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Frequently Asked Questions
about Congregational Care Teams
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What
is a Presbyterian care team?
A Presbyterian care team (PCT) provides a way for your congregation
to respond to the real-life needs of individuals and families.
This team is a group of volunteers working together to offer
practical, emotional, and spiritual support to those in need.
These needs
may result from a developmental or physical disability, a prolonged
physical or mental illness, limitations brought on by the aging
process, or other life challenging situations, or, they may be
temporary, due to an accident or episodic illness. |
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Care team members
receive training in how to appropriately handle sensitive issues
and in suggested ways to respond in situations they may encounter.
They work from an established and coordinated plan—always
as part of a team effort. The team, as well as the care partner
and
appropriate family develop a plan unique to each care partner's
individual needs and support requirements. |
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care teams do not
replace the pastor and the care and spiritual comfort pastors
share with members of their congregations. Care teams are intended
to provide needed services that assist the care partner (the
care
recipient) in activities of daily living, whether the partner
is at home, living with a relative or concerned other, or, residing
in a nursing home situation.
As part of this team, you are empowered to use your particular
gifts and available time to offer secondary care that is a concrete
expression of the "hands and feet" of the gospel. |
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What
are some of the tangible things that care teams do? |
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Care teams help with real life needs, such as:
- Household chores
- Yard work
- Errands
- Meals
- Transportation
- Respite care
- Baby-sitting
- Social outings
- Phone calls
- Ministry of being or presence
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Who makes up a care team?
The team is made up of trained volunteers who are committed
to working together on a team and following the guidelines
of
the Presbyterian care team community;
The team responds to the life needs of a person facing a
life-challenging situation by providing services and assistance
through special care (as distinct from care delivered by your
pastor and professional medical care);
The team is clear about when and how it is able to respond
to the needs of those served with the skills and time offered
(working from a pre-arranged plan which spells out what services
are appropriate and agreed upon confidentiality assurances,
boundaries and limitations);
The team is organized. Members have established procedures
for keeping one another informed of the implementation of
the
care plan and updated on any changes in the physical condition
or living situation of the care partner.
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Why
are care teams needed? |
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- The number of persons with a long-term illness or needs
arising from health issues at home is increasing.
- Congregation members are living longer and many wish to
continue to live independently as long as possible, through
the use of support services.
- Families with two wage earners often do not have the opportunity
to provide routine services because of work schedules.
- Fewer caregivers are available to care for the increasing
number of persons with long-term needs.
- Families and congregations often do not know how or where
to find and organize volunteers to work with persons who have
long-term needs.
- Congregation members respond more readily to short-term
crises.
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How are Presbyterian
care teams supported?
The Presbyterian care team community is a nation-wide system
of congregationally-based care teams connected by a vision
of
encircling care and a shared approach to care team ministry.
Working in tandem with other "caring" ministries
such as pastoral care, parish nursing, and other health-related
ministries,
the Presbyterian care team design provides a framework to
help congregations set up and structure a service that can
touch,
enhance and sustain the lives of many people.
The items may be purchased online with a credit card by clicking
on the linked item number or by calling (800) 524-2612.
The Presbyterian care team community and individual Presbyterian care teams formed by congregations are sustained by regional
trainers and consultants, national support staff, and, a Web
page for resources, support, and linkages with others engaged
in care team ministry.
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How can a congregation
develop care teams?
Each congregation is unique. The care team model begins with
an evaluation of what is already happening in the congregation
and an assessment of the needs, time and talent of all its
members. Often a care team forms around a person known to
some of the
care team members. Other individuals are invited to join the
team because of their gifts, interests and willingness to
serve.
The nature and size of the care team may change and adapt as
circumstances and situations change.
A team approach can be integrated into any existing program
such as homebound ministry, crisis ministry, deacon or outreach
ministry, women's, men's, or youth programs.
The care team model provides an intentional framework allowing
all members regardless of age, status, or condition to live
out their discipleship as part of a caring community.
Leadership training is offered regionally throughout the United
States to teach persons how to develop care teams in their
congregations
or communities.
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How do care
teams work with parish nurses?
The health ministry of a parish nurse
program in a local congregation can definitely be enhanced
by the additional
support of care teams. Often the parish nurse will identify needs
for supportive care for families and individuals. The parish
nurse
assessment of the family or individual's situation would be vital
information for the formation of effective care team outreach.
