Hospice patients are often offered “spiritual care” as one part of their treatment. This may be simply talks about nature, or more traditional discussions with representatives of religious organizations.

In this important facet of hospice care, the hospice's nursing staff plays a key intermediary role, since they work closely with the patients and have a first-hand knowledge of their emotional and spiritual needs. Hospice volunteers are also vital in this area.

A series of talks about this topic were recently held at The Nippon Foundation’s headquarters in central Tokyo, under the auspices of the foundation’s Hospice Research Committee, which sponsors seminars for hospice nurses, given by noted experts.

Japanese volunteers cheerfully give hospice patients
a happily received foot massage
(Photo: National Council of Social Service, Singapore)

Over 120 hospice nurses gathered for the two-day seminar on spiritual care.

The hospice seminars are meant to provide knowledge of the three pillars of hospice work: 1) facilities, 2) trained human resources, and 3) general education about the field.

To date over 2,000 nurses have been certified around the country in fundamental hospice care principles. This is being done in cooperation with the Japan Nursing Association and St Luke’s College of Nursing.

The recent spiritual care seminars included lectures by experts in hospice work, group work in which participants shared experiences, and discussions of how to relieve the mental suffering of terminally ill patients and their families.

A major function of hospice nurses’ work with terminally ill patients is this psychological and emotional care, and nurses use their training to relieve the emotional anguish at this time in the patient’s life. They also attempt to emphasize what choices the patient can take to gain psychological release from suffering, and what emotional happiness can still be achieved with the time they have remaining.

This is where “spiritual care” can make an important contribution, including the massaging of feet.

The Nippon Foundation’s Hospice Research Committee was founded in 1996 with the cooperation of Dr Shigeaki Hinohara, president of St. Luke’s International Hospital in Tokyo.