Hospice Services of Southwest General cares about how you are coping. Bereavement support is availabe throughout the hospice experience and beyond.
Grief many times begins with the diagnosis. While your journey is most likely filled with hard work, loneliness and sadness, please know that there is someone at Southwest General's Hospice Services who would like to hear your story and offer you support. Support servces are available to you free charge and includes:
individual support
- "Out of the Valley" support group
- Specialized support group
- "Coping with the Holidays" programs
- "Healthy Grief," a six-week series support group
- Semi-annual "Service of Remembering"
- Quarterly newsletter
Children and Grief
Children grieve at very early stages in life. They may try to hide their grief from adults because they often are scared of these different and strong feelings they are having. If they cannot express their feelings, the emotions will come out in inappropriate manners. This is normal. To help children deal with loss, we have several books for families to use. We also have an art therapist who uses expressive forms of communication. This enables children and teens to express themselves and feel safe.
Reactions to Loss
Common reactions to a loss may include:
- Feeling overwhelmed by all the changes and emotions
- A physical emptiness
- Fatigue
- A need to tell and retell the story of your loved one
- Feeling as though this death cannot be real
- Crying at unexpected times
- Feeling as though no one will ever understand your loss
- Guilt
Caring for Yourself
This is vital, even if you do not feel up to it. Consider these suggestions as you enter this time of grief:
- Life is no longer normal. Remember that not everyone around you will understand this.
- Be patient with yourself. Try not to overextend yourself. Your energy level and thinking process are probably not what they once were.
- Accept your feelings. You will be experiencing feelings that may not be normal for you. That is because you are grieving. What is normal for grief is different than what is normal for you.
- Ask for and accept help. Yes, it is hard to do, but it is important to allow others to be useful.
- Find someone with whom you can talk freely about your relationship with your loved one.
Caring for the Family
- Remember, communication is vital to the family coping with grief. Each person is dealing with a very different loss. Each person has different needs. Communicate and be flexible with each other.
- As holidays or special days approach, discuss together the differnt needs that each person brings to the day. Be open to the fact that not everyone will be able to celebrate or remember in the same way.
- Do not protect each other from grief. Talk about it.
- Allow people to change their minds ... even at the last minute.
Bereavement Support and Education
Support and education are available to you. Services are free of charge for families of hospice patients. Bereavement support services are available during the illness process and after your loss. If you wish to speak to the bereavement staff during the illness, contact your nurse or call the Bereavement Office at 440-816-5019. You will be hearing from the bereavement staff after your loss. If you want to talk before the staff contacts you, please feel free to call. We know making the first call can be difficult. You already may feel too vunerable to take another risk. It is important to receive support and know that you are important enough to be cared for. That is why we are here. We mail out a quarterly bereavement newsletter. Twice a year, in the spring and fall, we host a Service of Remembering. You will receive and invitation to the service. If you have questions about the service or any of our offerings, call 440-816-5019.
Groups and Classes
The Bereavement Services program hosts the following:
"Out of the Valley" Grief Support Group
Grief is much like climbing out of a valley with no path and no guide. It is hard work, and a person does not know how they are going to get there until they can look at where they've been. This support group is open to adults who have experienced the death of a loved one. Topics include the concerns that participants bring to the group. We offer a time to share the story of loss and to ask questions. Creating a safe place to share and the opportunity to honor your loved one is important to the members of this group.
Third Wednesday of each month, 2-3:30 p.m.
The Thomas P. Perciak Family Residential Hospice
18659 Drake Road, Strongsville
Healthy Grief Support Group: A Six-Week Series
This educational support group meets each Tuesday for six weeks at The Thomas P. Perciak Family Residential Hospice. Participants will learn about healthy grief work and have an opportunity to share their stories of love and loss while offering support to others. Topics include
- Symptoms of grief
- Recreating a new normal life
- Sharing your story of love and loss
- Secondary losses of grief
- Dispelling the common myths of grief
- Subsequent temporary upsurge of grief
2010 Summer - July 6-Aug. 10, 2-3 p.m.
2010 Fall - Oct. 5-Nov. 9, 6:30-8 p.m.
The Thomas P. Perciak Family Residential Hospice
18659 Drake Road, Strongsville
Register by calling 440-816-5019.
Looking Forward
If you are looking for a unique experience of learning and support, this may be a program for you. A different topic each meeting.
July 26 - How Do I Get Through This? by Terri Sanson
Aug. 9 - A Look at Grief Through Stories by Regina Wolf
Aug. 23 - Clodhoppers by "Tumbleweed"
Sept. 13 - Community Resources by Chris Cameron
Sept. 27 - Mindfulness by Barbara Brady
Oct. 11 - Music Therapy by B-W students
Oct. 25 - Ready for Winter by Lowe's
Nov. 8 - Coping with the Holidays by Myrna Nored
Nov. 22 - This Road Doesn't Go on Forever by Regina Wolf
Dec. 13 - Spirit of Holidays by Myrna Nored
Dec. 27 - Grief in Books, Movies and Music by Regina Wolf
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Twice each month on Monday nights, 7-9 p.m.
Southwest General
L. Jon Schurmeier Medical Pavilion (Building C)
Williams Conference Center, Room B
For more information, call 440-816-8623
Speaking Engagements
If you or your community group are in need of a speaker, Linda Gregson, bereavement coordinator, is available to speak. Call 440-816-5019.