Affirmative Aging: A Creative Approach to Longer Life ; edited by Joan Lukens for the Episcopal Society for Ministry on Agiing, Inc., 1994 edition, Moorehouse Publishing
This Society was interested in editing a book addressing the spiritual, mental, and physical aspects of the aging process that would be used as a resource for clergy, family, friends, caregivers, and the elderly themselves.
A team of twelve experts on the elderly were selected to write essays emphasizing the need to "run toward" aging rather than "run from" it; to "become aware of God's gift to us throughout our whole lifespan."
Topics include:
Reviewed by Helena Hairston, COAM's Resource Coordinator
(Web designer note: Affirmative Aging is available from Amazon.com online.)
Sally Jarrett, RN, BSN & Betsy Sipes, Fishergate, Annapolis, MD 1987
This wonderful little guide was co-written by a nurse from Grace Church, Elkridge, who was a
volunteer nurse at Claggett for many years.
From the Foreword: "When a relative reaches the point at which they need some type of assistance,
a decision is made as to how and where that care will be given. In my case, when my father, who
had been living with us, was found to have inoperable lung cancer, my wife Betsy, and I decided to
bring him home from the hospital so that we could care for him in familiar surroundings among his
family."
...For several years Betsy had talked about health care issues with a personal friend and registered nurse, Sally Jarrett, who soon became an important part of the home care team that cared for Granddad.
Together, Betsy and Sally have compiled this guide to aid anyone who is caring for an aged relative or friend. It includes some additional tips and helpful ideas that they have collected from friends and relatives who have also cared for elderly people and some basic information that Betsy needed to learn." Chapters include: Making the Decision for Home Care; The Primary Caregiver; Socialization of the Patient; Setting up the Sick Room; Patient Care; Physical & Medical Problems; Health Insurance; Hospital or Nursing Home; Dying & Death; Words of Encouragement.
COAM BOOK REVIEW for Diocesan Resource Center, reviewed by the Rev. William Fallowfield
by K. Fischer NJ: Paulist Press. Available in paperback.
When does the second half of your life begin? It is a question to which only God knows the answer. Because of this, now is the time to read Autumn Gospel. The lovely cover - bronze and gold - entices one to open the book to discover its inner beauty. Robert J. Wicks, author of the forward and series editor writes, "In this book by Kathleen Fischer...there is an invitation for women to: greet and embrace liberating self-images, honor diversity, prize new models of human development, and reclaim women's spiritual power...As I...closed the book, I was torn by two feelings. First, I reflected with sadness on how society often tries to set aside the crones in the autumn of their lives, and how we need to do all we can to be countercultural in this respect to prevent this from continuing to happen. And two, I was filled with a sense of joy that someone like Kathleen Fischer is pointing to the 'bright colors' of this season in women's lives so they as well as others can rejoice and benefit from a new appreciation of Sophia embodied in them." The book contains a "Guide to Prayer and Reflection" and valuable "Notes" at the end so it may be tailored for self or group use.
Reviewed by Joan Lukens, Executive Director of Episcopal Society for Ministry on Aging (ESMA) in ESMA's Network News, February, 1997.
by Zalman Schacter-Shalomi & Ronald S. Miller Warner Books, 1995, New York, NY
This impressive book on spiritual eldering identifies two definitive concepts roles for elders: "wisdom-keepers," who are responsible for maintaining society's well-being and safeguarding the health of our ailing planet, and "pioneers in consciousness," who practice contemplation from their spiritual traditions to bring greater intelligence to their late-life vocations.
Major chapter topics include "The Vision of Spiritual Eldering," "Becoming the Possible Sage," "The Eternity Factor ," and "The Conscious Transit at Death." Special treatment is devoted to "Exercises for Sages in Training."
This volume synthesizes many viewpoints and theses that have been emerging over the past 20 years; it also presents much original material. In particular, the chapters on "The Eternity Factor" and "The Conscious Transit at Death" provide fresh insight into the experiences of several traditions in dealing with death. Rabbi Schacter, Shalomi writes from his rich experience of interacting with many spiritual movements, particularly within the framework of his own Spiritual Eldering Institute in Philadelphia, PA, the likely source of much of the book's introspective and contemplative material. The bibliography at the end of the book reflects a wide spectrum of reading in the broad field of gerontology.
Reviewed by Earl N, Kragnes, NCOA/NICA Senior Volunteer Fellow, From the newsletter National Council on Aging, Inc., February, 1996, Vol.8, #1.