The care we offer a patient’s family and friends continues even after their loved one has died. Our bereavement team is on hand to offer support through the emotional impact of grief.
Compassionate Friends Coffee Group
If someone you care about has died, then you are invited to attend our ‘Compassionate Friends’ coffee support group. The purpose of this support group is as it sounds, to provide people with an opportunity to connect with others also experiencing grief and for group attendees to gain support from one another.
It is a relaxed and safe meeting of people sharing a similar experience, and who like to gather on a casual basis over a coffee or similar in a warm and friendly café setting.
You are free to come and go as you please. You are free to bring a support person should you wish. It does not matter how short or long ago your loved one died. If you chose to come and just observe, we will ensure no pressure will be put upon you.
Although a Cranford Hospice staff member will be present to support the group it will largely be up to the group attendees to decide what type of support would be helpful. In essence it will be your group.
Occurrence: 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month
Next dates for 2024:
- 16 January 2024
- 13 February 2024
- 20 February 2024
- 5 March 2024
- 19 March 2024
Time: 10.30 – 11.30am, feel free to drop in at any time.
Venue: No5 Cafe and Larder, 248 State Highway 51 Hastings
RSVP: Just show up on the day
If you have any more questions about this coffee group, please send us an email or give us a call on 06 878 7047.
Cranford Hospice Bereavement Group Programme
A bereavement group is a support group for people who have experienced the death of a loved one. It can help you learn more about grief and bereavement and can offer you emotional and social supports. After the death of a loved one, we experience a wide variety of feelings and emotions and we all need a support system to help us as we move through our grief journey. Family, friends, neighbours can be a vital part of this process but a support group can add to this support system by providing you with companionship and understanding from others who have experienced a similar loss and are experiencing similar challenges that living with grief brings.
Often we don’t want people to see our hurt and disappointment or we may feel that it’s our problem and that the hurt is too personal to share. Sometimes we are experiencing guilt or anger. All of these feelings can lead to isolation. It’s important to know that you do not need to fight the battle alone. Sharing your experience of grief and listening to others will help you understand that what you are experiencing is normal. You will have the opportunity to share your story openly and express your thoughts and feelings in an environment where nobody is pressuring you to talk and nobody is pushing you to “get over it”. You will also have the opportunity to hear the stories of others and talk about coping day-to-day.
The goal of a support group is to assist you in gaining strength.
Our bereavement group offers:
- A safe and non-judgmental environment
- A sense of belonging, thereby lessening the sense of being alone
- It can help you find solutions to situations and problems.
- An opportunity to begin the healing process through sharing your own story and hearing the stories of others.
- Coping skills to help out through the most difficult days
- Strength and hope through companionship with people who understand first-hand what you’re going through.
- Often deep and lasting friendships are made.
- Information and resources about grief
If you are interested in attending the Cranford Hospice bereavement support group please register your interest by completing the form below.
Bereavement Programme
If you have any additional questions please contact our reception team on reception@cranfordhospice.org.nz or by phoning 06 8787047.