Spiritual Support

Healing of Spirit:
Jewish Hospice at Keystone

Bereavement Support

Volunteer Programs

Spiritual Support for
Patients & Their Loved Ones

Many Faith Traditions ... One Spirit

Keystone chaplains provides emotional and spiritual support to patients, families, and staff within the hospice community. Affectionately referred to as the “Prayers and Hugs Committee”, the Department of Spiritual Support currently includes: Reverend Helen Burke, Director; Rabbi Brian Nevins-Golman, chair of the Jewish Hospice Committee; and seminarian Karen Kelly, as well as nine specially trained volunteer chaplains from a wide variety of traditions.

Click here to listen to Reverend Helen Burke, Director of Spiritual Support describe the hospice philosophy. (Quicktime or Windows Media Player required.)

The term “spiritual” is widely interpreted to include whatever is held as particularly meaningful to the patient during the final days, weeks, months of his or her life. The focus of support can be an individual’s relationships with loved ones, with God or a higher power, making
sense of one’s past, and/or anticipation of what may lie beyond this life. Often of concern to patients is strengthening or healing relationships with loved ones they will be leaving behind. The focus of chaplain support, therefore is to companion patients and family members as they explore some of these issues.

For patients with a particular faith affiliation, the chaplain identifies the
appropriate resources and makes arrangements for clergy visitation. Religious holiday and holy day observances are provided by or arranged by chaplains for patients in their own homes or at Keystone House. Weekly Shabbat candle lighting and celebration of the Jewish holidays, weekly visits for Holy Communion, and Christian services for major holidays are offered.” Visiting clergy are also invited to hold services, meditation groups and devotional gatherings that provide meaning to residents and their families. Unique to the Keystone Hospice community are two traditional Interfaith celebrations: a winter “Service of Light” and an annual “Service of Remembrance”.

As an ongoing focus of the department, chaplains assist staff in distinguishing their own emotional and spiritual needs from those of the patients and families they are serving. Sometimes in the form of an informal chat, a shoulder rub, or a shared cup of coffee, chaplains offer support and renewal to hospice staff on an ongoing basis. In conjunction with other professional staff, regular reflection or “Memory Sharing” gatherings are also organized in support of front line caregiving staff as needed.

Working as part the interdisciplinary team, chaplains are in constant
communication and collaboration with nursing, social work, creative arts professionals, and volunteers and along with them, consider it a privilege to provide a continuum of compassionate care to patients and their loved ones.

For more information or individualized counseling, contact Reverend Helen Burke, Director of Spiritual Support at hburke@keystonecare.com