Spirit-Centered Care
“Spirit-Centered Care” is a term Elderwise uses to describe the care approach developed over more than 25 years of providing care to elders with dementia.
This approach represents the core of Elderwise programming and informs our moment-to-moment interactions with people. At Elderwise, we acknowledge and honor the wholeness of all individuals, addressing what endures despite physical or cognitive changes, and nurturing joy, meaning, and connection in creative community.
Spirit-Centered Care® encompasses five key elements of the Elderwise approach:
Recognize and work from one’s own essence – to truly see someone else’s essence you must be aware of your own essence first.
Recognize the essence of others.
Hold a deep respect for our equality, no matter our present condition.
Have an understanding that roles can instantly change.
Actively develop and practice deep listening.
Spirit-Centered Care® is about what is deepest and most important to us, and this may be seen differently by different individuals. It is not the same as religious-based care. Spirit-Centered Care welcomes and honors people of all faiths, and people of no faith. As stated in the Institute for Research and Innovation in Social Services (IRISS) report entitled, “Spirituality and ageing: implications for the care and support of older people,” that while there is much discussion about the definition of spirituality, ageing is a journey. Elderwise Spirit-Centered Care encourages growth and expansion of the heart during that journey.
As Elderwise continues to work with frail elders, it is expected that our programming will offer researchers ample opportunities to explore the benefits of Spirit-Centered Care®.