Bereavement and Grief Support

You are not alone

The death of someone you love can be one of the greatest sorrows in your lifetime. Bereavement is the period of grief and mourning after a death. Each person's grief and healing journey is personal; sharing memories, emotions and strategies for coping. Everyone feels grief in his or her own way and there are stages to the process of mourning and healing. 

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Bereavement support is an essential component of Homestead Hospice's services. That includes anticipating grief reactions and providing ongoing assistance for the bereaved over a period of 13 months.

 

Journey to Healing

Homestead’s Chaplain will:

• Contact family members by phone or in person to assess specific bereavement needs

• Create a care plan to meet those needs

• Provide education on the grief process with bereavement mailings

• Support through a memorial service held twice a year at each Homestead office to help families find closure for the loss of their loved one.

• Memorial service may include:

  • The release of butterflies or doves

  • The building of a bouquet of flowers, as the names of those who have passed are announced a family member adds a rose to a vase

  • The lighting of a candle

 

Grief Support

Healing Takes Time

When a loved one is seriously ill, you may feel lost and overwhelmed. You may even find yourself grieving the loss of a loved one before death occurs. Grief is unique to each person. Even when you think you are prepared, and a strong person, the feeling of grief can be overwhelming. The feelings of loss are normal and may continue for months after you lose a loved one. No one can be fully prepared but there is professional support available through Homestead.

 

Any family member, partner, friend or caregiver of a hospice patient can take advantage of Homestead’s specialized bereavement and grief support. Through Homestead’s dedicated grief programs, emotional support is available prior to, and/or after, a loss. Healing takes time and, because grief is the not the same for everyone, Homestead offers a range of support for 13 months following the death of a loved one.

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Grief support groups offer companionship and understanding from others who have experienced a similar loss and who know the challenges that living with grief brings. In a culture that often avoids talking about loss, support groups provide the opportunity to share your story openly and guilt-free. You also have the opportunity to hear the stories of others, share stories of day-to-day coping and the most difficult days of your grief journey.

 

Path to New Horizons

Anticipatory

This specialized program focuses on the grief of anticipating the death of a loved one. Those anticipating the loss of a loved one most often experience the same stages of grief as one might encounter after the loss. Anticipatory reactions to an expected loss are normal and may help prepare you for the intense emotions that may arise with the death. This program is available upon request for families of those who have a terminal illness.

 

Mourning to Joy

After death

Most people who experience the loss of a loved one begin their grieving process with denial and move through anger, and bargaining, to depression and acceptance in no definite order. The grief journey often seems like an emotional roller coaster. The aim of Homestead’s Mourning to Joy program is to provide an understanding that although life will never be the same without a loved one, families and individuals can begin the journey of rediscovering joy in their lives.

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We are here for you. Call Homestead Hospice Chaplaincy Hot Line (678-507-3812) to discuss your needs, and the next steps to receive care, comfort and peace of mind for your loved ones and family.