Bereavement Support Groups
Adult Grief Recovery Groups
Hospice offers three levels of grief recovery programs. Grief recovery level 1 is a 10 week group experience offered three times a year. This group offers a safe place to share and express feelings and experiences and to move forward through grief. Level II is a 12 week program that continues the journey and examines some of the more complex aspects of grief and recovery. Finding identity, new relationships, healthy and unhealthy belief systems, are some of the areas explored. Level III is an informal once a month group that offers ongoing support and encouragement. All groups are led by competent trained facilitators.
Teen Grief Support Group
Hospice offers a 7 week program for teens that allows them to explore the impact of grief in their life. This safe program uses a variety of creative activities such as music, story telling and many others, in order to journey the grief. Having opportunities to be with other teens who are grieving is also an important party of the journey. This group is facilitated by Hospice staff and trained volunteers. This program is run throughout the year as needed.
Children's Grief Group
The children's grief group is a 7 week program for children ages 6-12 who have experienced the death of someone close to them. This group helps children to understand and manage their feelings and behaviours around grief. It allows children to connect with other children who are grieving, and to share feelings and experiences. There is also a parent group that meets at the same time, and to discuss issues around the grief experience. Both the children's group and the parents group are facilitated by Hospice staff and trained volunteers.
Lunch For The Recently Bereaved
There is an informal lunch group held on the first and third Fridays of each month which offers grievers an opportunity to be together with others and to find companionship on this journey. Hospice provides a light lunch and then there is discussion around some aspect of grief that is practical and relevant to the grief experience. This often provides a first connection to Hospice and introduces people to the various programs available.
Walk With Hope
This is a new program that is open to all who are bereaved. It combines physical exercise with companionship. There are several walking groups and locations and you can check the website to find out when and where these are currently running.