Chaplain support at Arthur Rank Hospice Charity

Kate Young is the Chaplain at Arthur Rank Hospice Charity. Along with a team of Chaplaincy Volunteers she supports patients and loved ones at the Hospice, in patient’s own homes in the community and at the Alan Hudson Centre in Wisbech.

The Charity supports people with faiths or no faith. Kate explains more about her role:

“Our role is to support with pastural, religious or spiritual care. Often it is useful for people, particularly at difficult times in their lives, to talk to someone outside of their normal network. This may span a time between admission to the Living Well Service, through to bereavement around the time of death and afterwards, when we take funerals.”

Pastoral Care and preparing for death

“Death is an inevitability for all of us. None of us know when that may be, but death is a part of life.

People’s attitudes to death is often influenced by their previous experience of death. Some people were kept away when a loved one died where as others were forced into environments which they did not feel comfortable or understand. It can be comforting for people to have a safe space where they can talk about death and having some control in this can be beneficial to all.

When I visited the Living Well Service recently, one patient told me:

“At my funeral I don’t want people to wear black. I want people to celebrate me and my life. I feel very connected to a song that my brother played and I would like that to be played at my funeral.”
Often their concerns are not for themselves and they ask, “How can I prepare my family for my death?”

Spiritual Care

“Spiritual meaning is about someone’s personal values, attitudes and identity. How they see themselves in the world, the moral and ethical part of themselves. People may wonder, “Who am I? What have I been? What is my meaningful purpose? How do I make every moment count in a way that corresponds to my values?”

Sometimes when people have a new diagnosis it can change their perspective on life – either positively or negatively. It can give them a new appreciation of life. It can bring rich and powerful conversations with relatives and friends. They may want to reconcile old differences with others.

Generally, people want to reach inner peace, comfort and joy. Part of this might be to search for a solution to things that trouble them, including reflecting on relationships, connections or their own sense of self through life review.

Some people also ask themselves, “How do I find peace, comfort and joy, thinking about my past and going forward?” For some this is being creative or listening to music. For others they may connect with something unknowable with a sense that there is something which is much bigger than them – the universe, a force of nature or an eternal being. Many find a welcome sense of wonder by standing on a mountain top or appreciating the beauty of small things – such as a ladybird in nature.

In all of this, it seems important to remember that however we feel today, that we are each precious and valuable individuals no matter what we meet on life’s journey. We are a part of the larger world and the beauty which surrounds us.”

Religious Beliefs

“I like meeting people but I don’t want to impose my beliefs on to them. If they wish to I can answer as ‘Kate the Minister who is a Christian’ or not.

Occasionally, to start a conversation I might invite someone to share a photograph or picture and say why it is important to them, or I may ask them ‘what matters most today?’

Some people like to talk to a Chaplain about their religious beliefs. Sometimes, people find their faith changes after a diagnosis. Some feel the need for a spiritual health check-up but during this time it can also grow.

We can share a reading or a prayer and this is particularly important for people who can no longer get to their regular place of worship.

I am a practicing Christian but we can support people of all faiths or no faith. We have a diverse group of chaplaincy volunteers we can call upon to help, including Christians of many different denominations and a Volunteer who has no faith.”

The Sanctuary

“The Sanctuary at the Hospice is situated next to my office and the Bistro. It is a calm, quiet room which overlooks the garden and the soundproofed door can be closed for privacy. It is usually left free for patients, families, friends, volunteers and colleagues to visit in their own time but it is sometimes used for Music Therapy and we have separate female and male prayers for Muslim worshipers on Fridays.

There is a wooden qibla which faces towards the Kaaba, religious books and prayer mats for Jewish people and Buddhists.

There is also a book where people can write anything they want to to a loved one or add a paper leaf on the memory tree with a personal message or to give thanks and we light candles on a Friday afternoon to remember patients who have died.

When I am in the office at the Hospice I am available to anyone who wants to drop in to speak to me. I always have a cuppa and a box of tissues ready and have supported many people who need a little support on their way to the Grief Kind Bereavement Group which meets on a Friday from 10am-12 in the Bistro.

I am part of the Sunflower Memories Event in August at the Hospice and the Light Up a Life Services in November and December in Wisbech and at the Hospice, where people come together to remember loved ones.

The Chaplaincy team works together with the Charity’s services and they can signpost to other colleagues where it is appropriate. Our Social Worker, Alex Giasemidis can support with a number of issues, including housing and benefits, among other things and our Patient and Family Support Team can offer bereavement support and counselling follow up.”

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Please pop in to speak to Kate if you are in the Hospice or email kate.young@arhc.org.uk or telephone 01223 675777 for more information.