Patient and Family Support - Waipuna Hospice

Waipuna Hospice moves to Alert Level One

Waipuna Hospice family support services will continue to operate as normal in Alert Level One. As an added precaution, we ask that all patients and visitors sign in on arrival. If you are unwell we ask that you stay home. We believe this is an important step towards ensuring the safety of our community.

If a member of our Family Support Team is planning to visit you during Alert Level One they will check in with you before a visit to clarify your circumstances, as well as identify if you have been exposed to anyone known to have Covid-19 or are experiencing symptoms. This is to ensure we reduce any risks to our patient’s, their whānau, our staff, and the wider community.

We have also developed a Visitor Tracing and Contact Details Form. This form will help you record those people you have contacted with, so contact tracing can be initiated immediately by the Ministry of Health if a risk is identified. A member of our Family Support team will discuss this with you when they call.

Understanding and accepting living with a life-limiting or terminal illness can be a stressful and distressing time not just for the patient, but for the people they hold near and dear. Our professional and compassionate team can assist you and your family/whanau to cope with the changes and the social, emotional and spiritual demands that illness brings.

We will:

Recognise that everyone is different
Listen to your story
Identify things of concern to you
Assist you to come up with solutions that are right for you
Identify things you may want support with
Help you make informed decisions
Provide emotional support
Provide practical support
Provide links to other agencies

Our family support team is made up of people with experience and qualifications in social work, chaplaincy, bereavement support, cultural support, play therapy and counselling and can provide practical and emotional support to assist you to find ways to strengthen your spirit and your ability to cope.

Bereavement Resources

When you’re Grieving – Some helpful info and ideas to help you on the journey by Skylight

Remembrance Service

Waipuna Hospice Remembrance Services are a time when families of the bereaved can come together to remember their loved one and the connection they had with Waipuna Hospice. It is with regret that we had to cancel our in-person Remembrance Service In August due to Covid-19 restrictions on gatherings. However, we warmly invite you to…

Caregiver Education Programme 2021

A one day education session for families and friends as carers of their loved ones. Part One: Support for you and your family Part one begins with introductions and morning tea giving the participants and facilitators a chance to get to know each other. After this we will discuss what Palliative Care is and…

Social Work

Our social workers specialise in working with adults who are approaching the end of their life, as well as their families, those they are close to and their communities. We use particular skills and knowledge to help people to deal with the impact of what is happening to them, including loss and bereavement, which includes…

Chaplaincy, Spiritual Care and Support

Our hospice chaplain / spiritual care practitioner is available for home or inpatient visits to discuss any aspect of spiritual wellbeing. The chaplain’s role involves emotional and spiritual support of patients and family members, supporting people with and without a Christian faith and working closely with the broader faith communities of the Western Bay of…

Shifting Sands – Bereavement Group Peer Support

Shifting Sands – Bereavement Group Peer Support Come and meet others walking a similar path of grief and loss in a supportive, caring environment. Afternoon tea provided. Please come to the Day Services Reception (the entrance to the right of the main car-park). Wednesdays 1.30-3.00pm

A-ha! Moments

This is a two session workshop where you use materials to create a visual biography, a board depicting memories of special times in your life. You don’t need any artistic skills, it’s all about you, your story, your journey and the “A-ha!” moments along the way. We invite you to bring a helper (partner, grandchild,…

Cultural Support

We are committed to engaging with family and whanau, understanding cultural differences, rituals and practices in order to make the experience of every patient and their loved ones, memorable, respectful, complete. The Kai Whakamaru is available to provide support, protection and advocacy for patients and their whanau, throughout their hospice journey, ensuring your cultural, emotional,…

Riding the Grief Wave Bereavement Support Course

This eight week course (2 hours per week) provides the opportunity to meet with other bereaved individuals and with the support of our counsellors, help understand and navigate the wave of grief and loss. If you feel you are experiencing on-going difficulty recovering from the loss of a loved one, then please contact us to…

Child, Adolescent and Family Services

Part of our service is providing specialist support for children, adolescents and families throughout the time of care and beyond. There are a number of ways we provide this support depending on the specific needs of children, adolescents and families, such as: Providing parents and caregivers with information and access to resources Counselling support for…

Meaning Centred Group Programme

“Life never ceases to have meaning.” This small group programme offers the opportunity for patients facing similar challenges to explore concepts of meaning in a safe, supported environment. Trained Meaning Centred group facilitators Debbie Penlington and Colleen Kendrick were trained at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre in New York. The group will explore: Identity…