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Cobb M

The dying soul. Spiritual care at the end of life

Open University Press, 2001

£21.99

 

Seven chapters discuss various aspects of this often ''vague'' and ''obscure'' term. Useful parameters are identified e.g. the spiritual versus the existential. Expressions of spirituality, including religious expression, are explored. The relationships of spiritual care to death, dying and palliative care are examined. The vexed question of who should provide spiritual care is also examined. Future directions for palliative care are considered, including the extent to which it should be a ''professional'' activity. The author is a Church of England chaplain and researcher. 

 

Dobson D

Inspirations. A personal collection of poems, proverbs and quotations

Runnymede, 1994

£7.95

 

A short series of inspirational readings for those in times of crisis. 

Frankl VE

Man''s search for meaning

Pocket Books, 1987

£7.99

 

The author describes his experiences in a concentration camp in Germany in the Second World War - he is a psychiatrist who later developed a therapy known as logotherapy. He describes this therapy and its similarities and differences to psychotherapy. This is a powerful book, which explores the meaning of suffering and the importance of finding meaning in the various events of life. 

Kearney M

A place of healing. Working with suffering in living and dying

Oxford University Press, 2000

£53.00

 

Via varied routes - such as depth psychology, the work of Greek physicians at the time of Hippocrates, working with nature and dreamwork - Michael Kearney, a doctor in palliative medicine, writes a book, which is part antidote to the ''medicalisation'' of palliative care, part affirmation of the significance of psychosocial care in this discipline. Many case histories are given, and workshops for practitioners involved in palliative care in using dreamwork are outlined. The vital importance of the health professional being in touch with her/his own feelings as they deal with people close to death lies at the core of the book.

Kushner HS

When bad things happen to good people

Pan, 1981

£6.99

 

The writer is an American rabbi who writes in an easy-to-read manner of how to deal with the very difficult problem of suffering: ''why do bad things happen to good people?''

He writes from a Jewish-Christian perspective - he does not have a full answer to this question but gives examples of how one can deal positively with great problems in an imperfect world. First published in 1981, it is almost a classic text in this area. 

Lunn L

Rage on!

Contact 1995, no 116 1995

£0.30

 

This is a spiritual, literary and religious understanding of rightful anger, in the face of illness and death. 

Lunn L

Healing and dying

Health and Healing 1996, no 40, p1-2

£0.20

 

A brief account of a service of healing for patients at St Christopher''s Hospice. The writer, a former chaplain at St Christopher''s, distinguishes between healing and cure. Patients have found healing helpful but staff were initially doubtful of its usefulness because they thought patients would think it was about cures and miracles. 

Lunn L

Having no answer

In: Saunders C (Ed) Hospice and palliative care, an interdisciplinary approach London:Edward Arnold, 1990 p85-92

£0.50

 

A former Chaplain at St Christopher’s Hospice, Lunn writes ‘having no solution is not the same as having no response’. In his article he looks at how even when we have no answer to questions posed towards the end of life, there is something that can be done such as counselling, being there or helping a spiritual connection. Thus questions such as “why me?” and “is there a heaven and a hell?” can be talked about, even if not answered with finality.

MacLeod R (ed)

Snapshots on the journey through death and remembrance

Steele Roberts, 2002

£12.50

 

This is an interesting selection of poetry compiled by the Medical Director of Mary Potter Hospice in New Zealand.  There is an introduction to each of the themes: 1) approaching death 2) time of death 3) mourning and remembrance 4) growing through the grief. There are about 100 poems.  Many are well known; 10% are written by New Zealanders.   Rod MacLeod has also written some poetry himself - in particular I liked one where he describes sitting with a patient as he dies.

Murray D

Faith in hospices. Spiritual care and the end of life

SPCK, 2002

£10.99

 

This book is the culmination of working for over 20 years as a hospice chaplain in Scotland. It has a Christian orientation but goes beyond this to include spirituality issues generally. It is well ordered with chapters on hospice as church, hospice as home, hospice as school (as a place of education for professionals), hospice as laboratory, hospice as problem. 

Rumbold B

Spirituality and palliative care.  Social and pastoral perspectives

Oxford University Press, 2002

£14.95

 

Seven of the twelve contributors to this book have specific pastoral and spiritual care experience in Australia, but amongst the other contributors are a doctor, a sociologist, a lecturer in health studies, a philosopher and an artist.  A chapter on research on spiritual care emphasises the importance of innovative qualitative research to ensure its importance is maintained as a vital aspect of palliative care.

 

Another major concern in the book is the fact that palliative care has become more clinical in its overall approach as it needs to remain mainstream to retain funding.  Yet, for instance, clinical care has a focus on demonstrable outcomes and this is an approach which is incompatible with spirituality, an area of life one cannot completely control - where incompleteness and contradiction has also to be recognised.  This is especially the case in palliative care where people are facing death.  The editor has post-graduate qualifications in solid-state physics, pastoral theology and health sociology and has published in all three fields.  It is not therefore surprising that the book has many, varied and rich perspectives.

Saunders C

Beyond the horizon: a search for meaning in suffering

DLT, 1990

£6.95

 

A collection of readings, many within the Christian tradition, but also covering famous writers, poets and personal accounts of finding meaning in suffering. The book is divided into eight sections; among them ''search for meaning'', ''dying'', ''left behind'', ''anger, guilt and forgiveness'', and ''get going''. There are readings here that will speak to all those who read the book, whether as a patient or as a carer. 

Spufford M

Celebration

Mowbray, 1996

£11.99

 

This book explores how one can extricate meaning from physical pain - one''s own as well as that of one''s children. She does so in the context of difficult personal experience, as a Christian and an anthropologist. 

Stanworth R

Attention: a potential vehicle for spiritual care

Journal of Palliative Care, 2002 v18 no3 p192-195

£0.40

 

This article explores how attention - "being there", deep listening, ordinary actions performed with care - has the potential to meet spiritual needs, whilst also acknowledging its limitations.

Stanworth R

Recognizing spiritual needs in people who are dying

Oxford University Press, 2003

£27.50

 

"It may sound silly but…" "on one level it was a silly thing to do…" "I know you''ll think I''m mad but…" Here are three quotations from a book which explores many dimensions of spiritual need at the end of life through the eyes of patients. As the author says, it is often easier to recognise than to explain spiritual issues, and she demonstrates how often patients use a non-religious "language of spirit" to express ultimate concerns. As a participant observer on a ward at St Christopher''s Hospice, and through interviewing 25 people aware of their imminent death, she explains how spiritual language works and what terminally ill people use it to say - often in metaphors that disclose, mediate and structure their reality.

 

A framework for considering spiritual issues is presented. Suggestions on service improvements are made. The relationship of carer and cared-for is explored. The author considers more research is necessary on the subject but there are/will never be ''final answers''.

Vanier J

Seeing beyond depression

SPCK, 2001

£4.99

 

This is not specifically about palliative care but offers an approach to dealing with everyone''s own times of dejection and depression.  Useful for those receiving palliative care as well as those providing it.

Woolgar J

A reflection on spirituality in palliative care

St Christopher''s Hospice, 2002

£1.00

 

This case study highlights the close interplay between the provision of symptom control and assisting a patient to deal with the psychological, psychosocial, and spiritual issues near end of life. The patient''s husband was a doctor and found it difficult to be in touch with his wife''s spiritual needs. A home care clinical nurse specialist outlines the development and resolution of the issues involved. Winner of the Glynn Harris Award Cancer Care, 2002.

For further information and details please contact the Librarian, St Christopher''s Hospice

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