Experience in pastoral care for HIV-infected patients in hospital

Kadyshev Аlexey S.

The article examines some of the results of providing professional pastoral care to HIV-infected patients in a hospital setting. Attention is drawn to the differences between the work of priests with HIV-infected people in the hospital and at the parish. Attention is focused on the work of the Patronage Service of Sisters of Mercy. It is indicated that the main task of the implementation of nursing care for HIV-infected patients is the formation of patient adherence to the treatment prescribed by the doctor. The Sisterhood's records of patient requests for Church Sacraments serve as the primary source of information for evaluating pastoral work. The article provides data indicating an increase in the number of patients who sought spiritual help in connection with the intensification of pastoral work in the HIV treatment departments of the hospital. The results of an expert survey of medical and service personnel of the hospital, which confirmed the positive effect of pastoral care on patients, are presented. More than 60% of the interviewed experts spoke about the need for a pastoral service in a hospital.

Keywords:pastoral duty, spiritual care, HIV-infected people, hospital, patient, help, charity