Pastoral communication with confused elderly people

Abstract

This research was designed to examine how pastoral communication can be enhanced with confused elderly people. The model under-pinning this research is one which acknowledges the dynamic inter-relationship between theory and practice. It brings theoretical understanding from practical theology, pastoral care and speech and language therapy to bear on the experience of offering pastoral care to the confused elderly individual.The relating of theory and practice in this way demanded that a variety of methods be used in the gathering and interpretation of data. The triangulation of qualitative and quantitative methods fosters a more complete description and understanding of practice.The research design was of five inter-related stages. These stages take the form of literature review, structured interviews with speech therapists, structured interviews with people involved with the care of confused elderly people, a postal questionnaire sent to pastors, and in-depth interviews with 11 of the respondents to the questionnaire.