Also Known As:
Spiritual counselor, hospice chaplain, pastoral care provider, faith support, spiritual guidance
Type:
Spiritual and emotional support service
Primary Purpose:
Provide emotional and spiritual support to patients and families during hospice care
When It Applies:
From hospice admission throughout the patient’s care
Who Is Involved:
Hospice chaplain, patient, family members, caregivers, hospice team
Where It Occurs:
Home, assisted living, nursing facility, hospital, inpatient hospice, or virtual visits
Visit Frequency:
Personalized to patient and family needs; may be regular or occasional
Coverage:
Included under Medicare Hospice Benefit, Medicaid, and most private insurance
Key Focus:
Emotional support, spiritual guidance, listening, encouragement, prayer or ritual support, and grief support
Common Misunderstanding:
Chaplains support all faiths; their role is not religious instruction
Definition
A chaplain is a trained hospice professional who is there to give you spiritual & emotional support during the tough times. They’re the ones who will listen to you, help guide you & just be there when you need someone to talk to or just to sit quietly with. They might lead prayers or rituals if you ask them to – but their main job is to support you not tell you what to believe. They’re the ones who help you work through what’s on your mind when you’re dealing with serious illness, when you’re feeling stressed or when you’re just trying to find some sense of peace about what’s happening in your life.
How often our chaplains visit will depend on what you want – some people like to have them visit them every week, others only when they need it. But what’s great is that the whole hospice team works together so that we can make sure that your spiritual care is all wrapped up with your medical care & other support – it’s all about giving you a complete package of care.
How Chaplain Support Helps Patients and Families
Hospice chaplains are really important for helping both you & your family through the tough times. They can help you work through your feelings, cope with stress & think about what really matters to you. For your family, they can help with things like coping with new responsibilities, dealing with a changed life & even getting ready for what happens after you’re gone.
Our chaplains are there to help you & your family talk about how you’re feeling & what you believe in, and they’re also there to help you make sense of the big questions about life after death & everything in between. They even help with the practical side of things – like getting you all set up to deal with life after the person you care about has passed on.
Duration of Chaplain Support
Chaplain services will keep visiting you as long as you want them to & as long as your hospice care is ongoing. They’re part of the team that helps support you from the minute you join the hospice programme right through to the end & beyond.