Kemp Care Network 50/50 Raffle
Bereavement Journal
Click HERE to view and download the "Navigating the water of your grief" Bereavement Journal.
Grief Books
Books can offer children a safe and accessible way to explore and understand their grief. When a child sees their experiences, thoughts, or feelings reflected in a story, it helps normalize their experiences and reduces the feelings of isolation that can often follow a loss. Stories provide language for complex emotions, model coping and connection, and create gentle openings for meaningful conversations between children and their caregivers.
Ages 0-4
Goodbye - A First Conversation About Grief
A board book that offers language and guidance for parents to introduce concepts related to grief to children. It gives words to help young children to understand big feelings related to grief and loss.
The Goodbye Book
Through simple language and illustrations, this book gives words to the different feelings we may have when experiencing grief. It normalizes grief as a personal and evolving process, showing to children that healing takes time.
Ages 5-8
Ida, Always
Based on a true story, this beautiful book follows two polar bears named Gus and Ida, as they navigate Ida's terminal illness. It gently portrays love, anticipatory grief, and the lasting impact of meaningful relationships.
When Dinosaurs Die
This book explains death using clear, age-appropriate language, touching on topics such as what death means, why it happens, and how we may feel when someone dies. It touches on common questions and misconceptions that children may have, and is a great resource for parents to learn strategies for explaining death to children.
ABCs of Grief
Using an alphabet format, this book introduces different emotions and experiences related to grief in an accessible way. It helps children build emotional vocabulary and understand that grief can take on many different forms.
What Does Grief Feel Like
This book explores many ways that grief can feel, along with different ways that we remember and feel connected to someone that has died. Throughout the book are many questions and prompts for parents and children to start conversation together about grief.
Ages 9-12
My Grief Comfort Book
This interactive workbook offers activities, reflections, and coping strategies to help children process their grief. This is a great resource for parents wanting to do creative grief-related activities with their kids at home, or for clinicians working with grieving children.
Shouting At The Rain
This novel follows a young girl navigating the ambiguous loss of her mother while dealing with complex emotions and family changes. Delsie is an “orphan” living with her grandmother in Cape Cod. She’s never known either of her parents and has lived with her grandparents her whole life. It highlights resilience, connection, and the healing power of supportive relationships.
Ages 13-17
A Monster Calls
This teen fiction story follows a boy visited by a mysterious monster as he struggles to cope with his mother's terminal illness. This book shares strong themes of anticipatory grief, anger, guilt, and acceptance.
Volunteer Visiting Program
The Volunteer Visiting Program provides compassionate companionship and social-emotional support to adults living with progressive life-limiting illnesses throughout the Greater Hamilton Area.
Clients are thoughtfully matched with a trained Volunteer Visitor who offers meaningful connection, conversation, and companionship. Visits may be provided for up to four (4) hours per week, based on the client’s needs and volunteer availability.
What is Volunteer Visiting?
Our trained volunteers provide social and emotional support to individuals living with progressive life-limiting illnesses.
A progressive life-limiting illness is an active, advanced condition with little or no prospect of a cure that will ultimately result in end of life. During this journey, many individuals benefit from regular companionship, emotional support, and connection with someone who is there simply to listen and be present.
Volunteer Visitors can:
- Provide companionship and conversation
- Provide emotional support
- Engage in meaningful activities together, such as reading, playing games, or sharing hobbies
- Help reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness
For the safety and well-being of our clients, Volunteer Visitors are not permitted to provide medical, personal, or physical care. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Feeding
- Toileting
- Transferring or lifting
- Medication administration or management
- Any other personal care or medical tasks
Interested in the Program?
If you feel that you or a loved one would benefit from Volunteer Visiting, please complete the interest form below.
For additional information or questions please contact Kayla Dennahower (R/TRO), Program Coordinator
volunteerprogram@kempcarenetwork.org
or call 905-387-2448 ext. 2209. Kayla will review your inquiry and contact you as soon as possible.
LOOKING TO VOLUNTEER?
Volunteering with Kemp Care Network is about more than giving your time; it is about making a difference in someone’s day.
Adult Day Wellness Program
A safe and supportive environment where adults living with a progressive life-limiting illness can build meaningful connections, discover new friendships, and enhance their well-being.
What Is Adult Day Wellness Program?
Every Wednesday, the Great Room at Dr. Kemp's House – Adult Hospice comes alive with laughter, conversation, therapeutic activities, and a fresh homemade meal. Participants enjoy a welcoming, home-like environment where they can connect with others, explore a new weekly theme, and take part in activities designed to support emotional, social, and spiritual well-being.
The program runs from 10:00am - 2:00pm and clients must have their own way of transportation to the program (i.e. DARTS, taxi, family members, drive themselves, etc.).
Sample day schedule:
- 10:00am - 11:00am: Group Check-In with coffee, tea and cookies
- 11:00am - 12:00pm: Art Therapy / Pet Therapy with SPCA
- 12:00pm: Lunch
- 1:00pm - 2:00pm: Mindfulness Meditation
Program Eligibility
For the safety of our staff and volunteers, prospective clients must be able to:
- Feed themselves independently
- Manage toileting and personal care
- Manage own medications
- Participate safely in a group setting
Thanks to the generosity of our community supporters and donors, this program is offered at no cost to eligible clients.
For additional information or questions please contact Kayla Dennahower (R/TRO), Program Coordinator
volunteerprogram@kempcarenetwork.org
or call 905-387-2448 ext. 2209
LOOKING TO VOLUNTEER?
Volunteering with Kemp Care Network is about more than giving your time; it is about making a difference in someone’s day.
3-Step Self-Paced ACP Workshop
Key Steps in Advance Care Planning
- Think about what matters most to you; your values and wishes and how they influence your health preferences, specific rituals around your end of life care.
- Learn about specific medical treatments, options of care, and future housing options that fit into your lifestyle in later years.
- Decide on who will speak for you if you cannot speak for yourself.
- Talk with others about your future health priorities and personal care.
- Record and share your wishes so others will be confident to make decisions on your behalf when you are not able to.
Instructions for this program
We recommend giving a week for each session, so you have sufficient time to think it over and have conversations with your friends and families.
- Download the session slides:
- Read & watch the resources mentioned on the slides and answer the reflection questions at your own pace.
At the end of the workshop, you’ll have peace of mind with your Advance Care Plan completed.
ACP information on this page is based on Advance Care Planning Canada, which can be found on https://www.advancecareplanning.ca/ and is created in collaboration with Sandra Andreychuk, Health Care Consultant/Ethicist (https://www.qualitylifeplanning.com/about-me).
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