Transitions in Dying and Bereavement A Psychosocial Guide for Hospice and Palliative Care By the Victoria Hospice Society, and Moira Cairns, R.S.W., Marney Thompson, M.A., and Wendy Wainwright, M.Ed.

Victoria Hospice Society

Victoria Hospice Society, 1952 Bay Street, Victoria, British Columbia, CANADA, V8R 1J8. Providing quality end-of-life care, and teaching others how to provide that care, has been a Victoria Hospice Society (VHS) tradition since the organization was founded in 1980 in Victoria, British Columbia. As well as caring for those facing advanced illness, death, and bereavement, Victoria Hospice staff are also involved in provincial and national initiatives dedicated to palliative care training, research, and advocacy. In 1999, the Victoria Hospice Learning Centre for Palliative Care was formally established to work in partnership with other health care and academic organizations to advance excellence in palliative care.

The Victoria Hospice program of care includes a 17-bed in-patient unit, a Palliative Response Team that provides 24-hour crisis to support to patients and families at home, a comprehensive bereavement program, and clinical consultation services to patients in other health care facilities. Victoria Hospice palliative care courses and publications, such as the textbook Medical Care of the Dying (1998), are valuable resources to professional care providers throughout North America. For more information, visit the Victoria Hospice website at www.victoriahospice.org.

Moira Cairns, B.A., R.S.W.

Moira Cairns, B.A., R.S.W., has worked in the counseling field since 1977. She served as a hospital social worker, hospice counselor, branch administrator, and development officer for palliative care in Wales, and is now the bereavement coordinator for VHS. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and is a certified social worker. Ms. Cairns is an experienced author, conference presenter, and workshop trainer on palliative care and bereavement.

Marney Thompson, M.A.

Marney Thompson, M.A., worked at the VHS as a volunteer, then as a group facilitator, and has worked as a counselor since 1990. She has a bachelor’s degree in child and youth care and a master’s degree in human and social development. An experienced conference presenter on psychosocial palliative topics, she is also the author of various publications on bereavement published by the VHS.

Wendy Wainwright, M.Ed.

Wendy Wainwright, M.Ed., has worked with the VHS since 1983 as a community counselor, as a bereavement coordinator, and now as the manager of counseling services. She has a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a master’s of education in counseling psychology. She has developed staff and volunteer training programs for VHS and educational materials for patients, families, and professionals. Ms. Wainwright is president of the British Columbia Hospice Palliative Care Association and is the author of numerous professional journal articles on counseling activities, child and parent support groups, and young people and death.