St. Joseph's Hospice
485 Windermere Rd. PO Box 1449 Station B N5X 2T1 London, ON, Canada

Are you a Registered Nurse (RN) who is passionate about providing compassionate and high-quality palliative and end-of-life care? We're currently recruiting for a full-time permanent RN to join our team! Visit http://www.sjhospicelondon.com/careers for more information.

We're looking for a dynamic individual to join our leadership team as the Director of Resident Care. This role provides strategic direction and day-to-day leadership ensuring high quality, compassionate patient and family-centered care in our Hospice Home. Visit http://www.sjhospicelondon.com/careers for more information and to apply.

Less than 24 hours until our Early Bird draw! Imagine what you would do with an extra $500 cash in your pocket this weekend! Don't miss out. Get your tickets TODAY starting at just 10 for $10. Get your tickets at http://www.sjhospicelondon.com/5050

Buy tickets before May 18 for your chance to win a $500 Early Bird cash prize! And don't worry, if you're our Early Bird winner you'll still be entered to win our Jackpot. Did we mention that our jackpot is over $16,000 and growing quickly? Don't miss out! Visit http://www.sjhospicelondon.com/5050 to buy tickets!

We are constantly blown away by the power of gratitude and the beauty of the human spirit, even in times of grief and loss. After her husband Gregor’s death, Tara started Gregors Gift, a registered charity in his honour as a way for their children Ben and Abby to remember and be a part of their dad's legacy. Even though their time at Hospice was short, the impact motivated Tara to give back. This year, Gregor’s Gift purchased a sleeper sofa for St. Joseph’s Hospice to help fa...milies like theirs. Tara calls it a gift to Hospice from Ben, Abby, and herself in honour of their first birthday and in memory of Gregor. I want to instill in the kids Gregor’s courageous and generous spirit, Tara says. It’s not always about getting but about giving too. You can read more of Tara and Gregor's story by visiting: https://www.sjhospicelondon.com//keeping-memories-alive-th

What would you do with some extra cash in your pocket this Summer? Our May 50/50 jackpot is at $16,000 and growing! Tickets start at just 10 for $10 dollars. Don't miss out on your chance to WIN BIG while supporting Hospice Palliative Care in your community! Buy tickets today at http://www.sjhospicelondon.com/5050.

Are you a Caregiver? Join us for this 10 session FREE online program that explores various topics related to the Caregiver experience. Each session stands alone, and participants are welcome to attend the full program or just those sessions that may be of interest. #LDNont #PalliativeCare #Caregivers #Hospice

Are you struggling to COPE? Join us for this 4 week, FREE online program for Caregivers, Palliative, and Bereaved clients, engaging in mindfulness and self-care activities. #LDNont #PalliativeCare #Bereaved #SelfCare #Mindfulness

Are you suffering? JOIN US for this FREE online program exploring the importance of self-care and compassion for your MIND, BODY & HEART to ease your suffering and nurture self-resilience. #LDNont #PalliativeCare #Hospice #Selfcare #Resilience #Bereaved

SAVE THE DATE: Our beautiful Fall 2020 VIRTUAL Memorial Service airs Thursday, November 26 at 7:00pm. Join us on our website at SJHospiceLondon.com/virtual-memorial as well as on Facebook and YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pH33Gr1To4U). You can head to the YouTube link NOW to set a reminder. This peaceful virtual memorial service honours the more than 250 individuals who have passed through Hospice's care this year. Featuring beautiful readings and song, we gather virtually to remember our loved ones and the legacies they have left behind.

Wishing each and every one of you a wonderful Christmas!

