Grief Support: The Results Are In
For more than 12 months, the Volunteers for Palliative Care Grief Support Group has been providing a space for people to come together every month, share their experiences, and support one another through one of life’s most challenging journeys, the loss of a loved one.
To gather feedback, our Volunteer Coordinator attended a recent session and spent time chatting informally with participants. As well as collecting comments and observations, participants were invited to complete a questionnaire, with the option to provide feedback anonymously.
The results were overwhelmingly positive.
One of the most encouraging findings was the strong sense of connection that has developed within the group. Over time, participants have formed genuine supportive relationships with one another.
100% of respondents reported that the group had positively impacted their grief journey, and 100% said they would recommend the group to others experiencing grief.
Participants shared that hearing the experiences of others reminded them they were not alone. Many spoke about gaining practical coping strategies, finding greater acceptance, and feeling reassured that their responses to grief were normal. Several also highlighted the relaxed atmosphere of the group.
Some of the comments included:
“I’m grateful that the group is available.”
“Talking in a nice, relaxed space has given me tools to deal with things and has helped me develop greater acceptance.”
“We are all on the same page here. I sometimes feel judged by friends.”
“We give each other food for thought and help alleviate as much stress as possible.”
During the discussion, there was plenty of laughter, encouragement, and acknowledgment of individual progress. It quickly became apparent that the group provides much more than grief support. It has fostered meaningful friendships and a genuine sense of belonging, something our Coordinator was delighted, and somewhat surprised, to witness firsthand.
These findings remind us that simply being with people who understand can make all the difference. We are incredibly grateful to our volunteer facilitators, who have led these groups with such professionalism.
A big thank you to Friends of Palliative Care Inc for sponsoring this program.
If you know anyone who you think would benefit from our group or would like to learn more, follow the link below.