D Gero Heroes Group Names Wendy Nguyen Gail Francis Carmen Harrison Michael Nguyen Kimberly Sasaki

Spiritual Beliefs and attitudes on aging 1.  Are you a spiritual person? If so, what is your spiritual belief? Do you identify with a particular religion? 2. Does your spiritual beliefs influence bereavement? 3. Terminal illness, health care and spirituality is often tied into our modern "human ceremony".  After a diagnosis of terminal illness for a friend or family, would your spiritual beliefs help guide your decisions for health care advice?  Now imagine you were diagnosed with a terminal illness. Would your spiritual beliefs allow for more, less or have no affect in receiving and accepting health care?  Why? 4.  Do you believe that you may become more spiritual as you get older, particularly as you become an older adult?  Why or why not? 5.  Compared to the United States , do you believe your country is more, less or roughly the same, in terms of spirituality?  In the United States , research shows that Americans become more spiritual in their older adult years (65 years or older).  Is this true in your country, as well?

Background on Participants Females – 4 females Males – 1 male Mean Age – 66.5 years old

Are you a spiritual person? 80 percent answered yes. 20 percent answered no

Spiritual Affiliations Three participants are Christians. One not Buddhist, but follows Buddhist teachings One participant is not spiritual or religious.

Definition Bereavement is grief in response to loss

Does your spiritual beliefs influence bereavement? Three answered yes Two participants said “No” Gerontologists must be compassionate

Do spiritual beliefs guide decisions for Health Care advice? 60 percent answered yes. 40 percent answered no.

Attitudes No; based on what is appropriate Beliefs have no effect in accepting it but yes on type Yes; Cancer Survivor, pays tribute to ancestors Yes; believes in prayer leaves life in Gods hands

How Does Age Affect Spirituality? Yes: as you age, you search for meaning No: beliefs not likely to change No: death ends the journey of life Yes: goes to temple Yes: praying more often

Response Statistics

Attitudes on How Taiwan Compares to U.S. in Spirituality? Taiwan is more spiritual due to customs/traditions Neither; increase in spirituality fear of death Neither; same as above Neither; but spiritual Seniors age more gracefully Neither; but Taiwan has more death & dying rituals

Response 1a 1.m60.yes 2. F66,no 3. Cancer SurvivorF80,yes 4.f60,yes 5.Social Workerf,yes 1b intelligent design firm life beliefs traditional beliefs 1c Christian none not buddhist christian 2a yes no 3a 3b no but yes on type of health care no effect more less 3c power of the body caregiving experience Cancer experience give life to God religion does not guide 4a 4b steady strong beliefs stong life beliefs beliefs already strong strong beliefs search for meaning 5a same IDK 5b