Islanders given space for conversations on bereavement

Wednesday, 6 May 2026 10:26

A drop-in event in town is providing an opportunity for open and informed conversations about death, dying and bereavement.

At the West's Centre today (7 May) until 3 pm, members of Jersey’s End of Life Strategy Group will be talking to islanders about end of life care and bereavement support available in Jersey.

The event will offer the opportunity to speak informally with professionals, learn about available services and support, and take away information that may be helpful in the future.

Through the day, the stand will be manned by representatives from Jersey Hospice Care and Health and Care Jersey, as well as:

10.30 am - Midday: Macmillan Cancer Support Jersey and Care Hub

Midday - 1.30 pm - Maillards Funeral Directors

1.30 pm - 3 pm - Family Nursing & Home Care and Coop Funeral Care by De Gruchy

The free drop-in is part of Dying Matters Awareness Week, which aims to break down the 'stigma and taboo' of talking about death and dying, and getting the conversations started.

Channel 103 spoke to Carolyn Keys, who is part of the island-wide strategy for end-of-life and palliative care:

"In Jersey, we have an excellent provision for end-of-life care, and most of it is free, and if it's not free, free care is available.

"We all live, until we die, it's about making that quality of life as good as it can be for as long as it can be, and knowing that support for that is there."

Anne McOnomy from the Care Hub added that not many people realise that they offer free services:

"We provide a nursing service overnight, which means people can stay in their homes.

"We don't like to think that we're all going to die, some of us are a bit weary of it, and that goes for health professionals as well.

"That's why a lot of the work is we do is around conversations and training."