Dancing with wisdom towards shalom: what I learned from older people living in residential care homes

Wisdom is associated with older age in psychosocial and spiritual models of development. However research in this area does not include the voices of older people living in residential care homes. People are currently living longer with complex health needs, and it is important to hear the voices of older people who are frail. This paper is based on research carried out in four residential care homes in North West England, and is comprised of participant observation and in-depth interviews with four older people in each home, during which wisdom was explored in the context of community. This paper explores wisdom in relation to health and wellbeing, play, faith, the past and end of life. As the participants expressed a Christian faith these themes are explored through the lens of biblical wisdom. I argue that God as wisdom stands outside and within us, and as we listen and respond to God's wisdom we grow in wisdom, which leads to shalom, though this is not a linear process. I conclude with implications for practice.