This document describes three caring-healing carts used at Kaiser Permanente in Northern California to provide support to patients and their families. The tea cart serves tea and treats to staff monthly and focuses on a Caritas process. The bereavement cart provides nourishment and spiritual/religious resources for dying patients and their families. The comfort cart offers supplies for hand massage, aromatherapy, and music to comfort patients and families. The caring-healing carts were created to provide appreciation, support and nourishment for patients, families, and staff.

1. Kaiser Permanente, Northern California
Caritas in Action
How Caring Science informs and inspires KP caregivers and affirms our commitment to provide our
patients and their families exceptional care
Caritas Consortium 2014
Caring-Healing Carts
Honoring Health, Healing &
Wholeness

2. Caring-Healing Carts
Intent to Contribute Statement:
Intent to highlight various carts (tea, bereavement, and comfort) that provides appreciation, support and
nourishment to our patients and families. Tea Cart: tea and treats served to all staff (nurses, MDs, members of
care team) once a month with a Caritas Process focus intended to provide opportunity for centering,
appreciation, and learning. Bereavement Cart: offered to patients and families at the end of life to provide
nourishment and resources for support of the dying patient. Contains religious and spiritual aids from a wide
variety of spiritual and religious realms. Comfort Cart: offered to patients and families to provide an opportunity
for comfort measures by our staff and volunteers. Contains supplies for hand massage, aroma therapy, and
music.
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3. Inspired Contributor(s) :
 Sheila Gilson
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Service Area: San Mateo
Medical Center: SSF
Affiliation: PCS
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Year Shared: 2014
Venue: Caritas Consortium
Format: Poster
ID #: H05
Keyword TAGs:
Identifier
 Consortium2014-June, San
Mateo, So. San Francisco, Poster,
Patient Care Services, Adult
Services
 Healing Environments, Healing
Modalities, Patients/Families
Descriptor
 Aromatherapy, Music, Pet
Therapy, Death & Dying
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Caring-Healing Carts

4. Page 4
Caring-Healing Carts
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