Advice from priest for caring for patients in palliative care
Open1
Dear Anne,
Thank you for asking me to write down some thoughts regarding palliative care: providing care for the person through the eyes of God because the caregiver sees and believes the person being cared for as being created in His image and likeness. Whether you are visiting the person you are caring for, or he/she is living with you, it is important to be thoroughly aware of their condition/medical history and to attend appointments with them. If your child was sick, would you or your spouse take them to the doctors, or would you have someone else take them? Sacrifice, sacrifice, sacrifice. Sometime, but on a daily basis, you need to pray with them regardless of their state of mind, holding their hand or resting you hand/arm on their lap as you kneel by their bedside while you pray the Lord’s prayer or a decade if the Rosary is invaluable. If possible, let them lead or even verbalize their own prayer. Also having present in their room a crucifix and a statue/picture of the Virgin Mary and/or their patron saint is important. Sacramentals, such as wearing a blessed scapular or miraculous medal are also encouraged. Arranging through your parish to have a Eucharistic Minister visit on Sundays and Holy Days to offer Holy Communion is vital. Do not underestimate the power of your touch. Your reassuring presence, holding their hand, caressing their shoulder, massaging their earlobe, etc. these are ways of showing sincere concern for their wellbeing, and will remove any of their doubts about whether they are a child of God. If by your care, you believe they are, then Our Blessed Mother will ensure they believe they are. There is a fine line between over-babying them and taking away whatever independence they still have. Your prayerful awareness of the present moment is key and knowing when tough love might be necessary is key too. Being a practicing Catholic, receiving Holy Communion and the Sacrament of Reconciliation regularly will ensure you are healthily aware of your own shortcomings and will enable you to be patient (to the point of saintly patience) with the child of God you are caring for… especially if Alzheimers or dementia is part of their diagnosis or stubbornness is part of their nature. Thank you for allowing me to offer some guidance. In closing please find attached some thoughts on necessary supplies that one should have at home when taking care of God’s older children; the ones that once cared for you or your spouse. Bring Jesus to them by your love, Blessings, Greg
Advice from priest for caring for patients in palliative care
Luis Valdes
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Transcript
Advice from priest for caring for patients in palliative care
Open1
Dear Anne,
Thank you for asking me to write down some thoughts regarding palliative care: providing care for the person through the eyes of God because the caregiver sees and believes the person being cared for as being created in His image and likeness. Whether you are visiting the person you are caring for, or he/she is living with you, it is important to be thoroughly aware of their condition/medical history and to attend appointments with them. If your child was sick, would you or your spouse take them to the doctors, or would you have someone else take them? Sacrifice, sacrifice, sacrifice. Sometime, but on a daily basis, you need to pray with them regardless of their state of mind, holding their hand or resting you hand/arm on their lap as you kneel by their bedside while you pray the Lord’s prayer or a decade if the Rosary is invaluable. If possible, let them lead or even verbalize their own prayer. Also having present in their room a crucifix and a statue/picture of the Virgin Mary and/or their patron saint is important. Sacramentals, such as wearing a blessed scapular or miraculous medal are also encouraged. Arranging through your parish to have a Eucharistic Minister visit on Sundays and Holy Days to offer Holy Communion is vital. Do not underestimate the power of your touch. Your reassuring presence, holding their hand, caressing their shoulder, massaging their earlobe, etc. these are ways of showing sincere concern for their wellbeing, and will remove any of their doubts about whether they are a child of God. If by your care, you believe they are, then Our Blessed Mother will ensure they believe they are. There is a fine line between over-babying them and taking away whatever independence they still have. Your prayerful awareness of the present moment is key and knowing when tough love might be necessary is key too. Being a practicing Catholic, receiving Holy Communion and the Sacrament of Reconciliation regularly will ensure you are healthily aware of your own shortcomings and will enable you to be patient (to the point of saintly patience) with the child of God you are caring for… especially if Alzheimers or dementia is part of their diagnosis or stubbornness is part of their nature. Thank you for allowing me to offer some guidance. In closing please find attached some thoughts on necessary supplies that one should have at home when taking care of God’s older children; the ones that once cared for you or your spouse. Bring Jesus to them by your love, Blessings, Greg