Cultural and spiritual advisors are individuals chosen by you to provide emotional support and comfort during health crises and at the end of life.
Tips & Links
Cultural or spiritual advisor can provide emotional support and guidance and help with navigating complex feelings and challenges that arise from a life-changing diagnosis. They can offer comfort, perspective, and a sense of connection, helping to integrate personal beliefs and values into the healing process.
Learn More
- Know that advisors who are well-versed in various cultural and spiritual traditions can provide insights into how different beliefs and practices may influence a person’s approach to health and end-of-life decisions.
- Learn about spiritual health and wellness from Healthlink BC.
- If you are in a hospital setting, know that you can ask if a cultural or spiritual advisor that meets your traditions is available for a visit or ceremony.
- Ensure you have identified who your cultural and spiritual advisors are in your care partners list and how they can help health care providers and family members ensure you receive respectful and appropriate care that aligns with your values and beliefs.
Things You Can Do
- Find space and opportunity to incorporate meaningful cultural and spiritual rituals or practices into your health care journey and end-of-life care.
- Learn about how palliative care includes sources of support to meet your emotional, spiritual, and social needs from the BC Centre for-Palliative Care.
- Seek meaningful guidance from those you trust to support your end of life care and decisions as outlined by Healthlink BC.
- Explore the many resources for end-of-life support provided by Dying with Dignity Canada.
- Think about and talk with those you trust about your decisions for your end-of-life care.
Add your Cultural Spiritual Advisor to your My Health Care & Business Professionals PDF found in My People. List their contact information and any questions you have. Save digital and print copies for easy access. Consider using the Mywell Health activities in My End of Life Decisions to start the discussions.