HOME HEALTH CARE CHAPLAINCY
The Need ...Due to illness or accident, persons become
homebound and require physical and spiritual help. Medical personnel meet the physical needs and the chaplain volunteer ministers to the spiritual needs.
The Target ...The chaplain volunteer ministers to the spiritual
and emotional needs of the homebound patient and family.
The Process ... To begin a home health care chaplaincy:
1. Pray for God's leadership.
2. Contact the chaplain (if the hospital has one), who will supervise the chaplain volunteer.
3. If there is no chaplain, contact the home health care director of the institution or the director of the home health care agency.
4. If the hospital has a chaplaincy department, contact them for training. If there is no chaplaincy department, contact the Church Planning and Revitalization Department of the Florida Baptist Convention for referral.
5. Discuss the expectations of the chaplain volunteer and the institution or agency, as they relate to the patients and the families.
6. Set the time frame for starting the ministry.
7. Negotiate a working agreement with the institution or agency.
8. Chaplain volunteer and home health care director evaluates the ministry annually.
The Ministry…The primary responsibility of the home health care chaplain, as a member of the home health care team, is to minister to the spiritual needs of the patients and the families.
MINISTRY OF PRESENCE
The chaplain volunteer represents the presence of God in the midst of life's health crises. His or her presence instills confidence, hope and encouragement.
PRAYER MINISTRY
The patient and family face fears, uncertainties and major decisions, including survival, lifestyle changes, relationship issues and financial uncertainty. The chaplain volunteer intercedes to bring God's promises of presence, comfort, strength and encouragement to their situation.
COUNSELING/RECOVERY
Chaplain volunteers provide a listening ear, a caring heart and a shoulder on which to cry. They express understanding and acceptance of peoples' feelings. They refer individuals to available helping agencies to meet specific needs.
SPECIALIZED MINISTRIES
Occasionally patients and families may request communion, baptism, weddings, or other religious services. The chaplain may perform these services or refer them to other religious leaders.
LITERATURE DISTRIBUTION
The chaplain volunteer provides Bibles, tracts, videos, cassettes, magazines and other religious resources, as requested by the patient or family.
REPORTS
As a member of the home health care team, the chaplain volunteer submits reports to the director of pastoral care or home health care according to departmental policy.
The Reason…Spiritual care enables physical healing.
Therefore, the chaplain volunteer's ministry to the patient and family is essential to the healing process. Every home health care team needs a chaplain.