Module 4SPIRITUALITY

This module will assist participants to provide appropriate spiritual care

Session Content• Spirituality• The relationship between religion and spirituality• Exploration of the nature of religious care, spiritual

care and pastoral care• Explore your own spirituality• Explore some basic spiritual concerns that may arise

in palliative care• Explore appropriate spiritual care

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Spirituality?

MacKinlay.E ‘Spiritual Growth and Care in the Fourth Stage of Life’ P143

The relationship between spirituality and religion

Religion is an organised system of beliefs, practices, rituals and symbols designed to:

• facilitate closeness to the sacred or transcendent (God, higher power, or

ultimate truth/reality) and

• foster an understanding of one’s relationship and responsibility to others in living together in community.

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The relationship between spirituality and religion

Spirituality is defined as: The personal quest for understanding answers to ultimate

questions about life, about meaning, and about relationship to the sacred or transcendent, which may (or may not) lead to or arise from the development of religious rituals and the formation of community.

Koenig, McCullough & Larson ‘Handbook of Religion and Health’ 2001 p18

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What is spiritual care?Spiritual care that reflects the pastoral tradition:

• Engages others as fellow human beings: mutual relationship is desired

• Attends to the way people receive care (not only the ways in which care is delivered)

• Attends to the possibilities inherent in each situation (not only the problems)

• Supports and preserves the settings that nurture a person’s spirit.

Rumbold, B. ‘Spirituality in the workplace’

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What is pastoral care?• Reflects the Christian tradition and today involves holistic

care, not necessarily by ordained clergy, with the fostering of guidance, healing, support and reconciliation in peoples lives.

• Is more than caring for a persons physical needs

• Pastoral care is spiritual care that reflects the pastoral tradition.

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Essence of spirituality

• VOCATIONWhat is the purpose of my life?

• COMMUNITYTo whom do I belong?

• HOPE/MEANINGWhat keeps me going?

(B. Rumbold)

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Every human person is in certain respects:

• Like all others

• Like some others

• Like no other

(Lartey,E. 1997)

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When death confrontssome basic spiritual concerns can be:

• Relationships and belonging

• Meaning and self-worth

• Coping and control

Shadow Cards: St Luke’s Innovative Resources

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When death confrontsrelationships and belonging

• Who are the significant others?

• Do they offer appropriate support?

• Has the ill person any unfinished business with them?

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When death confrontsmeaning and self-worth

• Does the ill person feel valued by the other/s?

• What does he/she mean to them?

• What does the illness mean?

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When death confronts coping and control

• Self affirmation and supportive relationships assist the ill person to maintain control over their situation

• Influenced by spiritual maturity

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Spiritual issues in palliative care

People reflect on:

• Past

• Present

• Future

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The past

An attempt to make sense of what’s happened

- life experiences- successes- failures- choices

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The present

Suffering with changes in:- body image- roles- independence- life style

Wanting to be needed and useful

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The future

Will I die?

How will I die?

When will I die?

What comes after death?

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To offer care we need to:

• Build bridges with conversations

• Hear a person’s story

• Build trust

• Have some relationship

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Cassidy, S ‘Sharing the darkness’

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Cassidy,S ‘Sharing the darkness’

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Cassidy,S ‘Sharing the darkness’

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Cassidy, S ‘Sharing the darkness’

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What do I do when I feel out of my depth?

• You are not expected to have all the answers!• Do not run away or change the subject. • Allow the client to go where they will. Discuss your feelings with the Manager of VolunteersThey may need to refer onto a;

- a minister, priest, rabbi etc- a pastoral care worker

Their care will compliment your care which continues!

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The spiritual dimension is experienced by everyone and includes -

• The whole range of the person’s life experiences• The context of relationships we exist within with hopes, fears,

meanings, beliefs, doubts, expectations

‘Spiritual care has the potential for healing /wellbeing

in the face of the infirmities of existence’

(Tanyi R, 2002)

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Spiritual care

• Accepts an individual ‘unconditionally’• It is ‘the client’ who defines the area for spiritual care ‘not’ the

caregiver/staff• Poses many questions with few answers - can be a

threatening aspect of care• Is like a dance, the carer allows the client to lead• Begins by listening and receiving questions, doubts, fears as

presented - allows other (person) to ‘be’

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