Silent Illumination: A Case Study Exploring the Spiritual Needs of a Transgender-Identified Elder Receiving Hospice...

With a growing population of transgender-identified elders in the United States, their unique spiritual end-of-life needs are coming to light. This article presents a case study of a hospice volunteer who used skillful means as an artist to help a transgender-identified woman express her spirituality in the last 6 months of her life. After data analysis, 4 themes emerged related to the expression of spirituality by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) elders at end of life. The themes that emerged included (1) the human element in advocacy for spiritual care, (2) the importance of safe spaces for reflection and meditation, (3) the importance of skillful means to work with LGBTQ people, and (4) acknowledgement of gender identity as a spiritual need. This case study serves as a springboard to advance research into the end-of-life needs of LGBTQ elders and the ways in which members of the hospice team can support spiritual care and alleviate suffering for this population.