Care Ministry Program
Are you looking for ways to better support your community's needs?
As a religious leader, ensuring the well-being of a community goes beyond spiritual guidance. Elder care, chronic illness and health care choices are everyday challenges for many in communities. Some individuals dealing with health issues might not attend services often, leading to a disconnect.
Compassus’ care ministry program, led by dedicated chaplains, aims to bridge this gap. Our team provides resources and support to help religious leaders stay connected and serve this population of the community more effectively.
Real stories of impact
An older woman was unable to care for herself and remained bedridden for weeks. A vigilant parish nurse intervened, leading her to seek medical help. It was discovered that the woman stopped taking a crucial thyroid medication. Misunderstanding a medical condition is a common occurrence. Approximately 50% of people do not adhere to their prescribed medication regimen, highlighting the need for awareness and education.*
Through our complimentary care ministry training sessions, our chaplains:
- Help religious organization members understand medication organization methods.
- Raise awareness about Social Determinants of Health (SDOH), which can include living environment issues, access to healthy food and health care access.
- Guide leaders and community members in having crucial ‘goals of care’ conversations with loved ones, identifying their wishes for medical care, hopes and concerns to ensure care aligns with their values and goals.
Compassus is committed to community stewardship and advancing the well-being of those in need and honoring quality of life.
Contact your local chaplain today to discover how Compassus’ care ministry program can empower you to better support the diverse health needs of your community.
Six Training Sessions
People and relationships
- Build community support for the care ministry program.
- Identify community leaders to support implementation.
Comfort
- Knowledge and understanding of an individual’s health care needs.
- Examples of medication organization.
- Medication management methods.
- Discontinued medication storage and disposal.
 Safety
- Identification and reduction of possible risks in the home.
- Safe home environment recommendations.
Quality of life
- How to approach open and honest discussions with a loved one about their wishes for medical care, their hopes and fears and guiding their care journey in way that aligns with what truly matters the most to them in an uncertain time.
- Social determinants of health identification – outlining the process of recognizing and understanding non-medical factors in everyday life that influence health outcomes (socioeconomic status, access to healthy food, access to health care, personal relationships, etc.)
- Emotional care recommendations considering a chronic illness.
 Caregiver fatigue
- Guidance to help patient’s family/caregivers identify and address their own care needs.
- Fostering well-being and building resilience throughout the caregiving journey.
Community resources
- Education on community resources for community members.
- These services can range from health care, mental health, transportation, financial assistance, meal delivery, support groups, social services, abuse support and more.
*Milwaukee Journal Sentinel December 2022 article
