When someone in the family has a life-threatening illness, the whole family is impacted by the many changes, the concerns and the unknown. Adults may choose to avoid talking to children about the illness to protect them from pain and distress. However, when children are not informed, they often feel excluded, alone and isolated. It’s important to consider that children will feel something is going on in their family even when they are not told. They may even think that they have caused the anxiety and unsettled state of their family.
Hospice Calgary Fundraising Auction
Our auction is now closed. Thank you so much for your support! With your help, it raised over $19,500 for Hospice Calgary’s programs and services. Thank you to all of our silent auction donors.
Winners: Please contact Carrie at events@hospicecalgary.ca to arrange pick up of your item(s). We are adhering to COVID-19 protocols and do require a scheduled date and time for pick up. When you arrive, please wait in your car and call us at 403-263-4525. We will bring your package(s) out to you.
Pick Up Days & Hours: Monday, Nov. 8th to Wednesday, Nov. 10th, from 8am-4pm and Friday from 8am-4pm. Please note that we are closed on Thursday, Nov. 11th for Remembrance Day.
We Grieve Differently…Even in Families (Recording)
We all grieve in our own unique way and have different needs as we experience the death of someone close to us.
How to Talk to Children about Death & Grief (Recording)
Children grieve differently than adults. They do not have the capacity to deal with intense emotions continuously like adults. Instead, children grieve in doses, alternating between times of play and intense emotions. A child’s age, developmental stage, and experiences determine their understanding of death and ability to cope with the death of a loved one.
Westjet Gift of Flight Raffle Tickets
The 2021 WestJet Gift of Flight raffle is now closed.
Thank you so much for your support! With your help, it raised over $10,900 for Hospice Calgary’s programs and services.
Winner: Congratulations to Kathy Chapman for winning the raffle!
January 17 – Dying to Know – How to Talk to Children About Advanced Illness
When someone in the family has a life-threatening illness, the whole family is impacted by the many changes, the concerns and the unknown. Adults may choose to avoid talking to children about the illness to protect them from pain and distress. However, when children are not informed, they often feel excluded, alone, and isolated. Learn about the importance of talking with young people about the hard stuff.
When Grief Goes to School (Recording)
When a child or teen has experienced the death of someone in their lives, the thought of going back to school may often bring additional challenges. There are a number of things parents can to do help their children feel safe and give them a sense of stability.
Land Acknowledgment
We formally recognize the unique and enduring relationship between this land and the Indigenous Peoples of this place. Because of this relationship, we have this land to gather on in the way that we do today. In the spirit of reconciliation, we invite you to reflect on what it means to acknowledge that we live, work and play on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the Îyâxe Nakoda Nations, the Métis Nation (Region 3), and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.
New Name, Same Services: Living with Advanced Illness Centre
Our Community Hospice Services will soon become the Living with Advanced Illness Centre!
We asked and you told us…
The Hospice Calgary department that provides counselling, education, and group programs for those impacted by advanced illness is currently named Community Hospice Services. You told us this name is confusing and doesn’t accurately describe the services offered.
We are excited to share that we heard your feedback and will be changing the name to the Living with Advanced Illness Centre! These services will continue to be a part of Hospice Calgary, along with the Children’s Grief Centre and Rosedale Hospice.
What does this mean for the community?
Often when people hear the word “hospice”, they think of a residential hospice only. With our new name, the Living with Advanced Illness Centre, people will know that they can call us for support much earlier in their illness; not just at end of life. The Centre’s mission will be to continue to provide a family-centred, integrated, community-based approach to improved quality of life for those impacted by advanced illness. The Living with Advanced Illness Centre offers:
- Care and support beyond the bedside
- A place for difficult conversations about advanced illness
- Tools to help with grief
- Commitment towards building compassionate communities
We hope that this new name shares our goal to help people live well during illness and encourage them to play an active role in their care, connect with others, and get support for their emotional, physical, and spiritual needs, as well as gain practical knowledge to help with their journey.
