Training Manual
Table of Contents
SESSION 1: The Need for LIFT
The Mission, Purpose, and Philosophy of LIFT • Perspectives on Death and Dying • Fears about Death • Dying Well • Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia • Reasons to Oppose Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia • Toward a Christian View of Death and Dying • Biblical Teaching Concerning Death • The Necessity of Christian Caregiving at the End of Life
Session 2: The LIFT Volunteer
What is LIFT Care? • Guiding Principles of LIFT • Overview of LIFT Services • The Role of the Volunteer • Qualities of LIFT Volunteers • LIFT Volunteer Code of Ethics • Qualifications for LIFT Volunteers • Volunteer Ministry Review • LIFT Volunteer Policies • Program Procedures for Volunteers • Basic Rules for Visitation • Inpatient Facility Visitation by Volunteers • Visit Preparation and Evaluation • Volunteer Documentation • Volunteer Documentation Form • LIFT Monthly Visit Report Form
Session 3: Caregiving basics
Practical Tips: Helping Someone Who is Facing a Serious Illness • Miscellaneous Caregiver Tasks • General Principles of Body Mechanics • Care Basics • Complications of Bed Rest • Suggestions for Organizing Medications • Taking the Care Recipient to the Doctor • Care Recipient Rights • Care Recipient Safety • Emergency Preparedness • Infection Control • Universal Safety and Health Precautions Policy • Communicable Disease Admission Policy • Precautions for AIDS and Infectious Disease Care Recipients
Session 4: Listening & Communication
Pet Peeves: “You’re Not Listening” • The Dirty Dozen • Doesn’t Anybody Listen Anymore? • Listening: An Act of Love • Barriers to Good Communication • Listening to the Chronically Ill Person • Listening Role-Playing Exercises
Session 5: Crisis & Suffering
The Crisis Cycle • Crisis • Five Stages of Crisis • Attitudes Toward Suffering • The Needs of Suffering People • Understanding Acute and Chronic Suffering • The Challenges of Chronic and Acute Conditions
Session 6: Meeting Spiritual Needs
Spiritual Needs • Prayer and the Ministry of the Word • Use of Prayer in Caregiving • Praying Scripture • Tips for the Effective Use of Scripture • Helpful Biblical Passages
Session 7: Aging & Stress
Stress • Managing Stress • Twenty Proven Stress Reducers • What Do You See? What Do You See? • Physical Changes with Aging • Eric Erikson’s Life Stages and Life Tasks • Basic Human Needs • It’s Tough to Be Old
Session 8: The Challenge of Dementia
Muriel’s Blessing • Dementia • Criteria for Diagnosing Dementia • The Dementia Personality • Using Validation with Dementia Persons • Communication Principles for Care Recipients with Dementia • Activities to Enhance Communication with Dementia Persons • Important Elements of Alzheimer’s Disease
Session 9: Death & Dying
Concerns People Express about “Dying Well” • Psychosocial Changes in Terminally Ill Care Recipients and Their Families • Five Stages of Dying • Advance Directives • Protective Medical Decisions Declaration • Pain and Pain Management • Pain and the Volunteer’s Response • The Goals of Pain Management • Common Misperceptions about Pain Management • Other Symptom-Control Measures • Signs and Symptoms of Impending Death
Session 10: Bereavement Care
Grief • Grief Care Basics • The Needs of Grieving People • Normal Grief • Children’s Developmental Ability to Understand Death • Special Considerations in Children’s Grief • Bereavement Assistance Guidelines
Appendices
Bibliography by Topic • LIFT Lesson Plans • LIFT Devotionals • Evaluation of LIFT Care Coordinator Training • Evaluation of LIFT Volunteer Training Sessions • Certificate of Completion
To learn more about LIFT or request a LIFT training seminar, please contact Baptists for Life.