Education

Lack of information and misinformation create expectations that are increasingly difficult to meet.

Volunteers

There is a need to coordinate, support, train, and recruit pastoral volunteers.

Policy

There is not a clear and consistent diocesan policy on pastoral care for those in

·        Senior Living Centers ·        Assisted Living Centers ·        Skilled Nursing Facilities ·        Hospitals ·        Hospice ·        In-patient Treatment Centers

·        Out-patient Programs

Spiritual Care

There is a need for spiritual care in addition to meeting sacramental needs

Finance

There is declining financial support for hospital-based pastoral care and inadequate financial support for nursing home-based pastoral care.

Communication of Information

Parishes do not always know when Catholics have been admitted to nursing homes, hospice, and hospitals, especially through the emergency department.  Parishes rarely know when parishioners have been discharged from health care institutions.

End of Life Support

There is a need for support for staff, families and patients/residents dealing with "end of life issues" broadly construed.