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Sister Catherine Higgins, MSW, LSW, Celtic Healthcare
As Hospice Medical Social Worker and Chaplain, I have spent over 15 years with people at the edge of life. Just recently, a family member called requesting information on Celtic Hospice. Her husband had just recently received a terminal diagnosis. This woman had heard me speak to a group about the "Ministry of Presence," one of the greatest gifts we can offer to another, especially during the sacred time of a person's last weeks - days when symptoms have been managed well and the "waiting" begins. This 59-year-old man had separated from the church and had an aversion to discussing God, whom he was not sure existed at all. I entered Bob's space gently, respectfully, and with my own firm faith in a loving God. Our initial visits were "tests" with no significant results. Once his physical pain was managed, questions were answered, and fears were addressed, he invited me to move closer into his personal space. I simply accepted and respected him right where he was, as I believe God does with each of us. One day, a couple of weeks into the relationship, Bob looked me in the eye and said, "You know, if there is a God, he lives in you." That is the highest compliment I have ever received and it emphasizes the value of spirituality in healthcare. The following day, after years of resistance, he welcomed the priest into his home and received the sacraments. There was a depth of peace and surrender in him and his family at the time of his death, which could only be measured in light of the spiritual gifts received. I neither preached nor argued. I simply showed up, was present to him in the moment, and through that simple but magnanimous gesture, Bob recognized the God who never abandoned him and was now waiting for his return home.
Recently, Celtic Healthcare embarked on a journey to put the actions of Celtic Healthcare's employees and our patients into a timeless library of photography. We traveled from Northeast Ohio to Mars to Lawrence County to Carlisle, PA to share moments with many of our team and our patients. Thank you to everyone who made this possible. We captured the spirit of Celtic Healthcare in each and every photograph. You could tell that the patients were enjoying the experience by all the beautiful smiles that we saw! Look for your patients in Celtic Healthcare's 2009 marketing materials!
● You will most likely shake hands and hug more people around the holidays. Don't ease up on the hand washing. Keep it a priority!
● Don't go to the mall hungry. Eat first – of course, healthy choices – and then shop on a full stomach. Avoid food courts and fast food. Throw a healthy snack in your purse or pocket to keep your cravings down.
● Time can be crunched with holiday preparations and festivities. Start your day earlier by exercising in the morning. Don't cut back on your typical amount of exercise.
● Start your day earlier, but don't reduce the amount of sleep that your body needs. Rest!
● There's no doubt that it's hard to limit WHAT you eat at holiday parties, but be sure to limit portion sizes when you have less control over your menu.
Hospice in the United States started as a "movement" in the 1970s. The answer to last month's Quirky Question is: Medicare Hospice Benefit Law was established in 1982, which designated hospice care as a formal part of the overall healthcare service delivery system.
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