emotional
The final stages of a terminal illness can be an emotionally exhausting time for everyone involved. Patients and families may experience a bewildering array of unfamiliar feelings and reactions that are difficult to control. Our social work professionals are available to help people better understand and deal with these emotions and to address other distressing issues, such as what to expect and how to cope with the dying process. Hospice bereavement counselors are also available to provide families with grief counseling and bereavement support for 13 months following the death of their loved one.
comforting choices
Like everyone, our patients need an opportunity to relax, express themselves, or simply spend time doing something that gives them pleasure. By promoting a strong sense of well-being, these activities can be helpful in managing pain and controlling symptoms. Our Comforting Choices program offers a variety of options for patients to enjoy. These include: creative art projects; weekly pet visits; listening to recorded or live music, or playing an instrument; receiving massage therapy or lotion application; reading our library's many books and bestsellers, or listening to our audio books; and capturing memories through journaling, scrapbooking, video and audio recording, or creating a family tree or memory box.
grief support
Although we may try to prepare ourselves, losing someone we love is one of the most painful experiences we face. Grief is a normal response to our loss, but it can be a distressing, often confusing process that touches every aspect of our lives. Someone who is grieving may suffer from physical symptoms, such as headaches, upset stomachs, exhaustion or tightness in the chest or throat. They may experience guilt, depression, irritability or absent-mindedness. Some may feel numb. Others may be angry with God or the person they've lost. Everyone grieves in their own way, in their own time, and symptoms and emotions may come, go, and change without warning. We need to experience our grief in order to heal, but we don't have to do it alone.
Our bereavement staff is professionally trained and experienced in helping people cope with their grief. We provide a variety of grief support services at no charge, and grief counseling and bereavement support is available to families for 13 months after the death of their loved one. The following programs, services and support groups can help you deal with issues related to terminal illness, death and dying, and grief:
- Individual Support
- Groups and Classes
- Bereavement Volunteers
- Memorial Service
- Hope through Healing Newsletter
- Hospice Library
- The Loft
- Garden of Hope
- Camp Hope