Leaving behind one life to start another, in a retirement village or residential care home, can be hard. Often people grieve the life they knew. It’s a point that Helping Hand’s coordinating chaplain Paul Hodgson always acknowledges when meeting new residents, that they’ve been through a big change and it’s not always an easy one.

Another part of his job is to help clients and their families through bereavement – losing someone they love. This includes working with family members of people living with dementia.

In this episode of Age Old Problems: New Aged Care, Paul normalises the process of grieving. He talks through the physical and psychological responses to grief and what we can do as friends and family to support those experiencing it. We cover:

• The difference between grief and bereavement
• Some common experiences people have in response to loss
• Suggestions for things that might help the grieving process
• Helping Hand services to support residents and clients
• Where else to turn for assistance
• And emphasise that everyone’s experience is different and that no one should be left to grieve alone

Useful Resources:

Helping Hand website www.helpinghand.org.au

Helping Hand phone number 1300 653 600

We can supply you with a Grief and Bereavement resources guide which includes an extensive list of organisations and support options including, but not limited to:

24/7 telephone support:

• Lifeline 13 11 14
• Beyond Blue 1300 224 636

Grief and bereavement counselling and support services:

• Griefline: 1300 845 745 8am to 8pm, 7 days (AEST), grief.org.au
• Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636, beyondblue.org.au

Episode hosted by Kate Holland

Episode recorded and edited by Drew Radford