Assessing and Responding to the Spiritual Needs of Seriously Ill Children and Their Caregivers

How do clinicians care for their patient’s whole person–physical, emotional, social, spiritual–and their caregivers? If illness is seen as impacting not only the body but also the spirit, then spirituality may be regarded as a fundamental element of wellness and healing. Incorporating a response to the spiritual needs of a child and their caregivers can be a meaningful aspect of family-centered, “palliative aware” care. This role need not only fall to chaplains.