- Understanding your relative or friend's illness
- Having time for yourself in the day
- Managing your relative or friend's symptoms
- Help with financial, legal and work issues
- Providing personal care for your relative or friend
- Dealing with your feelings and worries
- Who to contact when you're concerned about your friend or relative
- Looking after your own health
- Equipment to help care for your relative or friend
- Beliefs or spiritual concerns
- Talking with your relative or friend about their illness
- Practical help in the home
- What to expect in the future when caring for a friend or relative
- Getting a break from caring overnight
- Young carers
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander carers
- LGBTIQ+ community
Beliefs or spiritual concerns
What does spirituality mean for you?
Spirituality can have different meanings for different people.
One understanding of spirituality considers it to be like a web of relationships – with people, places, beliefs, values and perhaps the sacred – that supports and nurtures us. Sometimes we might not be aware that it’s there, until a change or a crisis in life, such as caring for a loved one with a life-threatening illness, damages some important strands in that web. At such times carers might find themselves drawn to question their beliefs and seek a deeper understanding in the meaning of life and events.
Here are some useful information, resources and links to help you with your beliefs and spiritual concerns.
Palliative Care Program
Your Palliative Care team may;
- Refer you to the Palliative Care spiritual care worker
- Encourage you to have a support person
- Encourage you to seek support from your religious community
- Encourage you to have regular catch ups with close friends
- Further information on the Barwon Health Palliative Care Program
Helpful resources and links
Beliefnet
Beliefnet is a site about inspiration, spirituality and faith.
The ABCs of Spirituality
Spirituality and Health Magazine
The Spirituality and Health Magazine covers topics including faith, Eastern philosophy, meditation, mainstream religion, nutrition and wellness.
Reachout.com
Reachout.com has an article on understanding spirituality
Last Modified: Monday, 18 February 2019