what seems to be missed is that if someone "responsible for ones treatment" offers to "pray for you" some older folks could feel worried by this as in "why is this person offering to pray for me?, What do they know (or suspect) about my condition that I am not being told?".
Having just been on the receiving end of a LOT of good thoughts (all very welcome) from many good friends here at Mudcat I think I can say with a certain authority that it is in the source and manner of the offer that mattered to me, from folks I regarded as Friends, I found it acceptable in the manner it was expressed (the format it might take was irrelevent) it is that "thread of Friendship" that was important to me and the part that would work "The Magic".
I also spent time in the hospital and would have been disturbed at a stranger, Christian, offering to "Pray for Me" without knowing my beliefs,(even tho' my hospital admission form says "Pagan" under Religion) I suppose its the apparent arrogance , and implied " My God is better than Your Goddess" that rankles.