Chaplains for Physical Rehabilitation

Chaplains act as spiritual counselors to help patients and families through periods of crisis.

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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.

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