Faith Matters - Pastoral Care - In Spite of Covid

One family in the western German town Duisburg had an especially painful experience. Eighty-three-year-old Annemarie Hucks was admitted to an Intensive Care Unit with blood poisoning. She required breathing support. Then hospital visits were banned. Family members and clergy were unable to see her. The elderly patient was hearing-impaired; she couldn’t even use a phone. After seven weeks’ isolation she died — alone. For her husband and children even the funeral provided little comfort. Covid restrictions meant that no more than twelve mourners were allowed to attend. The local pastor decided that ways must be found to avoid such sad situations in future. Now some hospitals are making exceptions. Applying strict protective measures, they permit, often at short notice, a final visit from a pastor. The Conference of Hospital Chaplains in the German Evangelical Church say their members are prepared to be available to the dying in their final hour — in spite of the risk of infection. The Conference says these pastors have sufficient experience dealing with infectious patients. Our report reveals how the problem was handled in hospitals and residences during the first wave of the pandemic, and investigates how a more humane approach might be possible in the continuing crisis.