Recognizing Spiritual Needs in People Who Are Dying

This book aims to clarify current thinking about the spirituality of terminally ill patients to ensure greater compassion and sensitivity in meeting their spiritual needs. Listening carefully to patients at the end of life is at the heart of good palliative care and this book provides a means of recognising and talking about spiritual needs even when religious language is not used. The author refers to this as a language of spirit. The book is based on interviews with patients who are dying and the language they use to describe their experiences. It deals with death, dying, the experiences of patients and the relief of spiritual pain by looking closely at patient stories, drawings and behavior.
Aimed primarily at palliative care specialists and specialist nurses, this book will also appeal to social workers, health care chaplains, pastoral support workers, theologists and psychotherapists.