Grieving the loss of a family member or friend is one of the most challenging things any person can go through. Anger, helplessness, disbelief, and depression are just a few of the emotions you will experience as you sort through the pain of your loss.
Moving on to the next stage of life may seem impossible, especially because of how central your loved one was to your everyday life. Big and small things alike can be reminders of how integral they were to you.
Your grief is unique. You may take a few months or a few years to recover. Both timelines are reasonable, and you shouldn’t be ashamed if it takes longer. Crown Hospice of Cape Girardeau and Poplar Bluff offers a list of tools that can help you deal with grief, known as bereavement services.
What Are Bereavement Services?
Hospices offer bereavement services to survivors of deceased friends or family members to help them through their grieving process. Most hospices provide services for a specific timeframe after the death of the loved one, usually around a year.
What Do Bereavement Services Include?
While bereavement services vary depending on the care provider, here are three services Crown Hospice offers:
- Bereavement support groups
- Chaplain and social workers guidance, interaction, and counseling
- Annual memorial service
Bereavement Support Groups
Public support groups are designed to be a safe space for individuals dealing with similar struggles, in this case, grief. While no two losses are the same, those grieving together may share similar feelings or emotions during their mourning.
One of the most significant benefits of group therapy is it helps you to realize you aren’t alone. Approximately 2.5 million Americans die every year, leaving behind an average of five individuals to grieve. Others are going through this with you, and public support groups allow you to speak with and listen to them.
Chaplain and Social Workers Guidance, Interaction, and Grief Counseling
While every death is painful, trained individuals like chaplains and social workers can help you to develop grieving skills to work through your emotions. Developing grieving skills doesn’t mean that you will remove or bury your feelings, but rather learn healthy ways to confront them.
These visits can be especially helpful if you aren’t ready to talk with a larger group of people. Interpersonal guidance and counseling can give you a place to share how you feel in an intimate setting. Remember, these counseling sessions are entirely optional. They are most beneficial for those who seek this type of conversation.
Annual Memorial Service
When someone deals with grief, they usually feel a lack of control in their lives. Rituals can help grieving individuals to feel a regained sense of control.
Honoring and remembering loved ones in a formal setting is a ritual that helps many individuals regain some sense of control. At Crown Hospice, we perform an annual memorial for anyone who has lost a loved one within the last year. These memorials are entirely optional and can help you start a ritual to honor your loved one.
Why Should I Use Bereavement Services?
You are going to go through a lot of severe symptoms, emotions, and stages of grief. When you talk with friends or family, they may give you comforting words but lack the support you need to effectively deal with your loss.
Bereavement services offer an excellent opportunity for you to talk with others dealing with the same emotions as you or a trained professional. Grief is something you shouldn’t have to go through alone. Allowing others to listen or offer care is a step towards healing from a loss.
If you are looking for hospice care that will offer practical support after your loved one passes, contact us at Crown Hospice of Cape Girardeau or Crown Hospice of Poplar Bluff to speak with one of our team members.