For 111 days, Katherine Crewe-Letwin’s family called St. Joseph’s Hospice their home. Katherine’s journey to Hospice began in 2004 when she defied the odds as a medical miracle, surviving two major AVM’s - an incredibly rare condition causing over 300 bleeds in her brain. The relief that came from overcoming this turned to dread in August of 2019 when Katherine began experiencing new symptoms. Katherine and her family were devastated when the diagnosis came. She had Stage 4 Glioblastoma. She had the most aggressive kind of incurable brain tumour. READ Katherine's Hospice story here: SJHospiceLondon.com/GiftOfPeace

Are you HURTING? Join us for this FREE online program exploring the connection between mind, body, and breath, helping you acknowledge the truth of the moment you are in, even when that moment hurts. #LDNont #Bereaved #Mindfulness #PalliativeCare #Grief

Visit SJHospiceLondon.com/GiftOfPeace

We might be physically distant, but grief brings us together. We learn to live with the loss and grief in ways that maintain and honour our bond with the person who died but don’t limit our capacity for joy, pleasure and a meaningful life. At this trying time, we might be physically distant, but we are emotionally, spiritually and socially connected through our grief. Grief is a #SharedJourney #GriefDay

JOIN US for "Zooming Into Wellness" A four-session coping skills and wellness group. Participants will engage in mindfulness and self-care activities as a group and will be provided with takeaway activities and resources. Wednesday, November 4-25: 1:00-2:30pm. This program is open to Caregiver, Palliative and Bereaved clients. This is a four-week closed group which means there are no drop-ins. Registration is required. To register for any program, or for more information, please contact Amanda Laframboise at [email protected].

Are you grieving? Join us for this FREE online program, exploring the connection between the six tasks of mourning and creative expression. #LDNont #PalliativeCare #Grief #Mourning #Bereaved #Bereavement #Hospice

FACT: Grief is hard, period. Simply said, there is no time limit on grief. Humans generally like to know what they can expect from a certain situation. It is no different with grief. Some say the first year of grief is the hardest, some say the second year. Often these words are said to comfort or bring hope as if the time period following the hard part will be easier to bear. Some have described the process of losing someone as a relearning process. Similar to a person that loses a body part and must relearn how to live and do once normal activities, a grieving person must relearn how to live without the other person.

Today, November 17th is National Bereavement Day in honour of those who lost someone this year and were unable to say goodbye properly in the midst of the pandemic, the CHPCA aired a BEAUTIFUL concert this past Sunday. You can watch it here:

This is what grief feels like...

Sunshine makes all the difference! It’s a beautiful day at Hospice!

The numbers are in...and we are both grateful and speechless! In the uncertainty of a pandemic, hosting our 12th Annual Hike for Hospice virtually posed some challenges, but as always - YOU CAME THROUGH for Hospice! Through your generosity, compassion, hard work and fundraising efforts, we raised a record $126,492 this year easily our BEST Hike for Hospice ever! These critical funds enable us to continue our mission of wrapping our expert client-centred care around palliative individuals and their families both in our Hospice home, and throughout our community. We are here for you...BECAUSE of you.

We are so grateful for the generous donation to Hospice of 40 x 4 Litre jugs (160 Litres in total!!) of hand sanitizer from Goodwill Industries International, Inc., in partnership with Progressibe Industrial Fluids! This helps us more than you know.

Grieving is a highly individual experience; there’s no right or wrong way to grieve. How you grieve depends on many factors, including your personality and coping style, your life experience, your faith, and how significant the loss was to you. Inevitably, the grieving process takes time. Healing happens gradually; it can’t be forced or hurried and there is no normal timetable for grieving. Some people start to feel better in weeks or months. For others, the grieving process is measured in years. Whatever your grief experience, it’s important to be patient with yourself and allow the process to naturally unfold.

FACT: Feeling sad, frightened, or lonely is a normal reaction to loss. Crying doesn’t mean you are weak. You don’t need to protect your family or friends by putting on a brave front. Showing your true feelings can help them and you.

We are SO grateful for the incredible gift from GM BluePlan Engineering Limited and our friends in the London office! THANK YOU for supporting St. Joseph’s Hospice and our fellow Hospice’s across Ontario! Learn more about giving to Hospice at this link: https://sjhospicelondon.com/make-a-difference/giving/

Registration is open for the FREE 12-hour virtual course (Zoom) offered by Dearness Home Facilitator Freedom Burgess in partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association, designed to support YOU with Living Life To The Fullest! These 8 enjoyable 90-minute sessions (one per week) cover topics to promote positive mental well-being for Older Adults 55+, Seniors 65+, Caregivers and people in need of mental health support during and post COVID-19. The Fall session starts Wed...nesday, October 21st; every Wednesday at 1:00pm for 8 weeks with the last date being December 9th. (Another session will be planned in the Winter.) Spaces are limited FREE REGISTRATION! Email Dee at [email protected]

JOIN US for "Zooming Into Wellness" A four-session coping skills and wellness group. Participants will engage in mindfulness and self-care activities as a group and will be provided with takeaway activities and resources. Wednesday, November 4-25: 1:00-2:30pm. This program is open to Caregiver, Palliative and Bereaved clients. This is a four-week closed group which means there are no drop-ins. Registration is required. To register for any program, or for more information, please contact Amanda Laframboise at [email protected].

