The Whole Person

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Chapter 3: The Whole Person

Overview:

• Sets forth a holistic understanding of dementia, moving beyond the standard biomedical paradigm
• Refers to Frankl’s “dimensional ontology”
• Focuses on spiritual intelligence

Description:

The dramatic increase in the longevity of older adults in our global society has brought an expansion in their numbers and in their potential for trauma and dementing illness, the most common of which is Alzheimer’s disease. Dementia is one of the major health problems of our ageing society. It is the nightmare the elderly pray to avoid. This chapter sets forth a holistic model for exploring the complexities of dementia.

Topics:

• Beyond the biomedical paradigm
• Frankl’s dimensional ontology
• Alzheimer’s patients as our teachers
• Spiritual intelligence

Speaker / Author:

Melvin A. Kimble PhD

Melvin has been professor of pastoral care at Luther Seminary, Minnesota (USA), since 1965. In 1993, he established the Center for Ageing, Religion and Spirituality and has served as director since its inception. In 1999, he was elected professor emeritus of pastoral care and remains on the faculty as a distinguished senior lecturer. Melvin was a contributing author to Handbook on Humanities in Ageing (1999) and Ageing and the Meaning of Time (2001), editor of Viktor Frankl’s Contribution to Spirituality and Ageing (2001), and senior editor of Ageing, Spirituality, and Religion: A Handbook (1995, 2003). He has been the recipient of a number of prestigious awards from the American Society on Ageing and National Council on Ageing (USA). Melvin also received the American College and Health Care Administrators Research Award in 1986.

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