FAITH-HEALTH INTEGRATION IN THE CHURCH AFFILIATED FRAIL ELDER

Researchers’ Background  Parish Nursing  Gerontological Nursing  Nursing Education  Caregivers for Elderly Family Members

RESEARCH QUESTIONS  What is the impact of faith on changing health in the frail elderly person?  What is the impact of changing health on faith in the frail elderly person?

Interview Questions:  How would you describe your health at this time?  How would you describe your relationship with God at this time? With the Church?

Methodology: phenomenology  Research Teams:  In-depth interviews with ten church- affiliated frail elders over time. Audio- taping and note taking.  Selection of subjects

Assumptions and Dilemmas  Ethical concerns Neuro-sensory changes Consent over time

Demographic Summary  Ages: Av. 86  Gender: 8 females, 2 males  Living Arrangements  5 ind. Apts  3 own home  2 monastery, mission  Church Affiliation: Roman Catholic and Protestant  Medical Diagnoses: 4 had 3 or more Chronic illnesses  Areas of frailness: endurance, pain, balance

Activities of Daily Living:  Personal hygiene  Eating  Reading  Conversation  Shopping  Lifting  Walking  Cleaning

Overall health: self rating  1 – “poor health”  5 – “health is changing”  4 – “health is maintaining”

Findings:  Faith and doubt may co-exist  Elders have a great need for meaning, purpose and giving  Narrative is useful as research and as intervention  Speak of limitations rather than diagnoses

Findings, continued  Do not look to the church for physical help  Experience isolation from the church and its staff  Limit the role of the parish nurse to physical care  Compare themselves to other seniors

Summary:  The integration of faith and health is nurtured by relationships with others  Health is described by relational and comparative function  Church affiliated elders’ relationships with God and church reflect growth, intensity, fluidity and paradox.  The church influences in positive and negative ways.