The Case for Muslim Aged Care in the West

Abstract

The number of Muslims in the West is growing, and with a corresponding increase in the average life expectancy of Muslims across the globe, there are legitimate concerns for Muslim aged care in the West. For practicing Muslims for whom Islam is not just a religion but also a way of life, aged care in general is a complex issue. One aspect of care not always incorporated into the overall aged care regime in the West makes it difficult for Muslims to access care that is deemed appropriate. This critical aspect is faith or religion without which Muslims are deprived of a viable choice amidst an array of services catering to mainstream care recipients. This article seeks to make a case for enhancing the choice of Muslims living in Western countries when it comes to choosing the right care for their twilight years. Therefore, the main argument of this article is that faith considerations must be recognised in care planning and delivery so that appropriate care can be offered to practicing Muslims.

KEYWORDS:

• aged care
• Muslim
• religion
• spirituality

Notes

1. For the purpose of this article, the terms older, elderly, and aged have been used interchangeably to include people who are 65 years and over and who may need some form of care.

2. A group is classified as minority due to ethnicity, language, culture, or religion.

3. For details, see Pew Research Center (2011).

4. The terms “less developed” and “more developed” as used in in the above report are based on United Nations description of regions as “less developed” and “more developed” according to factors such as life expectancy, education, and income.

5. The first number indicates chapter; the second denotes verse.

6. Zakah is obligatory charity; one of the five pillars of Islam.

7. For details on holistic care, see Swinton (2001, pp. 64-92).

8. In this article, the terms ethnic, minority, and culturally and linguistically diverse are used synonymously.

9. The double jeopardy hypothesis describes apparent racial inequities in the use of institutional care; the hypothesis grew from concerns regarding the disadvantages of older African-Americans.

10. For more details, see Policy Research Institute on Ageing and Ethnicity (2004).

11. Care that includes personal care services and other personal assistance that enable the recipient to continue to live at home and be part of the community for as long as possible.

12. For more details on aspects of Muslim aged care, see Khan and Ahmad (2013, pp. 101–104).