Supporting people with grief and loss this
Dying Matters week
This Dying Matters Awareness Week (8th – 14th May) St. Luke’s Hospice is encouraging our community to talk about death and dying, and also grief in the workplace.
Starting the conversation around death, dying and grief can be difficult but it’s a discussion that is really important to have with loved ones and colleagues.
According to figures from Hospice UK;
57% of employees will have experienced a bereavement in the last five years and every day, more than 600 people quit work to look after older and disabled relatives. And yet, fewer than one in five managers feel very confident supporting someone they manage with a bereavement.
St. Luke’s Hospice offers training and support to work forces to ensure they are equipped to support colleagues during periods of grief, illness and whilst someone is caring for a loved one. The ‘Talking with a Bereaved Person’ training is one of the sessions designed to help work forces better understand how to support their colleagues.
The Hospice, whose services are available to everyone in the community, also works to ensure equality of access to specialist palliative care. The charity encourages everyone to consider their own end of life wishes and discuss them with loved ones.
Mel Harwood, Lead Facilitator with the Learning and Development team at St. Luke’s Hospice, said: “Losses in life and death and the emotions of grief are part of day to day life, but many people still feel lonely and isolated at this time. It’s really important that we can all talk about death and dying openly, especially in a work setting, so that people feel they are supported. This week, try to strike up the conversation and get in touch with us if we can support you and your colleagues to talk about and understand how best to support each other through difficult times.”
St. Luke’s Hospice’s Talking with a Bereaved Person training takes place on various dates throughout the year and is open to anyone in a workplace setting. For more information call the Learning and Development team at St. Luke’s Hospice on 01268 524 973.
