What is grief?
Grief is a strong, sometimes overwhelming emotion for people, regardless of whether their sadness stems from the loss of a loved one or from a terminal diagnosis they or someone they love have received. They might find themselves feeling numb and removed from daily life, unable to carry on with regular duties while saddled with their sense of loss.
Grief is a natural response to the death of a loved one. It is a journey or a process and not a once-in-a-lifetime event. Everyone’s journey of grief is personal and unique because of the special relationship to the person who died. At the time of a loved one’s death, there are many new experiences and emotions. Grief is often painful and overwhelming. Grieving is a necessary but difficult time for everyone.
What is grief/bereavement support?
Born out of the realization that grief is a natural and highly personal process, the staff at Rice Hospice seek to provide services to those who are experiencing grief and loss. We provide bereavement services for 13 months following the death of the patient to help the family with grief and loss issues.
Social Workers can provide one-on-one grief support upon request. Trained bereavement volunteers send handwritten letters and are available to visit one-on-one with bereaved family members. The services are available to anyone and are free and confidential. Our Rice Hospice program offers a variety of supportive resources after our hospice patients die.
The following services are available through Rice Hospice:
- Camp G.K. Bear for Children
- Share A Memory – Tree Lighting Ceremony
- Bereavement Volunteer Training
- Service of Remembrance
- Resource Library
- Speaker’s Bureau
For more information contact:
Judie Dunlop, LSW, CHP-SW, Social Work Coordinator
jdun@rice.willmar.mn.us
320.231.4442