Ageing, Disability and Spirituality: The Possibilities for Well-being and Care.

This chapter addresses directions for future practice and research in the fields of ageing, disability and spirituality. It is asserted that the body of knowledge and understanding of the discipline of pastoral care, and the growing inclusion of spiritual care into allied health-care-provider education and practice, warrants suitable preparation in these fields. Research must be client focused with practitioners and researchers working together. Care practices will only change when the benefits of providing spiritual and pastoral care can be demonstrated with observed outcomes of care. Spirituality does not fit neatly into boxes, and is more difficult to measure objectively. However, the increasing rigour of qualitative research methods will make it easier to show changes.