Spirituality in Palliative and End-of-Life Care

Live Interactive Webinar  
Instructor: Rev. Barbara Harris M.Div., BCC-PCHAC  
Level: Intermediate  
CEs: 3 CEs are available
Target Audience: Social workers and other social service providers working in palliative care.
Course Delivery Method, Format and Instructor Interaction: Live interactive webinar with discussion. Instructor will use lecture, large group discussion and clinical case discussion. Attendees are visible to one another in Zoom meeting and are encouraged to be active participants with their camera and/or microphone in order take part in discussion. Login information will be emailed to all program participants a week before the fall and spring sessions.
System Requirements: Attendees will need access to a computer with working camera and microphone. All courses are offered using Zoom conferencing software.

This class is a survey of various approaches to assessing the spirituality of people living with life-limiting illness and their families as they struggle to cope and make meaning. We will begin by grounding ourselves in the history of hospice and palliative care to illuminate the fundamental role of spirituality in palliative and end-of-life care today. We will study, “What is Spirituality,” and spirituality in context of the eight domains of palliative care. We will explore the fundamental roles of hope, meaning and dignity in dying patients, and the relationship between spiritual well-being and quality of life. We will practice various ways to assess and support those in our care. We will study the intersection of the social worker and chaplain, and interdisciplinary team collaboration to support whole person thriving.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe the difference between spirituality and religion, spiritual screening, spiritual history and spiritual assessment
2. Identify key spiritual concerns of patients at end of life
3. Apply spiritual assessment approaches in case studies
4. Identify different cultural components and values in end-of-life care
5. Describe end-of-life care specifics with patients of varying religious-cultural backgrounds
6. Explain the different roles among professional caregivers in end-of-life situations and develop collaborative strategies

Outline:

2:45-4:20 p.m. ET:

• Pioneering end-of-life care: Understanding total pain
• What is spirituality?
• Key spiritual concerns at end-of-life
• The fundamental roles of hope, meaning and dignity
• Spiritual well-being and quality of life (QOL)
• Spiritual history and spiritual assessment

4:20- 4:30 p.m. ET: Break

4:30- 6:00 p.m. ET: 

• Collaboration between social workers and chaplains
• Responding to diverse spiritual/religious traditions
• Group exercise: Three case studies
• Q & A