Spiritual care is a factor in the holistic care concept of Creekside Hospice. Some of the primary concerns of a dying patient are spiritual questions related to sense of purpose, the meaning of life, self-image, and hope for the future. The knowledge that we will die soon demands us to explore our beliefs.
Consistent with all Creekside Hospice concepts, spiritual care should give the patient the opportunity to assess and self-evaluate within a defined spiritual perspective; to investigate beliefs, not just take them for granted. Under no circumstances should a Creekside Hospice chaplain bring his or her own salvation agenda to a patient’s bedside or in any way impose personal religious or denominational beliefs. Some of the spiritual needs we look for are:
Re-examining beliefs
Exploring beliefs of an afterlife
Reconciling life choices
Exploring one’s contributions and achievements
Examining loving relationships
Discovering meaning
The need for fellowship and spiritual conversation
Prayer and meditation
Religious rituals, such as communion, confession, scripture
The Creekside Hospice Chaplain is there to meet the spiritual needs of all Creekside Hospice patients, whatever their faith or belief stance. All persons have spiritual concerns when facing death. The Creekside Hospice chaplain may, through encouragement, permission of feelings, observation and feedback, and clarification of conceptual tools, meaningful symbols and images, help Creekside Hospice patients explore their belief stance, personalize it, and use it creatively to cope with living and dying.
