Hospice is Not Religiously Affiliated
Hospice respects each individual’s religious and spiritual beliefs. Jason Clamme, director of community engagement, explains how Lower Cape Fear LifeCare’s chaplains help care for each patient and family’s spiritual and religious needs as part of the hospice philosophy.
Is Hospice Religiously Affiliated? We Take a Closer Look
The truth about hospice care is that it welcomes patients of all spiritual and religious beliefs and practices. But is hospice religiously affiliated?
Lower Cape Fear LifeCare is not religiously affiliated– we are not backed by any one particular religion or denomination. Therefore, we are open to patients of all religions, all faiths, and all spiritualities. As hospice providers, we are concerned with a patient’s pain and symptom management. We believe in caring for the whole person – body, mind and spirit.
Many patients may draw strength from their faith or spirituality at this stage in their lives. So, while hospice is not religiously affiliated, we do respect and honor the personal spiritual journey of our patients if they have a spiritual discipline.
Our Team Helps Provide Better Quality of Life
We have team members who focus on the physical quality of life, including:
- Doctors
- Registered nurses
- Nurse aides
- Social workers
- Volunteers
- Counselors (for both the patient and their family)
The Role of Chaplains in Hospice Care
While hospice does have chaplains, they do not emphasize any one set of beliefs, but rather respect the patient where they are in their spiritual journey. Many patients find comfort in exploring their faith when in transition, but this decision is left up to the patient. This is because hospice is not religiously affiliated.
Lower Cape Fear Life Care has professional chaplains who are part of the hospice care team for our patients and families. If a patient and family have their own personal faith leader, we certainly call them in and bring them into the fold as part of the team.
Respecting Differences While Physically Caring for the Patient
Many times, different religions have different protocols at the end of life, and we want to honor and respect those.
For example, some may want certain family members present and others not. In addition, some religions may have preferences in what is done with the body, both before and after. Since we are not religiously affiliated, we strive to follow any protocols that are in line with the patient’s religion or spiritual beliefs.
Bereavement and Grief Support Encompasses All Backgrounds
Our respect for our patients’ beliefs and philosophies extends to our bereavement and our grief care for our families.
Bereavement and grief support is offered to families of all backgrounds, and hospice care meets them where they are in their beliefs and philosophies.
We want to meet them where they are and what they believed was true about the person for whom they cared for and loved.
A Family Member in Need? Remember That Anyone Can Refer to Lower Cape Fear Life Care
Let Lower Cape Fear LifeCare be a resource for you. We are here to provide care and support and compassion for people dealing with end of life.
If you have any needs, any concerns for you, your family members, friends, please don’t hesitate to call. Anyone can refer to us at any time, there’s no obligation, there’s no commitment.
Get the information that you need by giving us a call at 800-733-1476.
