AGING, SPIRITUALITY, AND HEALTH: A COMPREHENSIVE VIEW OF THE ELDERLY ACROSS THREE DIMENSIONS
UM OLHAR PLENO NAS TRÊS DIMENSÕES DO IDOSO
Keywords:
aging, spirituality, integral health, elderly dimensions, active agingAbstract
The accelerated population aging in Brazil challenges health systems to adopt integrated approaches to the elderly's physical, psychological, and spiritual dimensions. This article presents a systematic review of recent literature to explore the role of spirituality in holistic health, resilience, and well-being during active aging. We analyze how spiritual practices, such as prayer, meditation, and religious participation, relate to lower anxiety and depression, greater adherence to treatments for chronic conditions, and enhanced quality of life perception among the elderly. In the Brazilian context, it is observed that older adults with religious experience exhibit less social isolation and greater capacity to manage everyday comorbidities. The study discusses integrated spiritual interventions, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy with a spiritual focus and life review groups, in articulation with medical and psychological care. A tridimensional model is proposed as a reference for health professionals, theologians, and therapists, with a view to public policies that value religious diversity. It is concluded that spirituality constitutes a central element — and not a mere complement — in the aging process, contributing to the dignity and existential vitality of the elderly