Transitions in Dying and Bereavement

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., 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 bacheloraEUR (TM)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., worked at the VHS as a volunteer, then as a group facilitator, and has worked as a counselor since 1990. She has a bacheloraEUR (TM)s degree in child and youth care and a masteraEUR (TM)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., 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 bacheloraEUR (TM)s degree in sociology and a masteraEUR (TM)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.

"A must-read for aspiring or practicing hospice counselors."--Midwest Book Review (01/01/2001) "Clinicians in practice, students and people who are themselves dealing with life-limiting illness will find Transitions to be of inestimable value."--Ira Byock, M.D., Co-Founder and Author of Dying Well and Four Things Before Goodbye"Life's End Institute: Missoula Demonstration Project" (01/01/2001) "The clinical wisdom, experience, and practical advice accumulated over the years and organized and compiled for this book is invaluable for those who intend to or are currently working with individuals who are at the end of life."--Canadian Psychology (01/01/2001) "This wonderfully helpful clinical handbook is an engaging and comprehensive compendium of knowledge for use."--Journal of Religion, Spirituality, & Aging (01/01/2001) "the considerable experience of the contributors shines through. ... The book will be a valuable resource for all who work in hospice and palliative care, enabling and empowering them to further explore the psychosocial dimensions of the care we provide."-- (01/01/2001) "The authors have synthesized the 20-year experience of the Victoria Hospice to create a unique work that is both scholarly and wise and compassionate and deeply moving. This book is a gift to anyone who wants to truly serve the dying and those who love them."-- (01/01/2001) "This book is unique in its psychosocial focus. . .this book provides a wealth of resource material for the novice as well as experienced practitioners in end of life care: nurses, physicians, counselors, and social workers."-- (01/01/2001) "What a lovely book... intelligent and thoughtfully organized... an impressive collaborative work from the true experts whose talents, dedication and love for their work shines through on every page."-- (01/01/2001)