Forschungsprojekt ::

Psychosocial and spiritual needs of elderly and their caregivers in Germany, Italy and Poland

Projektbeschreibung

This project is interested to investigate which needs are of relevance at all, and how these needs are related to life satisfaction and coping resources of elderly and their caregivers. We try to be clear, if the specific needs could be predicted by religious and spiritual aspects. Spirituality/religiosity is recognized as a resource to cope with burdening life events, chronic illness and search for meaning in elderly. This study aims at exploring the positive effect of spirituality on quality of life for elder people and their caregivers. It indicates that this provides specific form of coping, may be beneficial to maintaining self-esteem, providing a sense of meaning and purpose, giving emotional comfort and providing a sense of hope for elderly and their caregivers.

The second point of the research focuses on religiosity and spirituality in connection to work and life satisfaction of staff and informal caregivers, being in charge of elderly working in different health care settings.