HopeWest Chaplains Help Patients Find Strength Through Spiritual Support

Finding calm among the storm – HopeWest chaplains assist patients and their loved ones to find calm, hope, and strength through emotional and spiritual support while facing end-of-life challenges.

Chaplains, part of the larger hospice care team, listen to and guide individuals on their spiritual journey, by understanding the person’s beliefs, religious or not, and creating an atmosphere of peace and comfort.

“Spiritual health, distinct from religious health, comes from wherever people find consolation, joy, and love,” said Kevin Watt, a chaplain at HopeWest. “For some people, spiritual health does not come from their faith, but rather a love of nature, their connection to family and community, or their passion for music and art.”

As expert listeners with open hearts, chaplains establish trusted connections. Individuals are guided through emotional challenges related to each stage of serious illness or death as chaplains provide a secure, comforting space for them to share fears, regrets, and hopes. Having a deep understanding of the spiritual or religious needs of those they are caring for, as well as a willingness to provide comfort and support without judgment allows chaplains to meet people wherever they are in life’s journey.

“The answers sought by the people I serve are already inside them,” said Scott Hogue, a chaplain at HopeWest, “I assist the person to raise their answer to a place of recognition and strength.”

Support from a HopeWest chaplain is optional and tailored to each person’s needs. Chaplain support can look like leading prayers, offering counsel, addressing grief, or assisting with decision-making. Ultimately, hospice chaplains aim to bring calm amid life’s storms, exploring where patients and their loved ones find hope and strength.

Chaplains are part of the HopeWest care teams comprised of doctors, nurses, counselors, social workers, chaplains, nursing assistants, dietitians, and therapists who work with our patients and their families to design a plan of care that meets their unique needs. To learn more about HopeWest and what sets our care apart visit HopeWestCO.org/survey-results-awards/.