Hospital to Home

Hospital to Home Program: Supporting Families After Loss

The Hospital to Home program offers vital, compassionate support to families who have experienced the death of a baby or infant through stillbirth, neonatal death, or sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI). This program provides outreach support to grieving parents within three months of their loss and is available across Australia.

What is Hospital to Home?

Hospital to Home is an innovative program designed to offer families support during the incredibly difficult time immediately after leaving the hospital, when parents are facing the pain of returning home without their baby. The program is tailored to meet the unique needs of each family and is available in various forms, including face-to-face, by phone, or via video conference.

Through this program, parents can receive help with emotional support, memory making, and practical assistance, ensuring they are not left to navigate this difficult time alone.

How We Can Help

Our dedicated team of support workers, all of whom have lived experience of baby loss, are here to offer guidance and emotional support across a range of areas. The support options include:

• Emotional Support: Helping parents with grief, offering a safe space to talk about their baby, and guiding them through the difficult emotions that accompany loss.
• Memory Making: Assisting families with creating lasting memories of their baby, whether through photographs, handprints, or other meaningful keepsakes.
• Funeral and Memorial Support: Providing guidance and emotional support when making funeral and memorial arrangements.
• Medical Appointments & Test Results: Offering support when attending follow-up medical appointments, and assistance with receiving autopsy or genetic test results.
• Siblings Support: Assisting parents with talking to and supporting siblings through their grief, including liaising with their schools.
• Practical Support: Offering practical help such as unsubscribing from parenting forums and accessing Centrelink entitlements.
• Workplace Support: Helping parents prepare for a return to work, including communication with employers about how to approach sensitive situations.
• Extended Family Support: Offering assistance for families living overseas, providing emotional and practical support for grandparents and other extended family members.

How to Access Support

You can refer yourself or a loved one into the Hospital to Home program. Professionals can also refer bereaved parents with consent. Our program is available to parents in the aftermath of stillbirth, neonatal death, or SUDI, and we’re here to help with any needs you may have during your grieving journey.

How to Refer:

• Self-Referral: If you would like to access support, you can refer yourself through our referral form.
• Referral on Behalf of Parents: If you’re a healthcare professional, you can refer bereaved parents with their consent.

For more information or immediate support, you can reach our Grief and Loss Support team at:

• Phone: 1300 308 307 (available 24/7)
• Email: support@rednose.org.au

Why Hospital to Home?

This program, the first of its kind in the world, is an essential service for parents facing the grief of losing a child. Research and experience from our team show that the time after leaving the hospital can be the most challenging, as families are faced with the reality of their loss in a home that was once set up to welcome a new baby.

The Hospital to Home program offers a compassionate, parent-led approach that respects the unique needs of each family, providing individualized support and connecting families with appropriate services for ongoing care.

Testimonials

Stephanie (Program Participant):
“This concept and program are incredible. I love being able to talk with another mum who knows what I’m feeling and gets it – there’s no judgement. Thank you for this program, and thank you, Sara!”

Sarah (Program Participant):
“Thank you for offering this program, it really helped me get through the last few months knowing someone was there to listen and help support us in whatever way we needed.”

Continuing Support

The Hospital to Home program complements other Red Nose services, including our 24/7 support line, peer support groups, and professional counselling services. We are here to ensure that no family has to face this journey alone, and we’re committed to walking with you through every step of the way.

Red Nose is committed to supporting families navigating the complexities of the loss of a baby or child. To access our specialised bereavement support including: counselling, peer support programs, support groups, and resources tailored to individual needs, click here.