Hospice Emotional & Spiritual Care In Walnut Creek City, California
Like the intellect and body, the human spirit is an inherent dimension of each of us. It is our sense of ourselves, our relationships with others and our general sense of meaning and purpose in life.
Many people contemplate on existential questions when facing a fatal illness at the end of life, according to hospice specialists. Who am I, exactly? How have I gone about living my life? we witness our patients and family dealing with spiritual challenges at Melodia Care Hospice.
Spiritual care provided by hospice is critical to improving one’s quality of life. Satisfying a patient’s spiritual and emotional needs is just as vital as meeting their physical requirements at Melodia Care.
Hospice Spiritual & Emotional Care
Because of its natural therapeutic effects, music therapy in hospice and palliative care is in high demand. It employs clinically validated musical interventions as well as music’s natural mood-lifting capabilities to aid in the patient’s overall well-being. Music therapy isn’t simply for those in hospice or palliative care. The therapeutic advantages are available to people of different ages, ethnicities, origins and abilities.
Hospice Emotional Care
Terminally ill people, understandably, may experience depression, worry and anger as a result of their situation. Furthermore, as patients reflect on their lives, they may have regrets about things they have said or done – or things they never had the opportunity to say or do. All of this can have a significant impact on a patient’s quality of life. Hospice social workers are specially trained to provide emotional support to hospice patients by working with them, listening to their stories and addressing their problems.
Families of patients can also receive emotional support. Caregivers experience their own pain and worry as a result of a loved one’s imminent death. They may also feel resentment and hostility toward other family members as a result of the event. From disappointments and conflicts to drug misuse difficulties, tension within the family can cause a lot of stress for the individuals around the patient.
You may be concerned about upsetting the person who is dying if you address the end of life with them. It may be useful to know that persons who are dying often want to talk about what is going on but are frightened of upsetting their caregiver, family member or friend. It can be difficult to start a conversation but the opportunity to exchange feelings can be beneficial to both of you.
There are still various ways to spend time with the person you’re caring for as they approach the end of their life.
- Sit with them without talking
- Get a book to read
- Sing a song
- Share a memorable recollection or experience that the two of you have shared
- Tell them you love them and that your family is thinking of them
Anticipatory Grief
When someone has been sick for a long time, their family and friends often begin to grieve their death before it happens. Anticipatory grief is the term for this. You can find yourself desiring the end of the person’s life. It’s also common to begin thinking about how you’ll cope, as well as other events in your life, such as the burial. All of these reactions and thoughts are normal and acceptable. It may be beneficial to discuss your feelings with a health practitioner or a counsellor.
Saying Goodbye
A terminal disease gives you the opportunity to say your final goodbyes. You can urge the dying person to express their emotions and you can express your own in return. Sharing how you both feel can initiate crucial and memorable conversations. You can also use this time to tell the person who is dying how much they mean to you and how you want to remember them.
Nearing death, a person may wish to leave a legacy, such as writing a life story or letters to family and friends. They may wish to visit a special location or make contact with someone they haven’t heard from in a long time. You can assist the individual with all of these responsibilities. For all of you, they are all part of the process of saying goodbye.
What Does It Mean To Be In Emotional Pain?
Emotional (or psychological) distress occurs when a person’s feelings and ideas become overwhelming. Depression, anxiety and panic are all symptoms of emotional discomfort.
Emotional distress can be caused by a variety of circumstances, including:
- Pain or nausea are examples of bodily symptoms
- Social isolation or unstable relationships are two examples of social isolation
- Loss of independence
- Fear of death
- Distress on a spiritual or existential level
People with terminal illnesses, as well as those close to them, such as spouses, family members and close friends, may experience emotional suffering.
How Can Emotional Needs Can Be Assessed?
It’s not always easy to tell how well someone is doing. Encourage them to express their feelings and listen to them without passing judgement. Some services employ questions as part of their screening process. Asking the person to rate their level of distress on a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 representing no discomfort and 10 being the highest possible suffering, will assist you figure out how they’re feeling.
