Pastoral care in home health: key issues

Many patients discharged from the hospital undergo months and even years of isolation from pastoral support. Parish pastoral ministries for discharged patients often are inadequate, and most sick persons, especially the elderly, are reluctant to contact their pastor for support while homebound. Thus the need for pastoral services in home health care is urgent. But the problems of patients and care givers in home health differ in many ways from problems in the hospital or the long-term care facility. Distinctive strategies must be developed for addressing key issues.