Grief and Bereavement Support

Hospice Kingston’s Grief & Bereavement Service provides an opportunity for individuals to learn how to identify and process their emotions and facilitates the development of healthy coping skills. Grief is a multi-faceted human response to loss; affecting a person’s physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual sense of well-being.   The death of a loved one can be a traumatic and emotionally overwhelming experience.

At Hospice Kingston, we understand that grief is a natural and necessary accompaniment of loss and we offer a variety of supportive care programs and services that help individuals and families adjust to the loss(es) associated with the death of a loved one.

Bereavement support volunteers offer one-to-one support for 6-8 sessions (more as determined by Bereavement Coordinator and availability of volunteers) and a     seven-week bereavement support group, which runs several times throughout the year. Support is offered in a caring, compassionate, non-judgmental and confidential environment.

One-to-one support is available on the phone, by email or by video conferencing. The seven-week group takes place on Zoom. In-person services will resume when appropriate.

Bereavement support is available to anyone in the community who is experiencing grief and bereavement before and after a death of a loved one. Specially trained staff and volunteers provide caring, confidential and compassionate support.

Grief and Bereavement Services helps reduce social isolation; provides accessible information and education; peer support; emotional and spiritual support.  Individuals learn to re-engage in life, resume household and financial management and reconnect with their community.

Benefits for those served include an improved sense of well-being, prevention of illness, and support the transition back to work or school beginning the process of rebuilding their lives.  Through peer engagement, individuals create friendships, receive and provide support, and express their feelings in an emotionally safe environment.  Ultimately, Bereavement Services help begin the process of healing.  

Our bereavement support includes three different programs:

  • Following the death of a family member or friend, our clients can meet individually with a bereavement support volunteer for one-on-one support in a private and confidential setting
  • Our 7-week Adult Bereavement Support Group offered twice a year gives our clients the opportunity to share their feelings with others who are also grieving in a confidential group setting facilitated by a specially-trained volunteer.
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For more information, please call Kelly Bell 613-542-5013 ext 3  CLICK HERE for the referral form.