Grief & loss counselling service proving its worth

Masonic Charities funding ensures vital service

As Mount Gambier’s In Home Hospice Care continues its fight for a sustainable funding model, petitioning the State Government for an ongoing financial commitment, there has been some good news on the fiscal front with a $30,450 grant from Masonic Charities.

The windfall was presented at IHHCare’s inaugural palliative care information session held at the end of last month during National Palliative Care Week.

The two hour session included guest speakers covering what IHHCare offers; Advance Care planning; the role of a Death Doula and grief and loss counselling.

More than 30 people took up the opportunity to learn more about the palliative care space and the support available for patients and their family and friends.

The Masonic Charities donation supports the grief and loss counselling offered through IHHCare and given the service’s counsellor Glenny Tiller has been kept busy in the past year, just how critical that service is has been laid bare.

IHHCare hospice manager Sandi Elliott said they were fortunate to offer a free Grief, Loss and Bereavement service as a result of the generosity of the Masonic Charities Trust.

“We are very appreciative of their ongoing financial support and interest in our program,” Sandi said. “Across the nation, it has been recognised that Australians are generally reluctant to openly talk about dying, death, and palliative and hospice care.

“At ‘In Home Hospice Care,’ we are actively encouraging people to have open and honestdiscussions about dying and death.

This can ensure that someone’s wishes for end-oflife are known and respected and can support those who you love, through bereavement.”

And that is why the role of Glenny Tiller, providing emotional support to In Home Hospice Care volunteers and staff as they travel on the journey with their clients and carers to the end of life, as well as support to those in our local community who have lost loved ones, has proven to be such an important addition to the IHHCare service. Since February last year she has held 16 individual counselling sessions under Employee Assistance and another 60 counselling sessions for people in the community.

“Of late, we have noticed a significant rise in the number of people seeking support, and especially now that this program is becoming more widely known with Glenny currently seeing on average three clients per week over the past few months,” Sandi said. “All of this, whilst working only one or two days per week.”

So with the finances locked away for the counselling service, Sandi and the team, including volunteers, can now turn their hand to other opportunities to expand and improve the IHHCare service.

“We are looking at the building and expansion of supportive relationships and networks with local funeral homes, aged carefacilities, CarersSA and our local churches, in the aim to encourage the community to seek support when needed and increase people’s understanding of the grieving process,” Sandi said.

“Depending upon community interest, there is also the possibility of offering ‘Seasons for Growth’ workshops – which would be available in group format. This program encourages people to develop an understanding of the grieving process, and skills to move forward.

“Other initiatives under consideration are to start a support group or a regular ‘drop in’ informal get together where people are able to talk with others about dealing with grief and the changes in their lives due to the loss of a loved one.

“This funding from Masonic Charities, is helping our community to return to a time when dying is not seen as a medical failure, but as a natural part of life. It is enabling us to play an important part in helping people with comfort, conversation, and consolation.”

PALLIATIVE CARE IN THE SPOTLIGHT:

(Above) IHHCare board member Fiona Dixon, Ilana Adam, representing Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell, IHHCare ambassador Gail Richards, Brite Legal’s Ebony Cunningham & IHHCare hospice manager Sandi Elliott.