Spiritual Care
The spiritual care provided by Maximum Hospice serves merely to augment the care normally provided by the patient's own pastor, priest, rabbi, imam, or other religious guide. We follow the guidelines formulated by Chicago 's first hospice, Seasons Hospice and Palliative Care. These are as follows:
" 'Spirituality and spiritual life are not religious departments, walled-off areas of life. Rather the spiritual life is the life of the whole person directed towards God.' (Kenneth Leech)"
"The word 'spiritual' can be used in a variety of ways. We understand spiritual life as each person's unique experience of a power beyond himself or herself, a sense of order in the universe, a sense of purpose in living, and a sense of connection with everything. It also includes the organizing set of beliefs, values, hopes, and yearnings by which each person makes sense of the frequently chaotic elements of life.
"We do not believe that spiritual concerns are only for those who are members of various religions. We believe that all people are spiritual, regardless of their specific religious affiliation or devotion. We believe that the spiritual life is most directly expressed and experienced in human connection, and that spiritual concerns are intertwined with every facet of our lives.
"Spiritual dimensions of our lives often provide us with our most profound experiences of awe, wonder, joy, fulfillment, and unity. Spiritual dimensions may also express themselves in some of our most difficult experiences of fear, terror, guilt, and brokenness. All of these experiences are important and valid - and they shape our lives in many untold ways."
Those unfamiliar with hospice often assume that caring for the dying must be very stressful and that hospice caregivers must "burn out" easily. At Maximum Hospice we have generally found that our patients' experience of their last weeks, days, and moments in life can be very inspiring. This helps to explain why Mother Therese of Calcutta, the Catholic nun who committed her life to those under her care, became stronger throughout her life and an inspiration to all around her.
This mission requires a calling, which is what hospice is all about. We rely especially on our volunteers to give their love to our patients in order to return through each patient the love that God has given them.
|
