The Fifth Commandment provides the title of this PBS series on caregiving, “And Thou Shalt Honor…,” and represents how honoring our parents is at the root of many religious traditions. Furthermore, spirituality and religious belief have long been known to play important roles in health and coping.

Today, it is commonplace for physicians, nurses and caregiving facilities and agencies to provide religious and non-denominational spiritual support for both care consumers and caregivers.

Spirit that honors

Spirituality defines the relationship between the care consumer and the caregiver. For care consumers, spiritual and emotional strength provides dignity in difficult situations that can be marked by physical and mental frailty. For caregivers, spirituality can provide a meaningful bridge to the care consumer and bring purpose and conviction to efforts that are often exhausting and frustrating. Staying spiritually strong honors the caregiving relationship.

Spiritual caregiving is important for the following reasons:

• Spiritual strength can comfort both the care consumer and caregiver
• Shared moments of spirituality provide an important (even if unspoken) connection between caregiver and care consumer
• Spiritual weakness and isolation can hasten caregiver depression and burnout.

Spiritual caregiving in practice

Spiritual experiences, in addition to religious services, can be a source of strength and connection between care consumer and caregiver. Some examples include:

Pastor Lois Knutson greets parishoner

• Receive visits from clergy or lay ministers
• Read passages from religious texts
• Pray together
• Listen to favorite music or sing favorite songs
• Continue family rituals, such as holiday meals at home
• Witness the beauty of nature, such as a sunrise or sunset, together

Families typically establish patterns and traditions of behavior, ranging from Thanksgiving dinner to morning walks to crossword puzzles. Some families may treasure large get-togethers; others may prize quiet moments. Maintaining such seasonal and “everyday” traditions is also a spiritual aspect of caregiving.