Spiritual care

Palliative and end of life care (Care homes & care at home)
Macmillan Cancer Support

Daily Care

Understand the person’s needs - use the HOPE tool to start the conversation

Ask your client what’s important to them and what you can do to help.

Do they need practical help - e.g. can you help to arrange for them to attend a religious service, see a faith leader at home, be with family and friends or spend time in nature?

Encourage the person to explore their worries and fears.

Listen without passing judgement or dismissing their concerns.

Don’t feel you always need to have an answer. Leave room for listening, thoughtfulness and stillness.

Encourage the person to find their own coping techniques, especially ones that have worked for them in the past. This may include doing things they enjoy, writing down thoughts and feelings, and finding ways to relax such as listening to music or having a massage.

Contact the local hospital, hospice or palliative care team chaplaincy service.

If you don’t feel comfortable having these conversations, ask an experienced colleague or a specialist such as a chaplain to be involved.

Understanding spiritual needs

Spirituality means different things to different people.  Religion and faith might be part of someone’s spirituality, but spirituality isn’t always about religion . Everyone has spiritual needs throughout their lives whether they follow a religion or not. Spiritual needs can include:

  • the need for meaning and purpose in our lives
  • the need to love and feel loved
  • the need to feel a sense of belonging
  • the need to feel hope, peace and gratitude.  

People do different things to meet these spiritual needs, depending on what’s important to them. Some people do things within their religion such as prayer or going to a religious meeting.   For other people, it could be being with friends and family, spending time in nature or doing work or hobbies.

Spiritual needs in terminal illness

Being diagnosed with a terminal illness often causes people to think about death, loss and grief, in ways that haven’t had to before. 

Some people with a terminal illness may want to reflect on the meaning of their life, perhaps more so than at any other time in their life.   Spiritual practice, including religion, may become more important to someone as they approach the end of their life.

Spiritual needs are connected to physical, emotional and social needs too.

Spiritual wellbeing and distress

Spiritual wellbeing is often described as feeling at peace.

Spiritual distress – also called spiritual pain or suffering – can occur when people are unable to find sources of meaning, hope, love, peace, comfort, strength and connection in their lives.  This distress can also affect their physical and mental health.   Terminal illness can often cause spiritual distress in dying people as well as their family and friends. 

Someone might have unmet spiritual needs if they are:

  • searching for meaning, for example asking questions such as ‘Why is this happening?’, ‘Why me?’, ‘Who
  • am I?’ and ‘How will I be remembered?’
  • becoming more withdrawn and isolated.
  • afraid of being alone.
  • refusing care.
  • saying they feel scared or worried.

Find out more

Mannix K. (2017). With the End in Mind: Dying, Death and Wisdom in an Age of Denial

Buckman R. (1988). I Don’t Know What to Say: How to Help and Support Someone who is Dying.

Timmins S. (2012). My Health, My Faith, My Culture: A Guide for Healthcare Practitioners

Copyright

© Copyright Marie Curie Cancer Support 2020, produced by the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI). This content is based on Marie Curie Foundations in Palliative Care (FIPC) materials 2020, published by Marie Curie Cancer Support, 89 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7UQ, United Kingdom. Marie Curie Cancer Support accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of the content, which is based on UK practice and guidelines at the date of UK publication; nor for the context in which the content is published; nor for any adaptations made for local use. The content as published in this app/website is solely the responsibility of the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre, Inovo Building, 121 George St, Glasgow G1 1RD.