Thank you to our neighbour Sister Nancy Wells who participated in our Virtual Hike for Hospice! She met with Executive Director Janet Groen on Friday morning to present her fundraising cheque, adding to our growing total which is well in excess of $120,000..stay tuned for the official final tally later this week and the announcement of our Top 3 Individual and Team fundraisers!

JOIN US for "Mindfulness for the Bereaved" A six session online program that explores the connection between mind, body, and breath. Mindfulness bereavement support is about helping bereaved individuals acknowledge the truth of the moment they are in, even (or especially) when that moment hurts. When someone is grieving, they may find it difficult to concentrate as the mind struggles to make meaning of their life after the loss. Grounded awareness can help alleviate senses... of overwhelm, and guided meditations can assist to calm the mind and increase clarity and focus. Wednesdays, October 28-December 2: 10:00- 11:30 am. This program is open to Bereaved clients who are at least 3 months past the date of their loss. This is a six-week closed group which means there are no drop-ins. Registration is required. To register for any program, or for more information, please contact Amanda Laframboise at [email protected]. See more

Join us Thursday, November 26 at 7pm for our Fall Virtual Memorial Ceremony, honouring the memory of over 300 individuals who have passed through Hospice's care since the Spring. It's a beautiful event you won't want to miss!

Happy Thanksgiving! We are grateful for each and every one of you!

Fact: Crying is a normal response to grief and sadness, but it’s not the only one. Those who don’t cry may feel the pain just as deeply as others. They simply have other ways of showing it. Grieving is a highly individual experience; there’s no right or wrong way to grieve.

Wishing you a beautiful Thanksgiving long weekend, from all of us at Hospice. We're grateful for our generous volunteers, hardworking staff, sponsors, donors, families and community that allow us to continue our mission with overflowing hearts. Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings. William Arthur Ward

While we cannot eliminate all of the suffering involved in dying or the eventuality of death, we can create space for the grief, anger, and denial. Cassandra Yonder, a death midwife in Nova Scotia, encourages the dying to adopt an inclusive attitude during the process: It’s not about overcoming the fear, but acknowledging that it’s there. Denial is something we need to embrace as one component of the experience. Acceptance is not the opposite of denial, it actually includes denial. But what does it look like to allow all of our feelings and thoughts to be welcome parts of our dying experience? Be with everything as it is, as it arises. Everything is impermanent, even this pain, even this process. Everything’s changingfor better and for worse. Ask yourself, ‘Can I be with this? And this? And this? And this?’ #MindfulMonday

The Sisters of St. Joseph came together more than 350 years ago as a dedicated, compassionate band of sisters who gathered in LePuy, France at the calling of a French Jesuit, Jean-Pierre Medaille. Their mission was to heal the wounded, care for the sick, minister to the poor, the elderly, the orphans and the imprisoned, and to instill spirituality in young girls. 350 years later, look at the impact they have - and continue - to make in health care across Canada today. #CatholicHealthCareWeek

Sunshine makes all the difference! It’s a beautiful day at Hospice!

A little #FunnyFriday humour!

At the core of Hospice palliative care is a steadfast belief in the intrinsic value of each individual and their right to quality of life and quality of care. Racism, discrimination, exclusion, intolerance, and violence have no place in a just society, and especially in health care. Hospice condemns racism in all its forms, and we stand with all those who have suffered injustice and discrimination. We advocate for a just and caring society where people’s voices are heard and every person has the ability to thrive in their community. #catholichealthcareweek

"Honest listening is one of the best medicines we can offer the dying and the bereaved." Jean Cameron #ThursdayThoughts