Doorway Thoughts: Cross-Cultural Health Care for Older Adults, Volume III addresses the role of religion in health care decision-making in America. This book focuses on how clinicians caring for older adults can develop an understanding of different religious groups to care for their patients effectively. Chapters in this volume address cross-cultural health care for older adults from the following religions:
- American Indian Traditions and Theologies
- Buddhism
- Christianity
- Hinduism
- Islam
- Judaism
- Shamanism
- Sikhism
- Daoism/Confucianism
The key concepts discussed in this text are "doorway thoughts" - factors that the culturally competent practitioner reflects upon before walking through the doorway of any examining, consultation, or hospital room. These factors can shape intercultural health care encounters and relationships for good of for ill. They may affect relationships with individual patients and families and also patients' willingness or ability to understand, accept, and adhere to prescribed regimens.
This text covers historical information and an overview of religious beliefs and practices, gender issues, views on death and the afterlife, beliefs about health and illness, and approaches to decision making. Case studies illustrate the application of concepts presented in the chapters.