Rabbi Rick Kline says he’s found his dream job working as the chaplain at Banff Mineral Springs Hospital.
It’s a perfect role because it integrates the “full gamut” of working with acute care patients, including those coping with illness, at end of life or with mental health needs, supporting residents of the long-term care facility and being there for staff, says Rick, who took on the position two days a week in January 2021.
He also says he’s honoured to be the first rabbi to serve as chaplain/spiritual health practitioner at a Covenant Health facility.
“We’re part of that Abrahamic faith. Whether it’s Christian, Muslim or Jewish, we have a common heritage, and to be able to work together in this fashion, to assist people in their spiritual journeys and with their emotional health, it’s huge.”
Along with spending time with patients, residents and family members, Rick offers a weekly interfaith worship service to long-term care residents focusing on topics such as joy, love and grief.
He looks forward to evolving his role post-pandemic by offering more programming, for example, meditation, labyrinth walks and yoga sessions, to help people find balance. And he hopes to provide more avenues for people “to express themselves, feel cared for and heard.”
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