Psychosocial/Spiritual Approaches to Aging and Serious Illness

Catalog description

This course examines the philosophical foundations of social work that provide a unique lens through which clinicians, educators, and clergy members develop their own philosophy of helping as they minister to their communities and spheres of influence. Course content will provide a spiritual, psychosocial, biblical, and philosophical framework that can be uniquely applied to individuals at the later stages of life, when individuals and families may confront illness, frailty, loss, and suffering. Resilience will be a common thread throughout, as students understand the skills and behaviors that are at the core of syntonic responses to trauma. The philosophical perspective provides a framework for understanding the ontological crisis that clients, congregants, and community members will ultimately confront as they navigate illness, loss of functioning, and end-of-life decisions. Restriction(s): This course is open only to students in the Interprofessional Aging and Palliative Care Certificate.