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Spiritual Palliative Care. A Christian approach to ministry in the valley of the shadow of death.
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Spiritual Palliative Care A Christian approach to ministry in the valley of the shadow of death
Jesus Christ says: The Spirit of the Lord JHWH is on Me, because JHWH has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the meek, He has sent Me to bind up the broken-hearted; to proclaim liberty to captives, and complete deliverance to the bound ones; to declare the acceptable year of JHWH, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to appoint to those who mourn in Zion to give them beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of the spirit of infirmity so that one calls them trees of righteousness, the planting of JHWH, in order to glorify Himself, Isaiah 61:1-3
WHO1990: “Palliative care is the active total care of patients whose disease is not responsive to curative treatment. Control of pain, of other physical, and of psychological, social and spiritual problems, is paramount. The goal of palliative care is achievement of the best possible quality of life for patients and their families. Many aspects of palliative care are also applicable earlier in the course of the illness, in conjunction with anti-cancer treatment. • Palliative care: • Affirms life and regards dying as a normal process; • Neither hastens nor postpones death; • Provides relief from pain and other distressing symptoms; • Integrates the psychological and spiritual aspects of patient’s care; • Offers a support system to help patients live as actively as possible until death; • Offers a support system to help the family cope during the patient’s illness and in their own bereavement. • Radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgery have a place in palliative care, provided that the symptomatic benefits outweigh the disadvantages. Investigative procedures are kept to a minimum.”
Elements of palliative care (Steiner 2003) • Optimal identification of symptoms • Optimal relief of symptoms • Optimal interdisciplinary teamwork in the care • Optimal continuance of care • Optimal involvement of patient/family as real partners of the palliative care team • Optimal psycho-social support of the patient and family • Optimal spiritual support Pneumo-psycho-social care = spiritual care
World view (basic beliefs) + palliative care Palliative care in practice Vision of palliative care Health/Disease/Death Truth/Science/Research Ethics/Values/Norms Human being God
The course in a nutshell Prepared and cared-for care-givers seek to reach six goals via seven points of attention in their care of the dying person
The dying person a Christian perspective • Underlying view of man: • An integral whole created in image of God, Gen 1, 2 • Inner person is primary aspect (leaves at death, James 2: 26) • Outer person is secondary aspect (will be replaced, 2 Cor 5) • At death the inner person is temporarily separated from outer person (rejoined with resurrection body, 1 Cor 15) • Care of inner + outer person important, Matt 25: 33-46 • Spiritual care = care of the inner person • Care of inner person = focus of this seminar
The dying person: 7 basic spiritual needs • Good relationship with God • Clear conscience • Hope • Meaning • Purpose • Life concluded with no loose ends • Prepared for the transition
The dying person over timea Christian perspective Conception Birth Death Second coming Paradise New heaven and new earth Hades Gehenna / Hell
Prepared care-giver: Face own death • Present behavior negatively influenced by past experiences? • Which feelings surface when you think about your death? • Know for sure where you are going when you die? Yes / No • Satisfied with ultimate destination? Yes / No • If you could choose, how would you like to die? • Which way of dying is the most unacceptable to you? • Which person most difficult to leave behind when you die? • Which things most difficult to leave behind? • Adequate preparations regarding your own death and burial? • Body / Possessions • Job / business • Ministry in the church, etc
Cared-for care-giver • Care for the care-givers = multi-facetted • Self-care: more input than output; re-creation • Team member mutual care • Team leader cares for team member well-being • Care by appointing body, including finances • Referred care if necessary • Professional group care: e.g. nursing society • Local church care • Care types • Informal: colleagues, friends, family • Formal: counselling, coaching, mentoring • Non-formal: seminars, in-service training
Aspects Losses Isolation Fear Guilt Emotional struggles Pain Goals Work through the losses Break through the isolation Deliver from fear Deal with guilt Enhance emotional stability Face the pain Six Aspects and Six Goals
A1: Understand their losses and grief • Wellbeing / ability to move around / physical self-control • External dignity / psychological dignity / mental dignity • Bodily strength • Identity / control and making of decisions • Relationships • Work and financial security / social status / possessions • Immediate future perspective • For not-yet-regenerate: the final opportunity to save their soul from second death • Ultimately, loss of own body
Goal 1: Comfort the grieving • Point to Jesus – He comforts the weeping, Lk 4: 18 • Help them to express their grief • Tell you / the Lord about their losses and how that affects them • Expressing grief is OK; self-pity leads to bondage • Encourage them to let go and say good-bye • social / psychological / physical / faith
A2: Understand their isolation/loneliness • Dying is an individual process • Social factors can contribute • Nature of the disease can contribute • Can experience isolation even when not so
Goal 2: Break through their isolation • Point to Jesus – He restores relationships, 1 John 1: 7 • Ask ‘help me to understand’ questions • Explain own motives • Only make promises you will certainly keep • Be honest about own limitations / struggles • Use psychological ‘judo’ • Tell me about the pain behind your anger • What do you think is the answer? • Ask questions about ‘key words’ • Build relationship bridge
A3: Understand their fear • The nature and seriousness of the disease • The future / re family / re finances • Increasing dependence on others / Helplessness • Being a burden • Being alone, of being abandoned • Suffering and pain • Humiliation • Not being able to cope emotionally • Separation from loved ones / from God • The unknown • Punishment / judgment • Losing their mental capacities
Goal 3: Delivery from fear • Point to Jesus – He delivers from fear, Heb 2:14-15 • Show understanding and identify the fears • Draw a brick wall, each brick is a fear, name them • Cast the fears on to Jesus • Repent of unbelief where necessary • Request Jesus to be Shalom • Call on His Name whenever fears assail • Involve others to stand with you • Build faith; Ps 23; 1 John 4:18.
