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Sentara Chaplains
Pastoral and Bereavement Care for Hospice patients
Pastoral and Bereavement Care at Sentara Home Care Services HOSPICE Program is a part of a team of healthcare professionals consisting of a Physician Medical Director, Registered Nurses, Medical Social Workers, Coordinator of Volunteers and a Pastoral Care and Bereavement Counselor. We collaborate in patient care conferences as an interdisciplinary team in the mission of end-of-life care for our HOSPICE patients and families.
We provide palliative care to our patients giving them the dignity to die at home and on their own terms surrounded by a safe environment. In a sense, comfort care should be provided to all patients regardless of whether they have a life-limiting illness or not. However, our patients are those who are experiencing life-limiting illnesses such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, renal failure, Huntingdon’s disease, ALS and AIDS, to name a few.
Anyone is eligible for hospice care if their physician verifies that they have 6 months or less to live. Sometimes the illness does not follow a "normal" 6 months course and we have patients that outlive their prognosis. Many do not realize that they do not have to die within 6 months in order to receive this service, as well as not realizing that a patient can have any "end-stage" illness to receive palliative care—not just cancer. Also, many do not realize that people who are in nursing homes may also receive palliative care. Our team will come right to the nursing home and work with the facility staff to manage pain, help with daily living needs and give emotional and spiritual support. The team concept is the strength of HOSPICE care.
Pastoral and Bereavement Care provides spiritual and grief care to our patients, families and staff within their own faith and personal identities. The Pastoral Care Counselor/Bereavement Services Coordinator provides compassionate spiritual assessments or bereavement care plans that involves systematic and intentional follow-up of our patients and their families. Personal home visits involving pastoral or bereavement support, serving communion, prayer, anointing, end-of-life planning, conducting memorial services, referrals to a pluralistic faith community or other resources, cards and letters, Bereavement Support Groups and an annual Memorial Service are just a few other services we offer. Our team represents the heart and soul of health care, and therein is a caring patient advocate and companioning ethicist—all of us—our HOSPICE team! You may contact our Pastoral Care Counselor/Bereavement Services Coordinator, Reverend Roger A. Gauthier, with questions about our HOSPICE or for pastoral and bereavement care within our program.
To contact the Pastoral Care Counselor - Bereavement Services Coordinator
Call 757-549-5652.
Contact Information:
Reverend Roger Gauthier
757-549-5652
Mailing Address:
Sentara Home Care Services & Hospice Program
535 Independence Parkway, Suite 200
Chesapeake, Virginia 23320
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