USEFUL INFORMATION & LINKS

THE EXPERIENCE OF BEREAVEMENT

The death of a loved one, and the grief which follows, are painful experiences which may give rise to unexpected feelings and symptoms and often bring about problems and personal difficulties during the months, and even years, following such a significant Loss.

While bereavement is experienced by just about everyone sometime during their lives, reaction to grief is different and unique for each individual.

To facilitate this process Hospice offers bereavement support to anyone who has been bereaved, whether the cause of bereavement is through illness, accident, suicide, etc.  This aims to develop individual coping mechanisms, and constructive ways of adapting to loss, within a therapeutic setting.

Hospice provides bereavement support on an individual basis, with Loved ones, or in a Group Setting.

Try to remember that, even when the most intense phase of your grief has subsided, your memories can still be cherished and will always be a special part of you.

Carrying on with life doesn’t mean you no longer care about someone you loved deeply:  it simply acknowledges your understanding of what is past, and your acceptance of the future.

Try to avoid:

setting unrealistic expectations for yourself, Grief needs time.

Being too hard on yourself.  Although you’re bound to have bad days perhaps tomorrow will be easier for you.

Feeling disloyal if you enjoy yourself.  Renewing an interest in life, does not mean you have forgotten the one you loved.

Bottling up your emotions, isolating yourself, and refusing to talk about things;  let those you love know that their support is needed, and you’ll find that talking to some-one who understands, can make a world of difference.

CARING FOR SOMEONE WHO IS TERMINAL

One of the best places for a Terminally ill Patient to receive care is in their own home, surrounded by those who can provide love and care.

Caring for someone who has a terminal illness could make you Feel:

Alone                              Afraid

Out of Control                  Traumatized

Confused                         Desperate

Helpless

It will help if you:

-      Talk about your feelings with someone you can trust.

-      Ask for help.

-      Become aware of the realities involved in caring for a terminally ill person.

-      The patient, yourself, and any other person involved, will be experiencing multiple losses, which will affect your normal ways of living.

-      You have to acknowledge the fact that we all are whole persons – which means that we are not merely a body with an illness called a patient, but that we also have a physical, social, emotional and spiritual quadrant.  To enjoy quality of life, we cannot expect the physical body to do all the work, and therefore we need to explore the losses in all the quadrants.  By understanding the process, and what you are feeling, will allow YOU to feel in control, and not have the illness controlling you.