NEW!
La Maison de la Sérénité’s bereavement program
La Maison de la Sérénité is pleased to inform you that, as of September, we will offer a new service within our bereavement support program: bereavement groups.
Mrs. Caroline Soucy, Nursing Coordinator, and Mrs. Carole Desmarais, PAB at La Maison, will lead and facilitate the bereavement groups.
This service is available to any family member of a person who passed at La Maison de la Sérénité or who lives in Laval.
Mrs. Caroline Soucy has been a palliative care nurse, counseling therapist, and trainer for over 20 years. She has specialized in end-of-life and bereavement support through numerous training courses. Her skills have enabled her to develop this new service, which complements La Maison de la Sérénité offers.
Caroline Soucy
Carole Desmarais
Mrs. Carole Desmarais has been a PAB for over ten years and is very familiar with the palliative care environment as well as the needs of our clientele. Her training as a bereavement support group facilitator and her humane approach to patients and families make her an outstanding co-facilitator for the La Maison de La Sérénité bereavement group.
Grief is a normal and natural process in the face of significant loss. La Maison equips and offers this service for people who have lost a loved one so that they can live their grief and its process healthily. Meetings are held in small groups in an atmosphere of respect and openness. They will encourage discussion and the expression of emotions while respecting the integrity and confidentiality of each individual.
Each person's experience of grief is different, influenced by his or her culture, beliefs, and relationship with the deceased. Grief is a reaction and a feeling of sadness following the death of a loved one. Often associated with suffering, mourning is also seen as a necessary process of deliverance, known as resilience.
It's important to note that grieving is a personal process and that there's no "right" or "wrong" way to go about it. There is no timetable for recovering from losing a loved one; it all depends on each person's personality, degree of attachment to the deceased, and the context of the death.
The support of family, friends, colleagues, and support groups can be beneficial in accompanying a grieving person. That's why La Maison de la Sérénité has launched this project for the bereaved. Everyone has their way of coping with loss, and it's essential to respect and support the different reactions and emotions of the bereaved.
It's the memories that keep us alive.
- Mrs. Caroline Soucy, Nursing Coordinator at La Maison de la Sérénité
Sessions and frequencies
In most cases, the impact of bereavement will gradually diminish as time goes by and the significant moments of the first year of the loss (Christmas, birthdays, etc.). However, if the state of grief persists and continues to significantly affect your day-to-day functioning, we are here to offer help and support.
For fall 2023, group meetings will start the week of September 17. Sessions last 2 hours each and are spread over 12 consecutive weeks. Some groups will meet during the day, others in the evening. Meetings occur exclusively in person at La Maison de la Sérénité (655 Avenue Bellevue, Laval). Participants wishing to register require a 12-week commitment.
Group A: every Tuesday between 1 and 3 p.m.
Group B: every Thursday, 7-9 p.m.
Each group can accommodate a maximum of 8 participants.
Places are limited. To submit your name, please get in touch with our Nursing Coordinator, Mrs. Caroline Soucy, at 450 936-4300, ext. 286, or by e-mail at soins.inf@msplaval.ca. She will be happy to answer your questions and share additional information.
Fees
La Maison's mission is to offer free services to adults at the end of life so they can end their days peacefully, receive quality palliative care, be supported by a nursing team, and be surrounded by their loved ones in a calm and warm environment.
To support the mission of our residence and ensure the program's continuity, participants are asked to pay a session fee of $50, payable by credit card or debit, or cheque, before the first meeting. This fee will cover the costs for the didactic materials used and provided.
Objectives
1. Support and facilitate the grieving process;
2. Break isolation;
3. Help people recognize, validate and express their emotions;
4. Facilitate transitions and adjustments;
5. Develop a better understanding of the grieving process;
Topics covered
1. The story of grief
2. Exploring the nature of the relationship with the deceased;
3. Stages of grief;
4. Reorganization of life (family, professional and social);
5. Resources;
6. The meaning of loss;
7. Coming to terms with absence;
Each session will also include an interactive portion allowing people to share more deeply.
Paulette, our little French bulldog, will be on hand for the sessions. Paulette, who is training to obtain her Zootherapy certification, will be supervised by our Nursing Coordinator, Caroline. Paulette spreads joy and happiness everywhere and will be a special guest adding a new dimension to the bereavement support program.
We hope this new service will be the missing piece in your journey towards a new life and enable the bereaved to preserve the precious memories of the deceased.
We are convinced that this program will benefit you while bringing you into contact with people who have also experienced bereavement.
Contact: Caroline Soucy, Nursing Coordinator
Contact details: 450 936-4300, ext. 286 or e-mail soins.inf@msplaval.ca.
Thank you!