Although we do not have a physical location for our hospice services, we care for clients where they feel most comfortable, whether that is at their home, a nursing home, or at a hospital.
The Society helps clients and their loved ones face life-limiting illness and grief with compassionate care from volunteers. Our services are provided free of charge to residents in our service areas.
Airdrie and District Hospice Society serves Airdrie, Balzac, Beiseker, Carstairs, Crossfield, Irricana, Kathyrn, Keoma and Madden.
Grief Support
Programs
We offer a 6-week adult grief support groups four times per year, free of charge. Facilitators are specially trained to provide a supportive and safe environment to share your grief.
This six-week program works through the following modules:
Understanding our Grief
Making Connections
The Grief Journey,
Remembering and Honoring our Loved Ones
Keeping the Memories Alive
The Journey Ahead.
The outcome is to create a safe and confidential environment to tell your story and normalize and validate your response to grief in a nonjudgmental supportive atmosphere.
Children & Teen
Grief Support Programs
We offer a 12-week virtual program – Weekly meetings are 30-60 minutes. The curriculum consists of journals, activities, games, and stories that are designed to help participants express their feelings and move through grief.
Each curriculum addresses the topics of Self, Family, Belonging, Fears, Blame, Trust, Forgiveness, Stepfamilies, Feelings, Changes, Transitions, Coping, Reaching Out, and Acceptance.
With trained facilitators, we will be offering the following programs utilizing age appropriate materials for each program:
Spectrum Adolescents (2 age levels): for adolescents, grade 8 to 12
Compassionate Care Fund
Certain medications, aids to daily living, and transportation to visit loved ones in hospice might not be covered by Alberta Health or other programs related to your illness. We might be able to help you with some of these costs if you reside in Airdrie and the areas we support through the Compassionate Care Fund.
Navigating the System
Through our “NavCare” program volunteers use their specialized knowledge and skills to search for creative ways for adults living at home with serious illness to access services and resources so that individuals and their families have better health and stay connected to their communities.
Education Series
Sessions includes: Wills, Powers of Attorney, Personal Directives – What they Are; Coping with Grief Over the Holidays; Goals of Care and More.
Cooking for One After a Loss
It isn’t easy losing someone and now you are faced with learning how to “Cook for One” as well. Airdrie and District Hospice Society working in partnership with the Airdrie Food Bank offers a 4 - class program to help you learn about nutritional choices and meal Ideas. Those interested in this program may register by email or call 403-880-0420 for more information.
Palliative Care Companions
Specially trained volunteers who can provide a few hours of respite so caregivers can tend to their own needs, such as going shopping or attending an appointment. Volunteers cannot provide medical care, but they can sit with a person and keep them company.