Body
Spiritual care is available for all inpatients at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab to meet the variety of spiritual needs that can arise after an injury or illness. Often a hospitalization causes both patients and their families to reevaluate issues of value and meaning in life.
Belief systems become more complex and sophisticated as patients face new realities. Chaplains encourage healthy spirituality as a resource for inner strength, hope, health, resilience and personal dignity.
Pastoral Care
Chaplains visit inpatients on a regular basis to provide individual and family support. They are always “on call” and can be requested to visit at any time. Requests can come from patients, family, staff and community clergy. Chaplains respect the religious views of all patients and support each person’s beliefs. Services can range from a one-time-only visit to on-going, regularly scheduled sessions for individual and family support.
Chaplains provide spiritual assessment, faith counseling, family support and intervention, crisis intervention, grief counseling, and pastoral care in death situations.
Worship Opportunities
Pastoral services encourage people of all religious backgrounds to worship in their own manner. The chaplains and chapel/meditation are interfaith, with resources for all patients and their families.
Two worship services are regularly scheduled: an interdenominational Christian service on Sunday morning from 10:15-10:45 am, and Catholic Mass on Tuesday evening from 5:00-5:30 pm. Jewish Holy Days and Muslim holidays are observed, and other religious rituals or rites may be scheduled.
Complementary Therapies
The Spiritual Care Department also provides weekly meditation and progressive relaxation groups. Privately arranged times for guided imagery, relaxation, and meditation are available upon request.
