Maricopa Community Colleges  WED145   20026-99999 
Official Course Description: MCCCD Approval: 06/25/02
WED145 20026-99999 LEC 3 Credit(s) 3 Period(s)
Spirituality and Aging
Exploration of the spiritual dimensions of aging; relationship of major life tasks and transitions to spirituality; exploration of conscious aging, including a literary analysis; reflective and contemplative tools used in conscious aging; interrelationships between wisdom, ritual, and spirituality; and development of a new vision of aging. Prerequisites: None.
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MCCCD Official Course Competencies:
 
WED145   20026-99999 Spirituality and Aging
1. Identify key elements of spirituality. (I)
2. Identify major life transitions and tasks in aging. (II)
3. Describe the theory of Gero-Transcendence. (II)
4. Describe how major life transitions and tasks relate to spirituality. (III)
5. Describe how end of life issues shape spirituality. (III)
6. Describe ways in which reflective living enhances the quality of aging. (IV)
7. Write a reflection on personal experience with one contemplative practice for conscious aging. (IV)
8. Review and analyze one literary work related to conscious aging. (IV)
9. Describe the interrelationship between wisdom, rituals, and spirituality in aging. (V)
10. Describe new concepts and structures for aging consciously. (VI)
11. Create a personal vision of aging based on the mind, body, spirit connection in human existence. (VI)
12. Develop an action plan to become a respected elder and sage, and discover ways to disseminate these concepts to others. (VI)
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MCCCD Official Course Outline:
 
WED145   20026-99999 Spirituality and Aging
    I. Spirituality
        A. Religious and secular views of spirituality
        B. Material vs. spiritual principles in human existence
        C. Elements of the sacred in everyday life
      II. Later Life Stages, Transitions, Tasks, and Theories
          A. Major life stages in human development
            1. Generativity vs. stagnation
            2. Ego integrity vs. despair
          B. Major life transitions in mid to old age
            1. Role changes and events
            2. Status in society
          C. Major life tasks in mid to old age
            1. Dealing with loss
            2. Facing mortality
            3. Finding purpose
          D. Theory of Gero-Transcendence
            1. Tenets of Gero-Transcendence theory
            2. Disengagement and Activity theories vs. Gero-Transcendence
        III. Relationship of Conscious Aging to Becoming a Spiritual Elder and Sage
            A. Definition of conscious aging
            B. Life transitions and tasks related to conscious aging
              1. Review life
              2. Harvest fruits of experience
              3. Practice forgiveness of self and others
              4. Recontextualize past
              5. Heal relationships
              6. Process grief
              7. Reclaim unlived life
              8. Accept mortality and prepare for death
              9. Leave a legacy
            C. Becoming a sage
              1. Freedom from the pain of the past
              2. Confidence in one's purpose in the present
              3. Preservation and transmittal of wisdom to future generations
          IV. Reflective and Contemplative Aging
              A. Tools for enhancing quality of aging
                1. Meditation, breathing, relaxation, visualization techniques
                2. Journal writing
                3. Creative reminiscing
                4. Storytelling
                5. Body and energy movement
                6. Self-help body and energy techniques
              B. Literary works
                1. Memoirs of sages
                2. Spiritual autobiographies
                3. Fairy tales for older adults
            V. Interrelationship Between Wisdom, Ritual, and Spirituality
                A. Definition of elder wisdom
                B. Practical applications for elder wisdom
                  1. Mentoring and modeling spiritual quest for wisdom
                  2. Healing intergenerational divisions
                  3. Serving as stewards of Earth
                  4. Regenerating social and political institutions
                C. Celebrating life and death through rituals
                  1. Initiation into elder consciousness
                  2. Discovery of meaning-making events and marking life transitions through literature
                  3. Developing and practicing rituals
              VI. New Paradigm of Aging
                  A. New concept of elder culture
                  B. New structures
                    1. Spiritual eldering centers
                    2. Elder guilds and councils
                    3. Enlightened nursing homes
                  C. Incorporating new vision of aging
                  D. Internalization of new concepts and vision
                    1. Participation in and dissemination of new concepts and vision
                    2. Discovery of avenues of action and change
                    3. Handling, managing, and becoming agents of change
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