Baycrest - End of Life Volunteer Manual
31
PROVIDING SPIRITUAL SUPPORT
Volunteers can provide spiritual support by:
• Encouraging the person to talk about things they have done in
their lives – things they feel proud of – so they can find meaning
or value in their lives
• Listening patiently and gently to people's stories – how it was
(past), how it is (present) and how it might be (future) -- and
letting them tell their stories more than once if they need to
• Treating the person with dignity and valuing them for who
they are
• Respecting the person's and family's belief systems and
responding according to their belief system (rather than the
volunteer's belief system)
• Sharing personal beliefs only when asked by the person or
family member
• Never proselytizing or trying to convert the dying person
or family member
• Contacting the Spiritual Care Dept. or floor Chaplain for
guidance, consultation, referral or direct involvement with the
person of family.
UNDERSTANDING PEOPLE'S SPIRITUAL BELIEFS
As a volunteer, you may be visiting with people from different faith
communities. Baycrest Chaplains are specially trained to work in
multi-faith environments and are sensitive to the religions and
spiritual practices of all. Chaplains' guiding principles include
caring for everyone regardless of faith or none at all, providing for
those of their own religion, facilitating the free exercise of religion
for those of faiths other than their own and advising staff and
leadership about moral and ethical challenges as well as the freedom
of religious and spiritual expression.
