When you have lost a loved one and need some help, there are options. You might seek support from family or friends, find a book that provides some comfort, or you might find that you need something more. A bereavement support group offers support and connection that comes from being with people who have also experienced the loss of a loved one. Bereavement support groups provide emotional support, validation, and education about bereavement, along with a safe place where you can share openly without fear of judgement. Find out more in this week's podcast.
Listen on 91x FM
You can listen to episodes of "Changing Lives" on 91x FM each Monday (except for holidays) at 9:05am. Hospice Quinte is grateful to the support that 91x FM provides in producing the "Changing Lives" podcast.
About Hospice Quinte
Hospice Quinte provides individuals, their families, and caregivers with compassionate end of life care, by attending to their physical, psychosocial, and practical needs, and offering empathetic care to those who are grieving through visiting hospice services and support groups. All Hospice Quinte programs and services are provided by compassionate, well-trained volunteers and staff at no charge to the individual or their family.
Hospice Quinte serves a population of over 1110,000 in Quinte West, Belleville, Deseronto, Tyendinaga Township and the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. To find out more visit HospiceQuinte.ca.
Support the Show.
Listen on 91x FM
You can listen to episodes of "Changing Lives" on 91x FM each Monday (except for holidays) at 9:05am. Hospice Quinte is grateful to the support that 91x FM provides in producing the "Changing Lives" podcast.
About Hospice Quinte
Hospice Quinte provides individuals, their families, and caregivers with compassionate end of life care, by attending to their physical, psychosocial, and practical needs, and offering empathetic care to those who are grieving through visiting hospice services and support groups. All Hospice Quinte programs and services are provided by compassionate, well-trained volunteers and staff at no charge to the individual or their family.
Hospice Quinte serves a population of over 102,000 in Quinte West, Belleville, Deseronto, Tyendinaga Township and the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. To find out more visit HospiceQuinte.ca.
When you have lost a loved one and need some help, there are options. You might seek support from family or friends, find a book that provides some comfort, or you might find that you need something more. A bereavement support group offers support and connection that comes from being with people who have also experienced the loss of a loved one. Bereavement support groups provide emotional support, validation, and education about bereavement, along with a safe place where you can share openly without fear of judgement.
At select times of the year, Hospice Quinte offers an eight-week “Grief Toolbox” support group. Many of our past attendees report that one of the best things about attending a bereavement support group is the reminder that you are not alone. Bereavement can feel lonely and isolating, especially when no one else around you seems to be grieving like you are. There is an innate need to be understood, and bereavement groups are a wonderful place to feel validated. Although no two people experience bereavement in the exactly same way, by attending a support group you may find that other people have experiences, feelings and struggles that are similar to your own.
Those who have been through similar experiences may have great insight, direct advice, helpful suggestions and understanding. Support groups not only provide members with the opportunity to receive advice and support but to give it as well. You will learn a lot about yourself, life, and other people in your group. A support group may also give you an opportunity to use your wisdom and learning to help others, if you are comfortable. People don’t always realize how much they have learned in bereavement groups until they find themselves guiding the conversation.
Hospice Quinte’s Grief Toolbox Support Group is considered a “closed” group. That means the same people attend the group at a set time each week for eight weeks.
Group sizes can vary, from a small group of three or four participants, up to twelve participants depending on the current need in the community. Each Grief Toolbox session is moderated by a facilitator. The role of the facilitator is to ensure a safe, judgement-free environment where all participants feel comfortable and welcome. The facilitator maintains a supportive and constructive environment, balancing naturally developing ideas and conversations with structured topics and exercises.
Hospice Quinte’s supportive bereavement group helps you to understand that there is no expectation for grieving. Everyone will have their own process, their own way, and their own time frame.
Some people find the idea of group sharing daunting and intimidating. Although you are welcome and encouraged to share, it is not a requirement. Simply being in a space with others might be all you can manage that day, and that is ok. It is also ok to change your mind. Perhaps someone is not ready to participate in a bereavement group and chooses not to return. It is important to follow your instinct and make the right choice for yourself.
In the Grief Toolbox support group, participants will go through a structured program designed to help them navigate their “new normal” and equip them with tools and coping techniques to face the common challenges experienced during bereavement. Our goal is to provide educational information about grief and loss and to offer emotional support, while helping group members build up their social support system. Topics that are covered in the eight-week sessions include understanding the grief experience, handling the difficult emotions of grief, managing the stress of change, preparing for holidays and special occasions, and finding meaning after loss.
A variety of studies demonstrate[i] that loss through death is one of the most difficult human experiences. The resulting stress can leave an individual prone to a variety of health-related problems, including mental and physical illness and unhealthy lifestyle choices. Bereavement education and support can make a significant and positive difference. To find out more about Hospice Quinte’s bereavement support services, please visit our website at Hospice-Quinte-dot-ca.
Hospice Quinte provides individuals, their families, and caregivers with compassionate end of life care, by attending to their physical, psychosocial, and practical needs, and offering empathetic care to those who are grieving through visiting hospice services and support groups. All Hospice Quinte programs and services are provided by compassionate, well-trained volunteers and staff at no charge to the individual or their family. We serve a population of over 110,000 in Quinte West, Belleville, Deseronto, Tyendinaga Township and the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory.