Rev. J. Scott Cartwright 1

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1 The Spiritual Side of Caring, MDiv., BCC Director of Spiritual Care Cerenity Senior Care White Bear Lake, MN The Spiritual Side of Caring Unpacking the Title Questions: What do we mean by spiritual? Do we have to take sides? Various Definitions of Spiritual Care...caring for the whole person...attending to the spiritual needs, strengths, and goals of a person...caring for the spirit or soul...caring for the person who lives inside the body...helping another to grow...being compassionately present with a person in her/his life journey of sorrows and joys, hopes and dreams, doubts and faith...in community, celebrating the journey of life together as God s children 1

2 The Spiritual Side of Caring Unpacking the Title Question: What do we mean by caring? The Spiritual Side of Caring Unpacking the Title True care is helping another to grow. Bill Thomas, Eden Alternative Organizational Mission & Values Cerenity Senior Care of White Bear Lake Our Mission The Mission of Cerenity Senior Care s faithbased communities is to cultivate independence and dignity by empowering the people we serve through innovation, compassion and excellence. 2

3 Organizational Mission & Values Cerenity Senior Care of White Bear Lake Our Mission The Mission of Cerenity Senior Care s faithbased communities is to cultivate independence and dignity by empowering the people we serve through innovation, compassion and excellence. Organizational Mission & Values Cerenity Senior Care of White Bear Lake Our Core Values provide the foundation for everything we do at Cerenity Senior Care. We strive to live these values as we serve those entrusted to our care. Hospitality Respect Stewardship Collaboration Organizational Mission & Values Benedictine Health System Mission Statement The Benedictine Health System is a Catholic organization entrusted with advancing the health care ministry of the Benedictine Sisters of Duluth, Minnesota. Our mission is to witness to God's love by providing compassionate, quality care with special concern for the underserved and those in need. 3

4 Benedictine Health System Core Values Hospitality Create a climate that promotes a sense of community while valuing the uniqueness of each individual. Listen and respond sensitively to all. Extend warmth and acceptance to those we serve and to one another. Nurture a welcoming atmosphere, personally and institutionally. Welcome new ideas and foster openness to change. Benedictine Health System Core Values Stewardship Utilize human resources responsibly. Make wise use of material and monetary resources. Encourage conservation of natural resources. Benedictine Health System Core Values Respect Cherish and promote the worth of all human life. Treat all people with dignity and reverence, without regard to age, gender, race, minority or economic status. Honor and support each person s spirituality. Value and respect all work. Encourage people to participate in the decisions that affect their lives. 4

5 Benedictine Health System Core Values Justice Advocate for policies that will help the poor and powerless. Promote respectful working relationships. Eliminate prejudice within our institutional policies and ourselves. Cultivate open and fair decision making based on valid information. Strive to develop a global vision personally and institutionally. Work toward creating a more just world. Organizational Mission & Values What about yours? Fourteen Spiritual Needs of Physically Ill Source: Harold G. Koenig, Aging and God: Spiritual Pathways to Mental Health in Midlife and Later Years, New York: Haworth Pastoral Press,

6 #1 A need for meaning, purpose, and hope #2 A need to transcend circumstances #3 A need for continuity 6

7 #4 A need for support in dealing with loss #5 A need for validation and support of religious behaviors #6 A need to engage in religious behaviors 7

8 #7 A need for personal dignity and sense of worthiness #8 A need for unconditional love #9 A need to express anger and doubt 8

9 #10 A need to feel that God in on their side #11 A need to love and serve others #12 A need to be thankful 9

10 #13 A need to forgive and be forgiven #14 A need to prepare for death and dying The Spiritual Side of Caring Includes the deathbedside 10

11 Final Gifts These four expressions of caring can be shared by the person who is dying to the loved ones as well as by loved ones to the person who is dying it is a two way street one on one preferred. Final Gifts I m sorry. Please forgive me. I love you. Thank you. Good bye. I ll be okay. Final Gifts I M SORRY / PLEASE FORGIVE ME This is a time to share thoughts and feelings, a time when it is possible that forgiveness and reconciliation are experienced. We can say we are sorry for anything that may have gone wrong between us in our relationship with another person. 11

12 Final Gifts I LOVE YOU Some more meaningful I love you s can be said after some honest I m sorry s have been shared. People really do like to hear the words I love you said out loud. This expression of caring is not something to just take for granted. Final Gifts THANK YOU This is saying thanks for who you have been in my life, my husband, my wife, my son, my daughter, my mother, my father, my sister, my brother, my friend. A time to do life review, looking at the good times and maybe even some of the not so good. Getting out the family photo album or videos and sharing, expressing one s thankfulness for who this person or who these people have been in my life. Final Gifts GOOD-BYE. I LL BE OKAY. This may be the hardest but nevertheless a most important one. It is perhaps both giving and receiving permission to let go; it is not that there won t be pain and grieving, but at some point, it is the time to say Good-bye and to let the other person or persons know that you are going to be okay. 12

13 Cerenity Senior Care End Of Life Spiritual Care Practices Hospice/Comfort Care Comfort Baskets Bedside Memorial Prayers Dignity Quilts Procession of Honor Memorial Services The Spiritual Side of Caring How will you apply your learnings? Share an idea. The Spiritual Side of Caring Further questions? Comments? Reflections? 13

14 The Spiritual Side of Caring Thank you. May God bless you and those you work with. The Spiritual Side of Caring, MDiv., BCC Director of Spiritual Care Cerenity Senior Care White Bear Lake, MN