During illness and hospitalization, all areas of life can be significantly affected. Because a hospital stay or visit can cause physical and emotional stress, Ridgeview’s chaplains are available to support patients and families of all faiths, whether you seek spiritual care, pastoral counseling or simply someone to listen to your concerns.

Our chaplains will respect your dignity and privacy, and will not impose their personal beliefs or religious practices. These caring listeners have been trained to assist with the special needs of hospital or hospice patients and their families. Our chaplains work with your entire health care team so that your spiritual needs—as well as your medical needs—will be addressed.

The chaplains and staff of Ridgeview’s Spiritual Care Services department are available to provide:

• A listening ear and an understanding heart if you want to express your feelings or thoughts;
• Compassion and companionship to help you face illness, injury or frightening life changes;
• Devotional or prayer visits and sacraments appropriate to your faith tradition;
• Confidential pastoral counseling or consultation to help you make decisions about treatments and/or how your experiences may impact your life or those you love;
• Assistance in contacting your clergy or spiritual leader;  Religious resources such as devotional materials, Bibles, prayer books, rosaries, etc.
• Prayer Request Box. A secured prayer request box and prayer request forms are available on a table outside the Ridgeview chapel entrance. Our chaplains will offer prayers for any requests, which are always kept in confidence.

Chaplain Support in Ridgeview's Hospice Program

A chaplain is part of the interdisciplinary care team in the Ridgeview Hospice Program. The chaplain will visit a hospice patient in the home, assisted-living facility, hospital or nursing home. The chaplain’s goal is to bring comfort, peace and hope into the lives of those dealing with the difficulties of terminal illness. Their intention is to help terminal patients understand that dying is not something to be feared and may, in fact, be a spiritual experience.

The hospice chaplain provides spiritual support and, when possible, works with the patient’s clergy leader or community of faith. The chaplain talks and listens to patients and their families, helping them to draw from their own spiritual resources. Always respecting the patient’s denominational or religious point of view, the chaplain may pray, read scripture or use devotional materials that are relevant to the particular person. When appropriate, the chaplain will connect a patient with a clergymember from the community. 

The hospice chaplain hopes to help the patient clarify his or her spiritual and religious beliefs, attempting to diminish concepts that may interfere with the dying process. Sometimes the chaplain helps the patient and family members find forgiveness and better understanding of each other; sometimes, the chaplain helps the patient find self-forgiveness. 

The chaplain is available to conduct bed-side prayer services, provide Communion or arrange for Sacrament of the Sick for Roman Catholic patients. Sometimes, the chaplain will conduct funerals or memorial services if a patient so desires or does not have ties to a particular clergymember.