Spiritual Care At The End Of Life

This book examines the services that chaplains provide to dying patients and the unique relationship that palliative care staff construct with people at the end of life. It explores the nature of hope when faced with the inevitable and develops a theory of spiritual care rooted in relationship that has implications for all healthcare professionals.

Finding Dignity at the End of Life discusses the need for palliative care as a human right and explores a whole-person methodology for use in treatment. The book examines the concept of palliative care as a holistic human right from the perspective of multiple aspects of faith, ideology, culture, and nationality. Integrating a humanities-based approach, chapters provide detailed discussions of spirituality, suffering, and healing from scholars from around the world. Within each chapter, the authors address a different cultural and religious focus by examining how this topic relates to questions of inherent dignity, both ethically and theologically, and how different spiritual lenses may inform our interpretation of medical outcomes. Mental health practitioners, allied professionals, and theologians will find this a useful and reflective guide to palliative care and its connection to faith, spirituality, and culture.

The World of Hospice Spiritual Care: A Practical Guide for Palliative Care Chaplains offers a comprehensive study of spiritual care in hospice. Dr. Sullivan's ability to express the role of the spiritual counselor in creative and insightful ways is refreshing. Chaplains serve in interdisciplinary teams to relieve pain and suffering and to improve patients' quality of life. Members of hospice teams must have specialized knowledge in their area of expertise. Hospice chaplains must be familiar with other areas of hospice work and their functions because hospice care components interrelate. Working in the hospice environment offers tremendous satisfaction and challenges. Doug skillfully addresses those challenges and equips chaplains to allow God's presence to shine through them as they minister effectively in palliative care outreaches. This practical guide examines hospice movement history, philosophy and concepts of care, program models, and interdisciplinary teams. Then Dr. Sullivan discusses the psychosocial and spiritual aspects of pain; spiritual assessments and spiritual care plans; the role of spiritual care staff; grief, bereavement, and mourning; and staff grief and stress management. A thorough analysis of these topics introduces caregivers to the world of hospice, which helps the critical role of the spiritual counselor (hospice chaplain) to emerge. Thus, a better understanding of these concepts and the resulting increased technical competence allows hospice chaplains more freedom to impact patients', families', and caregivers' lives through the ministry of presence. The World of Hospice Spiritual Care: A Practical Guide for Palliative Care Chaplains prepares chaplains to offer comfort, kindness, and care to the dying in their communities in their greatest hours of need. The emotional, spiritual, and practical helps hospice chaplains provide through the ministry of presence can make all the difference in the world for their neighbors. Indeed, hospice chaplains are ordinary people inspired by extraordinary purpose, allowing God's manifest presence to change people's lives through palliative care ministry.

Psychological, social, and spiritual care is as important as physical care at the end of life. Yet caregivers often feel ill-equipped to give that nonphysical care. This book shows how to do it. The book addresses all caregivers who attend dying patients: doctors, nurses, chaplains, clergy in the pastorate, social workers, clinical psychologists, family caregivers, and others. It covers such topics as the functional and emotional trajectories of dying; the varied approaches of patients and caregivers to end-of-life decisions; culturally based beliefs about dying; the differences between depression and grief; and people’s views about the right time to die, the death experience itself, and the afterlife. For each topic the book introduces core concepts and summarizes recent research about them. The book presents much of its material in readable tables for easy reference; applies the material to real-life cases; lists the main “take home” points for each chapter; and gives references for additional reading. The book helps caregivers anticipate the reactions of patients and survivors to end-of-life traumas and suggests how caregivers can respond insightfully and compassionately. At the same time the book challenges caregivers to think through their own views about death and dying. This book, therefore, is a must-read for all caregivers―professional and nonprofessional alike―who strive to give their patients comprehensive, high-quality end-of-life care.

Oftentimes caregivers, friends, and family are unsure of what to say and what to do to comfort the sick and the dying. Midwife for Souls provides specific Catholic insight and highlights the power of prayer as a guide. This best-selling book has been revised to include a new section of inspiring stories and lessons learned in hospice ministry.

Without an appropriate spiritual care model, it can be difficult to discuss existential questions about death and dying with people who are confronted with life-threatening or incurable diseases. This book offers a simple framework for interpreting existential questions with patients and helping them to cope in end-of-life situations, with illustrative examples from practice. Building on the medieval Ars moriendi tradition, the author introduces a contemporary art of dying model. It shows how to discuss existential questions in a post-Christian context, without moralising death or telling people how they should feel. Written in a straightforward manner, this is a helpful resource for chaplains and clergy, and those with no formal spiritual training, including counsellors, doctors, nurses, allied healthcare workers and other professionals who come into contact with patients in hospitals and hospices.

At times we may be called to be companions on a journey we would rather not take--the journey of a loved one toward the end of life. For those who choose to serve as close companions of terminally ill relatives or friends, Parting offers the collective wisdom of people from many cultures and faith traditions as a "travel guide" for meaningful companionship--helping someone toward a peaceful transition from this life. Sections of the book discuss how to cross the bridge from ordinary conversation to spiritual reflection; how to provide comforts for the body, mind, and soul; and how to care for yourself while concentrating on the needs of another. Transcending any specific religion or culture, this handbook addresses universal spiritual needs. Designed for easy reading by weary travelers, this practical, pocket-sized guide prepares the spiritual companion for an enriching experience, even on the journey toward life's end. It is an indispensable tool for family members and friends, hospice workers, religious leaders, counselors, and medical providers.