Bereavement Services
Grieving is a normal process of adjustment following the death of someone important in your life. Grief is sometimes described as a journey of change, with most people going in and out of grief as they adjust to life again. This may include learning new skills, or taking on new tasks such as managing finances or cooking. Grieving can bring up many different and difficult emotions. It can be tiring and challenging.
Many people cope with grief through the support of family and friends. Others benefit from talking to someone outside the family. All of our bereavement services are open to family and friends of patients who died under the care of St. Francis Hospice Dublin. There is no charge for any of our services.
Bereavement Counselling
The Social Work service is available to help families cope with their bereavement through the provision of information, support and bereavement counselling, to both adults and children. Social Workers can meet people individually and together. They may provide information about how to talk to your child and others who may have difficulty with understanding death and loss of a close relative.
A child’s experience of bereavement can be very painful and isolating, and parents going through their own grief may not be emotionally available to help their child at this time. The hospice Social Workers are available to work with children, when requested by their parents, to help them work through their grief.
Volunteer Bereavement Support Service (VBSS)
The Social Work Department also works closely with the Volunteer Bereavement Support Service, a team of trained volunteers who offer support to individuals on an on-going basis. It is a confidential listening service and the volunteers meet clients on a one-to-one basis at the Hospice.
Appointments take place on Tuesday evenings in both in St Francis Hospice Raheny and Blanchardstown. Appointments can be by phone or face to face and will continue to be provided in line with public health guidance.
If you would like to attend the service, please contact the Social Work Department using the contact details above and speak to a member of the Social Work team.
Become a Bereavement Volunteer
Bereavement Information Evening
The death of a family member, a relative or a friend can bring up many strange and painful feelings. The talk “A Journey Through Bereavement” which takes about forty-five minutes will be given by one of the Social Workers. It will describe some of the different ways people experience bereavement. At the end of the talk some of the bereavement volunteers and Social Workers will be available if you would like to talk to them or ask any questions.
Invitations are sent to bereaved families whose relative has died under the care of St. Francis Hospice in the previous 4 to 6 months. The events are held at 7.30pm on a Wednesday evening in the Centre for Continuing Studies in St Francis Hospice Raheny and Blanchardstown.
Here is a link to a recording of a previous talk https://vimeo.com/432412572/19380d2ad3
If you would like to attend a Bereavement Information Evening, please contact the Social Work Secretary at bereavement@sfh.ie with your contact details.