Celebrating Pastoral and Spiritual Care Week at Gilchrist
Pastoral and Spiritual Care Week is an annual observance that honors the work of chaplains, spiritual caregivers, and other professionals who provide emotional and spiritual support in various settings. At Gilchrist, both chaplains and rabbis are an integral part of each patient’s hospice team. Gilchrist’s chaplains are experienced professionals trained to work with people from any faith or background, and rabbis work with families of the Jewish faith to provide spiritual and cultural support. For over 30 years, Gilchrist has provided pastoral and spiritual support to thousands of seriously ill and end-of-life patients and their families.
What Do Hospice Chaplains Do?
Hospice chaplains address a patient’s spiritual needs, providing comfort and guidance as individuals face the end of life. They assist patients in finding meaning in the face of suffering, making decisions about their care, fulfilling spiritual wishes, and participating in the rituals of their faith. Gilchrist chaplains also support families during and after this time, helping them ensure that their loved one’s burial and ceremonies align with their religious or spiritual beliefs.
A person does not have to be religious to receive chaplain services. Chaplains meet people of any belief or background—whether Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, agnostic, or atheist. Their role is to meet individuals where they are spiritually, helping them make peace with their emotions and guiding them through their final days.
Spiritual care is a vital part of hospice, and Medicare requires hospices to offer chaplain services alongside medical care, social work, bereavement support, and personal care. Our chaplains collaborate closely with the rest of the interdisciplinary team to ensure that a patient’s medical and emotional treatments are integrated into the context of their spirituality.
A Deeper Look into the Work of a Hospice Chaplain
At Gilchrist, chaplains like Don Hohne dedicate their lives to providing spiritual care. Don has been with Gilchrist for 17 years. He currently serves as the Gilchrist Kids Team Chaplain and holds a secondary role as the Clinical Lead for Spiritual Care across the agency. He earned a Master of Divinity at Wesley Theological Seminary and completed four units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE), a specialized training for chaplains. Don’s work at Gilchrist involves visiting patients and families, mentoring new chaplains, and guiding his fellow spiritual caregivers. “Chaplains bring a unique presence to their work, and that’s not always well understood. When people hear the word “chaplain,” they may think of a priest or religious figure, but our work often extends beyond religious needs. We also address existential questions and provide support through conversation. Chaplains are trained to facilitate conversations that can help people process what’s happening to them internally or externally,” Don says.
The Vital Role of Spiritual Care
The role of a chaplain is critical in helping patients achieve peace and closure at the end of life. As Don explains, one of the most rewarding moments in his work is witnessing what he calls a “hallelujah moment”—when a patient or family member begins to integrate their grief into their life, where it becomes a chapter in their story rather than their entire life. “We hope that grief becomes part of their story, not the whole of it,” Don says. These moments of acceptance and peace are profoundly meaningful and can comfort loved ones long after their family member has passed.
As we observe Pastoral and Spiritual Care Week, it’s important to recognize a hospice chaplain’s essential role in helping people find peace, meaning, and comfort in life’s most challenging moments. Their dedication reminds us all of the power of spirituality in healing and in helping us cope with the journey of life and death. To learn more about Gilchrist and our programs, visit https://gilchristcares.org/