What is Spiritual Care?
Spiritual Care is a ministry to help others experience, as fully as possible, the reality of God’s presence and love. This may happen through words, actions and companionship. Spiritual support covers a number of different services and contact types.
- Regular visitation and “check ins” by staff and/or volunteers are the most common and perhaps the most important ways of ensuring the spiritual well-being of our residents. Presence and listening are two expressions of caring that contribute to the maintenance of health.
- Physical presence, which is sensitive to one’s needs, encourages the awareness that one is not alone. Knowing that someone is prepared to be present and supportive can be a comfort in times of transition.
- When a person’s health is failing, the loss of independence may lead them to ponder the meaning of life and search for answers, for peace and for God. Spiritual Care can be a companion who listens non-judgementally to their story and journey with them. This process may help with acceptance of the situation.
- Spiritual Care collaborates with the nursing department to ensure that the resident’s Advance Care Directive is completed and up to date. We are also available as a resource to help with the understanding of an Advance Care Directive.
- At the end of life, Spiritual Care is frequently called upon to provide additional support to the resident and family during the dying process. This includes grief support and help in the planning of a funeral or celebration of life in our chapel.
