Chaplains Bring Spirituality Home
http://www.countywomanmagazines.com/articles/139/1/Chaplains-Bring-Spirituality-Home/Page1.html
Thomas J. Simms, RN, CHPN
Tom Simms, RN, CHPN is Director of Education and Quality at Lighthouse Hospice, Inc. located in Cherry Hill, NJ. With 35 years experience as a Registered Nurse, he lends a significant expertise to the Lighthouse Hospice program. Mr. Simms is also Section Leader for the National Council of Hospice and Palliative Professionals Steering Committee on Development, Public Relations and Marketing. He was formerly co-Chairman of the Hospice-Veterans Partnership for the NJ Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. By Thomas J. Simms, RN, CHPN
Published on April 19, 2009
The decision to elect hospice care can be a very difficult and
confusing experience for patients, their families, and caregivers. The
skilled professionals at Lighthouse Hospice recognize the emotional
toll levied on individuals who are facing life-limiting illness and on
families who are dealing with escalating care demands for their loved
one.
The decision to elect hospice care can be a very difficult and confusing experience for patients, their families, and caregivers. The skilled professionals at Lighthouse Hospice recognize the emotional toll levied on individuals who are facing life-limiting illness and on families who are dealing with escalating care demands for their loved one.
While the entire Lighthouse Hospice team provides care and support to terminally ill patients and their loved ones, the hospice chaplains have a uniquely specialized focus and are exclusively available to provide:
Spirituality may encompass any area of life in which an individual is “invested”. Certainly, one may express a relationship with God or, a transcendent being, through religious observances. Or, a person may simply be “spiritually involved” with their family. It may be neither of these. Thus, the function of the hospice chaplain does not necessarily relate to purely clerical duties such as a priest, minister or rabbi would perform in the community. Instead, the hospice chaplain role encompasses a much broader scope and meaning for both patients and their families.
When patients are enrolled in the hospice benefit through Lighthouse, the chaplains are fully available to provide counsel. Initially, a chaplain will meet with a patient in his or her home. Sometimes, the first meeting may even take place on the telephone. It is at this point when the chaplain initiates the assessment of the individual’s spiritual and emotional needs.
The hospice chaplain will take the time needed to listen to patients and families, to hear their stories through both the meaning of their words and the feelings behind the words. The hospice chaplains recognize that patients and families need to express their own stories in their own ways.
The Lighthouse Hospice chaplains receive and hold patient stories sacred. The chaplains listen to the stories as the patients continue to journey through critically-important stages in their lives — visiting each story with the individual while helping them grasp its meaning and significance. Moreover, hospice chaplaincy offers a place for family members to determine what they deem important and relevant as they relinquish their dying loved ones.
While the entire Lighthouse Hospice team provides care and support to terminally ill patients and their loved ones, the hospice chaplains have a uniquely specialized focus and are exclusively available to provide:
- Emotional support and spiritual care in the patient’s home – wherever “home” may be.
- Presence with and an ability to meet patients and caregivers where they are on their life journey.
- Availability to listen, comfort and help patients and families identify and draw from their own religious and/or spiritual strengths.
- A liaison with community clergy and a conduit to other resources in the spiritual community.
- Memorial and/or funeral services.
- Bereavement support/ counseling.
Spirituality may encompass any area of life in which an individual is “invested”. Certainly, one may express a relationship with God or, a transcendent being, through religious observances. Or, a person may simply be “spiritually involved” with their family. It may be neither of these. Thus, the function of the hospice chaplain does not necessarily relate to purely clerical duties such as a priest, minister or rabbi would perform in the community. Instead, the hospice chaplain role encompasses a much broader scope and meaning for both patients and their families.
When patients are enrolled in the hospice benefit through Lighthouse, the chaplains are fully available to provide counsel. Initially, a chaplain will meet with a patient in his or her home. Sometimes, the first meeting may even take place on the telephone. It is at this point when the chaplain initiates the assessment of the individual’s spiritual and emotional needs.
The hospice chaplain will take the time needed to listen to patients and families, to hear their stories through both the meaning of their words and the feelings behind the words. The hospice chaplains recognize that patients and families need to express their own stories in their own ways.
The Lighthouse Hospice chaplains receive and hold patient stories sacred. The chaplains listen to the stories as the patients continue to journey through critically-important stages in their lives — visiting each story with the individual while helping them grasp its meaning and significance. Moreover, hospice chaplaincy offers a place for family members to determine what they deem important and relevant as they relinquish their dying loved ones.