Our Family Services Team
Our Family Services Team provides a wide range of support services for patients and their families/whaanau which complement the medical and nursing care.
This includes social, emotional, spiritual and cultural care. We also offer music, massage and occupational therapy. All our practitioners are qualified and experienced within their disciplines.
You can find out more about each of these disciplines below.
Social Worker Support
Our social workers are here to help you through illness, bereavement, and the changes that you will be facing at this time in your life. The first step is to work with you to identify areas of need and offer possible solutions. We are here to support and help you navigate a way forward.
We offer phone or video sessions, along with home visits where possible.
We are able to help with -
Emotional Support, Grief and Bereavement Counselling
Often the emotional pain and stresses associated with illness or death can be as difficult to deal with as the physical symptoms.
We offer professional counselling services for patients and families/whānau facing illness, death and bereavement. Counselling is a process that offers an opportunity to safely explore thoughts and feelings and can enable people to increase their self-awareness, and to identify, address and find ways of coping with challenges that occur through this time.
Our counselling service is free, confidential and available to all Hospice clients and their family/whānau. We offer phone or video sessions, along with home visits where possible.
Counselling provides -
This enables improved communication within the family and allows for a greater sense of wellbeing.
Bereavement follow up -
We have a range of counselling services that are available for patients and family/whaanau during both illness and family bereavement.
Coming together and attending bereavement groups is recognised as an effective way to promote healing through learning with others and mutual support after the loss of a loved one or close friend. A wide range of bereavement groups are offered throughout the year for all ages and according to demand, these can be held during the day or in school holidays.
Bereavement support is provided up to 14 months post death, and in some circumstances, for up to two years.
Additional Bereavement services -
Remembrance services will be offered in Hamilton and in rural areas. Please phone Hospice for more information on 07 859 1260 and ask to speak with a Counsellor.
Support for children and young people -
The Hospice Family Services Team provides information and support for parents with concerns for their children and young people.
Our counsellors will carry out an assessment to identify family/whanau needs, followed by age-appropriate creative therapeutic approaches.
In addition to one-on-one support, we invite children to join in a group day activity with those having similar experiences, where a family member or loved one is being cared for by Hospice Waikato.
Spiritual Care
Spiritual Care and support are an integral part of Hospice care. We will respect your culture, values and beliefs, choices and diversity. Spiritual support of patients and family members is compassionate and gentle.
We offer you the opportunity to reflect and explore ways of spiritual connection, even if this is new. Our Spiritual Care Coordinator is available for community and inpatient visits to discuss any aspect of spiritual well-being.
Phone or video sessions are available, along with home visits where possible.
Cultural Support
Hospice Waikato acknowledge and are sensitive to the diverse cultural makeup of our Waikato region.
Our team is experienced in supporting people from different cultures and all walks of life. We believe a good relationship is based on respect, honesty, integrity and love.
Our commitment to Te Tiriti O Waitangi is reflected in our care for whaanau and families according to their own spirituality, cultures and faith traditions.
Te Whare Tapa Whaa provides the framework for engaging with patients and their whaanau. Our team work with patients and their families/whaanau to ensure their needs are met in ways that are meaningful to them as follows - Te Taha Wairua (spiritual), Te Taha Hinengaro ( emotional), Te Taha Tinana (physical) and Te Taha Whaanau (social).
Our Kaumatua and Kaiaawhina can:
We work in partnership with a wide range of cultural healthcare providers within our region to ensure care is provided in a culturally appropriate way for all those using our service.
Additionally, we offer access to -
Massage
Our volunteer Massage Therapists offer gentle, safe and effective massage techniques that are adapted to meet the needs of patients and their carers. These services are available through the time of illness as well as during bereavement.
Massage is an excellent way to relieve stress and release tension, allowing the body to relax. Our Massage Therapists will discuss your needs with you and together, plan an appropriate session.
Massages are available by appointment at our Cobham Drive site on a Wednesday.
Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy enables and supports people to maintain their quality of life in the activities that are most important and meaningful to them.
Occupational Therapy can assist with:
• Managing fatigue and shortness of breath
• Functional and home environment assessment and advice
• Advice on positioning and manual handling
• Comfort and assistive equipment
• Pressure injury prevention and management
• Enabling and maintaining independence in all areas of daily living, for as long as possible
• Advice, education and support for carers and family
Resources
Kenzies Gift https://kenziesgift.com/
Support for the mental health of tamariki (children), mātātahi (young people) and families affected by serious illness or grief within the family. They provide grief kits and an extensive online resource.
Skylight Trust https://www.skylight.org.nz/
Information and resources on a arrange of topics including: loss and grief, family change, illness and disability, resilience, death and dying and behaviour in children.
Hospice New Zealand https://www.hospice.org.nz/
Information on Hospice, a guide for carers and personal stories, and links for other organisations offering various support.