How do we go about caring?

In the previous post we spoke about Christian actions in caring for at-risk people. In this post we will be providing examples of practical actions.

We can

1) Provide spiritual, emotional intellectual and physical support for the sufferer and for carers, who may be themselves 'fellow sufferers'.

2) Help to patients and carers in defining their own needs.

3) Emphasise that a relationship is being developed by the patient, the carer, medical professionals and God. This relationship is developed in the positive context of Christian HOPE. The Church can and should be taking this as a challenge since it is a matter of 'coming alongside to help'. 'Paraclete' (one called alongside to help) is the word for, and the work of, the 'Spirit of God'. 'Bear ye one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ'. (Galatians 6:2).

4) Provide consistent and practical support for care establishments.

5) Facilitate the extension of the care principles applied in specialised contexts to general hospital and home care and practice. Hospices and specialist care establishments are only part of the answer.

6) Provide regular visiting and supporting the terminally ill or disabled in their homes or in hospital and meeting their specific needs as they become apparent. This si clearly as relevant for the spiritual needs of people in serious or terminal illness is as essential as the physical ministrations of medical or nursing professionals.

7) Make use of Christian 'homes'. The Lord commended this to His followers with the words 'I was a stranger and you took me in'. as well as 'I was sick and you visited me'. The CARE Home programme addresses rthis concept and relief has been given sometimes to terminally ill people themselves, but, more often, to their carers who are in need of respite. The Good Samaritan is a firther example of someone who while he did not use hos own home to receive the injured man, did apply first aid and paid the hotel charges and the treatment costs.

8) Campaign and motivate those in local and national government to improve resources; to stimulate professional bodies and organisations to take an interest in symptom relief as much as in cure; and to demand a positive alternative to the so-called 'easy option' of euthanasia, 'masterly inactivity', or therapeutic nihilism.


Credits
The photograph of the Good samaritan's stained glass window was taken by Lawrence OP.






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