Addressing spiritual needs in palliative care: proposal for a narrative and interfaith spiritual care intervention for chaplaincy

• Published in: Journal of health care chaplaincy Vol. 29; no. 1; pp. 64 - 77
• Main Authors: Wierstra, Iris R., Liefbroer, Anke I., Post, Lenneke, Tromp, Thijs, Körver, Jacques
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Routledge 02-01-2023; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Chaplaincy; Chaplains; Clergy; Home based; home-based care; Hospice and Palliative Care Nursing; Humans; Imagination; Interfaith; Intervention; Palliative Care; Pastoral Care; Reminiscence therapy; spiritual care; Spiritual Therapies; Spiritual well being; Spirituality; Chaplaincy; home-based care; palliative care; spiritual care
• ISSN: 0885-4726; 1528-6916
• DOI: 10.1080/08854726.2021.2015055

Although many recognize the importance of addressing the spiritual domain in palliative care, empirically grounded interventions designed to alleviate spiritual needs for patients in palliative care are remarkably scarce. In this paper we argue that the development of such interventions for chaplains is important in order to improve spiritual care in a (post)secular and religiously plural context. We therefore propose an interfaith chaplain-led spiritual care intervention for home-based palliative care that addresses patients' spiritual needs. The intervention is based on elements of spiritual care interventions that have been investigated among other populations. Three important characteristics of the proposed intervention are (1) life review; (2) materiality, ritual and embodiment; and (3) imagination. The aim of this intervention is to improve palliative patients' spiritual wellbeing. It is anticipated that such a structured intervention could assist in improving spiritual care in palliative care.