Connecting Gerontology and Humanities Through the Legacies of W. Andrew Achenbaum
Stephen Fogle, James Dowd

TL;DR
This symposium explores how humanities and gerontology can collaborate, inspired by W. Andrew Achenbaum's work.
Contribution
It introduces new interdisciplinary approaches to aging by integrating humanities into gerontological research.
Findings
Achenbaum's ideas inspire a practical theology of aging called Living Elderhood.
Humanities can enhance understanding of older adults' health histories through creative methods.
The symposium fosters new perspectives on aging through interdisciplinary collaboration.
Abstract
Inspired by the legacies of W. Andrew Achenbaum, this symposium features innovative visions for exchange between humanities and gerontological imaginations. With presentations from medical, theological, political, and anthropological disciplines the symposium incorporates contributions that reflect the range of influence that Achenbaum provided during his over four decades of scholarship. Thematically, the symposium moves from reflection to application of Achenbaum’s scholarship. The session begins with a reflective response to Achenbaum’s essay, “Being a Humanistic Patient” to consider what it means to be a Humanistic Clinician. The second paper presents a practical theology of aging called Living Elderhood inspired by Achenbaum’s religion, spirituality, and aging writing. The third paper forwards Achenbaum’s upstanding convictions for democracy through applied theoretical analysis of…
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Taxonomy
TopicsAging and Gerontology Research · Empathy and Medical Education · Theological Perspectives and Practices
