Grief Support Programs
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Local Church
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Even if you are not a regular churchgoer, church is where people turn to in times of grief. Besides the weekly Sunday services, many churches have grief support groups that provide a safe and peaceful environment for everyone to share their experience and grieve together. Speak to an administrator at the church or check out the bulletin board for more information on attending meetings.
Hospital and Hospice
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Palliative care units of a hospital or an affiliated hospice provide grief support services to families that are grieving. Many families spend a substantial amount of time at such facilities before having to say goodbye and find it comforting to receive support for their grief. Hospices and palliative care units provide literature, support groups and even memorial services to honor the deceased and to comfort the bereaved. For example, St. Joseph's hospital in Thunder Bay, Ontario provides multi-faith spiritual care for those who spend time in their hospice and palliative care unit and also holds a special Christmas service for grieving families in their chapel. The Midwest Palliative Care and Hospice Care Center in Glenview, Illinois holds grief support groups that are open to the community and free of charge.
St. Joseph's Hospital (Corporate Office)
35 Algoma St. North
Thunder Bay, Ontario
Canada, P7B 5G7
011-807-343-2431
sjcg.net
Midwest Palliative & Hospice CareCenter
2050 Claire Ct.
Glenview, Illinois 60025
847-467-7423
midwestpalliativeandhospicecarecenter.org
Grief Support Organizations
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The National Grief Support Services provides ample publications and articles on many different areas of grief, as well as counseling over the phone. Caring Connections, a program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), gives support to caregivers as well as to the bereaved by providing helpful links, literature and answering frequently asked questions.
National Grief Support Services
99 Buckskin Rd.
West Hills, CA 91307, USA
818-347-8955
Fax: 818-347-8964
griefsupportservices.org
National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO)
1731 King St., Suite 200
Alexandria, VA 22314
General NHF Information: 703-516-4928
Donations: 877-470-6472
Fax: 703-837-1233
nhpco.org
Books
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With grief coping, knowledge is power. Many people are unaware that severe grief is a condition that can paralyze daily life, past desires and even the will to live. It may be important to go to the bookstore to read more about grief itself in order to understand the complexities and causes of such emotions and thoughts. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross and David Kessler's "On Grief and Grieving," and John W. James' "The Grief Recovery Handbook: The Action Program for Moving Beyond Death, Divorce and Other Losses including Health," which in 2010 released its 20th Anniversary Expanded Edition, may be two helpful options.
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