Counselling and Family Support
TThe Family Support Team at Mercy Hospice Auckland assists patients and their families in the community and at our in-patient unit. The team includes counsellors, social workers, chaplain, kaiatawhai (Maori cultural support) and Pacific cultural support. Asian support is available from trained volunteers.
You can be referred from the community or in-patient nursing teams or ask for these services yourself.
Our Family Support Team can provide:
- Emotional support and counselling
- Social work services
- Pastoral and spiritual care
- Maori and Pacific cultural support
Our counsellors help patients and family members with the transition to palliative care. They also offer bereavement support for as long as it is needed.
Our Hospice social workers provide:
- Information about community resources
- Advocacy with large systems like WINZ, ACC and CYF
- Guidance with future care options at home or in residential care
The chaplain visits each patient admitted to the in-patient unit, providing spiritual support to families or helping them connect with someone from their own faith where needed. The chaplain also holds a brief candle-lighting ceremony on Wednesdays at noon in the Hospice chapel. Bereaved family members and hospice staff are always welcome to attend.
Our kaiatawhai provides Maori cultural guidance and spiritual support. He meets with Maori whanau in the in-patient unit and in the community.
Our Pacific cultural liaison works with patients and families on an on-call basis.
Volunteers from other cultures are also available to assist patients and families.