Larry Reimer has a special role at the Boundary Trails Health Centre (BTHC). In an environment that can be overwhelming and difficult for patients and medical staff alike, he provides faith-based care to those in need of it.
Reimer is the spiritual care coordinator at BTHC.
Compassionate care
“I provide pastoral care for patients that are in acute care or palliative care or in rehab — anybody that's in the hospital who wants to have spiritual support or pastoral care,” he says. “That's what I do in the hospital.”
Reimer says that one of his favourite things about the role is the comfort it brings.
“I love just seeing people come to peace and ease when I visit them,” he says. “[Patients] seem to come to a resolve in their hearts that they are going to be okay and that things are taken care of.”
Alive in memory
In the coming days, the BTHC spiritual care program will be offering a space of comfort and support for community members with a memorial service.
“We have limited space, we only have room for about 30 people, but we want to provide a space for people to come to be able to remember their loved ones who have passed away in the hospital or provide a space for somebody to maybe even start their grieving journey,” says Reimer. “We want to be able to support people in our community that are maybe struggling with that or just need a space to find other people to talk to.”
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The memorial service is open to anyone who is confronting loss, whether it is has been recent or not. It will take place on October 7th. There will be live music and readings from Palliative Care staff members at the hospital.
This year’s event will take place in the chapel at BTHC.
“[We] just felt it's an . . . appropriate space for this kind of service,” says Reimer.
Those who would like to attend or ask questions about the service are encouraged to call Reimer at the hospital at 204-331-8809 or email lreimer2@southernhealth.ca.
A place for togetherness and comfort
According to Reimer, those who have attended the memorial service in past years have come away having experienced a sense of unity and support.
"There has been a mutual shared experience. We were able to come together and really express ourselves in a common way, because we all know that somebody's lost somebody, and that brings a lot of togetherness,” he says. “I think it adds support and even a touch point for people to engage with somebody else to maybe receive counsel through friendship or just know what the services are for them if they need help.”
During the service, there will also be an opportunity for attendees to share a few words about their loved one. Reimer adds that no one is pressured to share.
Events like the memorial service are funded by the BTHC Foundation, which supports the spiritual care program at the hospital.
“They're fantastic. They actually find my whole position,” says Reimer, adding that local churches also show their support to the program.
For more information about the spiritual care program at BTHC, see its website. To read about the many services that the BTHC Foundation provides to the community, including Palliative Care, click here.
~With files from Ty Hildebrand~