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Palliative Care Bereavement Program

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Palliative Care Bereavement Service provides grief support for the family and friends of patients who have received care from the Palliative Care Program in Central Zone. This support includes one-on-one and family grief counseling, grief supports groups, memorial services, and grief related resources. If you are the family member or friend of somebody who has died while under the care of Palliative Care Service and are looking for support with your grieving, please reach out.

The Bereavement Service includes a Bereavement Coordinator who can provide grief counseling, and volunteers who can help you to navigate other grief related resources and information.

The Bereavement Coordinator also provides grief related information to the wider community, including the public, community agencies, healthcare providers, NSH staff and volunteers. Working together with NSH team members and other community partners, this role supports and encourages grief literacy and education in a variety of ways.

Grief Groups

You are not alone in your grief. Grief support groups provide the opportunity to come together in a supportive environment to explore the grief experience with others. Grief groups are open to friends and family of those who have died in the care of Palliative Care Service and are over the age of 18.

In the New Year we will be offering three grief support groups: 

  • Living with the Death of a Spouse - 6-week session, virtual 
  • Living with the Death of a Parent - 6-week session, virtual 
  • Grief Support Group - 6-week, in person, Alderny Gate Library 

If you are interested in any of these groups, please contact 902-473-1622 or czbereavement@nshealth.ca to arrange a time for an intake. Exact dates are being finalized and will be posted as soon as they are available.

Palliative Care Memorial Services

Twice a year the Palliative Care Service comes offers a memorial service where family, friends and staff are invited to honor those who have died while under our care.

The next Memorial will take place in April, 2024 at the Halifax Central Library.

If you would like more information about the Palliative Care Memorials, or would like to be added to the invitation list, please contact 902-473-1622 or czbereavement@nshealth.ca

Accessing this Clinic, Program or Service

Grief and Bereavement Services can be accessed through self-referral by contacting the Bereavement Coordinator.  For family and friends who are grieving the death of someone who died while under the care of the Palliative Care Service, there is no cut off for when Bereavement Services can be accessed. Grief does not follow a timeline.

With consent, any healthcare provider can submit a referral to the Bereavement Coordinator using a generic consult form.

When you call the Bereavement Coordinator you can expect to speak with a kind professional who will explain the grief services available and answer any questions that you may have.

The Bereavement Coordinator’s office is in the Victoria General Hospital, on the Palliative Care Floor (Floor: 7A, Office: 055).

*On Wednesdays the Bereavement Coordinator is based out of Alderney Gate Public Library (60 Alderney Dr, Dartmouth).

Contact

Palliative Care Bereavement Coordinator: Jocelyne Tranquilla
Phone: 902-473-1622
Email: CZbereavement@nshealth.ca

When you call the Bereavement Coordinator you can expect to speak with a kind professional who will explain the grief services available and answer any questions that you may have.

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