Priority Hospice and Spiritual Care

Priority Hospice is a community based hospice. Although not affiliated with any particular religious tradition, the organization affirms that spiritual concerns surface as death approaches. These needs require specialized care.

Priority Hospice provides professional clergy to help patients and families reflect on spiritual issues. Chaplains foster a sense of spiritual well-being as one faces death and loss. Great care is taken to meet the spiritual needs of the individual within the person's own religious tradition.

WHAT IS HOSPICE?

Hospice provides palliative and supportive care to meet the special needs arising from the physical, emotional, spiritual and social stresses experienced during the final stages of illness and bereavement.

Palliative care is defined as treatment designed to control pain, to relieve symptoms, and to provide personal support for patients and their families.

The hospice philosophy centers around giving individuals with life threatening illnesses and their families an alternative, making it possible for the patient to remain at home, if desired.

WHAT SPIRITUAL CARE IS AVAILABLE FOR PATIENTS AND FAMILY?

Priority Hospice chaplains can serve patients and their families by:

  • Visiting patients and family members IN their homes.

  • Reflecting with the patient on how one's faith can be a source of support of the end of life.

  • Fostering a sense of spiritual well-being as one approaches death and loss.

  • Bringing worship experiences, in accordance with the patient's faith tradition, to the home.

  • Offering spiritual direction in prayer as one seek a closer relationship to God.

  • Sharing life's stories seeking God's presence in the past and assurance of God's presence in the future.

  • Offering rituals of reconciliation and forgiveness to address life's regrets.

  • Contracting appropriate religious leaders to provide spiritual care when desired by patient.

  • Planning and officiating at memorial services or funerals when requested.

 
WORK WITH CONGREGATIONS

Many Priority Hospice patients have membership in local congregations and are ministered by their own clergy.

 
SUPPORT FROM PRIORITY HOSPICE CHAPLAIN

  • Notify the team chaplain when called after admission;

  • Ask your nurse, social worker or home health aide to have the chaplain call;

  • Call Priority Hospice and ask to speak to a Chaplain.

 
SPIRITUAL MEANING OF "HOSPICE"

By tradition, "hospice" is a place of rest for the traveler and the sick. Coming from the same root word as "hospitality," the call to provide care and comfort to the sojourner is found in most world religions. Received as an honor guest, the sojourner is often the bearer of unexpected gifts for the host (usually visions of the Holy or communication with God). The relationship between the sojourner and the host is, therefore, a mutual exchange of physical and spiritual blessings.

At Priority Hospice we seek to provide a safe and comfortable place of rest for hose who are facing the end of life's journey. As chaplains we seek to assist you or your loved ones by providing spiritual understanding, comfort, counsel, guidance, direction and final peace.

 

[Home | Gen. Info. | Mission | Care & Comfort | Services | Community Education |
Volunteer Services | Spiritual Care | Physician Referral Guide |
 Newsletter | Contact Info.]

Priority Hospice Care, Inc.
E-mail: Info@priorityhospice.com
619 Woodland Street Building
Nashville, Tennessee 37206
Phone: (615) 228-1161

Priority Hospice Care, Inc. Copyright 2002 - 2006. All Rights Reserved.
This site was created and is maintained by RBL WebDesigns

Last modified on: July 13, 2006