2005); faith-based services (Cnaan, Boddie & Kang, 2005b); vulnerable children and youths (Bhagwan, 2009;Kvarfordt & Sheridan, 2007); substance abuse and incarceration (Moxley & Washington, 2001;Redman, 2008); and HIV/AIDS and family problems (Bhagwan, 2002).…”