The Canadian Virtual Hospice is providing more support services to Canadians who need a safe place to sort through issues related to death and dying.  It is an organization that began in 2001 to look at the needs of Canadians and provide a web-based platform to address some of the gaps in palliative care in Canada. It is based in Winnipeg and has been supporting families and professionals in this field since it went online in 2004.

Shelly Cory is the Executive Director of Canadian Virtual Hospice.  She says Virtual Hospice is the most comprehensive online source for information on palliative and end-of-life care, loss and grief in the world.  And there is no charge to access their medical support and information.

The online website provides support and information about a number of topics with regards to palliative care and end-of-life care to patients, family members, health care providers, researchers and educators.

“It gives people access to articles, videos, and to an online community of peers that will support them,” she says.  “It also provides a service called, ‘Ask a Professional’ if you can’t find information available on the website. You can go online and ask a question confidentially to our group of palliative care experts.”

Through the online site, people can ask questions of a clinical team who is specialized in areas of palliative care, grief and loss.  A team of doctors, nurses, social workers, and spiritual care advisors will respond to questions within 3 business days at no charge.

Cory says the team of professionals understand that there are many questions with regards to death and dying that are difficult to ask face to face.

 

 

The Canadian Virtual Hospice has begun a new service called MyGrief.ca to support those who are struggling with loss.

“We know that grief is an unmet need in Canada and around the world,” Cory explains, “And this actually gives people the opportunity to go on and understand grief because it’s usually longer and more difficult than we ever expect.”

“So many people say ‘my family say I should be over this by now’,” she adds. “But, really grief and losing somebody you care about isn’t something you ever get over.”

 

 

At the end of September, the Canadian Virtual Hospice will be launching new modules to help adults who are supporting children to grieve in healthy ways.  The modules have been developed by children’s grief experts from across the country and act as a go-to for all adults (parents and others) who have interaction with children who are grieving the loss of a loved one.   

 

 

For more information on the Canadian Virtual Hospice supports and services, visit their website.

Visit the My Grief website for more information on understanding and working through grief.