Spiritual Entities at the Elderly Home

A friend of mine told me that she and her daughter occasionally see spiritual entities in various contexts, which they perceive as people who have passed away and come to visit a place or a person. She also experiences this at the elderly home where she works.

On TV, there are several programs about the supernatural, both about deceased loved ones who come to visit and say goodbye, but also about more restless spirits creating discomfort for those living in the house. It also happens that residents feel discomfort in the apartment they live in at the elderly home and ask to move.

It can be about a feeling of being watched, unpleasant smells or noises that feel disturbing. A manager at an elderly home where the discussion starts to go that it's haunted can create a difficult situation. A municipal manager received criticism when they hired a medium. Using tax money to hire mediums obviously leads to criticism. The municipality does not pay for the priest or imam to come either. The staff seemed to feel safer afterwards. There have been incidents where the staff has hired a medium because they believed they wanted to curb haunting at a care home, and there have also been cases reported for this reason under Lex Sarah.

It's a bit tricky since even the police authorities have sought help from mediums at times to find remains or perpetrators. A few times with successful results. On the other hand, the police are often called by people who claim to have psychic powers. Statistically, someone can occasionally guess right by chance alone.

More than one in five Swedes believes that people can haunt. Many have experiences that they cannot explain and interpret as spirits of the deceased or other entities. The discussion is about religious belief. Some are horrified that paganism is spreading, but are there better and worse beliefs? That's where the operations get into another ethical discussion, namely that the staff should show respect for other people's beliefs.

How do spiritual entities and evidence-based care go together?

Operations should be conducted in accordance with science and proven experience, and this can come into conflict with beliefs and religious experiences. This must be a starting point that we adhere to. It is probably the case that spirituality feels more uncomplicated and accepted than talking about different religions and having an opinion about these.

Many people are spiritual in some form, something that we cherish extra and that gives us energy and a calm. To walk, to interact with animals and enjoy beautiful places. It does something with us, arouses thoughts and memories and is pleasurable. The question of whether we are religious is often answered with a, no, but I believe in something. That is, in my opinion, some form of spirituality. Every human being is unique, and there are probably as many different ways to define spirituality as there are people.

For healthcare staff, it might be easier to regard all forms of religions and beliefs as spiritual. We all need to tread our own path and carry our own backpack. Everyone goes their own way to achieve increased well-being and acceptance regarding our existential questions, to be able to handle fears and possible obstacles in life. Our focus must be to listen, not to comment and have solutions to life's big questions. To be professionally empathetic and understanding is, in my opinion, our role in care and nursing, because who owns the right to judge others.

Handling Spiritual Entities

Handling experiences of spiritual entities or supernatural phenomena at an elderly home requires an empathetic and sensitive approach. Many older people can experience such phenomena, and it is important to respect their feelings and reactions. Here are some guidelines for handling these situations in a supportive way:
Listen and show understanding: When a resident shares an experience of a spiritual entity, listen attentively and show understanding. It is important to take their feelings seriously and not ridicule them.
Do not deny the experience: Avoid directly questioning or denying the person's experience. What they experience is real to them, and it is important to respect that.
Support and safety: Offer the person support and create a safe environment where they feel comfortable talking about their experiences. It can be worrying to experience something supernatural, and a sense of safety is important.
Explore the experience: If the person is willing to share more about their experiences, you can explore them together. Ask open questions about what they have experienced and if there is anything in particular that worries them.
Consult a manager or licensed staff: If the experiences seem to negatively affect the person's well-being, you should consult licensed colleagues to evaluate if there might be an underlying medical cause or other factors affecting the person's mental health.
Respect the person's religious and cultural beliefs: If the person has strong religious or cultural beliefs connected to their experiences, respect and support them in accordance with these beliefs.
Promote health: Ensure that the person receives adequate care and support for their physical and mental health. A healthy lifestyle and social interaction can sometimes reduce the occurrence of such experiences.
Offer companionship: If the person feels alone or anxious due to their experiences, offering companionship and conversation can be helpful.

It is important to remember that people can react in different ways to experiences of spiritual entities. Some may find them comforting, while others may become scared or worried. In any case, it is important to provide the person with the support and understanding they need to deal with their experiences in a way that is meaningful to them.

Reflection Questions - Spiritual Entities
Care Staff:
- How do you react if one of the residents starts talking about haunting or that the resident smells odors that you cannot smell?
- How do you support each other in handling the residents' experiences in a respectful way?

Manager, Nurse, Occupational Therapist, and Physiotherapist:
- How should the operations act if a resident or their relatives bring in a medium at home with someone living in an elderly home?
- How do you react if a resident wants to move apartments due to experiences of haunting?
- How do you differentiate religious experiences from delusions?

Residents and Relatives:
- What are your thoughts on spiritual entities in an elderly home?

Erland Olsson
Specialist nurse
Sofrosyne - Better care every day