One of the fundamental beliefs of Crossroads Hospice & Palliative Care is that no one should die alone. When a patient begins to show signs and symptoms that death is approaching, our team begins what we call Evenmore Care. A staff member sits beside to support the patient and their family until they pass away.
The human spirit, like the mind and body, is a natural dimension of every one of us. It is our awareness of our place in the world, our relations with others, and our overall sense of meaning and purpose in life.
Sometimes in life, an unexpected loss can prevent us from saying the important things that need to be said to our loved ones before they pass. In these cases, we may be left with lifelong regrets, wondering things like “what if I had a chance to say goodbye?”
Spirituality can be a great source of comfort. But when a person is facing a loss, physical and emotional pain, or other challenges, they may experience spiritual distress. Spiritual distress occurs when a person is no longer able to find meaning, peace, comfort, strength, or connection in life.
“She will throw you out!” warned the nurse as I arrived to make my initial visit. As a hospice chaplain, I encounter many terminal patients who have spiritual pain. Gratefully, I was not thrown out of Mrs. Hope Deferred’s room, but she did shake her fist as I introduced myself. Not at me, but at “her God” whom she thought sent me. Her husband welcomed care for his dying wife and as the visit continued, I not only began to connect with Hope, more importantly, I started to understand her.
