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End of life care Resources

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Coping with Religious Coping

Primary Author: Kyle B. Brothers, Vanderbilt Children's Hospital

This opinion piece was published in the October 2009 issue of Virtual Mentor, the American Medical Association's online ethics journal. In it Dr. Brothers discusses the The Coping with Cancer Study by Phelps et al., which found that "those patients who reported using positive religious coping methods on a survey instrument were significantly more likely than others to have undergone invasive life support at the end of their lives and to have died in intensive care units."

Dr. Brothers looks at some "limitations of survey-gathered empirical data in describing complex associations between beliefs and end-of-life medical behavior" and concludes that physicians should "develop comfort and confidence in discussing religious beliefs and experiences with patients, propose only reasonable interventions that are medically indicated," and be present even when procedures are not needed.

Date Last Modified 10/01/2009 Article

End-of-Life Care Practitioner Program

Primary Author: Metta Institute

This is a comprehensive one-year course that includes thematic group sessions (see syllabus), individual faculty mentoring, field visits, independent study, journaling, and supervised fieldwork with the dying in the participant's local community.

The "course is designed to provide essential clinical competencies, strengthen individual capacity for compassionate service, and enhance spiritual development". Healthcare professionals (including nurses, physicians, social workers), educators, psychotherapists, clergy, or chaplains, and hospice professionals are encouraged to apply.

Date Last Modified 08/24/2009 Continuing Education course

The Unbroken Circle

Primary Author: James L. Brooks, M.Div., Duke University Institute on Care at the End of Life

This is already listed on your SOERCE page.

Date Last Modified 03/31/2009 Book

The Unbroken Circle: A Toolkit for Congregations Around Illness, End of Life, and Grief

Primary Author: James L Brooks, Duke University

The Unbroken Circle: A Toolkit for Congregations Around Illness, End of Life, and Grief is a new resource filled with practical tools and guidance to help congregations care for people facing illness, dying and bereavement. Developed by the Duke Institute on Care at the End of Life and written by Rev. James L. Brooks, it provides clergy, lay leaders, parish nurses and chaplains with an inspiring vision, easy-to-use tools, specific tips, and hundreds of additional resources.

The Toolkit starts with a call to action and provides templates for congregations to plan a discussion of these issues. It also includes guidelines for support groups, information on how to offer spiritual support to families, and outlines for educational programs and liturgical services. The Toolkit is designed to be in sync with the self-organization of congregations, including organizing illness, death, and grief information specifically geared towards adult and child education, congregational care, and worship, facility, and clergy leadership.

Published in the summer of 2009, The Unbroken Circle has been embraced by congregationally-based clergy and nurses, chaplains in health care settings, educators in seminaries and clinical pastoral education programs, and students interested in spiritual dimensions of caring for those with advanced illness.

Date Last Modified 03/31/2009 Manual/guide, Book, On-the-job tool

Art of Ascension

Primary Author: Eileen Dunn, warmy eileen

Every death is unique. While the emotional and spiritual needs of the families undergoing this process are undoubtedly complex, the language of energy helps to bring a universal understanding to the sacred process of dying. Guided by a map of the chakras, you will learn to recognize the physical stages of a spiritual transition, establishing the connection between the family and the dying individual. Through the complementary tools of massage, aromatherapy, music, and visualization, you create a sacred space for the dying.

Through self-reflection, the reader begins to explore his or her own inner world and beliefs. As healers, we are truly sacred messengers, journeying with our patients between the earthly and spiritual realms.

Date Last Modified 01/31/2009 Continuing Education course, Course curriculum