The Hospice Society of Camrose and District is a non-residential (we do not yet have a designated hospice space), program-oriented charitable society. It is the intention of the Hospice Society of Camrose and District to promote dying at home where it is desirable and feasible, and to offer safe, comfortable alternatives when a home death is not possible. Along with palliative care, HSCD provides grief support and education to the community.

 To this end:

 Our Mission (Why We Do What We Do)

To enable our community to support those facing advancing illness, death and bereavement with dignity – through education and compassionate care.

 Our Vision (Where Our Work Takes Us)

To provide compassionate holistic care to those who are dying and to their loved ones.

Our programs include: 

Palliative Care

- Volunteers offer bedside and in-home companionship, emotional support, relief for caregivers, sitting vigil, and access to resources.

Bereavement and Grief Support

- GRIEF COMPANIONING PROGRAM Grief companions are HSCD-trained volunteers offering one-on-one grief support. Companions are a compassionate, listening presence when you need a safe place to tell your story of loss, and to share both tears and laughter.

- GRIEF-SUPPORT WALKING GROUP This drop-in group meets year-round on Wednesday mornings at 9:30 am. In the non-snow season, we meet at the Camrose Visitor Center Parking Lot for a leisurely walk around Mirror Lake. In winter we meet at the indoor track at the Rec Center. Walking is followed by coffee and conversation.

- MEN’S COOKING CIRCLE This is an opportunity to learn basic cooking skills, meet other men, cook and eat together, and to engage conversation with men who are experiencing grief. This is a partnership program with Hospice, AHS and community facilitators.

- BEREAVEMENT & GRIEF WORKSHOP This workshop is for people who are coping with grief and loss, as well as for people interested in becoming “grief helpers” – co-workers, family members or even physicians and healthcare professionals supporting people going through a loss.

- ONE-ON-ONE CONSULTATION Book time for conversation about your grief journey. Assessment and referral are provided as desired.

Education

- Workshops for professionals, as well as for the public on signs and symptoms of grief, navigating grief, and wellness in professional roles.

- Death Cafe:  Death Cafes are scheduled gatherings over coffee, for the purpose of talking about all things death and dying. This is not a grief support group; no counselling, or instructions regarding planning one’s death are offered. This is an open and frank conversation around the topic of death. Offered monthly

- Palliative Volunteer Training/grief companion training through AHPCA.