|
The Department of Health Services defines health in its broadest sense, not simply as the absence of disease. Health is a state of well-being, a seamless whole involving mental, spiritual and physical health.
In keeping with this philosophy, the Division of Pastoral Care provides spiritual guidance at county facilities for patients, residents, inmates and their families. Pastoral Care provides referral services to the religious community when requested by patients and/or families. Pastoral Care services are arranged by contract with various religious denominations.
Catholic, protestant and Jewish chaplains fulfilled a number of responsibilities at Bergen Regional Medical Center, Bergen County Jail and the Bergen County Health Care Center. The chaplains worked with the bio-ethics and continuing quality improvement committees. They also explained the chaplains’ role in the hospital setting during monthly orientations for new hospital employees. All faith groups worked to recruit volunteers through church and community organizations.
|
|
|
|
During the holiday season, Catholic and Protestant churches of Bergen County, as well as the United Jewish Federation and local women’s clubs, donated over 1,800 gifts, enabling Pastoral Care to provide a gift to every patient at the medical center for Christmas and Hanukkah. Gifts were also distributed at Harrison House, Spring House and the Bergen County Senior Care Center. The donations enabled Pastoral Care to help stock patient floors with clothing for needy patients at the medical center.
Through the auspices of Pastoral Care, $863 raised by local churches and civic groups was donated to the hospital foundation for use by the Hair Care Program, which provides free haircuts and permanents to patients unable to afford this much-needed service.
Catholic Services
Services at the medical center included the weekly celebration of Mass, special liturgies, recitation of the rosary, weekly spiritual and prayer sessions, the Sacrament of the Sick, and daily Mass during Lent. The chaplain held spirituality groups on a weekly basis with patients in the psychiatric units and Addiction Treatment Unit. Memorial services were conducted for deceased patients.
At the Bergen County Jail, together with Food Services, special dinners were planned and served to inmates for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. The chaplains also worked with Food Services to provide meatless meals for prisoners during Lenten days of fasting and abstinence. Sacramental preparation and informational study is provided to any inmate upon request.
At the medical center, communion was distributed to 40,275 recipients, 808 were anointed and 252 special liturgies were held.
- 87 spirituality groups were held.
- 751 new individuals were visited, 408 were revisited and 6 referrals were made.
- 34 families received counseling.
- 43 days were set aside for the recitation of the Rosary.
- At the jail, 346 masses were held for the inmates with additional services for all major Catholic holy days.
- 58 new inmates received individual services and 17 were revisited.
- In commemoration of World AIDS Day, a special mass was held in conjunction with a display of the AIDS Quilt.
- The Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament was instituted and is now being held every Wednesday and Friday evening.
Jewish Services
Fifty worship services were held at the medical center and 12 at the jail. Special prayer services were held for the following Jewish festivals: Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, Hanukkah, Tu B’Shevat, Purim, Passover, Shavu’ot, and Tisha B’Av. Each group service included teaching of special holiday and Sabbath melodies by the rabbi and cantor to celebrate the festival. Appropriate refreshments were served after each service in honor of the festival. Forty-eight individual counseling sessions were held at the jail, and the following services were delivered at the medical center.
- 88 patients revisited group services at the medical center, 70 new patients attended.
- 131 patients received individual services at the medical center, 41 referrals were made.·
- 14 Bible studies were held at the medical center.
Islamic Services
The Muslim chaplain held weekly worship and Qur’anic studies. Ramadan was observed for one month, at which time special prayers were said and the breaking of the fast was held in group form. Major feasts were celebrated in February and special meals were served for both celebrations.
- 140 worship services were held with an attendance of 1,500.
- 360 individuals were counseled at the jail, 120 were revisited, 125 were new and 115 referrals were made.
- 140 group sessions were held with 2,160 in attendance.
- 100 Holy Qur’ans, 200 Muslim journals and 150 prayer pamphlets were distributed to the Islamic community.
- 140 Quar’anic studies were held with 1,500 attendees, including both men and women.
Protestant Services
The Protestant chaplain conducted Sunday and holiday worship services as follows: 160 at the medical center, 289 at the jail and 52 at the Bergen County Health Care Center in Rockleigh. Various pastors from the community and their congregants and choirs were invited to worship with residents. In addition, memorial and holiday services were held at the Bergen County Senior Care Center. Bibles in English and Spanish were distributed to inmates upon request, and a Pastoral Care assessment form and policies and procedures form were developed for inclusion in patient charts.·
- 88 fellowship groups were held at the medical center and 55 at the jail.
- 2,111 individuals were revisited at the medical center, 1,045 new patients were visited, and 76 referrals were made.
- 4,215 patients revisited group services at the medical center; 2,390 new patients attended.
- 2,917 group services were held at the jail, with 111 new inmates attending.
- 573 new inmates were counseled at the jail, 557 were revisited, and 125 referrals were made.
- 148 Bible study groups were held at the medical center, and 234 at the jail
|
|