Hospice Spiritual Care
Spirituality is a personal experience. It may imply adhering to existing religious ideas and practices, such as Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism or Indigenous belief systems, for certain people. Spirituality is conveyed as a personal philosophy for others.
Spirituality is a source of comfort and strength for many people nearing the end of their lives. Others discover that their spirituality no longer provides them with solace as their beliefs are tested by their circumstances.
It may be beneficial to speak with a spiritual care practitioner about your ideas and feelings (sometimes called a pastoral caregiver or chaplain). A spiritual care practitioner is a member of the palliative care team who is qualified to talk about spiritual matters with you, regardless of your religious beliefs. You might want to talk about what life means to you or how you feel about death. Companionship is another service that a spiritual care practitioner can provide.
People frequently express how knowing they are dying makes them feel more spiritual and inspires them to think about and discuss these issues. They may accept a belief system that they were previously uninterested in or had abandoned many years ago. Although many people seek significance at the end of their lives, spirituality is not for everyone.
Some people find some comfort in prayer or meditation and they feel supported by the knowledge that others are praying for them or sending them happy thoughts. When people are dying many religions have special rituals.
What Makes You Smile?
People who do not consider themselves religious can also benefit immensely from the emotional and social support provided by hospice spiritual care, according to Melodia Care chaplains.
Chaplains find their patients’ spiritual talents and help them grow by asking thoughtful questions, listening attentively and allowing them to guide the conversation.
Emotions In The Face Of Death
When someone learns they have a terminal illness, they are likely to experience some or all of the following emotions at various times:
- Shock
- Fear
- Anger
- Resentment
- Helplessness
- Sadness
- Anxiety
- Frustration
- Relief
- Acceptance
Even if they have a solid support network, people can still feel alienated and alone.
As they come to terms with their diagnosis, people may become more accepting. However, when someone approaches the last few weeks and days of their life any or all of these sensations are likely to become stronger.
These emotions are difficult to bear but they are a natural reaction to being diagnosed with a terminal illness. You can also do things to support someone who is experiencing similar emotions.
What Is The Best Way To Provide Emotional & Spiritual Support?
Starting a conversation with someone about their feelings might be intimidating. There are several things you can do to make yourself and your partner feel more at ease. Listening to music, getting a massage, looking at photos or doing anything else the individual enjoys can help them feel more comfortable and open up about their feelings.
All emotions, including rage and denial are valid and can be beneficial to the individual at various stages of their condition. You might find it useful to share our material about emotional and spiritual pain with your patients.
Building a healthy relationship requires taking the time to get to know the person and comprehend their experiences and unique situations. If you work shifts or don’t see the same patients on a regular basis, this can be difficult. Giving someone a hug or holding their hand, if it’s suitable and they consent, can make them feel safe and supported.
Encourage them to express their concerns and anxieties by encouraging them to talk about them.
Maintaining an optimistic attitude might be beneficial but don’t discount how the individual is experiencing. You can ask the person how they prefer to be emotionally supported — some people prefer a more ‘upbeat’ approach, while others prefer you to simply listen to them.
It’s typical for someone suffering from a terminal disease to be unhappy and worried about the people they’ll leave behind when they pass away. Encourage them to make a memory box as a method of reassuring them that they will continue to be a part of their loved ones lives after they pass away. A memory box can be used to store things, letters and gifts for family and friends. They can also prepare films or audio recordings for digital storage on a memory stick or the internet.
People may be concerned that as their condition advances, they will lose control. Encourage someone to express their wishes for their care ahead of time to make them feel more in control. It can also assist health professionals and those close to the person in gaining a better understanding of their priorities. You might find it useful to provide our patient information on care planning ahead of time.
A fundamental principle of hospice care is to address the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of terminally ill patients. Melodia Care provides spiritual, physical and emotional assistance so that patients can make the most of each day they have left.
If you know someone who could benefit from hospice care or would like to learn more about Melodia Care’s hospice care program, please contact us at –1 888-635-6347 (MELODI-7).