To mark National Grief Awareness Week, Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise are encouraging people to be more grief aware and to have more conversations about death and grief.
This week, the End of Life Care Committee hosted an awareness day in the hospital.
The aim of this event was to raise awareness about grief, providing information on supports to those who are grieving, and fostering a better understanding of the grieving process.
At the event, the Hospital launched their new Bereavement Information Pack for bereaved families after a death.
This new information pack is a resource to help families after the death of a loved one.
Zara Dagg, End of Life Care Coordinator MRHP said:
“While the hospital awaits the results of the recent National End of Life Survey 2023, which will be published this April, we today launched a resource to help families through a time of grief.
“The National End of Life Survey 2023 explored the need for more information for bereaved families after a death. We are delighted to launch our hospital specific bereavement information pack for families and loved ones of patients in our hospital today.”
The bereavement information packs contain two items: a Hospital bereavement information leaflet and the HSE national bereavement booklet.
The bereavement information leaflet includes localised information on:
- hospital facilities
- what happens after a death in hospital
- how to make funeral arrangements
- information on post mortems
- registering deaths
- local civil registration offices
- practical and financial details
- local coroner contact matters
- bereavement supports.
The national bereavement booklet includes in depth information and national supports. It provides an overview of the practical and emotional issues that bereaved families face when someone close dies.
It contains information on adult, adolescent and child grief, financial, legal and practical information on registering a death, wills, guardianship, post mortems, counselling services, support organisations, books and resources.
Olivia Lafferty, Director of Nursing MRHP said:
“Today we launch our new bereavement information pack which is an important resource for bereaved families to help make difficult decisions at a time of grief.
“We all know the sadness of losing someone close and the information pack will help support the patient and the family members with these decisions.
“As a quality improvement initiative, we believe it is vital to inform people about bereavement and the supports that are available.”
Grief is a natural response to the death of someone close. It does not follow a definite pattern and can be different for everyone.
Feeling isolated, lonely, shocked, numb, helpless, angry, irritable, relieved, guilty and sad are common feelings associated with grief, along with physical reactions such as difficulty sleeping, poor concentration and loss of appetite.
Family and friends may be unsure how best to support them. Learning more about grief can help someone before and during the grieving process and can also help the people supporting them.
For more information on National Grief Awareness Week online events please visit www.hospicefoundation.ie
- Grief is expressed and felt in different ways.
- There is no right or wrong way to grieve.
- How we experience grief and loss depends on a range of factors, such as our coping style, relationship with the deceased and cultural practices.
- There are no stages of grief; it ebbs and flows.
- There is no time limit to grief; it takes the time it takes.
- Don’t assume people ‘get used’ to loss – grief in old age is still grief.
You don’t need any particular skills to support someone who is grieving. You can ask them to meet for a walk, drop by for a cup of tea or offer practical help, such as preparing a meal. It can all go a long way.
