Spirituality and Good Health

Can religion and spirituality promote good health as we age? The answer to that question could improve the lives of millions of aging baby boomers and their older parents.

A group of retirement communities and the University of Pennsylvania Health System are seeking answers. They are launching a three-year study on how to use religious and spiritual resources to enhance the health of adults.

Participants in the study will be drawn from the 6,000 residents of ACTS. The non-profit organization is the nation's largest owner/operator of continuing care retirement communities, with 15 sites in three states.

A spokesman for the health system's Institute on Aging says the study is designed to test the effectiveness of spiritually informed interventions, to measure the impact of specific forms of spirituality on health and to explore theories explaining interrelationships between health and spirituality.

Researchers hope that forging religious and spiritual links for more mature adults can speed their recovery from illness, offer protection from disease, fend off depression and help maintain good health. The impact of spirituality on health will also be important to aging boomers seeking to remain healthy in their 50s, 60s and beyond.