We want you to know you are not alone. We are here to provide a safe and supportive space to explore the profound experience of grief and loss. No two people grieve in the same way. It can be a unique, complex and lonely journey, and for these reasons, we offer a variety of supports in both formal and informal settings. Support can be introduced in the anticipatory grief stages, as you prepare for a death.
To participate in the Grief and Bereavement Program, you do not require a prior connection to us as a hospice program client. We have expanded our services to the wider community, beyond persons who had received hospice care from us.
We offer support for unique individual needs and group support where grief can be openly shared with others who have experienced a loss. The group setting can provide shared comfort as each person gives and receives support, and gains encouragement and hope for their own grief journey.
Grief and Bereavement Free Support:
- No two people grieve in the same way. Grief can be a unique, complex, and lonely journey; for these reasons, we offer a variety of supports.
- One-on-one support can be introduced in the anticipatory grief stages, as you prepare for a death.
- One-on-one grief and bereavement group support to meet unique individual needs and where grief can be openly shared with others who have experienced a loss. The group setting can provide shared comfort as each person gives and receives support and gains encouragement and hope for their grief journey.
- Grief and bereavement group support is offered throughout the year expect in the summer and is provided by both professionals and trained volunteers in-person, via Zoom, or phone calls.
- Music Therapy is also available
- Information and referral to other bereavement and community supports
- Annual Garden Memorial in June and Candlelight Memorial Service in December
What is grief?
- Grief is a natural and normal response to loss, particularly the death of a loved one, but other significant losses like the loss of a relationship, a job, or a home can also trigger it.
- It’s a complex emotional and psychological process that involves a wide range of feelings, including sadness, anger, guilt, and confusion.
- Grief can also manifest physically, with symptoms like fatigue, changes in appetite, and difficulty sleeping.
The Grieving process:
- Kubler-Ross describes grief as a pattern of adjustment. Grief is universal and often described as passing through five stages: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.
- Each of these stages involves a period where a person adjusts to the idea of the loss they have experienced.
Types of Grief:
- Anticipatory Grief: This involves experiencing grief before the actual loss occurs, often in situations where a person is facing a terminal illness or the death of a loved one.
- Normal Grief: This is a natural, healthy response to loss, characterized by feelings of sadness, anger, and disbelief, which generally subside over time.
- Complicated Grief: This occurs when grief is prolonged or intense, interfering with daily functioning and leading to persistent symptoms like intrusive thoughts, avoidance, and emotional numbness.
- Traumatic Grief: This is grief that arises from a loss experienced under traumatic circumstances, such as a violent death or a natural disaster.
- Disenfranchised Grief: This type of grief is experienced when the loss is not acknowledged or recognized by society, such as the loss of a pet, a miscarriage, or a same-sex partner.
Testimonials from Grief and Bereavement clients:
- One-on-one grief support has been greatly appreciated for those who experienced the death of a child, the death of a spouse after several years together, or those separated by death. We often receive positive feedback on our support:
- “I couldn’t get through this without your help.” “You understand when no one else does.”
- Testimonial from a grieving widow: “You understand what I am going through and have been a loving and compassionate presence in the worst time of my life. I know now that a future is possible. Thank you.”
Family bereavement support testimonials:
- From a dad: “It’s been really good to be with other men who are grieving.”
- From a mom: “This has been the best week ever for my family!”
- From a child sibling: “When you love someone, it’s a nice feeling in your heart. I love Emily’s House.”
- From a mom: “It was great to be able to laugh, cry, be angry, and still feel safe.”
To request support, please get in touch with our Client Services Department at (416) 363-9196 or email [email protected]