Geriatric Mental Health Disaster and Emergency Preparedness

Chapter 12 Complementary and Alternative Approaches 233
KEY PRINCIPLES OF DISASTER SPIRITUAL CARE
Table 12.1
1. Basic needs come fi rst. Particularly in the immediate hours and days
after a disaster, before helping with the spiritual needs of those
affected, assess that the person you were working with is not hungry,
has access to and has taken any medications that he or she normally
requires, and has a safe place to sleep. Most people are unable to
focus on spiritual issues when their basic physical needs are in doubt.
2. Do no harm.
3. Each person you work with is unquie and holy.
4. Do not proselytize, evangelize, exploit, or take advantage of those
affected by a disaster, and don’t allow others to do so.
5. Respect the spiritual, religious, and cultural diversity of those you are
working with—ask questions about things you do not understand.
6. Presence —meet the person you are working with wherever they may be
in their spiritual and religious life. Accept them as they are and where
they are.
7. Help victims and survivors tell their stories.
8. Be aware of confi dentiality.
9. Make neither promises nor anything that even sounds like a promise.
10. Grief, both short- and long-term, looks different in different cultures
and religions—ask before you assume.
11. Be sensitive to language barriers. Remember that it is often diffi cult to
express yourself effectively in a second language. If possible, provide
spiritual care in the person’s native language by fi nding a spiritual
care provider who speaks that language. Allow the person or family
you are working with to choose their own translator. Ideally, do not use
children as interpreters, though it is sometimes necessary to do so.
12. Remember when working with immigrants that both legal and illegal
immigrants often fear or distrust the government due to their life
circumstances.
13. Practice active listening—listen with your ears, eyes, and heart. Do far
less talking than you do listening. Never respond with, “I know how
you feel,” or “You think that is bad, let me tell you my story.”
Excerpt is from Disaster Spiritual Care: Practical Clergy Responses to Community, Regional,
and National Tragedy by Stephen B. Roberts and Willard W. C. Ashley, 2008, Woodstock,
VT: Skylight Paths Publishing. Copyright © 2008 by Skylight Paths Publishing, http://
www.skylightpaths.com. Reprinted with permission.
tices have been tested with nursing home and assisted-living residents
and have been found to be useful and effective for sparking spiritual practices
with older persons. Although they have not been tested with disaster
victims, the practices recommended for faith, hope, compassion, meaning,