Pastoral Care is central to the mission and core values of Saint John of God Menni Services. There is a pastoral dimension to all our activities in addition to the specialist services provided through our Chaplaincy Department.
One focus area for our Pastoral Care Department is End of Life Care and issues. “How we deal with death and dying has been described as a measure of our humanity. We should treat our going out with the same respect and awe that we attach to our coming in, our birth. Both occasions are momentous-both are part of the life cycle” (Perspectives on End of Life Report, 2009, Irish Hospice Foundation)
The above quote comes from the Irish Hospice Foundation who have been doing a lot of work in promoting End of Life Care. As part of End of Life Care the Department of Health has just published a draft general scheme for Advance Healthcare Directives which will be included in the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Bill 2013. This means that Advance Healthcare Directives are currently recognised under common law. So if you prepare one, they are recognised by the courts. But there was no legislation governing them. Until now. The government proposes to bring in a law to govern Advance Healthcare Directive. It will be introduced in the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Bill 2013. (more information on this can be found at, www.dohc.ie/consultations/open/AHDs/Draft_General_Scheme_AHDs.pdf?direct=1)
This move will promote the autonomy of a person to have their wished noted. As part of this the area of End of Life Care will also be noted if the person wishes. In line with all these developments here in Menni the Chaplain and the Speech and Language department have developed an End of Life Form where the men and women attending our service can have their wishes for End of Life noted if they wish to.
The Irish Hospice Foundation has developed a form called “Think Ahead” which deals with Advanced Care Directives and the Chaplain has linked in with them in relation to their form and how it can be adapted for the Intellectual Disability Sector. This is in conjunction with the Dublin Mid-Lenister group working on an End of Life Care Pathway for the Intellectual Disability Sector.
The Chaplain in Menni meets with anyone expressing a wish to fill out the form and supports them in doing this. Going forward the Chaplain will run groups on this topic and from this the men and women can make an informed choice around the form (weather to fill out one or not) and also work in liaison with families and key workers.
Staff will be supported in the area of End of Life by taking part in the Final Journeys Programme (a programme developed by the Irish Hospice Foundation). To date the men and women who have been supported in filling out this form have found it very helpful.
