Nurturing hope and spirituality in the nursing home

Nurturing body, mind, and spirit is part of holistic care, and yet often the primary focus of care in nursing homes is physical needs. As part of a larger study examining factors related to hope among institutionalized elders, spirituality emerged as the only significant predictor of hope. Findings supported the active presence of hope despite age and functional limitations. The significant contribution of spirituality to hope calls for attention to the provision of opportunities to support and enhance spiritual practices in the nursing home setting. Nurses in nursing homes have the opportunity to establish close relationships with residents over time, often substituting for family and friends no longer available. Because length of stay is long, more time is available to enter into meaningful spirit-sharing relationships with residents. Suggestions for interventions that nurture hope and spirituality within a holistic and caring framework are presented.