COMMUNITY CHAPLAIN SERVICE provides professional chaplain service to Assisted Living Facilities, Hospice Recipients, Hospitals and Nursing Homes. It is a Massachusetts-chartered, non-profit organization, specifically formed for this purpose. CCS if funded through donations of interested individuals and churches.

COMMUNITY CHAPLAIN SERVICE engages chaplains who have had satisfactory careers as pastors, missionaries, or laypersons, whose desire and burden is to minister to the elderly infirm, those for whom there is often a minimum of spiritual care.

COMMUNITY CHAPLAIN SERVICE, though it receives support from the churches, is non-denominational. The chaplains attempt, to build on whatever faith in God a resident has, and encourage him to trust in and follow the Lord. Chaplains do, however, encourage local churches to be involved with nursing homes as volunteers, and also host able residents at their functions.

CHAPLAINS are assigned to several facilities in a specific geographic area, and are required to visit every facility each week. They visit each available resident. They work in concert with the activities director (or other resource person), who each week suggests those who might benefit from a visit; and also informs the chaplain as to changes, deaths, new residents, etc., which would help the chaplain in his visits.

CHAPLAINS are men and women experienced in ministry. They are discreet in the manner in which they approach residents. Though from long experience we have found it best to visit all residents regardless of their religious affiliation, no visits are forced upon the residents. The chaplain comes as a friend, who has time to listen, and who cares about each resident.

CHAPLAINS visits are pastoral. In addition to cheerful conversation, the chaplain will offer to read a brief portion of the Bible (usually a few verses from the Psalms), pray for the resident, and at times leave a large-print Scripture selection or booklet. Chaplains seek to encourage a consistent daily devotional practice.

CHAPLAINS are aware of their position, and are open to the suggestions of the administration of the home. Chaplains in no way infringe upon the ongoing work of the staff. They need and appreciate the respect and cooperation of the staff. Chaplains are not patient advocates as such; they seek rather to help the resident cope with their present circumstances in a Christian manner. The chaplain does not encourage patient discontent.

CHAPLAINS’ SERVICES include: bedside visitation of all residents; monthly services (as arranged/if desired - CCS does not desire to replace services by local clergy); individual counseling for residents (and staff, if desired); on-call emergency visits; funeral services (where there is no clergy available); special occasion speaking at facilities programs, etc.

CHAPLAINS come to the nursing homes as professionals with a desire to help. They are always neat and clean, and their demeanor is to be positive in order to provide a more pleasant atmosphere for residents, facility staff and administration. Chaplains provide a spiritual dimension to the total nursing experience. CCS has been serving God by helping people since 1973.