A completely different world for Hope House after a year in pandemic

March 26, 2021 · 0 Comments

It is always hard to say goodbye.

The death of a loved one can cause emotional upheaval, grief that is sometimes easier to shoulder if shared. But the global pandemic has, in many ways, robbed those grieving of doing so with their own networks of emotional support. If you lost a spouse, parent or friend before the pandemic, the isolation has, in many ways, also renewed the grieving process.

This is a reality that has been identified by Hope House Hospice (formerly Hospice King Aurora) and is one of the many ways they have been adapting to a landscape forever changed by COVID-19.

“We have completely changed the way we do things,” says Heidi Bonner, Executive Director of Hope House.

Last March, Hope House was forced to stop their in-person support programs, shifting their work to online support and counselling, as well as services over the phone, including group programming.

Their in-home visiting program, of course, had to stop before being retooled to outreach over the phone, and new programs, which were not previously on the Hospice’s radar, not only became reality but essential in our collective new normal.

“The uptake in online programs was really great,” says Ms. Bonner. “We had volunteers that offered to be what we call ‘tech shepherds’ helping clients navigate through technology such as learning how to use Zoom and getting them set up and confident. Pretty much right away we were able to offer some of our support groups via Zoom.”

This past summer, Hope House launched a support group for sudden loss, including clients who have experienced a loss due to suicide, an accident and, more recently, COVID-19.

“Coping with death is difficult anyway, but this past year, because of isolation, people aren’t able to have those important rituals that have to do with supporting the family,” says Ms. Bonner. “That hasn’t been possible and death during this time has been extra-difficult for people.”

These losses can also be particularly difficult for children and COVID-19 presented Hope House with an opportunity to reach out to this key demographic.

Grief Busters is a bereavement camp for kids experiencing a loss.

In before-times, Grief Busters was a five-day camp, but a pivot towards virtual camp allowed the Hospice to expand into a six-week course which will also be run this summer with a Camp in a Box component that will equip campers with everything they need.

Grief Busters is not the only program that has found opportunities within a challenging time. As one-to-one group support has continued through Zoom, their Day Program, which used to be operated in-house has been transformed into “Pathways,” providing an opportunity for anyone living with a life-threatening, progressive illness to find support.

“It involves weekly connections with our nurse practitioner for psychosocial support,” says Ms. Bonner. “We’re redefining that program and it seems to be working really well. What has been an interesting learning is Pathways [online] can support people further along their path. With our clients, as they declined, they would no longer be able to attend the program pre-COVID because it involved going out of their house and coming to us. We have found we’re able to keep that connection with them longer because it is easier for them to attend and be supportive in that way.

“With our bereavement programs, the connection there is pretty amazing because the groups are brought into each other’s homes in a way. If there was a picture of a loved one they wanted to show, they could grab it. If there was a special object they wanted to share, it has become a lot more personal and the connections and bonding, I think, have been incredibly strengthened because people are comfortable in their own spaces. They are also sharing personal items that relate to the stories they may be telling.”

Throughout the course of the pandemic, Hope House has carried out 109 bereavement sessions in this manner, along with 147 sessions of their wellness programs, which incorporate meditation and breathing techniques, along with yoga and aromatherapy.

Additionally, Hope House, in conjunction with the York Region Food Network, with whom they share space on Industrial Parkway South, have collaborated on delivering meals to clients.

“Back in March, the York Region Food Network approached us to see if there was a need for our clients to get some help with meals and we put it out to clients and they were very appreciative of that offer,” says Ms. Bonner. “Since then, working with the Food Network, they prepare the food and our Hope House volunteers deliver the meals on a weekly basis. We have had almost 540 deliveries of food to clients and their families, more than 540 drop-offs of meals. It is quite significant in terms of this wonderful support the partnership has enabled.

“One of our clients said, ‘It seems like the biggest thing in the world is getting freshly cooked food prepared to our taste and delivered to our home with warmth, bringing good vibrations.’ It is a big support for them, there are lots of moving parts and lots of people involved in supporting those clients with this particular program.

“We would not be able to do what we do without our volunteers. They have been incredibly flexible during these times, supporting our clients in different ways, dropping items off, meeting with them via telephone or zoom. We’re grateful they have been so flexible in wanting to help us out and do what they can for their communities.”

For more on Hope House Hospice, visit hopehousehospice.com.

By Brock Weir
Editor
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter