Growing Old: The Vocation and Practice of Ageing

This article arises out of our experience of working and reflecting theologically as chaplains in a residential aged care setting. In the first part of this article, we explore the vocation of ageing from the perspective of the Christian tradition, suggesting that this theology offers resources to engage the experience of ageing in ways that render it a journey of growth and self transcendence. In the light of this exploration, we turn to the question of the practices that support engagement with this vocation, particularly for those in the “fourth age”.