Pathways | Palliative & Bereavement Support Services

Palliative & Bereavement Support Services - Comox Valley

End of Life Care / Palliative Care, Mental Health - Adult, and Services for Seniors

Provided by Comox Valley Hospice Society

Eases the journey of dying and grieving, by providing information, emotional and practical support for individuals and families facing life-limiting illness, death, and bereavement.

Palliative Care Support:

Visiting Programs for Emotional Support: Comox Valley Hospice Society delivers palliative direct care volunteer visiting programs at Comox Valley Hospital, Aitken Community Hospice, in care facilities, and in private homes. This support is offered in-person (as public health protocols allow), over the telephone, or online.
Advance Care Planning: Prevent difficult conversations between family members and healthcare providers by having Advance Care Planning conversations before a medical crisis occurs. Trained volunteers offer one-to-one advance care planning with palliative clients upon request.
Volunteer Companioning - Dignity at Death: Counsellors and volunteers are trained to help the dying live life to the fullest during the final stage of life. The goal is to promote dignity for the dying, and to ensure they are as comfortable as possible and able to participate fully in decisions that affect them. Companioning is available in the Aitken Community hospice, at Comox Valley Hospital, local care facilities, or at home.
Self Care Programs: Based on volunteer availability, 1:1 healing touch and reiki treatments are available to palliative clients upon request. Reiki/healing touch appointments at the CVHS office can be booked by calling 250-871-0696 (press 1) or email reception@comoxhospice.com.

Caregiver Support:

Emotional Support: Clients who provide primary care for a friend or family member with a life-limiting illness can access in-person visits or telephone support from CVHS counsellors and/or trained volunteers to address concerns of the significant emotional impact of their caregiving role, as well as the anticipated grief they will experience as the illness progresses.
Vigil Support: Depending on CVHS volunteer availability, bedside vigil support can be requested. This can bring family members peace of mind, knowing that their loved one has someone nearby at this tender time.

Grief Support:

Volunteer Phone Outreach Support: Rrained volunteers provides compassionate non-judgmental support through regular phone calls. Clients can feel emotionally supported as they express their grief, share memories, talk about their concerns and challenges. Volunteers are supported by CVHS counsellors.
Grief Support Groups: Offers in-person grief support groups at different times throughout the year for CVHS clients. These have included groups such as Partners in Grief, Sudden Loss Support Group. Less structured volunteer led peer support gatherings are also offered on a weekly basis. While these groups are not support groups, they can feel supportive to participants by offering a safe space to socialize.
Grief Counselling: CVHS offers limited short-term grief counselling and/or assistance in finding community grief support services when available for those not able to access those resources through their employment benefits.
Volunteer Grief Support: This program provides thoughtfully matched companionship to bereaved clients during the first months of grief. Trained volunteers offer compassionate non-judgmental support to help naturalize the grieving process through in-person visits. The frequency of these visits gradually tapers as the client learns to adjust to their loss.

250-871-0696 ext. 1

Public email: reception@comoxhospice.com

Website: https://comoxhospice.com

Ocean Front Village - 2900 Cliffe Avenue, Courtenay, British Columbia, V9N 0J1

Wheelchair accessible.

Referral options: