Holistic Care: What Does It Really Mean?

Often, you’ll hear the phrase “Holistic Care.” But what does that actually mean? At its core, holistic means “whole”—caring for the whole self. Holistic care typically involves attention to four main pillars of wellness, though each pillar can be complex and unique depending on the individual's needs, wishes, and goals.

The Four Pillars of Holistic Care

• Physical Health: This includes movement, nutrition, medical needs, sleep schedules, skin care, and more. It encompasses everything related to the physical body.
• Mental Health: Brain health and mental stimulation are key. Continued learning, memory exercises, and dementia care are all vital components.
• Emotional Health: Emotional support includes addressing past trauma, PTSD, family dynamics, and grief coaching—especially after unresolved loss.
• Spiritual Health: This may involve religious or spiritual counseling, meditation, or self-reflection. Spirituality often interweaves with the other three pillars for a complete care approach.

“Treating all four pillars of holistic care leads to longer, healthier, and happier quality of life.”

Why Do People Miss the Mark on Holistic Care?

In most healthcare systems, people turn to physicians when something is wrong. Unfortunately, many doctors are constrained by limited appointment time and insurance guidelines. Medical coverage may not include adequate mental health support or emotional care, and spiritual care is often overlooked entirely or difficult to access without stigma.

An Example

Consider a woman with recurring headaches and nausea, missing out on her social life. She visits her doctor, who prescribes a medication. It doesn’t help. Further testing (bloodwork, maybe an MRI) shows no clear issue. She’s told it’s likely stress and is left to find her own solutions.

But what if the root cause is grief over a lost pet? Or stress from downsizing after retirement? Or struggling to afford the nutritious food she once ate? These are not typically part of a standard clinical evaluation, yet they’re deeply connected to her well-being. (Many holistic providers also include a 5th pillar: Financial Stability.)

What Holistic Care Actually Does

Holistic care takes the time to evaluate the whole person—needs, lifestyle, goals—and aims to strengthen all the pillars together. While physical health is important, it’s often no more critical than emotional or spiritual well-being. When one pillar suffers, the others do too. Holistic care helps treat them all—ideally, in harmony.

When Pillars Support Each Other

One of the most powerful aspects of holistic care is how interconnected the pillars are. For example:

• Unprocessed grief (emotional) can lead to depression (mental), which can then manifest as physical illness.
• Spiritual counseling might ease emotional pain, leading to better social interaction, which boosts physical activity and cognitive stimulation.
• Even a small daily meditation practice can create clarity and motivation for healthier habits.

Holistic care isn’t just a term for monks and mystics—it’s a practical and beneficial approach for everyone. Each of us can improve our quality of life through a care plan that addresses the whole person.

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