It’s only natural after the death of a loved one to feel grief. How we mourn and deal with that loss is entirely personal. The most important thing to realise is that you don’t need to face it alone. Heart of Kent Hospice offers a range of bereavement support services for the families, friends and carers of our patients. We are here to support you whether it’s been several months or even up to two years after your loss. We hope our Heart of Kent Hospice bereavement booklet will reassure you that the range of emotions you are feeling are a natural part of bereavement. The booklet also contains information on people and groups that can also support you.
Heart of Kent Hospice bereavement booklet
How we support you:
Since the pandemic our bereavement services are now being provided in a variety of ways, and are of course subject to the changing covid regulations.
Bereavement drop-in
Wednesday 10:00am - 11:30am
This session is for the family and important people of patients who have died whilst under the care of the Hospice. There is no need to pre-book. Come and speak with someone about your grief, whether you are newly bereaved, or it’s been several months or even up to two years after your loss.At these sessions we aim to provide:
Bereavement in the workplace
We recognise that many local employees will be supporting their colleagues through a bereavement. We have produced a guide with some useful information to enable your business to fully support your colleagues and teams in a compassionate and sensitive way.
Precious Time - a book offering support to children and families who have a loved one who is approaching the end of their life
Heart of Kent Hospice Social Worker Lyndsey Stukalov-Stone has used her Hospice experience to release a debut book, Precious Time, to help children understand their feelings when a loved one is dying. The book is an interactive tool for adults to use as a guide to plan their own conversation or to be used in direct work with children. The child is gently encouraged to share their thoughts and feelings in a variety of ways and will through the book understand their loved one is facing a life limiting illness, what this means and how to make the most of the precious time left. The book supports the child's mental health through an interactive, gentle and validating approach.
Lyndsey works at the Hospice supporting children, young people and families who are facing a terminal illness. She provides invaluable care from the point of diagnosis through to bereavement, and tailors her support to meet the individual needs of each family. When it comes to the conversation about telling a child someone close to them is going to die, a key question she faces from families is how to tell a child this news and support them though this conversation. Lyndsey says of the book "It is as if the readers have me with them, in a session, exploring the most difficult of conversations when a child needs to know a loved one is going to die."