Hospice provides a wide range of services for people with life-limiting illnesses. Along with compassionate end of life care for the patient, they provide counseling and emotional support for their families. Families are often bewildered, anxious, and physically exhausted by the time their loved one is eligible for hospice care, and it’s common for them to begin grieving at the time of enrollment. Hospice social workers and chaplains offer bereavement support for family members from the very first visit.
Hospice agencies, on average, provide bereavement support for a year after patient death. Their support services are especially important for families grieving during the holidays. Holidays can be stressful at the best of times, but when one is experiencing them for the first time without their spouse, sibling, or child they can be dreadfully so. Hospice counselors and support groups are available to lean on during these trying times.
Healing is an organic process that makes the journey from heart break to hope different for each person. Here are a few suggestions to help family members handle grief at the holidays:
Give yourself permission to do things differently if you don’t feel like participating in traditional holiday activities.
Plan an exit strategy for social gatherings in case you become overwhelmed.
Find alternatives to big celebrations like having an intimate dinner with close friends.
Celebrate your loved one by reading their favorite book, listening to their play list, or watching that special holiday movie you both enjoyed.
Try not to isolate yourself from friends and family, just limit your interactions if being around them is too much. It’s okay to cut it short and just make an appearance.
Be kind to yourself. Accept that this could be a rough time for you so take extra care to insulate yourself against any situation that you feel you are not ready for.
Hospice marketing should always include bereavement support. Visit TAGWebstore.com for all your hospice print media.
Resources: Grief.com, griefnet.org, hellogrief.org