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Spiritual Care Program

We are thrilled to announce the relaunch of the Spiritual Care program at Stevenson Memorial Hospital.

The program, which had been temporarily suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was reintroduced when the President of the Hospital Auxiliary recognized a need for its return.

The program is coordinated by The Reverend Kim McArthur of St. Andrew Anglican Church, with the support of Dedee Fliestra, psychotherapist of Grace Baptist Church. The Spiritual Care team has been working diligently to visit patients, providing compassionate support, spiritual comfort, and meaningful conversation to those in need.

The Spiritual Care Visitor Team is comprised of volunteers from the local faith community. Spirituality can greatly impact a patient's well-being, an often overlooked area in healthcare. According to studies, unmet spiritual needs in patients can lead to lower levels of satisfaction with care received and can lead to reduced levels of quality of life, increased risk of depression, and reduction in perceptions of spiritual peace.

Become a Member of the Spiritual Care Team:

Are you interested in becoming a member of the Spiritual Care Team? Ideal volunteers must have:

  • Strong Spiritual Maturity - with life experience able to relate to the patient's circumstances.
  • Written endorsement by a local faith leader that they are regular attendees of their local faith community and that they are members in good standing.
  • Understanding that ongoing training is required.
  • Understanding of time commitment and dedication to the program.
  • Some experience working with vulnerable and sensitive individuals.
  • Able to comply with the entry requirements into the Hospital Auxiliary for Spiritual Care (vaccinations, etc.).

Additionally, initial and ongoing training is supported by the coordinator and psychotherapist who works with the volunteers to provide training in mental health issues and awareness specifically. Volunteers should also be excellent listeners, compassionate, comfortable around death and dying, and provide a calming presence to those around them.

The role of the Spiritual Care Team does not involve the promotion of any specific religion or belief. Their primary function is to provide attentive listening, spiritual support, and visitor advocacy.

For more information or to inquire about becoming a volunteer on the Spiritual Care Team, please contact Carla Beckett: beckettcarla@gmail.com Auxiliary Spiritual Care Convenor, who is assisting with the administration of this program.