Both ministries can be an integral part of the congregation's
comprehensive strategy to care for persons with a wide range
of
holistic health care needs in any size congregation.
Here are just a few of
the important collaborations of the parish nurse and a care
team: |
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- The parish nurse can serve as one part of a congregation's
professional support and provide an ongoing professional
nurse
consultant to the care team and care partner. It is important
to remember that the parish nurse does not provide direct
hands-on nursing care to care partners such as wound care,
medication administration, or baths. Parish nurses make
referrals
to community health nursing agencies and other services for
direct nursing and health care services.
- The parish nurse can assist the care partner in developing
a long term care plan for receiving complete assistance
with
changing holistic health care needs. Additional community
health services could be added to the situation as desired.
This might help the care team avoid situations where needs
and services become unmanageable or beyond the scope of
the
supportive secondary care of any care team.
- The parish nurse can be a potential holistic health educator
for the care team meetings and for individual members of
the
care team. For example, a parish nurse could provide educational
topic discussions and support for grief and loss, a variety
of new disease conditions in the life of a care partner,
self care support for care team members, or information
on community
resources available.
- A parish nurse can be one of the spiritual growth supports
for the care team. The parish nurse could pray for the
team, meet with
care team members with spiritual questions as they care
for others, and support the spiritual journey of the care
partner.
- The parish nurse can be an additional confidential communication
link for care team, care partner, professional pastoral
care
staff, and the congregation, when appropriate. There are
already meetings of parish nurse and other staff pastors
for communicating
ongoing care needs in the congregation. Care team reports
could be added to the agenda of these ongoing meetings so
that all remain informed of the important team ministry of
all caring together in Christ's love!
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Additional
questions and answers about congregational care teams |
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- Doesn't my pastor already do the work of a care team?
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Pastoral care is very different than the care delivered
by a care team. Care team members, while often motivated
from
a "spiritual" place, provide services that assist
their care partner in the activities which are a part of
daily
living, transportation, washing windows, grocery shopping,
etc. While it is likely that prayer with your care partner
may be a part of the time you spend together, as a care
team member, your primary service will be through helping
your
partner with companionship and service.
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- We already have a homebound ministry. Why do
we need care teams?
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Both homebound and care team ministries focus on the elderly
and others who have long-term healthcare needs. Most congregational
homebound ministry consists of monthly visits for emotional
and spiritual support. If a person's needs are met by these
visits, there really isn't a need for a care team for that
individual. But if there is an on-going need for practical,
as well as emotional and spiritual support, on a weekly or
daily basis, a care team is a more effective way to organize
ministry because of the increased frequency of need.
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- How much time will I be expected to give to
the care team?
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There are no time requirements. You decide on a month-to-month
basis how much time you have to give by taking responsibility
for specific tasks requested by the care partner. For the
sake of continuity, it is suggested that the care team
covenants
to work together for a year at a time. At the end of the
year, team members may, if they wish, re-covenant for another
year.
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- How much training is involved?
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Each local congregational care team trainer, after participating
in a regional training session, determines the schedule
and
length of the training. Usually, the training is completed
in one day or a couple of evening sessions. Training is
followed
by continuing education during regular team meetings.
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- That doesn't sound like much training. Will I
be ready to serve?
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Remember that a care team does not provide either direct
medical care or direct financial services. A care team
provides
secondary care, such as help with transportation or housekeeping.
The strength of the care team is in the team members, the
care plan and the individual member commitment to follow
the
guidelines (including the boundaries and limits) of the program.
You alone decide what you are ready to do, based on your
abilities
and the specific needs and requests of the care partner.
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- Is there more than one care team model?
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There is one basic model with an almost infinite number
of variations. Care team ministry is an approach and is
intended
to be adapted by congregations to meet their needs. Care
teams at other churches may operate differently than the
care teams
in your congregation. Those who substantially adapt the model
should be careful that consideration is given to the various
elements that make up this model and the suggested operating
procedures.
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- Where do I find a regional trainer?
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The Office of Health Ministries maintains a list of regional
care team trainers. To find one near you, either call the
HM Office at (888) 728-7228, x8011or
send us an email.
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