Whenever we face loss, we experience grief. Our reactions are unique and individual; none of us experiences grief in the same way. And our losses are different - some may grieve a spouse, others a child, parent sibling or friend. As we deal with the many feelings of grief, we encounter the painful reality of this loss in our lives, and we begin the difficult process of remaking our lives and redefining who we are without this person present to us.
We may experience grief on several different levels:
Physical
- aches and pains
- changes in our normal eating and sleeping patterns
- fatigue
- depression
Emotional
- sadness
- loneliness
- anger
- guilt
- fear
Spiritual
- loss of a sense of meaning and purpose to life
- change in our relationship with a Higher Power
Intellectual
- mental confusion
- disorientation
- inability to concentrate
When any of these things happen to us, we feel a bit strange. If many of them are happening all at once, we can feel out of control and fear for our sanity. But grief is bewildering, confusing, and often overwhelming.
That's why it is good to find trusted friends and those who will listen as we sort through the many layers of meaning associated with loss. Sometimes that is a member of the clergy, a counselor. Sometimes we find help and inspiration in books. Sometimes we need the unique understanding of others who are traveling on the same journey. There is no one answer, or one key that will make this journey through grief easy. We go through it a bit at a time, a day at a time - sorting through the meanings of the past and beginning to envision a future as we go.
The VNA/Hospice of Monroe County provides support and guidance to you as you go through this process of grieving. There is no "right" way to grieve, so our program is meant to offer people options that may be of help.
- Monthly Bereavement Newsletter - this letter provides connection to our staff, education about the process of grieving, and information about all our activities, groups, and programs.
- Support Groups - sometimes we just need to speak the thoughts, feelings, and searching's that are going on inside us. It's not that we are waiting for someone to tell us what to do, but rather that we just want to be heard and understood. Support groups offer "the gift of understanding" as members share their journeys. Support groups are open to new members from the community at any time, and Hospice families are always welcome.
- Children's Bereavement Workshop In this group children engage in structured activities which are fun, interactive, and assist them in articulating thoughts and feelings about their loss. Any child ages 7-12 who has had a loss through death in the past year are welcomed. Groups meet on the third Saturday of each month starting on October 18th through March, times are 10am to 12 noon. Participation is free of charge; pre-registration is required. Click Here To Download The Workshop Application. For more information call Teri Gaglione at 570-421-5392.
- VNA / Hospice provides on-site in-services & educational programs to organizations, employers and agencies on the topic of grief and bereavement as a public community service.
Bereavement Support Group Updates!
We at Hospice have been brainstorming the bereavement supports we offer to our community. With the goal of utilizing our resources to best serve our ever-increasing population, we have redesigned our program. We are very pleased to be able to continue to offer these services to community adults free of charge.
The biweekly group that meets at the VNA/Hospice office will continue to meet. The general public will be encouraged to attend. It will be a ten-session structured program of bereavement activities that will facilitate open discussion of the depth and complexities of grief. It will be held at the VNA/Hospice office on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month from noon to 1:30 pm. The program will be completed at the last session in May. There will be no group meetings in June. The program will be repeated from July through November. The newly bereaved are welcome to join either session at any time. Anyone who feels the need for additional grief support beyond the ten sessions is encouraged to seek individual counseling.
Additionally, these support groups will continue to be free of charge to all of our hospice families as well as community members. No registration is required. Attendance at any one or all of the ten sessions is at the individual's discretion.
Please note that inclement weather or other emergency may cause cancellation of a group meeting. Attendees are encouraged to call our office in advance of the meeting to confirm.
The Good Grief Support Group continues at St. Paul Lutheran Church on Thursday evenings and is available to anyone interested. Pastor Tom Richards welcomes all those who wish to attend.
Our current support group meetings:
- Bereavement Support Group
Meets at the VNA/Hospice office
502 Independence Drive
East Stroudsburg PA
1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month from Noon to 1:30PM
- Good Grief Support Group
Meets at St. Paul's Lutheran Church
on Fish Hill Road
Tannersville PA
2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month at 7PM
All bereavement groups and programs sponsored by The VNA/Hospice of Monroe County are open to the public and are offered at no charge.
The Current Bereavement Newsletter is Available, Click Here to Download It
For further information regarding this or any event, please contact our Bereavement coordinator at (570) 421-5390.