How spiritual care helps
Grand River Hospital 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
GRH 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
News and stories from spiritual care at GRH
Laura Fietje: helping to provide a wholeness of care
December 3, 2016Laura Fietje knows how important spiritual care can be to others because she’s benefitted from it in her own life when she was presented with a difficult challenge.
Florence Juma: supporting patients and educating the next generation of spiritual care providers
December 2, 2016Florence Juma knows how religion and spirituality play key roles in the lives of many people. So it can become even more important when a crisis lands someone in hospital.
Thank you to our spiritual care personnel during Spiritual Care and Ethics Week
October 17, 2016GRH is pleased to shine the spotlight on our spiritual care department during Spiritual Care and Ethics Week, happening from October 16th to 22nd.
We are so fortunate to have him here: John Lougheed wins GRH award of excellence
July 22, 2016GRH spiritual care director (Rev.) John Lougheed supports patients and families often during very trying times. His compassion and above-and-beyond approach were among the many reasons he won Grand River Hospital’s award of excellence for July.
GRH chaplain to support new spiritual care interns coming to the hospital in September 2016
March 7, 2016The Rev. Dr. Florence Juma, a spiritual care provider at Freeport Campus, has been recognized as an associate supervisor of clinical pastoral education interns by the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care (CASC).