Winchester House looking to fill need after chaplaincy service closes

Winchester House officials say they will turn to a host of clergy and lay volunteers to fill the spiritual void left by the closing of its chaplaincy service,

The Waukegan-based Interfaith Chaplaincy Services will end operations as of Sunday, Jan. 31. Chaplains from the group have been serving at the Lake County-run nursing home in Libertyville for decades.

The nonprofit group has existed on donations from churches, and religious and civic organizations. Those gifts have dropped dramatically during the recent recession.

"We were really disappointed to see them close the doors," said Winchester House resident service manager Mary Purnell. "They provided a needed spiritual support for an often forgotten population."

The organization was founded in 1963. During its peak, 10 full-time chaplains worked in nursing homes across Lake County. Rev. Ernie Hall was the last full-time employee and had a longtime presence at Winchester House. Purnell said Hall played a key role in the spiritual lives of the residents over the last 25 years.

"Ernie understood the culture of this place, and understood the residents have deep spiritual needs beyond the physical," she said. "He will be missed."

Winchester House leaders were moving toward increasing ministry volunteers even if the Chaplaincy stayed in business, Purnell said. Now that the Chaplaincy is leaving, the need to move quickly was intensified.

"We were already looking to increase the level of spiritual care in the coming year," she said. "Knowing the Chaplaincy Service might be ending, we've been getting calls from both clergy and lay people saying, 'what can we do to help?'"

Nursing home staff will meet with local pastors in early February to access the needs and strategize how best to minister to the 220 residents.

Purnell said Winchester House has relationships with at least 16 churches and congregations. It's a mix of denominations and faiths. She said having that diversity is important.

"We want to have a strong interdenominational presence," she said. "We want to provide spiritual support for any religion."

Secular social workers play a role in the nursing home, but Purnell said it's easy to forget humans have physical and spiritual natures.

"Many of our residents are dealing with end-of-life issues and questions. They have concerns about what comes next. Social workers can't address those questions," she said.

Ministry can be as simple as lay people volunteering to play bingo with the residents, or professional clergy counseling families in a serious crisis, Purnell explained.

"We feel hopeful that folks will become of aware of the needs and step up to help," she said. "We can use them on a as-needed basis, or monthly or yearly. Whatever people can do will be helpful."