Interfaith Ministry in Hospice

by Alix Amar MSS. LCSW
Director of Bereavement at Keystone Hospice.

Hospice provides physical, psycho-social, emotional and spiritual care to dying patients and their families. Hospice provides this care to the patient wherever he or she may live. It could be in his or her own home, in a personal care or nursing home or in a hospice house.

Hospice is an environment that is a natural fit for Interfaith Ministry. Hospice agencies, even if they are affiliated with a particular faith tradition, minister to people from a wide range of faith backgrounds as well as to those who claim no affiliation whatsoever.

Some of the reasons why Interfaith Ministers are so well suited to hospice is their unique perspective, an appreciation for people from all religious backgrounds, a respect for the various world religions, curiosity about different religious practices, and no desire to convert any one to a different belief system The Interfaith Minister has a distinct advantage from the very beginning of care, as any sensitivity the patient or family might have regarding their own affiliation (or lack of affiliation) or that of the chaplain is minimized. The patient is immediately welcomed into care in an atmosphere of support and non-judgment.

When a referral to particular clergy is indicated, the Interfaith Minister's role in making this connection is welcomed by both patient/family and clergy. Effectively managed, these connections build over time into relationships, which become invaluable to the hospice organization as a whole. The Interfaith Minister manages access to a broad range of spiritual caregivers.

Patients who have no particular affiliation or who are disenfranchised from the tradition of their youth are much more likely to be open to support from someone who represents an eclectic spiritual perspective.

The primary role of the hospice pastoral caregiver or chaplain is to support the emotional and spiritual needs of the patient and patient family/caregivers. This process involves a number of steps and possible courses of action:
1. Initial Spiritual Assessment (required for all patients).
2. Outreach to patient's local spiritual caregiver or community as requested.
3. Referral to appropriate resources (pastors, rabbis, imams, prayer partners, or volunteers) as indicated.
4. Personal support to patient and family to include: visitation, prayer, and services as indicated or requested.
5. Coordination of emotional/spiritual support with the Interdisciplinary Hospice Team (which includes nursing, social work, volunteer services, bereavement and music therapy) through weekly team meetings.

In an in-patient hospice environment, the Interfaith Minister offers the additional advantage of effectively coordinating services and celebrations for all faith traditions, bringing in support clergy as needed.  This allows for comprehensive spiritual support across the board.