Spirituality is a neglected area for public discussion, yet a crucial aspect for many older people in later life. Reviewing life and its meaning from the perspective of later life is often missing in academic texts on ageing and older people. Yet spiritual needs increase with age and spirituality can be a crucial support to many, particularly during transitions associated with later life such as bereavement.

This book redresses that omission. It deals with the terminology around spirituality, religion and belief ; it stresses older people's views throughout; it looks at spirituality from a multi-faith perspective and couches this within different cultural, religious and social contexts. With an increasing emphasis on Islam and alternative meaning systems, it addresses both contemporary debates alongside historical accounts.

To fit in with the ‘Ageing and the Lifecourse’ series it takes a lifecourse approach, looking at the diversity of beliefs and different faiths that an older person may have witnessed over their lifetime. It also challenges the tendency to view old age as an isolated, separate or static phase of life and emphasises the interrelationship between different phases of life and continuities across the lifecourse.