Visits to Long-term and Short-term
Care Nursing Residents. Everyone has a spiritual story. A Chaplain
visit encourages residents to share their story; what gives their life
meaning, purpose, and value. Sometimes during life’s passages
one needs a spiritual friend to walk with them. That’s when a
Chaplain visit may become most meaningful. A chaplain visit often address
issues of spiritual practice, spiritual needs and wants, and important
beliefs regarding wellness, illness and end-of-life.
Sacred Rites. Chaplains perform holy rituals or arrange
for special rites or sacraments from various traditions to be preformed
upon request. Chaplains serve open Holy Communion, Anointing & Prayers,
Baptisms, Weddings and Renewal of Vows Rituals, and Memorial or Funeral
services.
Clinical Assessments. The chaplain ascertains the resident’s
religious history along with their current faith community support,
community and family support system, and coping strength. Spiritual
needs are addressed on an ongoing basis. A formal assessment may be
requested by the resident or family for spiritual direction and care
goals.
Counseling and Spiritual Direction. The chaplain is
trained in providing pastoral counseling and spiritual direction for
residents, families and staff. Often short-term counseling is provided
to those during a crisis or trauma. Sometimes a person finds themselves
lost, without direction, overwhelmed, and feels they are having a spiritual
emergency. A chaplain provides a non-anxious presence, so one may experience
Light during their darkness.
Hospital Visits. Sometimes one has a health crises
that sends them to the hospital. During these challenging times LifeSphere
Chaplains attempt to connect with our residents and employees who may
need spiritual and emotional support. A health crises may put a strain
on ones coping skills. A chaplain may assist one to connect with their
spiritual self and facilitate healing during ones recovery.
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Christian Wholeness Ministry. It has been said that
modern healthcare has its origins in the Church. The chaplains provide
a cooperate worship experience in which residents, families and staff
are encouraged to pray for healing. There is an emphasis in worship
on forgiveness, reconciliation, and traditional Christian rites of “laying-on-of-hands”
and anointing, for healing of mind, body and spirit. Chaplain Copeland
also provides a “Laying on of Hands” prayer ministry for
individual employees, residents and families as a registered practitioner
in Jin Shin Do acupressure. He also integrates cranio-sacral and applied
kinesiology techniques into the traditional Christian rituals of anointing,
laying on of hands and pastoral care.
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End of Life and Bereavement Care. Chaplain’s
coordinate spiritual care for those at the end of life, with their local
clergy and hospice chaplain. Dimensions of spirituality are explored
with the dying: meaning, conception of divinity, relationships, mystery,
play, experience of being alive, and integration of mind, body, spirit
for the care of the soul. The chaplains oversee a volunteer program,
the Compassionate Companion, that provides a vigil visitor for those
actively dying. At the time of death the Chaplain begins a bereavement
program for residents, families and employees that have lost a loved
one. This program follows the bereaved resident or employee for one
year. Bereavement care is also offered to caregivers at the time immediately
following a death.
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The "Praying Hearts" Prayer Chain. LifeSphere
has a compassionate spirit. Residents volunteer to pray for each other
and those requesting prayer in our LifeSphere family. Those requesting
prayer leave a message on the prayer chain by telephoning 782-2400 extension
2273 or those on the Maple Knoll Campus may dial CARE.
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Spiritual Discussion Groups. These round table discussions
examine the breath and with of what is spiritual, for those aging in
LifeSphere. Some round table meetings are seasonal or fitting a specific
event, i.e. September 11, 2001 or a PBS documentary dealing with religion
and ethics. Other round table groups, like the Bodmann Group and “Draw
Near” Breese Manor residents, meet twice a month. “Draw
Near” meets the second and fourth Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. in the
Fourth Floor Breese Manor Game room.
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Family Caregivng Support Groups. For several years
family members who help another maintain their independence have benefited
from a monthly support group. It is often heard, “I wish I had
attended the group sooner. It is so helpful to be with others with similar
concerns and circumstances.” The caregiving support group that
meets at Maple Knoll Village is called “Thou Shalt Honor.”
The group gathers every third Monday of the month in the Breese Manor
Club Room.
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Spiritual Care Volunteer Programs. Volunteers are vital
to our spiritual care program throughout LifeSphere. It is our goal
for the volunteer to provide quality spiritual care to our LifeSphere
older adults. Spiritual care volunteers assist older adults to reach
there highest potential as individuals in giving glory to God. Volunteers
promote independence, good health, personal fulfillment, and a deeper
knowledge of God.
