The importance of spiritual health in retirement

Key points:

• People may have spiritual needs, particularly those in the start of retirement
• ‘Spiritual health’ refers to your ability to age positively and the ability to feel hope, fulfilment, meaning and purpose in life
• Spiritual health and spiritual care are particularly important for those with those who are worried about their financial well-being or sense of fulfillment with newfound free time

The retirement sector recognises the importance of person-centred care for newly retired Australians which hones in on addressing your emotional, psychological, physical, social and spiritual needs.

Spiritual health and care does not refer to being affiliated with any particular religion or ideology, but it considers the human need to have meaning, purpose and connection to ourselves and something greater than ourselves.

This aspect of health is very personal and can look very different for each person as we all fulfil our spiritual needs in different ways.

Spiritual health can manifest as prayer, religious traditions, meditation or a deep connection to nature.

Going into retirement or being a part-retiree can bring up a variety of questions and queries, particularly about life and mortality. You may ask why this may be happening and what the greater purpose of life is.

For you to tend to your spiritual health, you must address and acknowledge your care needs, along with working to ease the burden of these big questions and provide contentment.

However, what is spirituality?

Spirituality: a human need

The idea of spirituality and spiritual health can be a hard one to understand for some, but others may have spiritual needs.

Spirituality refers to seeking a sense of purpose and meaning, feeling a sense of belonging and connectedness and the need to feel hope and gratitude.

The spirit is neither psychological or physical, but a power that shapes who we are and influences our actions — often prompting us to ask big life questions and seek meaning.

According to the World Health Organisation, spirituality is linked to quality of life, especially for older people.

For some, spirituality and religion are entwined but for others, spirituality could be a connection with culture, nature or music or a deeper understanding of themself.

Spiritual care and its role in retirement

Spiritual care and maintaining your spiritual well-being is an important part of retirement. It encourages positive ageing, supports you to be the best version of yourself while accessing avenues for assistance and can help you make peace with your situation.

According to Meaningful Ageing Australia, spiritual care upholds your rights and choice as well as engages your spirituality in different ways for ultimate well-being while you are retired.

These aspects can include:

• Providing respectful and genuine care that accommodates your individual spiritual needs and upholds your rights as a retiree
• Recognising your choices, preferences and needs which are to be identified, documented and shared by those closest to you
• Establishing individualised activities and engagements that encourage you to find meaning, purpose and connectedness 

Spiritual care and coping with bad news can go hand-in-hand

Spiritual care can help reduce stress as you come to terms with a diagnosis, notice of termination or find peace with life.

After receiving a life-limiting diagnosis and then accessing palliative care, your care team is able to engage with you and find out what is most important to you and how to best meet your spiritual needs. 

Spiritual needs are different for everyone, but some ways to have your needs met could include:

• Sharing stories and memories with workers or other residents
• Encouraging connection with family and friends
• Creating a safe space for you to share your identity, culture and diversity and have the freedom to express yourself and your beliefs
• Have accessible, appropriate and understandable information provided to you to support choice and decision making
• Engage in different purposeful activities that are good for the soul, such as gardening, music making or other well-being activities
• Accessing outdoor areas and natural spaces which should include outings to the ocean, parks or other meaningful places
• Facilitating prayer or meditation and providing access to religious services

Spiritual health is important for everyone, but particularly in retirement and during periods of distress. 

Outside of honouring your right to express your thoughts and beliefs, spiritual health and spiritual care can help you maintain your well-being and grapple with the big questions we often ponder in life. 

How do you practice spiritual health in retirement? Let the team at Your Retirement Living know and subscribe to the newsletter for more information, news and industry updates.

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