Honor your loved ones with traditions or create new traditions.
There are some things we may do to help ourselves and those close to us who are suffering from loss. First, be kind to yourself. Remember that there is no timeline for our grief, and we all have our own path to walk. Don’t put unrealistic expectations on yourself. You may need to set some boundaries on your own expectations or on the expectations of others, about your activities, your participation in events or even sharing your feelings. On the other hand, you may want to reach out to others for support and to share memories. Our loved ones who share the same loss may be a great comfort to us.
Honor your loved ones with traditions or create new traditions. Making family recipes and passing down stories to younger family members can keep our loved ones close to us. Volunteer at a non-profit or do an act of charity. Giving is truly good for the soul.
If you want to reach out to a professional, there are resources available. A great place to find bereavement and grief counseling is hospice. All Medicare-certified hospices are required to offer counseling to families for 13 months. Of course, not all our loved ones may have been a hospice patient, so different hospices can offer a variety of services in addition to the Medicare requirement. Individual and group counseling, counseling for children, groups to support those of us who have lost a loved one to suicide, caregiver support groups, grieving the loss of a pet –these are just some of the services that hospices may offer. Some hospices offer these services at no charge, so cost should not be a barrier to seeking help.
Wishing you peace. FBN
By Katherine Simmons
Katherine Simmons is the CEO of Northland Hospice & Palliative Care, which includes the Olivia White Hospice Home and the HodgePodge Thrift Store.
Northland Hospice & Palliative Care is Northern Arizona’s only not-for-profit hospice, serving the community since 1983. Our mission is to serve anyone regardless of their ability to pay. Northland Hospice offers individual and group counseling, caregiver support, counseling for children, groups for loss through suicide, and pet grief support. All our bereavement services are open to the community at no cost. Our fundraising efforts, such as “Light A Life,” support these programs. Look for our beautiful Christmas trees and “Light A Life” table at the Flagstaff Mall from Nov. 29 through Dec. 22. For more information regarding our services or volunteer opportunities, call us at 928-779-1227 or KSimmons@northlandhospice.org.