Spiritual Practices for Caregivers and Care Receivers

Abstract

This article is written by two university social work professors who illustrate the value of spiritual practices in caring for their elderly mothers, one who had Alzheimer's disease and the other who has a mental illness. The article discusses ways that human service professionals (e.g., social workers, mental health practitioners, nurses, chaplains, and other professional caregivers) can support caregivers and care receivers to explore and enhance the spiritual dimension of life, using activities such as reading sacred texts, listening to religious music, attending faith-based services, engaging in private devotional practices, praying, or connecting in a spiritual community.

Keywords:

• Alzheimer's disease
• caregiver stress
• care receivers
• mental illness
• music
• spirituality
• religion