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After the death of a loved one, family members often need support and
reassurance as they experience the sometimes overwhelming emotions of
grief and learn to adjust to a world that no longer includes the
person who died. Bereavement can be a difficult time, not only
because our culture denies death but also because we deny the
intensity and lengthy of the grieving
process. As a society we have forgotten what grief feels
like and how ling its pain can last. Those in mourning are
expected to get on with life just days or weeks after the death of a
loved one. When the normal but powerful emotions of grief
overpower us, we think we're going crazy.
As part of their bereavement services, hospice programs help normalize the grieving process by providing supportive care and educating those in mourning about the process of grief. In most other components of the health care system, a patient's death signals the end of all interactions with the family. However, providing ongoing support for family members for a least a year following the patients death is a basic concept of hospice care. Bereavement services can include: bereavement or grief support groups; memorial services; visits from the bereavement coordinator and/or bereavement volunteers; community education programs on grief and bereavement; referrals for other services, including referrals for treatment of complicated grief; and periodic notes to let the family know they haven't been forgotten. |