PHILOSOPHY OF SPIRITUAL CARE:
DESTINY’S SPIRITUAL SUPPORT
Being on hospice or palliative care can be a time of uncertainty and worry. At Destiny, our philosophy of care does not only include palliative medicine – the relief of symptoms and pain—but it also includes spiritual care, where we address patients’ spiritual pain as a part of total health care. Our sensitivity to our patients’ spiritual needs compels an integrated, compassionate care expressly tailored to their desires and wishes.
HEALING PRESENCE:
CARE, LISTEN, EMPATHIZE
Our chaplains’ general role is one of “healing presence”—not to lecture or tell on what to do or how to feel, but to let the family know that they care, that they will listen and empathize, and to help the family explore and understand their options. Our chaplains will listen to your fears and concerns, whether spiritual, emotional, or both. They will further explore the importance of spirituality as you define it.
INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO HEALTH CARE:
TEAM-BASED, TIMELY AND TARGETED PATIENT CARE(3Ts)
INITIAL ASSESSMENT & SPIRITUAL NEEDS FRAMEWORK
The primary desire of our spiritual counselors in your hospice/palliative care or of your loved one is to build a permission-based relationship with you or your family. To connect emotionally and spiritually so as to serve you as appropriate and permitted. The goal of an initial encounter is to assess, articulate hope, despair, and effective coping options. As a standard practice, our chaplains offer personalized spiritual care, which may include any beliefs, practices, and relationships that help you or your loved one find meaning, comfort, and hope. The following represents spiritual needs that are common among hospice/palliative patients or their families and their goals of care.
ESTABLISHING RAPPORT
- Careful listening
- Emphatic reflecting
- Gentle query
- Supportive validating
- Intuitive grasping
ASSESSING
EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
- Trauma shock
- Need to talk
- Fears & anxiety
- Anger, resentment, & hostility
- Sadness, discouragement, despair
- Deep hurt
RELIGIOUS/SPIRITUAL
- Religious support
- Spiritual validation
- Spiritual counseling
- Relief from regrets
- Instructing
MAJOR LOSS
- Current or recent loss
- Prior loss
- Dying
- Life adjustment
- Estrangement
REFERRAL NEEDS
- Community and/or facility clergy
- Psychosocial services
- Mortuary/crematorium
- Interdisciplinary group
- Family conference