Hospice Bereavement Care
They'll Remember The Good Times.

Why do hospices maintain contact with families after the death?

Medicare mandates that hospice programs provide bereavement support to families for a minimum of thirteen months after a client's death. Hospice has always considered the terminally-ill client and their family to be a unit of care. We cannot imagine providing care to a client without also supporting the family members who are affected by the illness. And when death occurs, we do not abandon the grieving family.

What does bereavement care involve?

There are a variety of ways our agency reaches out to families during their bereavement.

Grief support groups are offered several times each year, mailings of grief literature are sent periodically, phone calls and/or home visits are made, a Memorial Service is held each fall,
along with the Tree of Lights Ceremony. In addition, each family receives information about Camp Courage, our camp for grieving children ages 8 through 16.

Are families required to accept bereavement support?

There are families who prefer to "find their own way" through the grieving process, and that's fine. We never force our support on anyone. But those who have accepted our support were very grateful they did!

Why can't people just accept their grief and move on?

Many people are surprised by the depth of their pain when a loved one dies. They didn't
realize how grief can turn someone's world upside down. Most people expect the sadness or loneliness of grief, but aren't prepared for the mental confusion, physical symptoms, or spiritual crisis that can accompany grief. There are also strong emotions like guilt or anger that need to find healthy outlets before they lead to detrimental behaviors.

How much do families have to pay for bereavement care?

All bereavement services are provided at no charge to families. Our agency also offers grief support to people in the community who have been affected by the death of someone who wasn't a hospice client. Many of the children attending Camp Courage are grieving a non-hospice death.