Understanding and accepting living with a life-limiting or terminal illness can be a stressful and distressing time not just for the patient, but for the people they hold near and dear.
Bereavement
Support.
We have a range of bereavement support services including:
- Counselling
- Chaplaincy support
- Visits from bereavement support volunteers
When we are able to run groups safely onsite we offer:
- A Normalising Grief Seminar (dates to be advised on registration)
- Shifting Sands Bereavement Peer Support Group – (day and time to be advised on registration)
- Memory making activities for young families
Please contact us to discuss your bereavement support needs by emailing bereavement@waipunahospice.org.nz or phone (07) 552 4380.
When you’re Grieving – Some helpful info and ideas to help you on the journey by Skylight.
Remembrance Service.
Waipuna Hospice Remembrance Services offer a time for families of the bereaved to come together and remember their loved one and the connection they had with Waipuna Hospice.
Spiritual Care
and Support.
Our hospice chaplain / spiritual care practitioner is available for home or inpatient visits to discuss any aspect of spiritual wellbeing.
The chaplain’s role involves emotional and spiritual support of patients and family members, supporting people with and without a Christian faith and working closely with the broader faith communities of the Western Bay of Plenty.
Cultural Support.
We are committed to engaging with family and whānau, understanding cultural differences, rituals and practices in order to make the experience of every patient and their loved ones, memorable, respectful, complete. The Kaiwhakamaru is available to provide support, protection and advocacy for patients and their whānau, throughout their hospice journey, ensuring your cultural, emotional, spiritual and social needs are met.
The Kaiwhakamaru focuses on providing information to help understand the Waipuna Hospice approach to palliative care and can coordinate with local Marae, Hapu, Iwi and Kaumatua as necessary.
Child, Adolescent
& Whānau Services.
Part of our service is providing specialist support for children, adolescents and families throughout the time of care and beyond. There are a number of ways we provide this support depending on the specific needs of children, adolescents and families, such as:
- Providing parents and caregivers with information and access to resources
- Counselling support for parents/caregivers
- Parent/child sessions
- Play therapy sessions for children
- Counselling for adolescents
- Siblings sessions
- Family sessions
A range of therapeutic approaches can be utilised to suit the developmental needs and interests of children and adolescents from play therapy, creative therapies and counselling approaches.
To encourage children and adolescents to express their thoughts, feelings and experiences sessions might include the use of:
- Art
- Creating sandworlds
- Memory making
- Journaling
- Story writing
- Therapeutic play
For children under six years, the focus will generally be on working with parents/caregivers.
If, as a Hospice patient or family member, you feel your child or adolescent would benefit from this support, please contact the family support team at Waipuna Hospice on (07) 552 4380 or email childandadolescentcounsellor@waipunahospice.org.nz.
Anticipatory Grief – Supporting young people and children who are living with anticipatory loss and grief when someone they love is dying, by Skylight
Building your child or teen’s resilience – By Skylight
Bereavement at Different Ages and Stages – How can we help them, by Skylight
Supporting a Bereaved Teen – By Skylight
Real
Stories.
We’re reminded of the importance of time when we know there’s only so much of it left. For some, it’s been profound. See how we’ve helped make a difference for so many locals.
Social Work.
Our social workers specialise in working with adults who are approaching the end of their life, as well as their families, those they are close to and their communities.
We use particular skills and knowledge to help people to deal with the impact of what is happening to them, including loss and bereavement, which includes having a good life and a good death. We are able to work alongside other professions, agencies, organisations and as part of the wider community in which we are based. We bring social care expertise and perspective to situations in order to ensure that people get the support they need.