One of the most important aspects of hospice care
is spiritual support for the terminally ill patient
and their loved ones.

Valley Hospice has a strong group of chaplains and spiritual care volunteers serving on our patient care teams. These professionals and specially-trained volunteers make every effort to work with the patient and family's own pastor, priest, or rabbi.

Sometimes the need for spiritual care is so urgent that it can't wait until the chaplain's scheduled visit. That's why we believe that every member of our team must be prepared if called upon to offer spiritual support to our patients and families.

In hospice, we recognize that spirituality often becomes increasingly important as people approach the end of life.

Our nurses specialize in medically relieving the suffering caused by pain and other uncomfortable symptoms caused by terminal illness. However, unresolved emotional or spiritual distress can make this difficult.

What if the patient does not belong to any organized religion?

If the patient is not a member of any congregation, Valley Hospice chaplains specialize in meeting patients wherever they are on their spiritual journey. They offer patients the spiritual support they need whenever they request it, which sometimes includes performing baptisms and offering communion. They may also help plan and conduct funeral or memorial services.

Hospice workers and patients come from a variety of religious backgrounds, so our understanding of spiritual care needs to bridge the boundaries of individual denominations and customs.

The goal of spiritual care is to comfort.

Our chaplains say that the goal of our spiritual care is to comfort, not to convert. This is true for every member of the Valley Hospice team. We feel privileged when our patients share their spiritual journeys with us. We are trained to respond by listening in a non-judgmental way, learning what we can about the patient's unique spirituality, so that our team can find the best way to offer support.

People who are dying are often plagued by guilt and regret.
Unfortunately, there are no magic pills or quick Band-Aids for these problems. But if our team shares a goal to help patients die in peace, we can all help by reminding patients of the good things they have done in their lives.

In spiritual care, we try to help patients replace guilt and regret with hope and forgiveness.

Hope can spring from being reassured that they will never be left to die alone and in pain. We also help our patients to find meaning in their lives by offering them opportunities to share their feelings, beliefs, and life stories.
All religions stress the power of forgiveness, and this power is never more deeply needed than when someone is dying.

Although not everyone belongs to a formal religion, almost everyone believes in forgiveness.

Valley Hospice chaplains and social workers encourage patients to find a way to make up with friends or relatives. Commonly, people don't know where to begin...

In hospice, we've found that there are five messages that help people to make peace with each other. Very simply put, they are:

• Please forgive me.
• I forgive you.
• Thank you.
• I love you.
• Good-bye.

On the surface, it sounds easy enough. But when a lot of time has gone by with hurt feelings keeping people at a distance, it may take considerable time and effort for both parties to sincerely exchange these messages.
This is a major reason why we encourage patients and families to consider admission to hospice for a minimum of three months, and preferably six months.

Have you ever wondered how you and your congregation can best offer spiritual support for a terminally ill loved one, friend, or neighbor?

We recommend doing what you would normally do for a member of your spiritual community who is struggling with a major life crisis. Commonly, this involves prayer and fellowship. Some people prefer prayers memorized by heart; others pray spontaneously from the heart. Some pray aloud; others silently. Some pray together; others keep a list for private daily or weekly devotions. Just knowing that people are praying for them can be a tremendous comfort to our patients and their families, so if you are praying for them, let them know!

For more information, call us toll free: 1.877.284.4441