In 1988, with the publication of Catholic Health Ministry: A New Vision for a New Century, the Commission on Catholic Health Care Ministry called on the Church to redefine its healing mission in society. Unfortunately, despite various efforts, the Church has not yet fully articulated a shared vision of Catholic healthcare, healing, and support. Healing human brokenness has always been the Church's work in the world, whether the brokenness be physical, emotional, intellectual, moral, or spiritual. The Church, having a broader definition of brokenness than that of the larger healthcare system, must sometimes act as a countercultural critic of that system. Two of the great challenges facing healthcare today are providing care for dependent persons (people with chronic illnesses and older people) and for dying persons. In both cases, much more coordination of the various actors is needed. The Church could ensure that this coordination is carried out. In each diocese, the bishop should organize a pastoral health and social service planning group to assess community needs and apply Church resources to them. Local Catholic healthcare providers and social service agencies should develop a corporate culture of healing and support. Parishes should accept the idea that healing and supporting frail people are integral parts of parish life.

Catholicism↗

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Challenges of long-term care call for new policies.

Americans are living longer today because of changes in life-style and improvements in technology. As a result, the number of persons with debilitating conditions is increasing, leading to a greater need for care. How will we meet this need, and who will pay? Both social and public policy must meet the challenge of caring for disabled persons. We must identify the social good we wish to achieve and the issues that affect the realization of that good. The issues to be considered in forming policies on long-term care include: Age as the primary criterion; Basis for benefits; Informal support; Medical/social mix; Home care; Mental/physical health mix; Reimbursement techniques; Quality control; Competition; For-profit/not-for-profit mix; Freedom of choice; Burden of payment.

Aged↗