Palliative Care, Ageing and Spirituality

(...) this book provides a gentle but emotive introduction into preparing for the final journey of life. -- Journal of Community Nursing ...both of these books (Spirituality and Personhood in Dementia by Albert Jewell and Palliative Care, Ageing and Spirituality by Elizabeth Mackinlay), (...) are infused with glimpse of grace and courage, can inspire the reader to give thanks and cherish all that is good, and to live life as fully as we are able, even in the midst of frailty. -- The Way this is a book which anyone involved in this area could read with real profit - and pass on to others. Strongly recommended. -- Plus MacKinlay's skills as a nurse and priest are reflected in the simple and compassionate opening up of the questions and some of the consequent feelings that surround this important dimension of our living. -- Church Times In a culture that tends to assume that the only meanings that can be associated with death are profoundly negative, the idea of a good death for elderly people is not always apparent. Elizabeth MacKinlay sees things differently. In this book she teases out a different way of looking at and understanding death and dying. Death is not an enemy or even something that necessarily has to be feared. Rather, death is a meaningful movement towards a positive goal. Religion and spirituality are vital aspects for the achievement of such a goal. This book helps us all to see death and dying differently and in seeing these things differently, we can learn to practise more compassionately. -- Professor John Swinton, Chair in Divinity and Religious Studies and Professor in Practical Theology and Pastoral Care, University of Aberdeen, Scotland The phrase 'a good death' seems ridiculous, but what is really meant is a good approach to death, with minimal physical pain, and the best chance of mental and spiritual calm to face the end. Not an easy task and therefore a book such as this containing helpful advice and real examples can be a useful aid to not only professionals perhaps facing palliative care for the first time, but also to families and friends who can have much to offer in bringing comfort and ease... This book, by being non-technical is also of value to the relatives and friends of those approaching the end of their mortal life. -- GoodBookStall.org.uk