Centre for Policy on Ageing



Successful aging — focus on public policy and spiritual well-being
Author(s)	Gerson David
Journal title	Journal of Religious Gerontology, vol 10, no 4, 1998
Pages	pp 65-80
Source	Haworth Document Delivery Center, The Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580, USA.
Keywords	Spiritual characteristics [elderly] ; Christianity ; Well being ; Ageing process ; Social policy ; United States of America.
Annotation	The importance of religious values for effective public policy on ageing in the US is considered. An examination of the concepts of successful ageing and spiritual well-being introduces a discussion of the necessary relationship between the two. Nine values from the Christian tradition that can serve as helpful guides for policy-makers are outlined: love for others; community; mercy (adequacy) and justice (equity); the source of true happiness: spiritual, not material; recognition of dependence; acceptance of mortality; the munificence of God; the value of work; and the purpose of government. The teachings of other religions followed in the US - Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism and Islam - are considered briefly. The article concludes with a discussion of the role religious values can play in making policy that will promote successful ageing. (RH).
Accession Number	CPA-990310007 A
Classmark	EX: TS: D:F:5HH: BG: TM2: 7T
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...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing.