For those grieving the loss of a loved one, Carroll Hospice is hosting its free Coping with the Holidays workshop at Dove House on Thursday, November 14 from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Category: Bereavement Support
Teamwork in Patient’s Final Hours Recognized
When there isn’t a lot of time and unexpected circumstances arise, cooperation and flexibility are key indicators of how well a team functions under pressure. Lorna Rice, Carroll Hospice social worker, and Art Monroe, Carroll Hospice chaplain, are a prime example of teamwork at its best. The duo was recently named team of the month for the comfort they provided during a patient’s final hours.
Grief Support – and Fun – at Camp T.R.
For the past 25 years, Carroll Hospice’s Camp T.R. has provided encouragement and support for children grieving the loss of a loved one.
Emotional Reactions to Grief
“No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear. I am not afraid, but the sensation is like being afraid. The same fluttering in the stomach, the same restlessness, the yawning. I keep on swallowing.”
—C. S. Lewis
After the loss of a loved one, grieving takes a toll on your heart. Memories may trigger outbursts of emotion, sometimes when you may least expect it. Intense emotions can come on unexpectedly and persist. These may include shock, numbness, disorientation, sadness, anger, despair, guilt and emptiness.
Healing After Loss
The healthiest way to heal from your own grief is to deal with the pain so that you can continue to have a rich and fulfilled life.
Grief literature is a helpful tool for many bereaved families. Understanding that you are not alone in your grief by relating to others who have experienced similar grief reactions can help ease the sting.
Living After Loss
Sadness, anger, guilt and love. Carroll Hospice’s bereavement counselors and volunteers witness a range of emotions after the loss of a loved one.
Grief and the Holidays
The holiday season can be challenging for many individuals, especially if you are grieving.
The absence of your loved one can be difficult to deal with during this time. Reflecting on past holiday memories can bring you happiness and pain, and thinking about what the holidays would have been like if your loved one were here can also be tough. But please remember that sometimes the anxiety building up to the holidays is much worse than the actual day. Read More
Grieving Caregivers: On a Journey to Find the ‘New Normal’
After a loved one dies, we may feel a mix of emotions—sadness, relief, guilt and regret, to name just a few. These emotions are typical. But, as a caregiver of that loved one, we may find ourselves wondering “what now?”
Bereavement Luncheon Provides Camaraderie
The men and women took turns introducing themselves around the L-shaped table as they waited for their lunch orders to arrive. Some had been coming to Carroll Hospice’s bereavement luncheons for years, while, for a few, this was the first time they’d attended.
But all who came to share a meal were looking for solace, a place they could share their grief and memories, their troubles and fears, with those who could understand and empathize because they too had experienced the death of someone close.
The luncheon, facilitated by a Carroll Hospice bereavement counselor, takes place the last Tuesday of each month at Baugher’s Restaurant. No registration is required.
One by one, they shared who they had lost, how long it had been and what they had come to understand during the grieving process. “We all [grieve] differently,” explained one participant, who had lost her husband. “People who think we should be beyond this haven’t walked in our shoes.”
One participant shared how a trip to the beach—a place both he and his wife loved—brought up so many unexpected feelings. “Grief hits you sometimes when you least expect it,” he said. Another remembered how her husband was able to fix anything around the house. Now, she’s troubled at the thought of someone coming into her house to do those things. “This is a group I never wanted to be a part of,” she admitted.
For some attendees, volunteering, new hobbies and keeping busy all helped with their grief. But those things never completely fill the void.
“The outward mourning goes away,” confided a group participant to the others. “But the grief never does.”
Carroll Hospice has a variety of support groups to help with the loss of a loved one. For more information, call 410-871-7656.
This article originally appeared in DASH, Carroll Hospice’s community newsletter.
A Family’s Journey from End-of-Life Care to Philanthropy
Kim and Mike Burden were married for 35 years and raised four sons together. In December 2010, the couple started a different journey filled with hormonal therapy, surgeries, radiation appointments and a lot of uncertainty.