Outdoor gardens in bloom with stained glass from Chapel

Spiritual Support at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab

Media Type

Info Sheet

Reviewed Date

Mar 13, 2022

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.

 

 

 

Body

This content is for informational purposes only and may not be comprehensive. Information contained does not imply an endorsement from Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, and does not replace the advice of a qualified healthcare professional.  See here for further details. © Shirley Ryan AbilityLab (formerly Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago). Henry B. Betts LIFE Center – (312) 238-5433 – https://www.sralab.org/lifecenter.

Publication Information

Title

Pastoral Care at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab

Author

Rev. Beth Reece

Latest Updates

view all