Older People's Experience of Spirituality Through Music

Abstract

This qualitative study examines the spiritual meaning ascribed to music by older people. In-depth interviews were used to explore the connection made between music and the spiritual experience with a sample of older Australians living in the community aged 60 years and older. The findings show how music provides older people with ways of experiencing and expressing a sense of spirituality. The results remind gerontologists that they need to be mindful in understanding the different ways that older people express and experience spirituality, even though the individual may not readily identify as being religious.