CNS Hospice Bereavement Services

To experience grief is to embark on a journey into uncharted territory without a map or compass. Traveling this road can be exhausting, frightening, lonely and painful, and yet the only way to reach the destination of healing is to traverse the difficult route.

People of all ages need support and understanding as they move through grief at their own pace. At CNS Hospice, we are dedicated to providing education and support to people experiencing grief. We believe that by acknowledging the normalcy of the many dimensions of grief and by providing an environment which encourages the expression of grief, we can enable people to reconcile their loss and move forward.

Bereavement services are available to all residents in the communities we serve for 13 months. Involvement in hospice care prior to the death is not required.

CNS Hospice bereavement services include a visit to the Coordinator of Bereavement Services, who develops a personal plan of care for the family. This visit provides the bereaved with the opportunity to relate the story of loss, to explore and express thoughts and feelings of grief, and to better understand the grief experience. It is helpful in determining ongoing need for support.

If the bereaved person wishes, they may have the support of a bereavement volunteer. Volunteers trained to listen, facilitate the expression of grief, and provide emotional support are available for continued calls and visits for 13 months.

Some choose to attend a support group. A ten-week adult educational/sharing group which focuses on the normal dimensions of grief is offered four times a year. There is also a monthly drop-in group on the first Monday of every month. Children's groups are held from time to time.

Periodic mailings provide information on the grief process as well as insights and suggestions which may be helpful during the time of loss and pain.

Remembrance Services are held every six months in local churches as a way of recognizing the importance of the deceased person's life and honoring their memory.

Member of the CNS Hospice bereavement department are available to provide education and support to agencies, institutions and businesses for issues of bereavement.

For futher information, contact Ann Freiburg, Coordinator of Bereavement Services, at (630) 933-7313.