October 24, 2024This week we celebrate Spiritual Care Week (20 – 26 October), a time to reflect on the important role spiritual care plays in providing multidisciplinary and holistic care for patients and their loved ones.
The celebration of Spiritual Care Week allows chaplains, pastoral care counsellors, educators and providers to share their stories and to celebrate various ministries. This year’s theme, ‘Beyond Religious Roles’ touches on the many roles chaplains and other professional spiritual caregivers play, outside of offering prayer.
When thinking of chaplains, many people picture prayer, religious activities, sacred texts, leading worship services, performing weddings and funerals, and providing spiritual guidance.
However, chaplains are also highly trained in numerous roles in addition to their religious care – they can provide family support, grief counselling, assist with pre-surgery and post-surgery care, or simply be an emotional comforter, among many other roles.
Here at Northern Health, our Spiritual Care staff continue to provide spiritual care beyond religious roles, including bereavement support, emotional support, pastoral counselling, ceremonial events and rites, education and training, blessing and name ceremonies (post-natal) and referral and consultation.
Spiritual Care staff are based at Northern Hospital Epping, Bundoora Centre and Broadmeadows Hospital, and sacred spaces are also available at these sites.
The spaces are open to people of any faith and no faith. Everyone is welcome for quiet time, prayers, reflections. At times, these spaces are offered for urgent ceremonies – an intimate and memorable wedding ceremony was held in one of the sacred spaces because the bride’s mother was a patient and too unwell to go to her wedding.
“There is a misconception that we are just about religion. We’re so much more than religion – we can offer value if a patient is distressed or worried,” said Natalia Dewiyani, Spiritual Care Coordinator.
“Our goal is for staff to change this misconception that we are just about religion, and to know we add value to people’s lives, especially end of life care.”
“We have a sacred space that people use for both religious and spiritual purposes, but it is open to all faith and non-faith people. Everyone is welcome, even if it’s just for a quiet or reflective space needed.”
“We offer support to staff as well. We had someone pass away who was still quite young and had been in and out of hospital for the last 12 years. Staff were quite distressed as they had known this patient for a long time – these are the type of situations we can help with; we have a lot of different skills that come into play. We’re very creative and adapt to what the person needs.”
“We hold a safe, comforting, and non-judgmental space where people often feel most vulnerable in the hospital setting. We empower patients, family and staff in transcending their suffering and exploring their sense of meaning, purpose and belonging.”
Last year, the department changed their name from Pastoral Care (also known as hospital chaplains) to Spiritual Care to make it more inclusive to everyone.
“We are open for all faiths and no faith. Everyone has their own spirituality, everyone has a spirit,” said Natalia.
“We are trained and capable of giving support in a wide array of spiritual, emotional, social, and other needs. When called upon, we are ready to serve in many ways.”
Kelly Pinto, Spiritual Care Practitioner, says she thrives on providing a diversity of skills and implementing them into spiritual care.
“Firstly, offering patients a listening and empathic presence without judgement. Secondly, by inviting them to explore their inner wealth of resources that lifts their spirits. Thirdly, exploring other external interventions that could assist with healing their soul by surrendering themselves over to a higher power through rituals,” she said.
John Davies, who is part of the Spiritual Care team, often provides intervention to people experiencing a recent death within the family, or an anniversary that triggers emotional grief and lowness in mood.
He said that this can include, “being alongside the person, listening to their loss, exploring the relationship experienced over the years – both uplifting or negative. Also affirming the good and challenging times, reflecting upon the deceased’s personality and character and what lives on.”
“Also encouraging the person to be gentle on themselves and allow the grieving process to take place,” he said.
Our Spiritual Care department continues to leave a lasting impact on our community. A recent survey showed overwhelming positive feedback, including comments such as:
- “Spiritual Care is a vital part of life for many patients and staff. Staff, patients and family members derive comfort and meaning from their spiritual beliefs which enables them to cope with ill health and poor prognosis. The Spiritual Care team at Northern Health provide much needed support and compassion to people going through some of the darkest hours of their life.”
- “The spiritual care practitioners have been such a necessary part of patient healing, both to religious and non-religious patients. Medicine is only a small part of healing.”
- “Spiritual care always support and provide spiritual healing for the patients.”
Spiritual Care, together with Palliative Care and Social Work, will be hosting the second Northern Health Memorial Service for 2024 on Thursday, 14 November at NCHER. The event honours the memory of those who passed away at Northern Health between December 2023 and May 2024. Staff can register their attendance here.
Featued image: Spiritual Care department.
