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Refer to NACC website New things are being posted daily, with many new resources that can be used in your changing ministry.Refer to the CHA website for resources. New things are being posted daily.CHA website. – front page is a link to Corona Virus resources and Spiritual Care resources and a series of short podcasts.Chaplaincy Innovative lab Prayers from USCCB: ; Review your diocesan websites for local resources and support including on-line Masses, rosaries, and prayers. Listening Hearts are available: Grief the new normal – I feel so overwhelmed () _______________________________________09/02/20 2pm CT General Session: Centering reflection and prayer: Open the eyes of our hearts…What thoughts do you have about the isolation that elders have had to endureI have been on these calls and I know how it has affected the sisters in our community. There are 2 parts. Appreciation and Disparity - One when they realize they are alone, then they are lost because they are alone.I have not been able to visit the nursing home since the isolation started, the relatives spoke about residence with memory issues. They are not able to connect well with FaceTime. It is not enough, the need touch, presence. I question what are we protecting people from: heartbeat or life?I have been visiting, part of what they are going through, they need spiritual help. It has a tremendous impact.In 5 different nursing homes. We do not lose our capacity to feel. Many of our residence have lost their capacity to think clearly about what is happening. I can see the confusion on their faces why no one is visiting. Window visiting was very disorienting. It is the power of their feelings.PT as home hospice. Calling is like calling my parents, the connection is not as intense as it had been. I have had to ask pointed questions. Not being able to be there, not being able to touch has hampered the ministry.the isolation has led to sadness. They want to be with their families, and they cannot. They want us to visit often. Not only in nursing care but independent living as well.It is also for those in the homes. It is all outside the door. There’s pain in the isolation.We have lost about 30 residents during the peak. Residents are still grieving. That is another dimension. We try to give an opportunity to have residents interactsome families were taking family home because of the residents decline and family could not see them. It feels like the grim reaper because the list of those who have died (not only COVID) I feel this is a secondary cause to COVID. When you staff to census, staff are also disappearing. We are in a state of mourning. We do not know what to do about it. People are concerned about going into winter and seasonal depression. We are not dealing with this very well. How does an institution grieve when you lose residents and staff?What can Spiritual care do differently? We are trained in grief. What is the impact of ritual? In one facility, residents are taken to the door. They read, they sing, they remember names. Maybe ring a bell for the people they miss, there are other creative ideas for this. What about the staff that works with these people?the housekeepers and CNAs are going into room, you can see their griefWe just got iPads to connect. The grief and pain are there. Maybe use the bells or another instrument, to get a smile. I also do a lot of jokes to get a reaction. They need our touch when we can. We have been sending bereavement cards to families, more than once for comfort.for staff we do processions of honor. It includes some of the staff. We do not do a hall of remembrance, but we do put up pictures. I will try to put up card so people can write feelings. One resident offered to put together cards, they were wonderful 3-D cards. I was able to distribute. It was a joy to get something from “the other side”. They have appreciated the “touch”. Both felt a connection.would they gather in this type of meeting?I have not tried; I would like to explore this. if you have a board you can post feeling for people to react and then remember in prayer. Ability to give voice.did you bring anything else today?I just came from our ethics committee; we do case studies. We spoke about all the recent changes. It was good to be able to discuss with hem.How about Schwartz Rounds? It has been hard to get these groups together.We have had patients who have become violent toward staff. This speaks to the overall climate of our lives. When it hits home, it acted out in violence, lashing out because they do not know what to do. It is hard for the chaplain to intercedeWe are also beginning to see mental health issues that are beginning to surface. It is heartbreakingHow do you handle the situations?I will be going in tomorrow. I have beautiful cards, maybe I can have people write their feelings, so I can lift them up I n prayer. Listening, reflecting, noticing – when a chaplain comes in, they do not have internal permission to open. It is serious business.Cards and things are wonderful, in places of violence Alzheimer’s and mental health, there is less assistance. We have used music in the hallways, to listen. The music of Tim Janis (on YouTube) can be very soothing. It is a healer.I would like to add to music. Harp music is also available. We had a harpist play for palliative care and for the emergency room.We did have a harpist, but not in COVID. She was wonderful.very poor connectionIlse – you can have phone conferences among the patients, they can read books, comment on the books. Several patients can share their thoughts. You can do Lectio Divina, adapting for faith. It can connect from room to room and floor to passion for one another and feeling for what is in our heartsTrustCreativityUnityAssistanceListenForbearanceCompassionHopeWe thank you for this time together… ................
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