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The Selwyn Centre for Ageing and Spirituality

Older people have spiritual needs, particularly at times of illness, disablility or approaching death. They frequently seek to bring deeper meaning to their lives and their spiritual needs intensify as they near the end of their lives. They may wish to examine relationships, look to find connections, to bring sense and satisfaction for a life lived - and explore their individual sense of being.

Organisations in the health and aged care services are called upon to give holistic care to older people. Sometimes, though they omit the spiritual needs of those in their care. Yet research shows that people whose spiritual needs are recognised and addressed recover faster from physical or mental illness. Religeous organisations sometimes struggle to meet the needs of their members.

In response, The Selwyn Foundation established The Selwyn Centre fro Ageing and Spirituality, as New Zealand's voice for the spiritual needs of older people.

The Selwyn Centre for Ageing and Spirituality has three key areas of focus:

• Education
• Research
• Advocacy
  
  In summary, we provide training for older people and those caring for them; undertake or commission research into ageing and spirituality; and we have a role in advocacy with government., NGO's and other institutions in advocating for the spiritual needs of older New Zealanders to be considered in policy and actions.