How spiritual care helps
Waterloo Regional Health Network offers a comprehensive spiritual care program, supporting the needs of patients, families, physicians, staff and volunteers.
Sometimes called chaplains, spiritual care providers work with all people--those connected with a faith community, those who find themselves without community, and those who find their support outside of a faith group.
We believe that many spiritual practices are important to healing. Sometimes patients want a visit from their own spiritual leader or are seeking a particular religious ritual. At your request, we can help you contact spiritual resources and faith communities outside the hospital.
Spiritual care providers help patients and families talk about their specific spiritual or religious needs and how these can best be met during the time in the hospital.
All staff spiritual care providers are educated through the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care (CASC) and are registered psychotherapists with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario.
Helpful resources
WRHN has provided several documents in Adobe PDF format for spiritual care needs and services, along with several links to external websites. Click on the highlighted text to view these brochures and resources
When someone is dying
- When someone is dying in hospital: a guide to the dying process, for families, friends, and patients provided by Hospice Palliative Care of Waterloo and Wellington
- When someone is dying in the community: a guide to the dying process, for families, friends, and patients provided by Hospice Palliative Care of Waterloo and Wellington
- When someone dies: A guide for bereaved families, specific to Waterloo Region, detailing next steps for family and friends following a death.
Grief and loss support services
- Bereaved Families of Ontario is a peer-support organization active locally and across the province.
- Grief and loss support services in Waterloo Region: A listing of support services in Waterloo Region for those who are grieving.
- Grief after suicide: A guide produced by the Waterloo Region Suicide Prevention Council
For children:
- Sesame Street Children's Grieving Resources: An extensive on-line guide for parents and children facing loss, with video and written resources. In English and Spanish.
- Helping children to grieve
- Supporting children who are grieving the loss of a loved one from a distance