Spiritual Care for Non-Communicative Patients: A Guidebook

by Linda S. Golding, Walter Dixon, Rabbi Mychal B. B. Springer (Foreword by)

Overview

Research shows that non-responsive patients benefit significantly from spiritual and pastoral care. This book equips chaplains with the confidence and skills to deliver excellent care in this challenging context. With exercises, worksheets, small group activities and case studies, it sets out how best to use words and body language, foster trust and respect, and involve patients' loved ones. It provides practical ways to recognise and affirm the humanity of the patient, and how to engage with the patient by employing skills of listening and presence.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781784504793
Publisher:	Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Publication date:	07/18/2019
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	96
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Linda Golding has worked as a Staff Chaplain at New York-Presbyterian Hospital since 2010, chiefly involved with Neurology, Neurosurgery and the Neuro ICU. She also serves as the Chaplain on the hospital's Ethics Committee.

Walter Dixon is a Board Certified Chaplain as well as an ordained pastor within the United Methodist Church. His principal clinical foci in hospital employment were cardiology, oncology, general medicine, staff support and palliative care.

Table of Contents

Background: definition of the need, how it was uncovered, developing and implementing the response. Part I - COMMON CONCERNS AND INTERVENTIONS. 1. In the hallway. 2. The family is here: balancing a pastoral visit with the patient and the family or friends. 3. The team will see you now: a member of the medical team is in the room or nearby. 4. All alone: the non-responsive patient is alone in the room. Part II - CROSSING THE THRESHOLD AND THE VISIT. 5. Entering the room: what to say and to whom. 6. Staying in the room: drawing in pastoral skills to stay until the visit is complete. 7. The spiritual heart of the visit: how to discover it. Part III - CLOSING THE VISIT. 8. To pray or not to pray?: prayer in uncertain times. 9. Summary of skills: what are some of the specific skills you observed or learned? Part IV - NEXT STEPS. 10. What are the remaining obstacles?

Editorial Reviews

SPIRITUAL SUPPORT FOR NON-COMMUNICATIVE PATIENTS is an important guide for chaplains, clinicians and caregivers. This book offers practical and spirit filled insights into techniques for being with patients and families whose lives are on hold. Read it, teach it, welcome it.

Harold G. Koenig

Many chaplains and chaplain-interns will be exclaiming: "Where has this book been before now!?" Golding and Dixon have given us a much-needed, ethically sensitive, pithy, and eminently practical guide to spiritual care with a particularly challenging patient population, affirming that silence and the "ministry of presence" is a profound gift to both patients and their families - and can be a deepening spiritual experience for the caregiver as well.

Pamela Cooper-White