Palliative Care

In the past few decades, health practitioners began to realize that physical care for people with serious illnesses – whether in hospitals, nursing homes, hospice or homebound – was not enough.  These patients also needed help in the emotional, social, legal, occupational, and spiritual problems that these illnesses can bring up.  Thus was born the idea of Palliative Care, and by 2006, it was certified as a sub-specialty of medicine in the United States.  Today, over 90% of U.S. hospitals with more than 300 beds have palliative care teams, and more doctors and nurses are being certified as Palliative Care health providers.

Initially aimed at hospice patients, today palliative care may be used by those who are dealing with acute serious illnesses (such as heart attacks, strokes, and injuries from accidents) as well as chronic illnesses (such as diabetes, Alzheimer’s, Crohn’s disease, cancer, HIV, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, etc.).  In some cases, palliative care is used with people who have mental or emotional disabilities, and who need help with communication, movement, decision-making and self-care.  These types of special needs may include autism, Down Syndrome, intellectual impairment, brain injuries, visually or audially impaired, and other emotional or mental impairments.

Given the increasing number of people who deal with acute and chronic illnesses or disabilities, as well as the disturbing trend towards legalizing “assisted suicide” and euthanasia, the Catholic Church is looking for ways that we can help our brothers and sisters who need this type of care.   In 2020, the USCCB Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities sent out a survey to gather “informational resources on palliative medicine and hospice care for clergy and laity.”

The Arlington Diocesan Palliative Care Initiative seeks to support our parishes in their outreach to the sick and suffering of our communities. In developing this initiative, we are asking for your help in learning what support systems are already in place to accompany patients and their families, and what additional support may be needed.   Therefore, we have put together a simple survey which will take only a few moments to complete and will help us get an overview of what is currently being done within the Arlington Diocese, as well as where more help is needed.

Who should take this survey?  Parishes are a vital link in the support chain for the sick and suffering in our communities, and there are a variety of ministries that could fall under the “Palliative Care” umbrella:

• Have you taken Holy Communion to a nursing home or home-bound resident?
• Does your parish have a transportation network?
• Do you help out with a meal ministry?
• Are you part of a support or prayer groups for certain illnesses?
• Does your parish have a funeral ministry or a bereavement support group?
• Are you, or do you know, a health care practitioner who practices Palliative Care and supports Catholic teaching on life issues?
• Are you a caregiver who needs help, or would like more information or training on Palliative Care?
• Are you involved in anything that provides help to the sick or elderly?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, then please fill out this short survey.  Please also pass this survey on to other ministries or people within your parish that deal with visiting and helping the sick and elderly.