| dc.description.abstract | The South African demographic statistics echo the global trend of an ageing population.
This fact poses challenges to the country’s labour supply, to health care, retirement and
intergenerational relations. The elderly are faced with specific challenges such as negative
views regarding older people, discrimination and prejudice based on age, changing roles,
the loss of a support system when children emigrate, financial problems, abuse and neglect,
emotions of fear and depression, and the struggle to find meaning in life and suffering. The
field of study that concerns ageing and older adulthood is called gerontology. Joan Erber
defines it as ‘the study of the biological, behavioural, and social phenomena that occur from
the point of maturity to old age.’ It is an interdisciplinary field where different disciplines seek
to address the problems associated with ageing. Biologists focus on the biological processes of
ageing, psychologists focus on aspects like mental abilities, personality and behaviour, whilst
sociologists study the social roles, group behaviour and status of older people. The question
may be asked what is being done regarding the spiritual and emotional needs of the elderly.
This is the niche of practical theology, as indicated by one definition of practical theology that
it is ‘a place where religious belief, tradition and practice meet contemporary experiences,
questions and actions and conducts a dialogue that is mutually enriching, intellectually
critical, and practically transforming’ according to Pattison and Woodward. The aims of
this exploratory article are (1) to investigate to what extent research in practical theology has
addressed the spiritual and emotional needs of the elderly and (2) to identify opportunities
where practical theology may provide service in the field of gerontology. | en_US |
