Chaplains for Physical Rehabilitation

Chaplains serve in many hospital settings. And some are assigned to rehabilitation units. They act as spiritual counselors to help patients, families, and the health care staff members:

• Through periods of crisis.
• Reaffirm their spiritual beliefs.
• Maintain or establish relationships with a church or house of worship.
• Make daily rounds. They offer on-call pastoral services 24 hours a day.

Chaplains may be ordained ministers or priests. They may have attended a chaplaincy or pastoral care program through a university or hospital.

Rehabilitation focuses on the whole person (physical, emotional, social, and spiritual). Because of this, the chaplain often plays a special part in helping a person with a disability cope and recover. When a hospital or rehab center does not have a chaplain, the patient's own clergy or spiritual advisor often performs these functions.