Connections In Healthcare

A persistent paradox within religious life is the presence of the chronologically old but spiritually young adherent. It is common to encounter individuals who have participated in a faith community for decades yet remain fragile when confronted with crisis or ethical temptation. theologian and pastor Gary DeLashmutt addresses this problem through a developmental framework drawn from his reading of the biblical text 1 John 2:12–14, a passage addressed to three groups within a community: children, young adults, and parents. DeLashmutt interprets these groups as stages of spiritual development. He presents growth as gradual, intentional, and relational, in contrast to an unpredictable sudden breakthrough. It moves a believer from the secure identity of spiritual Childhood, through the grueling battlefields of Young Adulthood, and ultimately into the reproductive legacy of Mature Adulthood. Before this developmental trajectory can begin, however, a vital prerequisite must be met: spiritua...

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...

  “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...

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...

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 ...

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...

    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)...

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 ...

Tired of struggling to open jars? Me too. There are many techniques and gadgets out there that claim to help make opening jars easier. Some work better than others. Here is a method that doesn’t require buying any additional kitchen gadgets. First, let’s discuss why jars are hard to open. Jars are sealed by pressure. The contents of the jar are under a vacuum. The vacuum is maintained by a thin rubber layer between the lid and the rim of the jar. This acts against turning the lid as well. While we cannot remove the rubber, we can remove the vacuum to ease the effort needed to open the lid. To do this you will need either an ice pick, awl, or a knife with a sharp tip. You will use the sharp device to puncture a small hole in the top of the lid. Place the sharp tip near the center of the lid holding it so the end of the device is open and not covered by your hand. Use a heavy wooden spoon, rolling pin, or some other weighty object to hit the end of your sharp device. A firm tap is all th...

Many disabled and elderly people can no longer complete home cleaning tasks adequately. In our age of high transience, more and more people are left living alone with no family close by. Discharging home from the hospital with a new disability or mobility deficits can pose major barriers to a person's ability to keep up with house chores like dusting, moping, or vacuuming. They may not have a ready solution for this problem. Of course, one simple solution is to hire a cleaning service. Sadly, many live on a limited income and cannot afford such services. One barrier is that most of the companies offering such services have minimum requirements such as two hours per week. They charge anywhere from $25-$50 per hour which adds up quickly. In some large cities there are companies who offer discounts to senior citizens. So, it is always worth an internet search or calling a few companies to ask. Here are some other options to consider. Call a company directly and explain the situation...

Deep breathing exercises are widely recognized for their benefits in managing strong emotions like anxiety and depression. Here is a powerful exercise that combines deep breathing with visualization to help calm the mind. Begin by visualizing a small ember ignited by a match. It glows a dim yellow and appears ready to burn out. Inhale deeply, and as you exhale, picture yourself gently blowing on the small ember. As you blow, it begins to glow brighter. Continue this process two more times, exhaling slowly each time. Now, take another deep breath and blow gently onto your ever-brightening ember. This time, as you blow, the ember bursts into a bright flame—a flash of heat and light that lasts for a moment. Then, the flame goes out, leaving only blackish-gray ash. Draw one last deep breath. As you blow strongly, imagine the ash being carried away into a gentle breeze. If you wish, envision that your worries are consumed along with the ember and carried away with the ash. Feel free t...

Is it ok to pray with patients as a medical professional? Generally speaking in the United States, it is legal to pray with patients. There are some ethical considerations to keep in mind. Also, it is important to check your facility’s policies to ensure you remain compliant. It is vital that we keep in mind the right of every person to be treated equally regardless of religion or worldview. Additionally, patients are a captive audience in a medical setting. It is not a public space where they can easily walk away if they choose. Thus, we must respect their right to access medical care without proselytization. Always ask a patient if they would like you to pray with them in a way that allows them to say no. "Would you like me to offer a prayer?" Instead of "Let's pray about it." Do not pray for a patient publicly if they are not alert and oriented enough to agree to it. You can always pray for them privately in your mind. Also, be wary of praying for a patient p...

A Universal Framework for Spiritual Development Purpose People grow in many ways over the course of life — emotionally, socially, physically, psychologically, and spiritually. Because every person's story is shaped by family, culture, relationships, hardship, opportunity, and personal meaning, no developmental model can explain everyone's experience perfectly. Still, models can be useful when they help us notice common patterns, ask better questions, and support people with greater care. This framework offers a simple way to talk about spiritual growth across many different worldviews. It does not attempt to define spirituality for everyone, nor does it assume that all people move through spiritual life in the same way. Instead, it offers shared language for discussing recurring concerns such as identity, purpose, responsibility, contribution, peace, and meaning. It draws from several influential sources, including Erikson's psychosocial stages, Maslow's hierarchy of ne...