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There are several ways to volunteer.
1. Chaplain Aide. These are individuals who are trained by
the chaplains to provide spiritual care visits. An application, interview,
training and orientation is followed by quarterly continuing education
workshops. They often assist the Chaplains in a variety of services
and programs. Several of these are:
•
Cards and Letters: Many older adults receive care and
education through a card or letter during life’s passages. Three
programs have regular cards and letters sent; TLC Contacts for older
adults at risk during transitions, bereavement care for those who have
recently lost a loved one, and birthday celebrations.
•
Telephone Calls: Many older adults battle loneliness,
helplessness, and boredom. Telephone companionship offers support and
care for older adults who have limited activities.
•
Visits: Pastoral care visits to older adults in our
healthcare pavilion and assisted living can be very meaningful. Music,
scripture reading, prayers, and life review add quality to life for
our older adults in need of our greatest amount of care.
2. Spiritual Care Volunteer. These are individuals
who volunteer and are on-call and offer their time as needed. Some of
the areas of service and programs that they facilitate are in the Chapel:
•
Wheel Chair Transport: Each week and during special
worship services volunteers are needed to transport residents from the
Bodmann Pavilion to the Chapel. Local area congregations take turns
providing a small group for Sunday afternoon transportation
•
Liturgist: Every week five worship services are held
on our campus. In addition there is often a special service added each
month. Each service provides servant leadership opportunities for volunteers
to assist older adults publicly or privately. Reading scripture for
the group, holding an older adults song book, making a prayer for a
new friend, are weekly volunteer opportunities.
•
Musician: “Music washes from the soul the dust
of everyday life.” There are many ministry settings in LifeSphere
for sharing music with our older adults; individual, small group or
during public worship. At present we use local volunteers to play our
chapel organ and piano during Sunday afternoon Christian worship. Vocal
and Instrumental individuals and groups are welcome.
•
Chapel Committee: The chapel committee has been the
backbone for spiritual worship at Maple Knoll Village since 1978. This
is a working committee that oversees and maintains the chapel. Membership
is subject to executive director and committee approval.
•
Deacon of the Day: During each Sunday, special worship,
memorial service, Friday Bodmann prayer service, a spiritual care volunteer
is host for that event. There are many task that go unseen before, during
and after a worship experience. The deacon of the day prepares the chapel
or meeting area, greets the congregation, hands out worship aids and
troubleshoots the unforeseen to provide an environment for worship to
take place.
3. Compassionate Companion: This program provides a
reassuring presence to dying older adults who would otherewise be alone.
The companion offers respite to families during a death vigil, assistance
to our Hospice providers during the active dying process, and bereavement
support to our LifeSphere staff. Individuals complete an application,
training and orientation, and commit to a designated time and date.
There are opportunities for continuing education from our Hospice providers.
Application for Compassionate Companion
4. Pastoral Care Volunteers: We are fortunate to have
local churches, synagogues, mosques and faith communities that are willing
to provide regular pastoral care to their parishioners in LifeSphere.
Often a local church will provide a service for all our older adults
in a particular neighborhood. At present there are two church that provide
Bible Studies for the residents at Maple Knoll Village on a weekly basis.
We also are blessed to have a local church that provides weekly Roman
Catholic mass, and Holy communion to those unable to attend. The LifeSphere
Chaplain becomes a laison, coordinating care between an older adult's
local church or faith community and LifeSphere, especially during a
health crisis. A pastoral care volunteer becomes a partner in providing
care between an older adults church and their home in a LifeSphere facility.
•
Intergenerational Group Visits: This is a program tailored
to the group needs of families and children from area congregations
and long term care residents. Chaplains educate, plan and implement
spiritual activities with families and children for our Bodmann nursing
residents
5. Chaplain Interns: Our department has had a firm
commitment in providing an educational experience for ministerial students
to gain competence in aging and spirituality. (cf Education of older
adults, Staff and Community. Section: Ministerial Student Internships)
6. Friendly Visitor: Sometimes individuals desiring
to volunteer decide not to perform spiritual care and request an assignment
that is more social. Our Maple Knoll Village Volunteer department has
opportunities for individuals or groups to provide social visits with
our LifeSphere older adults. Please call 513-782-2420 to Volunteer.
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