Nursing Homes as a Context of Pastoral Care: Chaplains Encountering Older Adults Who Experience Existential Loneliness and Meaninglessness

Earlier studies indicate that moving into a nursing home raises a variety of existen-tial concerns for older adults. Yet less is known about how nursing home chaplainsexperience caring for these individuals. Based on an interpretative phenomeno-logical analysis, the article examines how chaplains perceive their role in caringfor older people in nursing homes who are experiencing meaninglessness and/orexistential loneliness. Particularly, we analyze: How do chaplains encounter olderpeople experiencing these existential concerns? And what do these encountersrequire of the chaplains themselves? The results show that the encounter requiresintensive listening skills and a strong ability to facilitate person-centered interaction.We also found existential care to include tangible practices in the form of practicalsupport and religious care. Emotional endurance is required to cope with olderpeople’s various feelings and expressions