Chilliwack Hospice Society is offering a variety of programs this fall to provide support to those who are grieving the death of a loved one — human or animal — and caregivers of a dying person.
A new format of group grief support, a Coffee and Compassion Circle, will offer the experience of a drop-in model. This group will be facilitated once a month on Monday afternoons at 1 p.m. This circle will offer grievers the opportunity to connect with others who are grieving the death of a loved one, to improve their understanding of the grief process, to ask unanswered questions in a safe, supportive space, and to learn about the free programs and services offered by Chilliwack Hospice Society.
There is also a grief support group dedicated to pet loss, which offers a non-judgmental space to mourn this meaningful death with others who understand. Discussion topics will include normalizing grief, making room to grieve, self-care, the importance of rituals, and memorializing your pet. The pet loss grief support group will meet once a week for four consecutive weeks, starting Sept. 11.
The Child and Youth Program is designed for families grieving the death of a grownup or sibling in a child’s life. The program will be facilitating monthly Family Art Nights to help children and their grownups process their grief through creative expression. This group will provide a safe place to connect with other families who are coping with grief and loss and to share their experiences if they choose. Projects will include memory lanterns, pour painting, and Christmas ornaments.
Movement can be very helpful when coping with stress or grief. A new walking group for caregivers will offer mutual support and camaraderie for those who are caring for a dying person while improving overall well-being by walking along the beautiful Vedder Rotary Trail. Strength in Strides: Caregiver’s Journey will meet once a week for eight weeks, beginning Sept. 11.
First Step Grief Support Group will meet Saturday mornings this Fall beginning Oct. 19. An eight-week closed program at Chilliwack Hospice Society, First Step offers mutual support and socialization for bereaved adults wanting to share the journey into change and renewal. Grief has no timeline. As such, some group members may choose to begin participating in the weeks following the death of their loved one. Others may find themselves open to the benefits of participating in a grief support group years later and are welcome to do so.
“Each grief support group Chilliwack Hospice Society facilitates offers participants validation, comfort, and a chance to feel seen as they navigate significant loss in their lives,” says Sue Knott, executive director. “While we cannot fix their pain, we can hold space for them and offer care and compassion for the grief journey.”
Throughout the year, in addition to groups, the society provides one-to-one grief support for children, youth, and adults. Professional staff offer guidance through the tangled processes of grief and loss that accompany dying and death. It does not matter when or how the death occurred, or how a person is connected to the death — anyone can benefit from this support.
If you or someone you know is grieving the death of a loved one right now, call Chilliwack Hospice Society at 604-795-4660 or visit chilliwackhospice.org to learn more about the one-to-one support, groups, and workshops that are currently being offered.
Society programs and services are provided free of cost thanks to the generosity of individual donors and businesses in the community. Donations are always accepted at the Thrifty Boutique and online at www.chilliwackhospice.org/donate.
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Chilliwack Hospice Society is a community-based organization that helps individuals and families dealing with dying and death through support, education, and programs that promote wellness and healthy grieving.
