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Spiritual Care at Celia's House
Spiritual care is a compassionate, person-centered practice that respects an individual's beliefs and values, whether religious or non-religious. It includes active listening, prayer, meditation, connection with nature, and may involve conversations with a chaplain or faith leader. It is an ongoing aspect of Celia’s House culture and is recognized in October during national Spiritual Care Week.
Our spiritual care team includes Chaplain Khaliqa Baqi, and trained volunteers who respect diverse beliefs and tailor support to each resident’s needs. Khaliqa explained, “The presence of spiritual care offers both residents and their loved ones a reminder that they are not alone during the mystery of dying and grief. Often, residents relax when someone is simply with them without an agenda—listening deeply, honoring their stories, and allowing their beliefs, hopes, fears, and feelings to guide the conversation. Families have told me that having chaplain support gives them ‘permission to just be’ with their loved one, without having to find all the right words.”
A grateful family member shared, “My parents were married for 75 years. Our mom was cared for at Celia’s House in the spring, followed by our dad in the summer. It was a very emotional time, but special, to have our dad spend time with his wife at her bedside before she died. A few months later, he received the same loving end-of-life care. After they died, Celia’s House spiritual care team held a ceremony to honor both of them. It was especially meaningful because it was what our family chose to have as their service. It gave us closure, and Khaliqa sang or read a line from each of our parents’ favorite songs. The ceremonies were personal, and the staff and volunteers went out of their way to honor them so beautifully.”
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