To exist – to relate – to speak to God

Pastoral care in retirement and nursing homes House St. Josef am Inn, Innsbruck

Andreas Geisler

Senioren- und Pflegeheim Haus St. Josef am Inn, Innsbruck (Seelsorger)

Abstract

The dignity of human beings in old age determines pastoral care in retirement homes. Christian pastoral care considers men and women in their relationship to God, to their fellow human beings, to their environment and to themselves. In these relationships dignity is unconditionally attributed to every person. It is therefore fundamental for every pastor and pastoral caregiver to be rooted in this faith and to experience it in concrete practice as a meaningful and reliable foundation. Pastoral care in a retirement home is a healing one and puts the whole person at the centre. The pastoral caregivers at the retirement home “St. Josef am Inn” in Innsbruck, Austria, understand themselves as bridge builders between the elderly home residents, their relatives, and the staff of the home. They emphasize the concrete moment of authentic encounter and offer themselves as conversation partners. It is important to appreciate each individual’s life-story, avoiding premature judgements. Furthermore, they look at spiritual sources together with the elderly people. Their spiritual needs are taken seriously and spiritual accompaniment is offered in form of conversation, prayer, divine services, sacraments, and consoling rites. Pastoral care as integral accompaniment means also to assist a person at the end of their life. Elderly home residents should feel protected, carried, and loved in the process of dying. Pastoral care in retirement homes, finally, has to take care also of the different professional groups who work there, always considering joys and distress, needs and possible overload of the employees. Summarizing, pastoral care in retirement homes stands up for friendly atmosphere, Christians values and good interpersonal relationships. It is an indispensable contributor to a high quality of care in senior-citizens homes.

Keywords:

Pastoral care in retirement homes spiritual accompaniment of elderly people human dignity of old people consoling rites for old people accompaniment of dying persons professional groups in retirement homes

Buber, M. 1994. Das Dialogische Prinzip. Ich und Du – Zwiesprache – Die Frage nach den Einzelnen – Elemente des Zwischenmenschlichen – Zur Geschichte des dialogischen Prinzips, Gerlingen.
  Google Scholar

Buber, M. 1983. Ich und Du, Heidelberg.
  Google Scholar

Gutl, M. 2014. In vielen Herzen verankert. Ausgewählte Texte, Graz u.a.
  Google Scholar

Ernsperger, B. 1984. Praxis der Seelsorge und Praxis des Lernens, Lebendige Seelsorge 35, 325–333.
  Google Scholar

Kast, V. 1985. Trauern – Phasen und Chancen des psychischen Prozesses, Stuttgart.
  Google Scholar

Kaufmann, F.-X. 2011. Kirchenkrise: Wie überlebt das Christentum, Freiburg im Br. u.a.
  Google Scholar

Lies, L. 1996. Eucharistie in ökumenischer Verantwortung, Graz u.a.
  Google Scholar

Mead, G. 1980. Identität und Gesellschaft aus der Sicht des Sozialbehaviorismus, Frankfurt.
  Google Scholar

Pera, H. 1997. Sterbende verstehen. Ein Leitfaden zur Sterbebegleitung, Freiburg im Br. u.a.
  Google Scholar

Rahner, K. 1968. Über die Einheit von Gottes und Nächstenliebe, in: ders., Schriften zur Theologie, Bd. VI, Neuere Schriften, Zürich – Köln.
  Google Scholar

Specht-Tomann M., Tropper D. 2001. Zeit des Abschieds. Sterbe- und Trauerbegleitung aus der Hospizbewegung, Königsfurt.
  Google Scholar


Published
2019-01-09

Cited by

Geisler, A. (2019). To exist – to relate – to speak to God: Pastoral care in retirement and nursing homes House St. Josef am Inn, Innsbruck. Family Forum, 8, 83–100. https://doi.org/10.25167/FF/2018/83-100

Authors

Andreas Geisler 

MA – Mag. theol., Seelsorger im Pflege- und Seniorenheim „Haus St. Josef am Inn“ in Innsbruck, Österreich.



Statistics

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.