Oct 24, 2022 | Faces of HDGH, Spirituality, Heritage
Did you know that Spiritual Care Week started in the United States in the 1980s and in the early 90s it started in Canada and beyond?
“Spirituality [refers to the way] people understand meaning and purpose in their lives. It can be affected by illness or loss, and it can be experienced in many ways — not just religion, but nature, arts, humanities, and rational thinking. Some say it is God, some say it is family, and some find it in nature.” Puchalski. Research has demonstrated the impact of religious, spiritual, and existential beliefs, values and practices on people’s life choices, interactions with others, moral decision-making, way of life, and the ability to transcend suffering… practicing spirituality brings a sense of meaning purpose and connection to our lives. You can say that spirituality affects our well-being.
Spiritual care is the provision of assessment, counselling, support, and ritual. In matters of a person’s beliefs, traditions, values, and practices enabling the person to access their spiritual resources. “When spiritual needs are recognized and responded to as an integral part of person-centered care an essential contribution is made to people’s health and wellbeing”. It has been proved that “when spiritual needs are unmet, patient’s rating of their satisfaction and quality of care are notably low”.
Here at HDGH we believe in and promote the value of Spiritual Health. The values of spiritual, religious, existential and/or cultural practices are taken very seriously and responsibly by our Spiritual Care Providers Sarah and Hilton. They try as much as they can to be available to our patients/clients, their families, and our staff as well. Serving across the organization and providing a friendly presence wherever they go.
Another patient told us once,
During the critical pandemic years, a staff came to one of them and said
The SHA (Spiritual Health Association) published a survey done among patients and found that 87% of the patients/clients indicated that receiving spiritual care was a positive experience and it met their needs. Beliefs, Traditions, Values, and Practices guide the work and dedication of our Spiritual Care frontline workers.
Celebrating and recognizing the importance of the Spiritual Care Department and the work they do in our Organization during Spiritual Care Awareness Week, is another way our patients, families, visitors and staff can find support.
Spiritual Care Week is celebrated this year from October 24 to 28 and this year’s theme is Healing the Moral Injury (harm that arises from a betrayal of one’s core values). This week showcases the power that faith holds in our lives. We recognize that faith plays an integral part in the healing process and that when one's faith is damaged and one’s core values feel threatened holistic healing cannot happen. Come by and visit us to learn more about the spiritual care program and the ways that we help support the patients, clients, family members, and staff.
If you wish to contact our spiritual care team, you can email or call them and send/leave a message at:
Sarah StockfordSpiritual Care Assistantsarah.stockford@hdgh.org519-257-5111 ext: 73647
Hilton Gomes
Chaplainhilton.gomes@hdgh.org519-257-5111 ext: 74817