E044 Theresa Horan Bereavement Walking Groups
Let’s Be Well Together Podcast - Episode 44
Date: November 29, 2022
Participants: John Webster, Elise Seifert, Cameron Earnshaw and Sheila Webster
Guest: Theresa Horan
Start times and Segment Segments:
[0:00:38] What’s On Your Mind: Elise Seifert returns to guest host. She talks about her travels, this time about an archaeological dig in Madaba, Jordan. She met someone who kept memories in a different way: he recorded sounds of the places he visits. When he goes home, he listens to the sounds and it transports him back to that place.
[0:08:01] Expanding Minds Interview: [Mental and Social Wellness] It’s a reality of life that we will each see people we love pass away. We will go through a grieving process. Theresa Horan is a volunteer with Hospice Waterloo Region’s Bereavement Walking Group program. People who lost someone together in a scenic setting. There is an ease in sharing when you walk beside someone, instead of having to sit and look them in the eye. Participants chat with someone who really understands what they’re going through. Conversations flow easily, tears are shed, challenges and frustrations are shared and suggestions offered. Theresa shares her experiences with the program, and how active and empathetic listening works well.
[0:23:05] Adventures of the Starving Artist: Who doesn’t love New Gear Day? Cameron resolved the mic issues and picked up amazing new equipment, but had to get goopy ears in the process.
[0:27:48] Move That Body: An article about a breathing method to help relax you, which in turn helps you to fall asleep. It’s called the 4-7-8 method.
[0:33:18] Running Popup: Tongue planted firmly in cheek, John reviews scientific proof (perfect proof) that his theory about wellness must be correct.
[0:34:58] Flipside of the Coin: It’s best to savour the moment, especially when we get lucky breaks. Sheila and John still glow about a lucky break hey had at the Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City in 1989.
Quotes and Take-Aways:
Elise – It was really beautiful when he recorded and saved sounds as memories, because you really recognize being present, really taking in everything. It makes you very aware of what’s going on.
Theresa – Often people at the end of their life need a lot of care, and it’s good to be with present with them when they are awake. It’s a lot of stress on the family members that are involved, so it is good to have volunteers that can fill in for part of that.
Theresa – What I hear often from people who are grieving is that in the initial stages when someone dies there’s usually quite a bit of support. People rally around the grieving individual and try and help them the best they can – the family and friends of the person, but eventually for family and friends life goes back to normal. The person who is grieving is left with their grief on their own.
Theresa – What I often hear people say is that once family has gone back home, or are no longer available, then they’re just looking for someone to spend time with who really understands what they’re going through.
Theresa – People who haven’t experienced a loss in their own lives sometimes struggle with how to support a person who is grieving. Gathering people together who are grieving at the same time, people talk about how wonderful that is for them and how supportive it is, and how great it is to talk to an objective individual, in other words someone who doesn’t know them at all, but who is also experiencing grief.
Theresa – The Bereavement Walking Group is not an exercise group. It’s to be more of a reflective, contemplative walk. It’s about walking and talking and sharing.
Theresa – It’s absolutely wonderful to see the relationships that develop with the people who are grieving. Often after people have been walking for a while, you can tell they’re really looking forward to seeing one another.
Theresa – Participants often do share. What I believe is that the value of the group is that they are sharing like experiences. They talk about it being nice to have people who also understand what they are going through.
Theresa - Unfortunately, a grieving person comes across a lot of people who haven’t experienced a loss. People mean well. They don’t mean to say inappropriate things. But grieving people report that people say, “It’s been a while. Aren’t you over that yet?”, or “Isn’t it time to move on?”, or “He’s in a better place.” That’s not necessarily what a grieving person needs or wants to hear.
Bulletin Board Quote brought to you by Cameron: It’s like a goop that they put in there.
Guest Information: Theresa Horan is a retired educator who has been volunteering with Hospice Waterloo Region for nine years.
Hospice Waterloo Region website: https://www.hospicewaterloo.ca
Web page for: Bereavement Walking Group
Connect with Let’s Be Well Together Podcast:
website: https://letsbewelltogether.com
Follow our Instagram account: @lets.be.well.together use hashtag #letsbewelltogetherpodcast
Provide input on Instagram using hashtag #letsbewelltogetherinput
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Lets.Be.Well.Together
Thanks for joining us,
(-(-_(-_-)_-)-) Your wellness check-in team
John, Sammy, Elise, Cameron, Sheila and Julie