Mar 29, 2024  
2015-2016 Saint Joseph’s College Online 
    
2015-2016 Saint Joseph’s College Online [Archived Catalog]

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LTC 350 - Aging, Spirituality and Senior Health Care


Grounded in a Judeo-Christian foundation, this course provides a medical humanities perspective on aging. We will explore writings and research on aging, spirituality, and senior health care, written from diverse disciplines and faith backgrounds - theologians, medical ethicists, pastoral counselors, parish nurses, chaplains, geriatric social workers, psychologists, gerontologists, as well as health and long-term care professionals. Based upon a life-span developmental model, we will apply an exploration of the aging process that is both integrative and inter-disciplinary when working with older adults in a variety of settings.

Prerequisites & Notes
 None

Assignment Overview
Assignments: 4 Units
Interactivity: Discussion Board
Final Assessment: Final Research Paper

Course Learning Objectives
Upon completing this course, you should be able to do the following:

  • Describe key demographic characteristics of Older Adults which may impact the field of Senior Healthcare.
  • Identify ways in which one’s spirituality (or, faith beliefs) may influence health behaviors and health outcomes.
  • Recognize the biological, sociological, psychological, and spiritual dimensions of aging.
  • Identify important cultural competencies needed to serve elder health consumers of diverse racial-ethnic backgrounds.
  • Understand the spiritual challenges and opportunities of aging.
  • Respectfully integrate interfaith and cross-cultural views of seniors and caregivers.
  • Assess the impact of changes in the family life cycle and structure upon informal and formal care giving.
  • Describe key elements of a Spiritual History and a Spiritual Care Program for Older Adults.
  • Understand ethical issues that surround end-of-life care.
  • Apply the principles of the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Healthcare Services to senior care.
  • Identify ways in which senior healthcare systems may also serve as spiritual care communities.
  • Write a research paper on a selected topic with relevance to aging, spirituality, and senior healthcare.


Credits: 3



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