Sociological and Spiritual Aspects of Palliative Care in Ireland : Understandings of a Good Death

Explores the end-of-life spiritual needs of people who do not identify with traditional religions. This groundbreaking book addresses the spiritual aspect of hospice care for those who do not fit easily within traditional religious beliefs and categories. A companion volume to Religious Understandings of a Good Death in Hospice Palliative Care, this work also advocates for renewed attention to the spiritual, the often overlooked element of hospice care. Drawing on data from clinical case studies, new sociological research, and the perspectives of agnostics, atheists, those who emphasize the spiritual rather than institutional dimensions of a traditional religion, and the rapidly growing cohort of those who describe themselves as spiritual-but-not-religious, the contributors to this volume interpret the shift from predominantly Christian-based pastoral services to a new approach to “the spiritual” shaped by the increasing diversity of Western societies and new understandings of the nature of secular society. How do we use it in a way that enables caregivers to assist patients? Clinicians and policy makers will appreciate the book’s practical recommendations regarding staff roles, training, and resource allocation. General readers will be moved by the persuasive call for greater religious and spiritual literacy at every level of health care in order to respond to the full spectrum of human needs in life and in death.

This book describes the history and development of palliative care services in the Republic of Ireland. Written from a multi-professional perspective the book appeals to anyone with an interest in hospice and palliative care in Ireland. In attempting to explore what is different about Irish palliative care, this book delves into the cultural, religious and social factors particular to modern Ireland, from the historical roots of the Irish palliative care movement through to the publication of the Government’s ‘blueprint’ for the future development of services. Palliative Care In Ireland explores the provision of palliative care services, bereavement, the influence of folklore, holistic care, faith, religion and spirituality, and the important contributions of the voluntary sector. The changing face of Ireland is described and challenges ahead are considered. This is the first book to truly capture the Irish dimension and is essential reading for those in emerging services worldwide where similar challenges are faced and where local and national influences determine the uniqueness of a particular model of service delivery. The book is key reading for students and researchers as well as all those involved in the delivery and management of palliative care services. Contributors: Jide Afolabi, Maria Bailey, Frank Brennan, David Clark, Sinéad Donnelly, Matthew Farrelly, Stephen Higgins, Jacqueline Holmes, Kaye Kealy, Michael Kearney, Ann Keating, Orla Keegan, Christy Kenneally, Philip Larkin, Peter Lawlor, Julie Ling, Anna-Marie Lynch, John McCormack, Regina McQuillan, Michael J. Murphy, Tony O'Brien, Eileen O’Leary, Liam O’Síoráin, Maeve O'Reilly, Patrick J Quinlan, Deirdre Rowe, Siobhan Sheehan, Geraldine Tracey, Onja Van Doorslaer, Eithne Walsh.

In the last fifteen years, the field of palliative care has experienced a surge in interest in spirituality as an important aspect of caring for seriously ill and dying patients. While spirituality has been generally recognized as an essential dimension of palliative care, uniformity of spiritual care practice has been lacking across health care settings due to factors like varying understandings and definitions of spirituality, lack of resources and practical tools, and limited professional education and training in spiritual care. In order to address these shortcomings, more than forty spiritual and palliative care experts gathered for a national conference to discuss guidelines for incorporating spirituality into palliative care. Their consensus findings form the basis of Making Health Care Whole. This important new resource provides much-needed definitions and charts a common language for addressing spiritual care across the disciplines of medicine, nursing, social work, chaplaincy, psychology, and other groups. It presents models of spiritual care that are broad and inclusive, and provides tools for screening, assessment, care planning, and interventions. This book also advocates a team approach to spiritual care, and specifies the roles of each professional on the team. Serving as both a scholarly review of the field as well as a practical resource with specific recommendations to improve spiritual care in clinical practice, Making Health Care Whole will benefit hospices and palliative care programs in hospitals, home care services, and long-term care services. It will also be a valuable addition to the curriculum at seminaries, schools of theology, and medical and nursing schools.

Gain greater depth of understanding of end-of-life spiritual issues for older adults The period of time when a person approaches death is always difficult both for the patient and the caregiver. Aging, Spirituality, and Palliative Care discusses best practices in aged and palliative care while addressing patients’ diverse spiritual

Finding Dignity at the End of Life discusses the need for palliative care as a human right and explores a whole-person methodology for use in treatment. The book examines the concept of palliative care as a holistic human right from the perspective of multiple aspects of faith, ideology, culture, and nationality. Integrating a humanities-based approach, chapters provide detailed discussions of spirituality, suffering, and healing from scholars from around the world. Within each chapter, the authors address a different cultural and religious focus by examining how this topic relates to questions of inherent dignity, both ethically and theologically, and how different spiritual lenses may inform our interpretation of medical outcomes. Mental health practitioners, allied professionals, and theologians will find this a useful and reflective guide to palliative care and its connection to faith, spirituality, and culture.

Spirituality and Coping with Loss: End of Life Healthcare Practice describes a research study that reflects nurses’ experience of the nature of loss encountered in end of life care settings as well as the ways in which spirituality is a resource in coping in these situations. Key findings indicate how nurses’ spiritual development impacts their proficiency in spiritual care. These findings will be of interest to nurses and nurse educators as well as other healthcare professionals.