Helping families process grief and bereavement is a significant part of the 24/7 care provided at Hospice Renfrew.
Resident and Family Counsellor Christie Zimmerling’s role is to get to know residents and their readiness for the end-of-life journey, assessing individual needs and tailoring the emotional and spiritual comfort the hospice provides in a way that lets a resident fully embrace the remaining precious moments they have with loved ones.
It’s a level of care that can be hard to come by elsewhere, and people without the necessary support system behind them are often left anxious and fearful.
Zimmerling also assists families coping with the anticipatory grief that comes with a loved one going into palliative care, providing the tools they need to maintain the self-care required to be emotionally available and normalizing the conversations that ensure everyone gets closure.
Hospice Renfrew also hosts regular counselling support groups across Renfrew County that focus on specific stages of the grieving process.
(written by Kasey Egan)
