Routine IT maintenance on Wednesday, December 17 will cause service interruptions between midnight and 6:00am affecting the YourHealthNS app and on-line appointment booking including COVID-19 testing, blood collection, X-Ray, EKG and the Need a Family Practice Registry. We apologize for any inconvenience.
The Palliative Care Bereavement Service offers support to the family and friends of people who were cared for by the Palliative Care Program in Nova Scotia Health (NSH) Central Zone. We provide a range of grief support services, including access to grief-related resources, information about grief support groups and counseling, and invitations to our memorial services.
If you are grieving the death of someone who received care from the Palliative Care Service you are welcome to reach out. All services are free, and there is no time limit to access them.
The team includes a Bereavement Coordinator, a small team of volunteers, and administrative support. The Coordinator also provides grief information and education for the community, including the public, healthcare workers, and other groups.
Grief Support Groups
Grief support groups are places where you can talk about your feelings and learn helpful ways to cope with others who are also grieving. There are many different types of grief support groups.
The Palliative Care Bereavement Service offers 7-week online groups for people in Nova Scotia who are grieving the death of a person over 18 years old. In these groups, you meet with the same people each week and commit to attending all sessions. Before joining, each person will have an online meeting with a facilitator. This meeting explains what the group is like and gives you an opportunity to ask questions. These meetings take approximately 45–50 minutes and are held over Microsoft Teams.
Upcoming Grief Support Group:
6–8 PM Thursdays, February 12 – March 26 (virtual)
To learn more about this or other grief groups, contact us at czbereavement@nshealth.ca or 902-473-1622.
Palliative Care Memorial Services
Twice a year the Palliative Care Program hosts a memorial service to honour those who have died while under our care. Family, friends, and staff are all welcome to attend.
The next memorial service will be:
7 PM, April 14 – Sackawa Canoe Club, 159 First Lake Drive, Lower Sackville
For more information or to register, please call 902-220-4398 or email czbereavement@nshealth.ca.
Other Supports
Nova Scotia Health Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) Program: Grief supports are offered through the MAiD Program, including free individual counseling and grief groups. This support can be accessed by calling 1-833-903-6243 or 902-491-5892.
Victoria Building
Part of QEII Health Sciences Centre
1276 South Park Street
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Grief counseling is available in person or virtually. In-person sessions are offered at the Bereavement Coordinator’s office at the Victoria General Hospital (Palliative Care, 7A-055), weekly at Alderney Gate Public Library in Dartmouth, and occasionally at the Bedford and Lower Sackville Libraries.
Grief and Bereavement Services can be accessed through self-referral by contacting the Bereavement Coordinator.
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.
This pamphlet describes how you may feel after the death of a loved one. Topics include physical changes, emotions, what you can do, and grief. This pamphlet is also available in French.
Although your grief is unique to your relationship with the person who died, there are some common themes. Our staff, volunteers, and bereaved people have identified 10 things as important in understanding your grief. This pamphlet is also available in French.
This pamphlet explains how you can help when your child is coping with disease, dying, the death of a loved one, and grief. This pamphlet is also available in French.