Final Arrangements

2 ❖ JUNE 2017 A R R A N G E M E N T S COURSE HELPS PEOPLE COPE WITH GRIEVING By Holli Moncrieff for the Free Press D eath is one of the last taboos. Most of us shy away from even thinking about it, let alone talking openly about it. Recognizing this, Palliative Manitoba has developed a Compassionate Care course to assist those working with the dying — including their own volunteers, for whom the training is mandatory. "Each course includes 24 hours of palliative-care education. It's quite valuable and significant training," says Mike Goldberg, Palliative Manitoba's community outreach and education coordinator, adding that the training takes place over eight weeks, three hours per week. "Utilizing listening is a major component of this education. Our volunteers aren't necessarily counseling people through grief, but they're walking alongside them. It's about just being present for the person." The Compassionate Care program is open to anyone interested in learning about hospice and palliative care and how to communicate with someone who is grieving. "People are often afraid to say the wrong thing, but we're able to help people communicate better," Goldberg says. "Our volunteers learn how to support people through their grief without providing advice." Nanette Godbout, a volunteer with Palliative Manitoba, first learned of the program through a newspaper article. Something about it resonated with her, and she knew she had to get involved. "I read an article in the Free Press on people who volunteer to be with those in the last moments of their lives. When you hear 'palliative,' you think of death, but palliative care focuses on the life of the person and ensuring the quality of their life in those last days," she says. "This isn't for everyone, but I get 10 times more from the lady I'm assisting that she gets from me." Godbout says the course prepared her well for the challenges she'd face as a companion to the dying. "It's one of the most informative and absolutely one of the best courses I've ever taken. It's absolutely fascinating," she says. "We live in a death-denying society, but the training made me more comfortable around the topic of death and dying. It's empowering to realize we have choices at the end of our lives." Palliative Manitoba can customize the course for the individuals who are taking it. They offer specialized versions for Winnipeg Regional Health Authority healthcare aides, as well as support workers for individuals with disabilities. They also assist those caring for people within indigenous communities. Palliative Manitoba is currently developing a course for St. Theresa Point at its request. "Every First Nation is different. We get to know them and what they're looking for, what their needs are," Goldberg says. "It's empowering for them to have a course they helped create to reflect the needs and wishes of the people who are actually living in that community." All Palliative Manitoba volunteers are required to take a cross-cultural competency session, where power differences and privilege are discussed. "Another large component of what we do is spiritual care. We want to be the best communicators we can," Goldberg explains. "A big component of palliative care takes place after the death. It's about what happens to the individuals who are left behind." Godbout is thankful for the training, which helped her feel as prepared and informed as possible for the work ahead. "The medical piece — learning what happens to the body at the end of life — was very helpful. Without it, it would have been difficult. When you have knowledge, you know what to expect," she says. "Knowledge is power." The Compassionate Care course is available twice a year, in the spring and the fall. For more information, please visit the Palliative Manitoba website at http://palliativemanitoba. ca/education/compassionate-care-course/. ❖ Utilizing listening is a major component of this education. Our volunteers aren't necessarily counseling people through grief, but they're walking alongside them. It's about just being present for the person." - Mike Goldberg, Palliative Manitoba Mike Goldberg says Palliative Manitoba's Compassionate Care course offers valuable training in how to communicate with people who are grieving. Photo by Darcy Finley

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