b'SPIRITUALITYKeep breathing Sustaining the spirits of long-term care workersBy Jane KuepferT he self-care advice is familiarrole, has a heart for it. Sometimes ourHow do we stay grounded, and keeplike passengers in an airlinehearts get full to the point of breaking. breathing, functioning, and caring? How emergency, we are encourageddo we find resilience in these times?to put on your own mask first inThis pandemic has been one of those order to be able to help others.times for many: short-staffed, withAs a specialist in spirituality and Under layers of pandemic personaladded work, lacking needed supplies,aging, people sometimes look at me protection equipment (PPE), we, moresuddenly without family support forsideways, unsure of what I do and than ever, need oxygen for our spirits. residents, with worries at home aswhy. This is my work: discovering, well, to say nothing of sickness andunderstanding, honouring, and Work in long-term care requires onesdeath, uncertainty, risk, moral injury,supporting the spiritual resources that whole beingbody, mind, and spirit.and media attention. Weve beenground us and sustain usthose who Most anyone who works in long-termthrough a storm, and were not surework in this field, and those who are care for any length of time, in anywhen the winds might blow up again. living these last chapters of life. 10 LONG TERM CARE TODAY Fall/Winter 2020'