Spiritual care
At Blythe House Hospice, spiritual care is an integral part of the holistic care and support that are offered to people referred to the hospice with a life-limiting illness or who are newly diagnosed.
What is Spiritual care?
Spirituality has many definitions and means something different to each of us. For some the experience of spirituality involves organised religion but it’s not necessary to have a religious belief to have spiritual needs. Spiritual needs may relate to how we feel about changes or events happening in our lives, our feelings about ourselves or our relationships with others.
You may find coping with a life-limiting illness raises questions and doubts. Some are spiritual, some are not. They may be about issues like the meaning of life, suffering, death, or an after-life, and they may challenge your basic beliefs about yourself.
The anxiety caused by dealing with these issues is sometimes called spiritual or existential pain, which seems to come from a deep place within us. There are many ways in which people respond to spiritual pain and spiritual care aims to ease that pain in whatever way it presents itself.
Spiritual care at Blythe House Hospice
Spiritual care is an integral part of the holistic care and support that are offered to people referred to the hospice with a life-limiting illness or who are newly diagnosed.
We know that some people will already have existing links with spiritual and religious organisations, whilst others may not and want to access spiritual support that fits with their beliefs or philosophy of life and their personal needs.
Our Spiritual care team
We have an experienced spiritual care team who are non-judgmental, flexible and available to listen in confidence and with respect to individual circumstances and concerns.
You can talk with a member of the team at the hospice or in your own home. The team are happy to chat with you, whatever your beliefs or faith. They can:
- Give support in expressing your spiritual needs and wishes
- Offer the opportunity to pray together and discuss spiritual or religious issues
- Offer guidance towards spiritual care support and resources both at Blythe House Hospice and in the local community
- Provide communion and worship that reflects all faiths
- Facilitate requests for formal religious observations or ceremonies for both individuals and groups
- Meet you and your loved ones at Blythe House Hospice or elsewhere.
Our counselling team and hub nurses are also trained and experienced in helping people to explore issues of spirituality, purpose and meaning in a confidential environment.
The Quiet Area
The Quiet Area at Blythe House Hospice provides a dedicated, accessible and quiet space that is available regardless of your faith or beliefs.
It offers a peaceful place for reflection, meditation or prayer, or simply somewhere quiet and private to be with your feelings. There are books and texts to support you, candles to light and a book to write thoughts and prayers in if you wish.
If you have any questions regarding spiritual care at Blythe House Hospice, please contact the hospice on 01298 815388.
