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Spiritual Care Program

At Stevenson Memorial Hospital, care goes beyond the physical. Our Spiritual Care Program supports patients, families, and staff during challenging times by offering compassion, presence, and meaningful connection.

What Is Spiritual Care?

The Spiritual Care team provides emotional and spiritual support to help individuals connect with what matters most to them—sources of strength, hope, meaning, and comfort—regardless of faith, belief, or spiritual background.
Spirituality is an often-overlooked aspect of well-being in healthcare. Research shows that unmet spiritual needs can impact patient satisfaction, quality of life, emotional well-being, and feelings of peace. Our program helps address these needs through respectful, non-judgmental support.

Who We Are

The Spiritual Care Program is coordinated by:
  • Dedee Fliestra, Psychotherapist, Spiritual Care Program Coordinator
  • Martha Whelton, Spiritual Care Program Assistant Coordinator
  • Carla Beckett, SMH Auxiliary, Spiritual Care Program Administrative Support
The team is made up of trained volunteers from local faith communities who provide care to individuals of all faiths - or no faith at all.

 

 How We Support Patients and Families

The Spiritual Care team offers:
  • One-on-one support for patients and families experiencing loneliness, emotional distress, new diagnoses or prognoses, treatment decisions, grief, loss, or end-of-life concerns
  • Support with existential questions such as meaning, purpose, suffering, forgiveness, and reconciliation
  • Accompaniment and presence at end of life
  • Prayer facilitation, sacred rituals, and connection with community faith leaders when requested

Supporting Hospital Staff

Spiritual care is also available to staff. The team can provide:
  • One-on-one support or group debriefs following difficult situations
  • Assistance when patients are struggling to engage with care plans or health recommendations

Training and Safety

All Spiritual Care team members:
  • Complete required prerequisites, including a police/background check
  • Receive spiritual care training specific to healthcare settings
  • Complete hospital safety training, including infection prevention protocols
  • Participate in ongoing monthly and annual education

How to Access Spiritual Care

If you believe a patient, family member, or staff member would benefit from spiritual care, please contact:

 

For Referrals:
Dedee Flietstra | Psychotherapist & Spiritual Care Program Coordinator | 705-207-0126

For General Inquiries:
Martha Whelton | Spiritual Care Program Assistant Coordinator | 705-440-7175

For Volunteer Inquiries:
Carla Beckett | Spiritual Care Program Admin Assistant | 705-440-7701 | beckettcarla@gmail.com

 


Become a Member of the Spiritual Care Team:

Community members interested in volunteering with the Spiritual Care Program are encouraged to reach out to learn more about training requirements and opportunities to support patients, families, and staff at Stevenson Memorial Hospital. 

Ideal volunteers must have:
  • Strong Spiritual Maturity - with life experience, able to relate to the patient's circumstances.
  • Written endorsement by a local faith leader that they are regular attendees of their local faith community and that they are members in good standing.
  • Understanding that ongoing training is required.
  • Understanding of time commitment and dedication to the program.
  • Some experience working with vulnerable and sensitive individuals.
  • Able to comply with the entry requirements into the Hospital Auxiliary for Spiritual Care (vaccinations, etc.).

Additionally, initial and ongoing training is supported by the coordinator and psychotherapist who works with the volunteers to provide training in mental health issues and awareness specifically. Volunteers should also be excellent listeners, compassionate, comfortable around death and dying, and provide a calming presence to those around them. 

The role of the Spiritual Care Team does not involve the promotion of any specific religion or belief. Their primary function is to provide attentive listening, spiritual support, and visitor advocacy. 

For more information or to inquire about becoming a volunteer on the Spiritual Care Team, please contact Carla Beckett, Spiritual Care Program Admin Assistant at beckettcarla@gmail.com.