THL446 Pastoral and Spiritual Care of Older People (8)

Building on the theoretical content covered in THL445 Foundations for Pastoral and Spiritual Care of Older People, this subject examines practical strategies for enhancing quality of life and well-being in later life. It further develops understanding of how older people may find meaning in later life, explores the needs of older people for pastoral and spiritual care, and addresses ways of working with older people across the health-illness continuum. The subject prepares students to work sensitively, effectively and creatively with older people in a variety of settings, and it also explores multicultural and multifaith dimensions of ageing and aged care.

Subject Outlines
Current CSU students can view Subject Outlines for recent sessions. Please note that Subject Outlines and assessment tasks are updated each session.

Availability

Session 2 (60)
Online
Canberra Campus

Continuing students should consult the SAL for current offering details: THL446. Where differences exist between the Handbook and the SAL, the SAL should be taken as containing the correct subject offering details.

Subject Information

Grading System

HD/FL

Duration

One session

School

School of Theology

Enrolment Restrictions

Graduate Certificate in Ageing and Pastoral Studies
Graduate Diploma of Ageing and Pastoral Studies
Master of Ageing and Pastoral Studies

Assumed Knowledge

This subject is best undertaken after completing THL445 Foundations for Pastoral and Spiritual Care of Older People.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:
  • be able to articulate a biblical-theological and historical framework for pastoral and spiritual care, with particular reference to the care of older people;
  • be able to identify diverse cultural and faith backgrounds of older adults and creatively apply this knowledge to the context of pastoral and spiritual care;
  • be able to demonstrate knowledge of effective communication skills with older people;
  • be able to recognise and articulate the religious and spiritual needs of older adults and the relationship of such needs to health and well-being;
  • be able to assess the needs of older adults for pastoral and spiritual care;
  • be able to articulate and apply effective models of pastoral and spiritual care when working with older people;
  • be able to reflect critically on the pastoral and spiritual carer as practitioner in ageing and aged care;
  • be able to articulate and evaluate critically various paradigms of well-being and coping from religious and psychological perspectives; and
  • be able to identify appropriate spiritual resources and to apply them creatively to engage the older person in developing life-giving strategies across the health-illness continuum.

Syllabus

This subject will cover the following topics:
  • Faith, spirituality and health in later life
  • A biblical-theological and historical context for pastoral and spiritual care, with particular reference to care of older adults
  • Paradigms of well-being and coping from religious and psychological perspectives
  • The context of care for older adults within a diversity of cultural and faith backgrounds
  • The pastoral and spiritual care practitioner: reflective practice
  • Assessment of pastoral and spiritual needs of older people
  • Models of pastoral and spiritual care in aged care
  • Worship and faith traditions in later life
  • Spiritual resources and strategies for later life: prayer, meditation, mysticism, spiritual reminiscence and autobiography
  • Relationships and isolation in ageing: the challenge of meeting spiritual needs of older adults in the community
  • Ageing and sexuality
  • Risk assessment and the prevention of abuse of older people
  • Accessing life-enhancing resources within the community

Contact

Current Students

For any enquiries about subject selection or course structure please contact Student Central or ask@csu.edu.au or phone on 1800 275 278.

Prospective Students

For further information about Charles Sturt University, or this course offering, please contact info.csu on 1800 275 278 (free call within Australia) or enquire online.

The information contained in the 2018 CSU Handbook was accurate at the date of publication: August 2018. The University reserves the right to vary the information at any time without notice.

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