A4: Understand issues of guilt • Who is guilty: You / someone else? • who is really responsible? • Real / false • condemnation: if only…; did you … enough? • Guilt is the consequence of breaking a law; it is a judicial state, not a feeling • Four types of guilt • Personal • Social • Legal • Theological
Goal 4: Dealing with guilt • Point to Jesus – He forgives, Mark 2: 5-10 • Show way of repentance, 1 John 1: 9 • Work towards true forgiveness • Transgression: name it; describe impact • Seek justice: legal, social, personal, theological • Give anger / bitterness / hate to God • Let transgressor go; leave vengeance to God • Come to God for healing • Hold the forgiveness available • Practice forgiveness each time it is remembered • Then work for reconciliation as possible
Denial Rebellion Negotiation Restlessness Anger Distrust Despair Disappointment Doubt Criticism Depression Bitterness Insight Surrender Acceptance Peace, clear conscience Meekness Trust in relationships Courage, hope Satisfaction Certainty, security Appreciation, gratitude Comforted, joy Reconciliation, forgiveness A5: Understand their emotional struggles
Goal 5: Enhance emotional stability • Point to Jesus – He is the Shepherd, Ps 23 • Identify the struggle • Agree on the positive element as the goal • Agree on the route to get there • Patiently walk the road together • Let the suffering person indicate the pace • Involve others where necessary
Transcendent 6. Understand whole person pain
Goal 6: Face the pain together • Point to Jesus – He knows suffering, Isaiah 53 • Involve care team which includes the relatives • Diagnose • Which of the ten aspects are relevant? • Describe the pain • Determine cause – where does that come from? • Treat • Give appropriate treatment to both symptoms and causes
The Seven Points of Attention • Communicating eyes • Listening ears • Wise words • Loving hearts • Comforting hands • Praying knees • Serving feet
Point 1: Communicating eyes • Mark 10: 21a • Heart to heart communication through the windows of the soul • Careful observation
Point 2: Listening ears • John 4: 7-26; James 1: 19; Job 21: 1-3a • Be fully there • Ask specific questions
Point 3: Wise words • Luke 4: 22a; Proverbs 13: 14; 15: 14; Mark 10: 51; Proverbs 12: 18b; James 3: 17 • Be open, 1 John 1: 7 • Give true hope, Hebrews 6: 18 • Speak truth in love, Ephesians 4
Point 4: Loving hearts • Matt 9: 36; 15: 32; Mk 6: 31-34; 2 Cor. 5: 14 • Agape love: • Desire, choose and act for highest good • Show compassion Luke 7: 13 • Build a relationship of trust
Point 5: Comforting hands • Mark 1: 41a • Gather relevant information • Impart comfort • Appropriateness: • Approach • Duration • Location • Intensity
Point 6: Prayerful knees • Luke 5: 15,16 • Pray for the person • Pray with the person
Point 7: Serving feet • Luke 22: 27b; Mark 6: 30-34; 10: 45. • Attitude of service • Practical service
Revision: The course in a nutshell The prepared and cared-for care-giver seeks to reach six goals via seven points of attention in his relationship with the dying person
Conclusion • Prepared to face your own death? • What will change in your involvement? • How will it change? • Commitment for change