This post was written by Karen Kosberg, chaplain, Parkview Hospice.
"I'm not religious."
"I don't need anyone preaching at me."
"I don't want a chaplain yet!"
These are some of the responses I have heard over the years as a hospice chaplain. These statements are reactions to the offer of a visit. So once and for all, let's answer the question: Why a chaplain?
The hospice philosophy embraces a holistic view of a person–physical, mental, emotional and spiritual, which makes a chaplain an integral part of the hospice team. A chaplain has expertise in caring for a person’s spiritual well-being, focusing on honoring a dying person's values, beliefs and end-of-life journey.
We are more than just flesh and bones. We all have a spiritual core and a need to find meaning. We need to love and be loved. We have an innate sense that there is something bigger than we are. While hospice focuses on an individual’s physical health and comfort, it equally attends to their mental health. The role of the hospice chaplain is to offer support for wherever a person is in their personal spiritual and faith journey. This may include:
-
Providing compassionate listening as one negotiates the end of life and what that means to them and their loved ones.
-
Providing non-judgmental guidance through life review and self-reflection.
-
Giving a safe space to sort through the multitude of feelings, worries and stresses.
-
Engaging in confidential conversations.
-
Encouraging a person to look to their faith.
-
Guiding a person to discover their own spiritual center. Even those of us who are not “religious” need to nurture our spiritual core.
-
Joining a person on their spiritual journey without judging that journey.
-
Respecting differences and diversity.
-
Guiding a person and their loved ones in their grief and letting go.
A chaplain certainly cannot cure an illness or heal the hurts of a heart. But they can bring comfort and peace. And they can celebrate a person’s life, who they are and who they always will be.
As a hospice chaplain, it is an honor and a privilege to walk with a person and their loved ones during the last days of their lives.
For more information about hospice and palliative care services or a patient referral to Parkview Hospice, please call 260-368-5111 or 260-368-5146. You can also complete our online form here.
