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How Wills and Powers of Attorney Protect You and Your Family

Have you thought about how your wishes would be carried out if you became incapacitated or passed away? These are not topics most people enjoy thinking about, so it is natural to put them off. However, documenting your wishes is one of the most important steps you can take to protect yourself and the people you care about. For many adults, having legally recognized documents in place provides peace of mind and helps ensure that personal decisions are respected. This can be especially important for individuals whose closest relatives may not share their values, beliefs, or relationships. In many states, if a person becomes incapacitated without written instructions, decisions about their care may fall to their next of kin. Similarly, after death, family members often have significant authority over funeral arrangements and other final decisions. While many families work together respectfully, not everyone can be certain their wishes will be honored. This concern can be particularly rele...
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What is an Interpath Chaplain?

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  “Interpath chaplain” is a term I coined to describe my approach to ministry.  Historically, chaplains primarily served those within their own faith tradition. Increasingly, modern chaplains use the term interfaith chaplain to signal that they are trained to work across religious differences as a normal part of their role. An interpath chaplain shares that same goal—but seeks to name it differently. The term interfaith has grown to carry several important meanings. It often implies that a chaplain: Emphasizes understanding differences and fostering respect Avoids conversion or proselytization Is comfortable serving those from traditions different from their own Uses the language, beliefs, and values of the person receiving care Includes people who identify as atheist, agnostic, or otherwise non-religious These are essential competencies. The interpath chaplain fully affirms them. However, I have found that the term interfaith does not always communicate this clearly—especi...
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How Do Atheists Find Hope?

Medical professionals in the United States are quite religious compared to other science-heavy professions. About 75% of doctors and around 80-90% of nurses report religious or spiritual belief. For comparison, about 30% of engineers report religious or spiritual belief. Yet, healthcare professionals will almost certainly serve people who are non-spiritual and/or atheist. It may be beneficial to have an understanding of how atheists find meaning and hope in life. I have read several articles and discussion threads in which people who identify as atheist share their thoughts on the topic of hope. I have summarized some of the common ideas here. I will link to a couple articles for further reading. Of course, we must always remember that each person is unique and may or may not fit into any category. Many atheists don't look at hope the same way most religious people do. Christians, for example, tend to explain hope as certainty about promises described in the Bible. Many atheists...
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Attending: Tips for Finding Transportation to Church, Synagogue, Mosque or Other House of Worship.

Millions of people find joy and community in weekly attendance at a religious worship service. One of the drawbacks of America’s car-centric infrastructure is that transportation becomes a barrier when a person cannot drive themselves or afford a car. It contributes to increased isolation and loneliness, especially if they can no longer attend religious services. Sadly, that is the plight of many seniors and handicapped individuals. This is a problem healthcare professionals and caregivers can help solve. With just a bit of effort they may be able to help locate transportation. Finding a place of worship that offers their own transport services is ideal because they will ensure on-time arrival on the most relevant days. Many places of worship offer transportation services on significant worship days. Thankfully, many places of worship offer transportation services on significant worship days. Check with the person’s preferred place of worship to see if they offer van rides to ...
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Adaptive Aids for Backpacking

Backpacking is a fun sport that millions of people enjoy. It requires a high level of fitness and agility that can be a barrier to some people with health issues. Backpacking with a handicap requires careful planning and may also require adapted equipment. Thankfully, there are many products on the market to help make things easier. Don't let a disability stop you from the activities you enjoy. There are thousands of disabled hikers and backpackers out there including one man who thru-hiked the AT blind, and another who did it with a prosthetic leg.  There is a large community of hikers and backpackers who are ready and willing to share information. Disabledhikers.wordpress.com has many good articles and information. They operate a F acebook  group where someone can as questions and get advice. The Disability  subreddit  is also another great place to ask questions.  One of the most common barriers to backpacking is back injury and chronic back pain. T...
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Adaptive Techniques for Applying Lotion and Other Anti-itch Products

    Pruritus, or itchiness, can be a very significant annoyance. For some patients it can be so severe that it interferes with therapy participation. Addressing this issue productively can reduce anxiety and improve patient participation. Patients with limited range of motion or flexibility may not be able to reach affected areas to scratch or apply lotion or powder. In this post I will share popular anti-itch remedies as well as methods to aid application of lotion and other anti-itch products to hard-to-reach areas. Hydrating the skin is often the most effective solution for itch relief. For serious pruritus, a medicated lotion may be needed instead of typical lotion. Popular over the counter (OTC) anti-itch lotions include those with 1% pramoxine hydrochloride (Sarna, CeraVe), or 1% hydrocortizone (Cortizone-10). These are appropriate for most areas of the body. If not sufficient, an oral anti-itch medication may be useful. Dyphenhydramine (Benadryl) and cetirizine (Zyrtec)...
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Survey of Spiritual Needs (Short Version)

The Survey of Spiritual Needs is a seven-question survey to assess for spiritual distress, depression and patient needs and wishes related to these issues. This survey can be completed in two to five minutes. It is intended for adult and older teen populations with abstract reasoning skills. Screening for spiritual needs can be conducted by any healthcare personnel including patient care technicians and certified nursing assistants. The SOSN is a brief survey that will enable any healthcare professional to assess for spiritual distress and disruptions in spiritual engagement thoroughly yet quickly. It will also enable the examiner to identify solutions to help their patient re-engage with this occupation and begin to resolve present distress. It will enable the examiner to connect the patient with other appropriate resources and determine if further screening is necessary. No prior training is required. Some users of the original SOSN have requested a shortened version. This alternate ...
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