Support Programs

Hospice Palliative Care

Hospice palliative care is for anyone facing life-threatening illness. Hospice palliative care provides physical, emotional, and spiritual care and support for individuals and their loved ones. Through a care giving team of family, friends, healthcare Professionals, and Volunteers, need and choices are sensitively met. It can be provided in any setting; at home, in hospitals, in nursing homes or in special hospice facilities. Most of all, hospice palliative care is about living fully to the very end of life with dignity and comfort.

Bereavement

Bereavement is grief associated with death. The death maybe of a child before or after birth, of a parent or other family member, a friend, or a public figure for whom you may have deep feelings. Death may have been sudden or coming after a long process. It could be from an accident, illness, suicide, substance overdose, or homicide.

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Hospice Palliative Care Programs

• One on One Client Support
• One on One Family Support
• Respite Services
• Surrey Memorial Hospital Palliative Care Unit and Hospice Residence Visiting
• Relaxatioin Program
• Keeping Connected Caregiver Telephone Support
• Referral to Other Palliative Team Services

One to One Client Support

Hospice volunteers are versed in the various issues, concerns and fluctuating needs, that face those living with a life threatening illness. Hospice volunteers offer practical and emotional support and companionship for the journey, whether it be at home, in hospital or in a residential care facility.

One to One Family Support

Whether family of origin or family of support, Surrey Hospice Society volunteers offer emotional and practical support, assistance and information to family members, as they address the various issues and concerns that can face those caring for a loved one nearing the end of life.

Respite Services

Provides family and primary caregivers with a brief respite or pause, usually 2-4 hours, from their care giving responsibilities. This gives caregivers an opportunity to undertake activities, which might otherwise have to be forgone. For example, a walk, trip to the store, hair cut, pursuing a social activity or invitation and so on.

Surrey Memorial Hospital Palliative Care Unit and
Surrey Hospice Residence Visiting

A team of Surrey Hospice Society volunteers visit daily on the Palliative Care Unit at Surrey Memorial Hospital and the Surrey Hospice Residence. They augment the professional care and support provided by medical and hospital staff. Volunteers provide practical and emotional support and companionship to palliative patients and their loved ones. A tea service is also provided on Monday and Wednesday afternoons at PCU and Wednesday afternoons at the Surrey Hospice Residence.

Relaxation Program

Many hospice workers are trained in relaxation techniques, which are used to provide comfort and relaxation for individuals and family members in both an individual, and group setting.

Keeping Connected Caregiver Telephone Support

Hospice Society telephone support volunteers reach out to family/friend caregivers, providing compassionate presence and a listening ear. Through regular phone contacts, volunteers offer caregivers an opportunity to share their experiences and feelings around providing care to their loved one, under changing and shifting circumstances. It is well understood that when the caregiver is cared for, they in turn are able to give better care.

Referral to Other Palliative Team Services

After meeting with the client/family, the Surrey Hospice Society Coordinator or designate may refer the individual/family to other palliative appropriate.

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Bereavement Programs

• Mail Outreach Grief Support
• Grief support by Telephone
• Natures Amble - A walking Group for the Bereaved
• Finding My Way - Adult Grief Support
• Hopeful Hearts - Grief Group for Children
• Teen Grief - Life After Loss
• Young Adult Grief Support

Mail Outreach Grief Support

This program provides information to bereaved individuals and their families about Surrey Hospice Society’s multitude of bereavement support programs. Information is mailed six weeks after the death, then at three months, six months, 10-1/2 months, and on the anniversary of the death. Each mail out includes written pieces of information about the grief process as well as upcoming bereavement program dates. A modified Mail Outreach Program is available beyond the first year of the death of a loved one.

Grief Support by Telephone

In the early days of grief, individuals may need someone to talk with about their loss. Trained volunteers accompany bereaved individuals by offering compassionate, non-judgmental listening on the telephone. In some instances our trained volunteers may provide short-term bereavement support in person.

Natures Amble - A Walking Group for the Bereaved

This walking group is open to those who are grieving the death of a significant person in their life. Trained, experienced, bereavement volunteers facilitate this group. Besides the benefits of fresh air and exercise, there is time for tea and conversation.

Finding My Way - Adult Grief Support Group

The purpose of this six-week group is to provide support to adult participants grieving the death of someone significant in their life. This group provides a safe environment to explore the central needs of mourning as we share our individual stories. By teaching others about our grief experience we begin to learn how to integrate this loss into our life.

There is no charge to participate. Interested individuals are asked to contact
Rosemary at 604-543-7006

Hopeful Hearts – Grief Group for Children

Hopeful Hearts is a group designed to provide therapeutic and fun activities for bereaved 5-12year olds who have experienced a loss of someone significant in their lives through death. This safe, healing environment provides weekly opportunities for bereaved children to share their stories and grief experiences with other bereaved children.

A parent/guardian group runs simultaneously. Clinical Counsellors and trained volunteers provide educational information about children and grief as well as time and support to parents or guardians as they share stories and grief experiences.

Teen Grief "Java G"

This grief support group is for teens, 13 through 19 years old, who have experienced loss through the death of someone significant in their life. This program was revised with input from Surrey Youth. Through various activities, as well as individual sharing and group discussions, trained bereavement facilitators assist the teens as they explore their natural capacity to heal.

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