In health care, it is often the people — not the protocols — who shape how care is experienced. At Baycrest, staff across roles champion spiritual care every day, helping patients, residents and families feel seen, supported and understood alongside clinical treatment.
For many people, particularly older adults, those living with dementia and individuals nearing the end of life, spiritual care is essential to care.
At Baycrest, spiritual care is woven into care delivery across hospital and long-term care settings. It reflects a holistic, person-centred approach that recognizes identity, meaning and dignity as core elements of health.
“Spiritual care is about meeting people where they are,” says Cyrelle Muskat, Director, Quality Systems and Wellness and Interim Chief Heritage Officer at Baycrest. “It’s about listening deeply and supporting what gives someone meaning — whether that comes from faith, culture, values or a sense of purpose.”
Care That Shows Up Every Day
Spiritual care at Baycrest does not sit with one team alone. It is sustained by people across the organization who notice what matters and respond with care.
In hospital, that may mean taking time to sit with a patient who is anxious or uncertain. In long-term care, it can involve recognizing a familiar ritual or moment that brings comfort and connection. These interactions often happen quietly, but they shape how care is experienced.
Rooted in Culture, Grounded in Inclusion
Founded in 1918 as the Toronto Jewish Old Folks Home, Baycrest has long understood the role of culture, tradition and community in wellbeing. Today, it remains a faith-based Jewish organization while providing inclusive spiritual care that responds to the diverse beliefs and backgrounds of all patients and residents.
As a designated Jewish cultural home, the Apotex Centre honours Jewish life and practice while remaining responsive to individual spiritual needs.
“Being a cultural home doesn’t narrow care — it deepens it,” Muskat says. “It creates a foundation that allows us to support everyone with understanding and respect.”
Shared observances, from Shabbat services to Easter teas and multifaith gatherings, help residents maintain continuity and connection, particularly for those living with dementia.
Supporting the Whole Person Across Settings
Evidence increasingly links emotional and spiritual wellbeing to physical health, resilience and quality of life. At Baycrest, this understanding shapes care across the continuum.
In hospital, spiritual care supports people through illness and transition. In long-term care, it helps sustain identity and belonging over time. Across settings, staff contribute through presence, empathy and respect, reinforcing spiritual care as part of everyday practice.
Compassion at the End of Life
As life draws to a close, questions of meaning and dignity often come to the forefront.
“People often talk about a ‘good death,’ but what that really means is being seen and supported as a whole person,” says Rabbi Dr. Rena Arshinoff, a spiritual care provider at Baycrest.
Spiritual care providers support patients, residents and families through grief and transition, while also offering support to staff working in emotionally demanding environments.
An Essential Part of Care
As health systems respond to aging populations and increasing complexity, Baycrest’s approach reflects a simple truth: care is strongest when it honours the whole person.
“Spiritual care speaks to humanity,” Muskat says. “It helps people feel understood and at peace.”
At Baycrest, supporting identity, meaning and dignity is not separate from care. It is carried forward every day by people who understand that how care is delivered matters as much as the care itself.