Losses and separations are a part of life and they are always stressful, but death is the most painful separation of all. The permanence and irreversibility of the loss is probably death's sharpest sting.
While the patient is alive, the patient and family are cared for by the hospice team of which the Bereavement Coordinator is a member. After the patient dies, the care of the bereaved family is provided by members of our Bereavement Department and is directed by our Bereavement Coordinator. Bereavement volunteers have an important role in that care.
A full range of bereavement services are provided to our patients’ families as they grieve their losses and struggle to reorganize their lives. These services include:
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Cards and letters
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Support groups
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Memorial services
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Tree of Light |
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Cards and letters are sent to express our sympathy and invite family members to participate in various aspects of our bereavement program. Special letters are sent at the most difficult times such as birthdays, holidays, and anniversaries. Appropriate brochures are included with these letters offering practical suggestions as to how to cope.
Bereavement Support Groups
The following bereavement groups are offered for grieving adults and children. Each group provides practical information and an opportunity to share experiences for mutual support. Groups are available to hospice families and members of the community.
Adults Living With A Loss
This support group is for adults who are recently bereaved and provides an introduction to grief and loss. The group meets weekly for eight weeks. Topics for discussion include normal grief reactions, the grief process, common physical, emotional, mental and spiritual effects of grief, dealing with the non-bereaved, changing roles in the family, as well as the social and financial aspects of grief.
Living After A Loss
Books, pamphlets, audiotapes, and videotapes about various aspects of grief and loss are available for loan from the hospice bereavement library located in the bereavement office. There is a children's collection of materials written for and about children and adolescents. There is an adult section, which deals with various types of loss, including the loss of a parent, spouse, or child. You may stop by the office to choose appropriate materials or call the Bereavement Coordinator who will help you choose materials and see that they are delivered to your home if needed.
Bereavement Support
Having someone to talk with about your loved one and what you are experiencing is an important part of hospice bereavement care. To meet that need hospice provides two services:
Bereavement Volunteers
Hospice volunteers who are particularly interested in helping grieving families receive special training as bereavement volunteers. They are then available to provide a listening ear and helpful suggestions.
Bereavement Counseling
Some do not feel comfortable sharing in a group or individually with a volunteer and would prefer a professional bereavement counselor. Hospice provides a limited amount of individual bereavement counseling as well as referral to competent professionals practicing in the community. Individual bereavement counseling is done by the Bereavement Coordinator who is a licensed counselor. Please call the hospice office to make an appointment for individual counseling.
Remembering
It is also an important part of bereavement care to be able to remember and honor your loved ones. To help make that possible and meaningful hospice provides two ways of memorializing a loved one:
Memorial Services
Twice a year hospice hosts a memorial service to honor and remember those patients who have died under hospice care in the previous six months. Staff, volunteers and families gather for scripture readings, poetry, and meaningful rituals. The reading of the names of deceased loved ones is a very meaningful and moving experience.
Tree of Light
The holiday season of November and December is particularly hard for grieving families. To help families during this period, hospice creates a Tree of Light on the office lawn. The evergreen tree, symbolizing eternal life, is decorated with white lights symbolizing the light of a life. Stars helped travelers find their way home in ancient times. Families are invited to contribute a light for the tree in memory or honor of a loved one and then participate in the tree-lighting ceremony. The names of those honored and remembered are read aloud and are listed in a permanent remembrance book located in the hospice office.
Coping with Loss
While most of the bereavement services are directed toward the grieving family, hospice recognizes that our terminally ill patients are also grieving in anticipation of the loss of their life and the relationships so important to them. There is also grief over the loss of physical functions, independence, and control. Therefore grief and bereavement work is an important part of the care provided by the hospice team from the time of choosing hospice care. The nurses, chaplains, social workers, home health aides and volunteers are always willing to talk with you about thoughts and feelings related to grief and loss. The bereavement coordinator is also available to work with you on anticipatory grief issues. Please call the hospice office at 856-794-1515 and ask for the Bereavement Coordinator.