Hospice: A Healing Experience

Even though many folks would prefer not to talk about death and dying, those who work in Hospice know that this is not an option. The counseling department and hospice team knows the value of offering this last healing experience to family members after their loved one has died. Bereavement support is just one of many services Hospice of Southern Illinois offers to help families cope with this portion of the end-of-life journey.

Bereavement is defined as the condition of having been deprived of something or someone valued, especially through death. Also, bereavement can be a state of intense grief after the loss of a loved one.

At Hospice of Southern Illinois, the counseling department works very hard to help families heal and cope with their loss. Calls are made to the family within 7 days of the loved one passing. Then, one of the bereavement counselors will follow up again within 30 days to see how the family continues to fare. Each person’s healing and coping process varies. So, if a visit or an appointment to see the family is needed to discuss the loss of their loved one, this is a time when families can do that to get the extra support they may need. One-on-one support is not always the best option for everyone. Hospice of Southern Illinois hosts several grief groups and a lunch gathering for widows and widowers which are available on a monthly basis. Further, for a more personal experience, the counseling department follows-up with calls on the loved one’s birthday and one-year anniversary of the death of the loved one. For the first year of the loss of a loved one, these can be especially difficult times.

No one has to go through the dying process alone. Hospice of Southern Illinois can help. If you or a family member is experiencing grief, please call 1-800-233-1708 to speak with one of the members from our experienced and dedicated counseling team.

Offered by Cathy Knowlton, MA, MAPS, LPC

Chaplain/Bereavement Counselor

March is National Social Work Month

March is National Social Work Month. First commissioned by President Reagan, The National Association of Social Workers and its members spend this month celebrating the accomplishments of social workers and the services they provide to vulnerable populations (Chase’s Calendar of Events 2013). If you know a social worker or counselor, take an extra moment to thank them for their work and talents. In hospice, social workers and bereavement counselors make up our counseling team and are an important part of the hospice journey. Our hospice program would not be complete without their contribution to those we serve. They provide support to patients and families experiencing illness, stress, grief, and much more.

Hospice of Southern Illinois’ counseling team is committed to the whole family. We not only provide physical, emotional, and spiritual support for the patient, but for the family as well. Our counseling team is experts in dealing with topics people experience during their end-of-life journey and can provide support over the phone or face-to-face based on the needs and wants of patients and families. They have received special training to help Veterans at the end-of-life, because Veterans have different counseling needs because of the unique life experiences they encountered. This training is through the We Honor Veterans partnership with the VA and NHPCO. Further, we provide support to the family up to 13 months after a loved one has passed on an as needed basis, complimented by a Journey’s Newsletter, a grief support newsletter sent out once a month to families who may not need that face-to-face contact but find comfort in reading stories and tips for coping shared by others. These are all free services that can be utilized by Hospice of Southern Illinois’ patients and families, in addition to individuals and their loved ones who have not been in our hospice program through a counseling service known as the community bereavement program.  

The hospice journey for each person is unique just like their life experiences, which is why end-of-life emotional and spiritual needs vary based on the needs and wants of patients and families. The peace of mind patients and families can be reassured of is that no matter how much or how little support you need, a member of our counseling team is on-call 24/7 to answer questions and provide support to a terminally ill individual and their family during this delicate time in a person’s life. If you would like to review an educational booklet, feel free to download them; click here. 

Help us share, educate, and reach out by subscribing to our blog and suggesting it to friends who will spread our message: Hospice of Southern Illinois is here to teach you what hospice is, what we are about, and what we can do for you and your loved ones. No one has to go through the dying process alone. Hospice of Southern Illinois can help.

Live well, laugh often, and love much,

Christine Juehne

Hospice of Southern Illinois

Community Education

1-800-233-1708

www.hospice.org

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Grief and the Holidays

Grief & the Holidays

Trying to cope with the loss of a loved one during the holiday season is not easy. The holiday season is a naturally stressful time of the year. Spending time with family, cooking, and gift giving can all be very rewarding. However, being surrounded by a lot of people, preparing food, shopping, and wrapping gifts require time and effort.

The grieving process is a natural response to the loss of a significant relationship. During the grieving process and adjustment period following your loss, you can experience a wide range of emotional responses. At times, these emotional responses can be difficult to cope with and understand. Though there is no hard and fast solution to the grieving process. Listed below are some suggestions that may help to ease the stress and minimize the negative emotions people encounter during the holiday season.

1.      Set boundaries on your expectations and other’s expectations.

2.      Have a meeting or discussion with family and friends about holiday plans.

3.      Rehearse how you will respond to difficult situations beforehand.

4.      Observe the day in a way that has meaning for you. 

5.      Make the holiday an opportunity for healing, and day for renewal of your physical, emotional and spiritual needs.

6.      Be Flexible.

7.      Recreate or change traditions. Start something new.

8.      Bring special touches of your loved one to the holiday.

9.      Focus on the concept of gifts and gift giving. Buy a gift for yourself as well as others.

·      What is the gift you were given by your loved one?

·      What did they teach you about life and living?

·      What positive qualities did they bring out in you?

·      What was their purpose for being in your life?

10.  Have a plan.

There are opportunities for grief support available through Hospice of Southern Illinois. If you’d like assistance from a member of our counseling services team, please call (800) 233-1708 and request to speak with a member of our Counseling Services Department. Our counseling services are open to the community and Hospice of Southern Illinois families alike. 

Hospice of Southern Illinois, Counseling Department, facilitates monthly grief support groups on the second Wednesday of each month (3:00- 4:30 p.m.) at Relais Bonne Eau located at 7325 Marine Road, Edwardsville and on the third Wednesday of each month (3:00- 4:30 p.m.) at Garden Place Senior Living located at 351 Lockwood Drive, Red Bud. We also offer a Tree of Life Ceremony to honor and memorialize your deceased loved one. The Tree of Life Ceremony, where families can hang the name of their loved one on the Tree of Life and remember the one they love and lost. This ceremony is held at 3 locations on the first Sunday in December each year.

Help us share, educate, and reach out by subscribing to our blog and suggesting it to friends who will spread our message: Hospice of Southern Illinois is here to teach you what hospice is, what we are about, and what we can do for you and your loved ones. No one has to go through the dying process alone. Hospice of Southern Illinois can help.

Live well, laugh often, and love much,

Christine Juehne

Hospice of Southern Illinois

Community Education

1-800-233-1708

www.hospice.org